Suppliers wanting to gain unrivalled market-wide recognition for their latest product innovation, marketing support or approach to sustainability will want to take centre stage at the forthcoming GIMA Awards (11^thNovember, Celtic Manor). However, time is running out, as the deadline for entering the 2021 event – Friday May 28^th - is tomorrow.   

Recognising excellence and innovation the GIMA Awards have grown into the largest industry gathering, welcoming both retailers and suppliers from the UK garden retail sector. Making its highly anticipated return in late 2021, this year the event will feature all of the usual categories – including the GCA Supplier of the Year (GCA), Gardenex Export Achievement and the Sword of Excellence (last won by Primeur in 2019) – as well as a new Sustainability award which will recognise a product, business initiative, or wider business ethos that demonstrates how suppliers are successfully driving the sustainability agenda. 

Vicky Nuttall, GIMA Director said: “Time is running out for those suppliers who want to enter the 2021 GIMA Awards, so we are urging interested parties to get their entry forms in as soon as possible to avoid missing out. 

“Whilst the Covid pandemic resulted in the event being cancelled for the first time in its 40-year history in 2020, the industry has not stopped. Suppliers have stayed busy creating exciting new product, marketing and merchandising innovations throughout the 2020 and 2021 season. These launches and initiatives are what will be celebrated in a special glittering night of awards – the first of its kind to relaunch post-lockdown. The result being an evening full of long-awaited reunions, networking and merriment.”

Don’t miss out!

This year, the GIMA Awards will be sponsored by a wealth of fantastic industry brands, including Glee which returns, once again, as headline sponsor, as well as the HTA, GCA, Gardenex, Garden Trade News, Gardenforum, Ebay, Decco, Hozelock, Evergreen Garden Care, SBM, Primeur, Horticulture Week, Garden Radio, Garden Centre Retail, Garden Centre Update, DIY Week, CM Ventures and Hornby Whitefoot PR.  Additional sponsorship opportunities are also available - please contact GIMA to find out more. 

To enter the 2021 GIMA Awards or to book your place at what is set to be a night to remember please visit www.gima.org.uk

Nobody ever expected sales for last week to be near to last week last year as that was the first full week after the Lockdown #1 closures, however the GTN Bestsellers data is also showing signs of the continued "Autumn in Late Spring" weather causing a slow down in sales.

The GTN Bestsellers All Sales index was down 15% week on week for last week and 29% down on the same week last year.  

All the garden centres we've visited this week are full of plants and stocks of garden products, apart from furniture, so as soon as the weather warms up we could still be in for a few more bumper weeks before the end of June.

See the full GTN Bestsellers analysis together with the GTN Bestselelrs Top 50 product and plants charts in the weekly printed newsletter.  Subscribe here.

RocketGro are shipping product out right now and have a two week waiting list for deliveries. Please contact the company for further details. RocketGro have signed up multiple independent garden centre chains. 

Launched in March 2021 from their farm in Somerset, RocketGro have two lead products ‘Magic Mulch’ and ‘Plant Fuel’. The farm is a specialist AD plant, and the by-product of the Anaerobic Digestion process is split into a liquid and a fibre (mulch) that are then packaged as Soil Association approved RocketGro products.

The liquid and mulch have been spread over surrounding farms fields for years as a bio nutrient rich source of NPK and fibre. They are so good at raising yields that no chemical fertilisers are needed on these farms.

The crops grown on the farm are then fed back into the AD plant in the form of Maize, Rye, Beet and Grass and so a complete virtuous circle is formed.

A 100% eco sustainable product is derived post the production of gas and electricity that is fed into the national grid. 

A British product, RocketGro believe that the product sells itself, but have added eye catching high spec packaging and design to appeal to a cross generation gardening market.

The growing drive for Peat alternatives leaves RocketGro well positioned for growth as orders come in for the summer.

Current production enables the farm to bag 42,000 of the 50 litre bags per week. 

The all natural RocketGro ‘Magic Mulch’ is a perfect addition to boost tired compost and poor soil that needs an input of structure and water retaining fibre, particularly good for heavy clay soils. 

Mixing the mulch with another medium such as compost makes for the perfect yield boosting potting mix.

The chemical free natural ‘Plant Fuel’ is a concentrated liquid plant food for indoor and outdoor plants.

10% of profits from the sale of RocketGro products go to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, a charity close to the hearts of the RocketGro family.

Please contact the company for further details:

Website: www.rocketgro.co.uk
Email: hello@rocketgro.co.uk

Tel: 07936 928 981

Renato Canale 1942-2021

It is with the heaviest of hearts that Valerie, Fabienne, (daughters) Kiaran, (grandson), Oscar, Freddie and all the team at Europlants UK Ltd are notifying industry colleagues and friends of the passing of Renato Canale on the 17th May 2021.

Renato came to the UK in 1962 to work at Stuart Lows Ltd where he progressed to Sales & Marketing Director.  

He had a vision to develop the specimen plants & trees market in the UK and set up Europlants UK Ltd in 1991. A partnership was made with Vannucci Piante of Pistoia with Europlants being appointed its sole UK Agent. The relationship is going strong to this day 30 years on.

In 2005 he set up Riverside Nurseries in Marlow.

His nationwide contribution to the industry has been immense.  

As a much valued and well respected colleague & friend in the industry for over 60 years, Renato will be greatly missed and will leave a huge gap both personally & professionally.

Oscar Puig told GTN Xtra: "Renato hasn’t been very well in the last few months and his condition worsened at the end of last week when he was admitted to hospital. Yesterday he lost his battle and passed away peacefully with his family next to him.

"He dedicated all his life to the industry to which he was loyal and supportive until his last day. Magazines, Trade Shows, Garden Centres, Nurseries, suppliers around Europe… The industry will somehow will feel a bit smaller with his absence."

Renato with David Domoney at the Eurplants Open Day 2019.  The Europlants Open Days, started by Renato, have become a "must attend" day in the plant buying diary and have raised thousands of pounds for charities including Perennial and Greenfingers.

A year ago this week we were ‘celebrating’ the re-opening of garden centres after Lockdown #1 and there were queues outside stores as customers sought to catch up for lost time in their gardens and make the most of their outside spaces while the pandemic lockdown and restrictions continued.

Now we can see the effect of lockdown on a whole year’s worth of sales data following on from that memorable re-opening. GTN Bestsellers Epos data for all sales indicates that in the period from Week 21 (2020) to Week 20 (2021) garden centre volume sales were up by 42% compared to the same period leading up to re-opening, which is no surprise after the seven weeks of enforced closure, and 17% up on the same period across 2018 to 2019.

That 17% represents a phenomenal growth in sales activity, especially when you factor in that restaurants were closed for most of that time, social distancing measures restricted footfall, furniture and other products were in short supply and the weather so far this year has been anything but ‘normal’.

When the weather improves – it has to, doesn’t it? – we could be in for another bumper summer of sales.

Please note our last week, year on year comparisons, below, are now back to 2020.

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week in 2020: week 20.

• Garden Products Top 50 – down 14%
• Growing Media Top 50 – down 15%
• Veg 2 Gro Top 50 – up 20%
• Wild Bird & Wildlife Care Top 50 – down 28%

GTN Bestsellers All Sales volumes compared to the same week in 2020: week 20.

• All Plants with Barcode index – up 25%
• All Items with Barcode index – up 21%

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

Flower Shows have returned with the Harrogate Spring Essentials Flower Show staring on Thursday 20th May and British Garden Centres were exhibiting ahead of the opening of their Harrogate Centre later this month.  But the weather was far from inviting.

BGC's Boyd Douglas-Davies sent us photos from the show, mainly taken during build up on Wednesday.  The picture above is from the opening ofthe show on Thursday and on Friday morning Boyd reported: "Rivers of water running across show today and 2 coats, gloves, boots, hat and brolly!!!!"

Growing Media sales now sit at 18% up on 2019 and 33% up on 2018 levels, indicators of the big increase in growing activity as a result of the pandemic and all its implications.  

Analysis of GTN Bestsellers data back to 2017 shows that peat free sales in the first four months of the year have now increased by 452% over that five year period, but they still only account for 15% of all growing media pack sales. There’s a long way to go before 2024’s potential ban on peat sales comes in.

Highlights of the week were:

• Westland New Horizon All Plant Compost 50 litres is the highest placed peat free line at No 6. This time last year the 60-litre pack was the number one bestseller.
• Westland Jack's Magic All Purpose Compost 60 litres was the highest chart climber, up 24 places to No 10.
• Evergreen Garden Care Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Pot & Basket Compost 40 litres re-entered the GTN Top 50 at No 19.

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

As lockdown measures continue to ease across the UK, there is no sign of the incredible growth in sales by garden centres slowing. In fact, overall sales for 12th April - 12th May 2021 are 22% up vs the same period in 2019; and garden/gardening sales within this are +34%.

 And as all nations except Northern Ireland began welcoming patrons back inside cafes and restaurants from Monday (17/5) there’s great news about consumer confidence, too.  

The HTA have been tracking consumer confidence in visiting both garden centres and garden centre cafes, set in the context of COVID-secure measures being in place. The results from the most recent wave show that 80% of British adults now feel confident visiting garden centres and 67% feel confident in visiting a garden centre café or restaurant. This is the highest these numbers have been since tracking began - welcome news for garden centres, who offer a diverse range of eating experiences.  

Catering is of great importance to many garden centre’s revenue streams, helping to counteract the seasonal nature of business, especially in colder months. There’s a wide range of hospitality on offer across UK garden centres, from small, traditional tearooms, to full-on sit-down restaurants. Garden centre catering follows all the necessary COVID-secure measures but urge customers to be respectful of fellow customers and staff and continue to follow the guidelines set out. 

Matthew Bent is Managing Director at Bents Garden & Home in Warrington, which boasts a Tapas Bar, a Coffee Hut, and various other dining options, including a Pet Café with pet-safe treats such as ‘pupacinos’ and ‘pupcakes’. 

He said: "The past year has been a very challenging time for everyone, and although as a garden centre we have been fortunate to remain open for much of the time, like other hospitality venues our indoor dining destinations remained closed in line with government guidelines. We were delighted when the first steps in the Road Map were announced and we were able to offer outside dining options, and now we are looking forward to extending this to inside.  

“We’ve had to make many changes, including a slightly reduced menu and reduced covers to ensure everyone’s safety. Not all our dining destinations have re-opened yet, but our colleagues have embraced the challenge and created welcoming destinations where diners can enjoy their meal in our bright, relaxing and attractive surroundings.” 

In line with government guidelines, garden centres are doing everything they can to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Many have implemented new safety measures such as hand sanitizing stations and are requiring visitors to remain socially distanced. 

Glendoick Garden Centre and Café in Dundee is adjusting to the new normal with the help of a mobile ordering app to help patrons avoid queueing.

Owner Jane Cox said: “Our cafe brings in a third of our income and the lockdowns have had a huge impact on our turnover. It’s a relief to be open again and a joy to see our staff and customers smiling, glad to be back. Embedding the app has had its challenges in the first two weeks, but staff and customers are now enjoying its benefits. We hope to add more tables as lockdown eases and look forward to serving our customers in a really safe and friendly setting.” 

This month’s Market Update also shows promising news in terms of Average Transaction Values in catering, with a 19% increase on April 2019 and a catering ATV of £10.21. 

The HTA’s Market Update is produced for its members each month and is available for them to download from the website. https://bit.ly/3fsLMo2 

The Secret Garden project at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester has been transformed following a donation from Vitax to remove an avenue of conifers that has inhibited the garden’s restoration.

Approximately 50 conifers between eight and ten metres tall have been felled due to poor health and will bring much needed light to the garden and make way for a new sensory garden.

Originally planted too close together as they were intended to be moved to different areas of the estate when just a few years old, the removal will enable the existing oak trees room to grow and the garden to flourish.

This is the second time Vitax has supported the project. In October last year, the Secret Garden received a generous donation of 6x Natural Plant Feed to help recreate and nourish the organic garden as part of a wider restoration project to rebuild the historic walled kitchen garden set within the hospital’s grounds. 

“Over the past year, the Secret Garden project has become a safe haven for volunteers, staff and patients of the hospital, bringing much needed calm and tranquility,” says Paul Gooding, Vitax’s chairman.

“To enable the garden to grow and improve the sensory garden, the avenue of conifers needed to be sustainably removed and we are thrilled to be able to make that happen.

“The removal of the conifers will enable this important project to continue to progress and bring much needed respite for all those who use it.”

Providing a therapeutic environment for patients, visitors and staff, the garden is being brought back to life with the support of a group of enthusiastic volunteers, whose fundamental purpose is to create a space to enhance mental health and wellbeing.

“Although we try to nurture all the plants and trees within the garden, the conifers over-shadowed most of the garden, but more importantly needed to be felled due to poor health,” says Karen James, Secret Garden Project lead.

“It took two days to remove the avenue and the wood which will be recycled in a variety of ways for use around the garden. Lengths of wood will be cut to size for future use such as in the construction of raised beds, pathway edgings, plant supports, wildlife habitats and for use in craft workshops. 

“Smaller cuts will be shredded to be used as a soil conditioner, mulch and infill for different areas of the garden. In the future, a new natural barrier will be planted to replace the conifers between the garden and growing area.

“Vitax’s support has been invaluable and without the additional resources we would not have been able to complete this part of the project in the immediate future. It has literally breathed new life into the garden.”

To find out more about The Secret Garden project, or to volunteer, contact: thesecretgarden@uhl-tr.nhs.uk.

To find out more about Vitax, visit: www.vitax.co.uk

We will now start to see the balancing effect of sales through May compared to the re-opening period last year. Plant sales, however, are still running at over 200% up on last year and 14% up on both 2019 and 2018 levels, year to date.

• Zonal Geraniums increased sales by almost 50% last week to stay as the clear number one bestselling plant for summer colour – all we need is for summer to start!
• All Plants volume sales change: Week on week DOWN 13.4%.  Year to date vs 2020 UP 256.8%, vs  2019 UP 17.5%.

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

Plastics Recycling charity, RECOUP, have been supporting the Plastics Industry Awards with a category for the Best Recycled Plastic Product Award since 2014.   

The award is never more important than now with pressure on the industry by consumers to recycle more.

Pushing the boundaries of what is possible is always a challenge however, the UK plastics industry continue to respond to the call.

The award does highlight the advances being made and helps to raise the profile and promote success stories in this space.

RECOUP recognise that the award plays a vital role in stimulating growth in plastics recycling within the UK highlighting green growth opportunities and Circular Economy.

Anne Hitch, Citizen & Stakeholder Engagement Manager at RECOUP, commented: “The Award gives organisations the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to a more sustainable pathway for plastics and driving the use of recycled materials.”

The Plastics Industry Awards will take place as a hybrid event on 1-2 December 2021. The event will comprise a two-day virtual conference and networking along with the LIVE glittering Awards ceremony at London’s Hilton Waldorf on the evening of the 2nd December 2021, for those able to attend in-person.     

Shortlists for the RECOUP category will be announced in September 2021.  

Enter via https://www.plasticsawards.com/PIA2021/en/page/enter-now

With BBC news reporting that some companies have seen a 300 percent rise in garden room sales, a service from software specialists Windowlink is helping landscapers secure high-profile garden building projects.

Recent studies have shown that 60 percent of the UK population were working from home in the peak of the pandemic, and that is set to continue with companies reaping the benefits of employees being more productive in their own workspace. Large companies like Facebook and Spotify have already announced they will allow staff to carry on working remotely after lockdown was lifted.

This coincides with the massive rise in garden room sales as homeworkers look to create a space that separates home and work environments. 

Specialising in creating software to help landscapers and builders visualise projects to customers, Windowlink is able to create 3D images for garden rooms with their Vector software programme.

The design package allows users to provide customers with a visual example of the final project by creating high-resolution 3D graphics of garden rooms and superimposing them onto images of the existing property or garden. Vector also guides users through the pricing process, allowing you to provide quotes and prevent mistakes, which can help save time and money.

From the Vector package there is also the additional option of the 4Site Imaging Bureau, which transforms these images into stunning 3D fly-through videos. It also includes detailed personalisation features to provide homeowners with a truly realistic representation of how the completed building will look from every angle.

“Our Vector programme allows users to create high-resolution 3D images of their glazed extension or garden room projects – perfect for landscapers looking to provide realistic representations to customers,” says Mark Dudley, Windowlink Managing Director. “When homeowners are looking to make a big investment, they want reassurance of how it will look, and our Vector package is a fantastic resource to do this.

“The extra 4Site service is the next step for landscapers working on large projects, as the level of personalisation allows customers to see the project will look from different angles and different times of the day, in the form of a high-resolution fly-through video.”

For more information on this impressive 3D video service visit www.windowlink.com/4site-imaging-bureau/

Dobbies Garden Centres will be stocking Bloomin Amazing, an organic and environmentally friendly soil enricher. Available instore, customers can purchase the peat-free product, caring for both their plants and the planet.

Committed to sustainability, Bloomin Amazing is a no-dig, peat-free mulch, easy feed and soil conditioner all in one. Produced in the Dorset countryside, the unique 3-in-1 product has a minimum carbon footprint and is made entirely from a by-product of the UK’s first commercial green gas generating plant. 

Lightweight, clean and odour-free, Bloomin Amazing is entirely pet and family friendly, with its high organic matter making it an eco-friendly and effective soil enricher and weed suppressant.

Nick Finding, Managing Director at Bloomin Amazing, said: “Enquiries from gardeners for our sustainable and peat-free soil improver are growing rapidly so it’s great news that they will now be able to buy Bloomin Amazing in Dobbies stores across the UK.

“We are extremely proud of our sustainability credentials and it’s good to be partnering with an organisation like Dobbies who clearly share our values.”

The news comes as Dobbies welcomes proposed deadlines from DEFRA and the HTA for retailers to be peat-free. The garden centre launched its #sustainabledobbies campaign during National Gardening Week and a key part of Dobbies’ sustainability pledge is to reduce the use of peat in its product range.

The team are on track with the commitment made in 2020 to be 90% peat free in 2021 and 100% peat free in 2022 in relation to bagged compost. The retailer has also worked with nursery suppliers to produce a roadmap for an annual reduction in peat use for growing plants.

Graeme Jenkins, CEO of Dobbies, said: “Sustainable practices and caring for the environment continue to be at the top of our agenda, and we are pleased to build on our #sustainabledobbies campaign. We are working towards our peat-free future at pace.

“Bloomin Amazing is a brand which is committed to sustainability and we’re proud to stock the organic soil enricher. This is just one of a number of eco-friendly products that we will be rolling out in store and online in the coming months, giving our customers plenty of sustainable options.”

As well as reducing the use of peat, plastics and pesticides and providing customers with recycling opportunities, Dobbies is also proud to support Terra Carta from HRH The Prince of Wales’ Sustainable Market Initiative – helping make the UK a greener place.

For more information visit dobbies.com

Last week, Perrywood Tiptree delivered 130 new fans to the wards at Colchester Hospital. These were purchased with money collected in tips by the Coffee Shop & Restaurant team. Every year, the team very kindly donate all their tips to charity.

These fans were purchased from local company, Staines & Brights, who generously agreed to sell the fans to us at cost price. This enabled the team to purchase a lot more fans with the donated money. The fans were purchased in 2020, prior to the first lockdown, but due to the pandemic, Colchester Hospital was unable to take delivery until last week.

It is hoped that these fans help will make patients’ stays at the hospital a lot more comfortable.

Since 2018, a total of £12,490 has been donated in tips money. With this money, the Coffee Shop & Restaurant team have now purchased a total of 154 fans, Christmas presents for patients, dementia boxes, play equipment for the children’s ward and two cardiac machines.

The Coffee Shop & Restaurant team will continue to support Colchester Hospital this year and will be announcing their next fundraising project soon, this time for the Collingwood Centre, Colchester Hospital’s new cancer centre.

Jackie Newton, Group Catering Manager, Perrywood, comments: “Thanks to all our loyal customers for your generosity and support and thanks to our hard-working team who selflessly donate all their tips.”

Penny Norris Corporate & Trust Manager, Colchester and Ipswich Hospitals Charity, comments: ““The money collected in customer tips by the Coffee Shop and Restaurant team at Perrywood has made such a difference in many wards and departments at Colchester Hospital.

"The recent delivery of fans will certainly help keep patients cool and add to their comfort in the future, as normal working resumes. On behalf of our staff, Colchester and Ipswich Hospitals Charity would like thank the team for their kindness”.

What have you done today, to make you feel proud?

Since its inception in 2009, ECL has been delivering the very best support to adults with learning disabilities across Essex. Now the largest care provider in South East England, the company believes everybody should be given the opportunity to unlock their full potential and is committed to working with like-minded employers to realise that ambition.

If you are part of a business, big or small, which values inclusivity and diversity then we want to hear from you! ECL’s ground-breaking Inclusive Employment scheme seeks to identify paid employment prospects for its pool of enormously talented, but all too often overlooked candidates. Its experienced team of Inclusive Employment Consultants has an exceptional track record when it comes to placing adults with learning disabilities into their perfect roles, enabling them to improve their skillset and achieve greater independence, while delivering enormous benefits for the companies lucky enough to get them on board.

Often, applicants will thrive on routine and take real pleasure in undertaking tasks which others may find difficult to sustain. These unique candidates also have an infectious enthusiasm for life and will wear their uniforms with pride, offering a seldom seen level of loyalty and commitment in return for your faith in them. Whatever the role, full on-the-job coaching and vocational training is offered by ECL at no cost to you and support is on hand every step of the way, from interview through to induction and beyond.

Aside from the satisfaction you’ll get from becoming an Inclusive Employer, by displaying your status as Disability Confident your customers will know that you are giving somebody their chance to shine, and studies have shown that they’re likely to reward you richly for it.  So, whether you’re looking for some extra help a few days per week, or even just for a few hours, ECL is waiting to introduce you to your ideal employee.

For more information about how we can help you, email us at Inclusive.Employment@essexcares.org or visit our website www.ecl.org/inclusive-employment

Pictured above and below is 29-year-old Rhys is an ambitious environmentalist with a talent for upcycling.

Fiercely independent and incredibly determined, he has impressed his employers with his diligence and hard work - Rhys also happens to have a learning disability. With the support of ECL’s Inclusive Employment team, this industrious young man was matched with the perfect role and secured employment in just eight days in the midst of a global pandemic. For three hours a day, three days a week he maintains the grounds of contractor Aplex at Brentwood Garden Centre, as well as carrying out general maintenance of the site. Rhys is called upon for everything from cutting trees and picking up litter, to sweeping, potting, and dead heading, taking every new challenge in his stride. Every business needs a Rhys!

Mycorrhizal fungi experts Empathy have been undertaking a gradual packaging update over the past 12 months to ensure a smooth transition for retailers.

Following the successful introduction of the new pack designs across its bestselling rootgrow™ mycorrhizal fungi, Supreme Green Lawn Care and After Plant Liquid Feed ranges, the company’s After Plant 1kg granular feeds will now switch to the new predominantly white livery.

The After Plant range includes five variations for roses, trees and shrubs, evergreens, ericaceous and climbing plants. Each bioactive fertiliser contains rootgrow™ mycorrhizal fungi and has been specifically formulated to promote vigorous growth whilst building healthy soil biology.

Empathy’s Simon Taylor said: “Our new product packaging is fuss-free and clean, very much like our soil-improving products. The rollout of the new packaging across our other product categories worked brilliantly in store. Clear messaging on the front of each pack and the reassuring RHS endorsement helps customers to identify and understand each product’s purpose and ingredients at a glance.”

Empathy has long been a champion of creating profitable add-on solutions for plant and bulb sales. The new packaging for the five After Plant products is robust and weather-resistant making it ideal for placing in the plant area or outside using one of the company’s display units.

Empathy manufactures and distributes all of its products in the UK, has created a range of class-leading, eco-friendly and sustainable products that focus on reducing the need for NPK fertilisers and pesticides by improving soil health naturally.

Visit rootgrow.co.uk or contact info@rootgrow.co.uk / 01795 411527

The UK’s leading brand of sustainable composite decking and cladding, Composite Prime, has launched a nationwide recycling programme to encourage children aged 5 to 11 years to recycle plastic waste.

Working alongside We are Futures, who run The National Schools Partnership (NSP), Composite Prime’s Message in a Bottle Top campaign inspires key stage one and two pupils, from participating schools, to collect and repurpose their own bottle tops into thought-provoking art murals and sculptures; showcasing the creatures they’d love to protect from plastic pollution.

Composite Prime Director, Charles Taylor commented: “With around eight million tons of plastic polluting the earth’s oceans every year, the race to protect marine life is growing more urgent every day. Playing our part in tackling this challenge is one of the key priorities for Composite Prime.

“Our Message in a Bottle Top campaign has been created specifically to target younger generations to ensure Composite Prime is doing its part in educating children to recycle. This is absolutely essential for us to continue diverting thousands of tons of discarded plastic from oceans and landfills every year.” 

All competition entries submitted by schools,  ahead of the deadline on 5th July 2021, will be independently judged by Composite Prime. The top ten schools will have the opportunity to showcase their artwork in an online exhibition and the winning school will receive a playground makeover worth £5,000. 

Built in line with the national curriculum and fulfilling learning objectives across art and design, science, maths and citizenship, the Message in a Bottle Top campaign provides teachers and support staff with associated learning resources; including lesson plans, presentations, artist top tips and activity worksheets to complete in class and at home.

Charles Taylor continued: “Similarly to how Composite Prime turns waste products into beautiful decking products, the Message in a Bottle Top campaign teaches children the creative ways in which we can use trash and turn it into treasure; reducing the amount of plastic entering natural ecosystems along the way. We hope that schools across the country feel that the programme shares a very important environmental message with young people about wildlife and the effects plastic waste has on it.” 

Participation in the Message in a Bottle Top programme works towards part of a school’s submissions for the Eco Schools Green Flag Award; an organisation passionate about engaging young people in environmental education and action.

Based in West Yorkshire, Composite Prime creates eco-friendly and socially responsible decking and cladding products, made using recycled plastic and FSC® certified oak wood flour. In the last six years of operation, the business has saved the equivalent of 151 million plastic milk bottles from landfill, with each square metre of composite decking containing the equivalent of more than 3,000 plastic bottle caps or 280 plastic bottles. 

To find out more about how to get involved with Composite Prime’s Message in a Bottle Top recycling programme, visit the website. 

The team at Wyevale Nurseries in Herefordshire is celebrating after being awarded a Plant Healthy Certificate during Defra’s 2021 Plant Health Week.

Production manager Kyle Ross received the certification from the Plant Health Alliance and it’s just one of a handful of businesses in the country to currently have it.

Kyle explains: “We’re delighted to be one of several wholesale nurseries in this country to have been awarded this certification. It was also apt to have received our notification during Plant Health Week, which ran until May 16, it couldn’t have come at a better time for us.

“This certification scheme makes it so much easier to identify businesses or organisations that trade and grow plants with the highest standards of health and biosecurity. It also helps reduce the risk of introducing/spreading destructive plant pests via our trade plant supply chains and protects the horticulture industry, other cultivated plants and natural habitats.”

Certified businesses have to successfully complete and pass a Plant Healthy audit and show they are committed to adopting high voluntary plant health and biosecurity standards. The Wyevale Nurseries audit was conducted by Grown in Britain, the certification body for the scheme.

In February 2020, the Plant Healthy Certification Scheme was soft launched to horticultural businesses at the Plant Health Alliance Conference at Kew Botanic Gardens.

Throughout 2020 and until March 1, 2021 it went through a ‘pioneer’ phase and was assisted in its development by members of the horticultural industry, including Wyevale Nurseries, to help get it up and running.

Alistair Yeomans, Manager for the Plant Healthy Certification Scheme, says: “Following our soft launch, an initial pioneering cohort of engaged and innovative horticultural businesses, several of whom contributed to the development of the Plant Health Management Standard, have become certified, this includes Wyevale Nurseries.

“The level of professional commitment to plant biosecurity by these nurseries is both reassuring and impressive. We would like to thank them all for their input and support in advancing the Plant Healthy Certification Scheme. Certification demonstrates that these businesses operate to high voluntary standards of plant biosecurity.

“The Standard aims to empower horticultural businesses to take a proactive approach to plant biosecurity. The Plant Health Alliance aims to promote the importance of protecting the health of our plant life from plant pests and diseases, as doing so will help safeguard the biodiversity of the British landscape and support the UK economy.”

To counter the threat from plant pests, Defra’s Plant Biosecurity Strategy for Great Britain (2014) proposed the development of the certification scheme to improve biosecurity in the UK horticultural sector.

The members of the Plant Health Alliance produced the Plant Health Management Standard, which is focused on UK ornamental and amenity horticultural businesses and organisations. It can also be adopted by international businesses.

The Plant Health Management Standard – which sets out the requirements to be met by scheme registrants – was developed by specialists from industry, government and the third sector. 

The Plant Health Alliance is the governing body for the Plant Healthy Certification Scheme, which is based on the Plant Health Management Standard.

Unprecedented Demand - Record Easter garden centre sales lead to stock shortages.  

In GTN's April issue of news and information for garden centre professionals:

• Back to the NEC for Glee!
• Life – Norfolk Leisure Style
• 1000 years and growing at Coolings
• Investment is back on the agenda for garden centres
• Pictures of a Record Easter from Aylett Nurseries, Burston Garden Centre and Scotsdales
• Unprecedented demand leads to stock shortages
• Enhancing our understanding of New Gardeners
• GIMA Charity Golf Day returns this summer
• B-bag takes Extreme Lounging to new places
  LOFA Update – Are we over the worst of the shortages?
• HTA Column – Success Brings Stress

with all the news direct to your e-mail inbox.  The best news service every weekend and all the breaking news as it happens.

Subscribe for free using this link

GIMA has announced the re-election of Simon McArdle of Westland Horticulture as GIMA President, following its AGM held virtually on Thursday 20th May 2021.

Following his election Simon gave a short address during which he said: “On behalf of GIMA and our members, we recognise that we are all incredibly fortunate to be part of an industry that has benefitted from bringing so much joy to the nation during what has been, by any measure, a tumultuous year.

"The partnership between retailers and suppliers has been overwhelming, and there has been a real spirit of joint enterprise between all parts of the chain.

"Flexibility and understanding from all sides have been critical, as together we dealt with forecasts, out of date before the ink had dried on them, to lead times that constantly shifted.

"On behalf of GIMA, we would like to extend a huge thankyou to all our (essential) retail partners.”

Simon will once again be joined by Deco-Pak’s Craig Hall as Vice President, Mark Butler of Vitax as Secretary and DLF’s Guy Jenkins as Treasurer.   

The members also voted for Kate Ebbens of Capi to join the GIMA Council following the resignation of Matt Jackson from Mr. Fothergill’s Seeds earlier in the year.

The full GIMA Council for 2021/2022 will be made up of the following representatives:

• Simon McArdle, Westland Horticulture –President
• Richard Pyrah, Ames – Past President
• Craig Hall, Deco-Pak – Vice President
• Guy Jenkins, DLF – Honorary Treasurer
• Mark Butler, Vitax - Honorary Secretary
• Chris Ramsden, Hozelock
• Dan Durston, Durston Garden Products
• Jenny Douthwaite, Primeur
• Martin Tompsett, Rollins Bulldog Tools
• David Nicholson, Elho
• Phil Harrison, Evergreen Garden Care.
• Kate Ebbens of Capi

GIMA Treasurer, Guy Jenkins gave a short report on the 2020 GIMA year-end accounts, reporting a loss for the year. 

Commenting on the accounts, Guy said: “Like many businesses, the GIMA finances were significantly hit by the pandemic which has resulted in a loss for the year.  But due to prudent financial management over the years and sufficient reserves, we were able to provide an unbroken service to our members throughout the period.  We expect to be able to replace any losses within the next couple of years.” 

Membership of GIMA is open to all manufacturers and suppliers of products to the garden retail sector, with a UK or EU base.

For further information about GIMA and the benefits membership brings visit www.gima.org.uk or contact the GIMA office on 01959 564947 or email info@gima.org.uk

Garden product sales bounced back last week with garden lighting and other garden decoration lines providing the biggest sales increases.

Highlights of the week were:

• Gardman’s Classic Ice Orb Solar Light was the highest chart re-entry at No 10.
• Smart Solar’s Spiralight String Lights, set 10, were a new entry at No 48.
• Woodlodge’s Terracotta Pot Man 6 was the highest new entry at No 13.

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

Keukenhof remained closed again in the 2021 season as a result of the lockdown. The park was only allowed to open as a test for six days; 27,000 people had a colourful day. Fortunately, almost 20 million people could virtually enjoy the flourishing display of the flower and bulb sector.
 
The fact that Keukenhof was not allowed to open is a disappointment for the organization, which has done everything to open corona proof. Only outdoor activities were planned and all buildings would remain closed. In the 32-hectare park, a limited number of visitors should have been able to enjoy a safe day out. After all, keeping your distance is not a problem and it is known that hardly any contamination occurs in the open air. Hundreds of thousands of visitors could not go to Keukenhof this spring. The few visitors during the test days visibly enjoyed the splendour of flowers and adhered well to the standard corona rules.
 
Keukenhof virtually open

People enjoyed the colourful videos of the flowerpark at home. Keukenhof produced videos for social media, with new footage of the blooming park every week. Keukenhof also had a lot of publicity for flowers on television with various documentaries and items from Holland, Belgium, UK, France, Germany, US to China and Japan. The typical Dutch flower images were broadcasted all over the world. This way, Keukenhof was able to be the worldwide showcase for floriculture in a different way.  https://keukenhof.nl/en/keukenhof-virtually-open-2/
 
Keukenhof in 2022

For Keukenhof, it was the second season in a row with virtually no income ”, says Bart Siemerink, managing director. “We have invested in new ticket systems to spread visitor numbers over the season and during the day. That way, all visitors can experience a beautiful day among the flowers. We are now working towards the next season and look forward to showing our park to visitors again in 2022. Fortunately, we have been able to keep costs under control this year, and we can survive this difficult period.”
 
Keukenhof will be open in 2022 from March 24 until May 15.

The GTN Top 50 veg line sales, year to date, are out performing our All Plants Index by 25 percentage points, indicating how popular growing your own is this year.

Last year, really high volumes of tomato plants were sold after re-opening. Let’s hope the weather warms up enough for the same to be replicated this year.

Highlights of the week were:

• Quantil Tomato Tumbling Red Tom 8cm moved furthest up the chart, climbing 27 places to No 5.
• Quantil Grafted Cucumber Baby Rocky 10cm was the highest re-entry of the week, back in at No 9.
• Ambrose Strawberry Jumbo Pack of 6 was also a re-entry at No 43. Another plant bought in the expectation of some great summer weather!

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

The HTA has welcomed the latest tree action plan for England to emerge from Defra, but warns that the plan is short on the necessary detail - particularly for boosting UK nursery production. 

Market place confidence is needed by the industry if the Government’s plans are to be realised, they stated. 

With trees one of the single biggest ways for sequestering carbon, the trade body for UK commercial tree and plant growers, backs moves to increase tree planting to help support Government plans to achieve Net Zero.   

Chairman of the HTA Tree & Hedging Group, Steven Green of Johnsons of Whixley said: “Although the new action plan makes provision for increasing UK nursery production, for the Government’s Action Plan to be successful they need to ensure there is full confidence in the market place. UK nurseries will not produce new trees if there is still a lack of detail and uncertainty. The Government must step in and be more definitive – setting the planting targets into legislation would be a way to do this.  

"We are delighted to see recognition of the industry-led ‘Plant Healthy’ and ‘Plant Health Management Standard’ initiatives to underpin biosecurity. This is exactly the approach which engages the industry and ensures exemplar best practice becomes the norm, rather than trade restrictions which harm UK businesses.   

"We are committed to working with Government on this Action Plan and want to see the reality of more trees planted in the UK successfully realised.” 

The Environment Secretary, George Eustice, will today speak from Delamere Forest when he will confirm that the Government will ban sales of peat products by the end of this Parliament, subject to public consultation this year.

In the England Peat Action plan, published this morning, George Eustace says: "In recent decades, progress has also been made in developing alternatives to the use of peat in horticulture, with the consistency of substitutes like coir improving. Peatland soils and the habitats they support should be nurtured, not mined, and this Action Plan sets out measures to accelerate the switch to the use of alternatives, starting first with bans on the sale of peat for amateur use by the end of this parliament, and gradually moving to alternatives for other commercial sectors over time."

The text within the plan regarding peat use in amateur and professional horticulture is as follows:

Future vision: horticultural peat

In 2011, the government set out its ambition for the horticultural sector in England to be peat free by 2030, with voluntary targets for a peat free amateur sector by 2020 and the professional sector by 2030. We note that there has been some progress by particular manufacturers, retailers and growers. For example, the UK’s soft fruit industry have successfully transitioned from using peat to coir. However, the voluntary approach has not succeeded overall; as shown by Figure 2 the total volume of peat sold in the UK is 25% lower in 2019 compared to 2011 but is still way off our ambition. The volume of peat sold in the UK rose by 9% in 2020 due to unprecedented demand throughout the year and the impact of the global pandemic on the supply chains for alternative materials. We set out in the 25 Year Environment Plan that if we had not seen sufficient movement to peat alternatives by 2020, we will look at introducing further measures. Further action is clearly required to continue to drive the transition to peat alternatives and to support the industry to overcome barriers to this transition.

We will formally consult on a range of potential legislative measures in 2021, as well as seeking views on the support the industry will require to make a successful transition. In particular, we will seek to make swift progress in phasing out the use of peat in the amateur sector and will be exploring a range of different types of measures that will achieve this.

Figure 2. Volume of peat (m3) sold in the UK between 2011 to 2019 - Growing Media Association (2021) UK Growing Media Monitor report

Two thirds of the peat sold in the UK is imported from the rest of Europe. This means we are effectively exporting our carbon footprint. We shall continue to focus on reducing demand for peat in horticulture, recognising the need to protect not only England’s peatland, but peatland in other countries affected by the current demand in England.

The UK’s amateur sector makes up ~80% of horticultural peat use. We are starting to see retailers voluntarily committing to stocking only peat-free products, and we welcome the leadership demonstrated by these retailers. Evidence suggests that consumers continue to misuse bagged peat-based products, for example using them to improve the quality of garden soil, where other products such as manure or green compost would be much more appropriate and beneficial.

We will work with the industry to identify how we can increase the resilience of the supply of alternative materials. Coir dust (from coconut husks), wood fibre and bark have shown great promise as replacements for peat and are included in many of the products on the market today. Sphagnum farming on lowland peatlands in England offers the opportunity to source more alternative materials within the UK as well as providing a more sustainable use of our agricultural peatlands. Therefore, the Lowland Agricultural Peat Task Force will work with the growing media industry to develop its roadmap to commercially viable paludiculture.
 
Natural England’s Peat Pilots programme recently shone a light on the practice of grass turf production on peat (which harvests thin layers of peat) and its potential impact on greenhouse gas emissions. The Great Manchester pilot estimated that there is 151.20 hectares of turf production on Chat Moss, and the East Anglian Fens pilot found several turf growers and suppliers of fen topsoil operating in the area. It has proved difficult to arrive at an estimate of the area of total turf production on peat in England and we currently have no formal emission factor for the practice. We have also identified other, less widespread, uses of peat ranging from its presence in cosmetics to its use in the English whiskey industry. These wider uses of peat require further investigation and as such our consultation will also seek to broaden our understanding of these wider considerations.

Actions:

We will consult on banning the sale of peat and peat containing products in the amateur sector by the end of this parliament. We will publish a full consultation in 2021 to examine the feasibility of the following measures, to end the use of horticultural peat in both the amateur and professional sectors:

●    Setting absolute deadlines to ban the sale of peat in both the amateur and professional sectors.
●    Introducing a point-of-sale charge for the purchase of growing media containing peat. This could use the plastic bag charge as a model.
●    Mandating all sellers of horticultural products containing peat, including plants, to publicly report on the volume of peat they sell each year (in bags or plant pots).
●    Issuing a call for evidence on the wider uses of peat and peat products in the retail sector; for example - grass turf production, cosmetics and industries where peat forms part of the production process.

We will also:

●    Continue to work with the industry to understand the implications of these proposals, identify blockages and work across government and the private sector to develop and enact solutions.
●    Work with and challenge the horticultural sector to reduce the reliance on peat in growing media and associated products in order to prepare the sector for legislation.
●    Continue to support the industry’s Responsible Sourcing Scheme for Growing Media to ensure that the environmental footprint of peat alternatives is minimised.
●    Actively promote the benefits of peat-free growing media to gardeners through public awareness and education; to help shift the demand to peat-free alternatives in advance of legislation, and to soils improvers where they are more appropriate.
●    Identify opportunities to work with the devolved administrations to develop a UK wide approach to horticultural peat and related products.

The England Peat Action Plan can be accessed here

In advance of tomorrows reported publishing of the governments Peat Strategy by George Eustace, DEFRA Minister, the UK gardening industry appears to be preparing for a peat-less future.

The growing media task force, an industry group consisting of Garden Centre Association (GCA), National Farmers Union (NFU), Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), Growing Media Association(GMA) and Responsible Sourcing Scheme (RSS) and coordinated by the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), have announced they will publish a plan in the summer outlining how targets that include removing peat from the retail market by 2025 will be achieved.

The key organisations from horticulture have committed to end the sector’s use of peat, pledging to remove it from the retail market as early as 2025 and no later than the end 2028. For professional horticulture, the range is between 2028 and 2030. Inside the existing target date, both are dependent on government support.

The group’s ‘Responsible Sourcing Statement’ released today highlights how these targets are dependent on support from government, the availability of alternatives and a principle of exceptions for certain types of plants. It outlines the importance of the Responsible Sourcing Scheme for Growing Media initiative, which seeks to communicate the environmental impact of all growing media materials. There needs to be full consideration of what the environmental impact of other materials are when peat is removed.

Speaking on behalf of the group as new data also shows the increase in use of alternatives to peat and the percentage of peat contained in growing media continues to fall, Chairman of the HTA, James Barnes, said: "While just 0.04% of the UK’s peatlands are extracted for horticulture, as a ‘green’ industry we recognise the value of peat as a store of carbon and are firmly committed to removing its use from horticulture. Extraction from England’s peatlands has halved since 2011 and to continue this we need reliable sources of quality alternatives in the quantities required to replace peat. Members of the RSS are committed to achieving and finding new and novel materials.

“The detail around how we do all this needs reasoned and proportionate consideration. We need to make sure any change over to new materials are environmentally responsible. The industry’s RSS is fully committed to this and will not introduce materials which potentially have negative environmental impacts. We need an evidenced based approach, working closely with government to ensure there is the essential support to access peat alternatives and enable the industry to make the changes needed to transition away from peat. We must ensure our horticultural industry is enhanced, not damaged and only when these issues are addressed can the necessary change happen.”

This evening the Garden Centre Association (GCA) has issued a statement saying that it is fully supportive of the need to remove peat from amateur horticulture.

Their statement reads: "We support the Growing Media Taskforce statement and will be working alongside our colleagues in its aims.

"There is a need to assist gardeners in making the transition from peat based growing media and we believe this is possible by 2025, subject to the availability of quality peat free composts to meet consumer demand.
 
"We understand the challenge for the manufacturers, which will be to find sufficient quantities of the right materials necessary to replace peat, so that quality growing media is available to everyone.

"Growers will need a level playing field with imported plants and material support from Government will be absolutely vital, in order for both to be achieved. 
 
"Gardening is a force for good in the population’s mental and physical health and, also, for the environment. 

"The more people that are involved in gardening the more they are aware first-hand of the changes happening in the climate and, so, are more likely to respond positively to adjust the way they live."

Pictured above; the Peat Free Growing Media sales area at Country House Group's Windlesham Plant & Home Centre.

Blue Diamond have reported a record year in their 2020 Report and Accounts with profit before tax up 64% to £23.5m on sales up 11% to £201m and they have also announced the Garden Centre Group will be designing an Artisan Garden at the prestigious RHS Chelsea Flower Show when it returns in September (20-26th September).

Blue Diamond Chairman Simon Burke said: "Our year end net debt was just £5.3m which is 0.2 times EBITDA and a gearing ratio of 4%. Shareholders will have seen from our various updates the roller-coaster nature of the year, but the key factor producing these results has been the sustained strong garden centre trading, focused on plants and garden products, that we saw from the end of the first lockdown in May 2020 right up to Christmas. Overall, this produced an 11% increase in sales, whilst like-for-like sales were flat year on year.

"Within this, however, garden centre sales grew by 24% (12% like-for-like) whereas restaurant sales fell by 42% (46% like-for-like). Once again, the ex-Wyevale stores were the best performers, with garden centre sales growth averaging 25% across the year.

"Our experience of 2020 has left us confident in the future prospects for Blue Diamond. Our strong cash position will enable us to resume investment in our estate, in particular

MD, Alan Roper, adds: "Our like for like garden centre sales increase was 9.7% up against the industry (GCA) performance of 2.7%. However, the restaurants were closed for five months last year, meaning restaurant like-for-like sales dropped by 46%, reducing the gross profit contribution against budget by £14.1m. This deficit was partly offset by the government business support initiatives, which totalled £10.1m.

"The year ended with a very successful Christmas trading period, which saw sales up 29% compared to the industry (GCA) average performance of 10.5%.

"Later this year in 2021 the ground will be broken to make way for two new Blue Diamond centres. One at Scotch Corner and the other on the Elveden Estate in Suffolk.

"Finally, my thanks to the extraordinary efforts, commitment and loyalty made by our employees in this extraordinary, challenging year."

Read the full Blue Diamond 2020 Report and Accounts here

Today, (Monday 17th May) the Blue Diamond Group has announced it will be designing an Artisan Garden at the prestigious RHS Chelsea Flower Show when it returns in September (20-26th September). 

The Blue Diamond Forge Garden (pictured above) is a collaborative design by the team at The Blue Diamond Group who have combined their expertise to create their first garden at the show. The team are working alongside multi-medal winning landscaper, Ross Conquest and his team Conquest Creative Spaces for the construction of the garden.

The garden celebrates the artisan craft of Blacksmithing, inspired by the National Trust’s Branscombe Forge in Devon, which dates back to the 15th Century and continues to operate today. The Blue Diamond Forge Garden in effect is a historical record of Blacksmiths through the ages, a place to feel relaxed, inspired, a functional forge set in a very naturalistic, yet practical setting.

The Garden features a thatched roofed forge built from natural material, containing art and artefacts from previous blacksmiths.  A garden full of wildflowers surrounds the forge providing inspiration for the resident Blacksmith’s metalwork whilst edible plants, medicinal herbs and a stream that flows through the garden provides food and water. Bespoke pieces of art created by today’s Blacksmiths at Branscombe Forge will complete the gardens authentic feel.

Alan Roper said: “We have exhibited in many RHS shows over the years under our Fryer’s Roses brand, however we are proud and excited to be creating our first Blue Diamond garden at the prestigious RHS Chelsea Flower Show this year. “  

“As a company The Blue Diamond Group recognises and cherishes its heritage, whilst evolving to be relevant to today’s customer.  Creativity is very much at the heart of our retail ethos in our centres throughout the UK and Channel Islands. As a team, we wanted to create a garden that represents the ethos of The Blue Diamond Group which we have done by taking inspiration for the garden from the artisan craft of Blacksmithing and the National Trust’s historic Branscombe Forge where I have personally visited many times over the past 40 years!”  

The Blue Diamond Group Team behind the Blue Diamond Forge Garden include Alan Roper, Managing Director of Blue Diamond, James Nuttall Head of Plants, Jill Kerr Events Manager and Rose Category Manager, Kevin Fleming Plant Manager and Anna King Creative Visual Merchandiser. 

Dobbies Garden Centres has revealed that its next two little dobbies stores will open in London on Chiswick High Road and Westbourne Grove.

The new little dobbies stores will be the first locations in the capital, following on the success of Edinburgh and Bristol. They will be stores 72 and 73 across the Dobbies’ estate.

Graeme Jenkins, CEO at Dobbies, said: “We are very pleased to be announcing our first London-based little dobbies stores, reflecting our continuing ambition to develop and grow the business.

“The little dobbies format is proving very successful, offering the Dobbies' experience in towns and cities. It has been created to meet the growing demand to shop local from a growing number of gardening and houseplant enthusiasts.”

The stores will open over the course of June and July. They will be horticulturally focused with a carefully curated range of houseplants, as well as convenience and sustainable gardening products, complemented by a range of selected gifts and seasonal products.

For further information visit dobbies.com

Horticultural solutions and products specialist, Fargro Limited, is preparing for growth in 2021 following the completion of a successful sponsor-backed management buy-out.

The West Sussex-based firm is the UK's largest, and a leading authority, in developing and selling biopesticide solutions and integrated pest/disease management and other specialist products to horticultural growers and amateur gardeners.

Whilst initially negatively impacted by the closure of garden centres due to Covid-19, Fargro has since enjoyed a stellar operating year, capitalising on the increased consumer demand for gardening supplies.

Now the business is preparing for a period of growth following the completion of a successful MBO, backed by sponsor Ashridge Capital.

Richard Hopkins, Managing Director at Fargro Limited, said: “Fargro is a fabulous, well-respected brand, built over 75 years, right from our roots as a co-operative through to demutualisation in 2007.  This investment, our vision, and our passionate management team ensures that we are strongly positioned for a long and healthy future.

“Thanks to the support from both Ashridge Capital and Shawbrook Bank, we can now focus fully on preparing for growth and writing the next chapter of the Fargro story under our own management team. This is an exciting time and we’re very well placed to meet the increasing demand for our products as the UK continues to work through the impact of the pandemic and growers maximise the post-Brexit demand for home-grown food and flowering plants.”

Specialist bank Shawbrook supported Ashridge Capital and Fargro through an undisclosed ABL facility.

Richard added: “The reason we chose to work with Shawbrook in the first place was their experience of MBO situations, including those like our own that featured an external investor, and the team delivered exactly what they proposed.  This is a major event for Fargro, the management team and everyone involved in the business, so certainty and communication make a big difference. 

“Shawbrook’s team were proactive throughout, and the flexible funding structure, including consideration of seasonality and truly understanding our business performance despite Covid meant that they emerged as the only lending partner for us.”

Fargro has been trading since 1946 and has held a Royal Warrant – a mark of quality – since 1971. The business also has an e-commerce B2C division – The Garden Superstore – which supplies the home and garden market.

David Sherratt, Founder and CEO of Ashridge Capital, the sponsor behind Fargro’s management buy-out, said: “Fargro is a great business led by a very impressive management team, and we’re delighted to support the MBO and its growth plans – aided by having Shawbrook onboard as a committed and very capable funding partner.”

Steven Munt, Relationship Director at Shawbrook Bank, said: “This was an outstanding opportunity to support a great business with a tailored ABL facility that recognises the seasonality of Fargro’s trading pattern and mix of assets.  We look forward to seeing the business continue its journey and fulfilling its vision to be the trusted, go-to provider of solutions and products for the UK horticultural industry.”

Adrian Alexander, Corporate Finance partner at FRP, said: “The Horticulture sector has come to prominence firstly due to climate change and consumer concerns over ‘food miles’.

“Secondly it has been one of the key beneficiaries of a difficult year for the economy, with businesses like Fargro playing an important role in facilitating the uptick in demand as people have spent more time at home. Opportunities for growth will no doubt continue as homeowners demand more UK grown products and further indulge their new-found love for gardening, and we look forward to seeing Fargro going from strength to strength as a result.”

Shawbrook Bank was advised by Shoosmiths. Fargro was advised by Irwin Mitchell (Legal) and FRP Advisory (Corporate Finance and Debt Advisory). Ashridge Capital was advised by Porter Dodson (Legal) and Jenson Solutions (Financial Due Diligence).

In advance of the launch of GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards 2020, GTN's Northern Correspondent, Steve Myatt, paid a visit to Barton Grange to bring you this first GTN Xtra Christmas photo tour.

To add your garden centre Christmas photo tour to GTN Xtra simply get snapping and enter The Greatest Christmas Awards.  See the categories here.  Send an e-mail to trevor@pottingshedpress.co.uk for more details

Here's a sneak preview of the photo tour submitted by Squires at Badshot Lea as part of their entry in GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards 2020.

There's over £7,000 worth of prizes to be won in GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards 2020 so get snapping and enter your garden centre team today!

Full details are here.

Here's a sneak preview of Perrywoods photo tour entry in GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards for 2020, including the vital ingredient for all entries, team photos. See the gallery of photos below.  Apologies for the wrong photos being included in yesterdays edition.

There's over £7,000 worth of prizes to be won in GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards so get snapping and enter today.  Full details can be found here.

Every week GTN receives and analyses epos data from a number of UK garden centres to produce the GTN Bestsellers charts and weekly bestsellers sales tips.

The full charts which provide useful insight into product sales peaks, new trends and new link sales opportunities are published in the weekly GTN Xtra newsletter.

As the year goes on we give sales volume comparisons with 2018 as well as 2019 to allow your teams to see variations over a three year period.

Access is by subscription only.  For £145.00 per year you and your team can have access to the most up-to-date gardening sales analysis that has already helped many UK garden centres increase their sales.  To subscribe call 07973 504214, e-mail karen@pottingshedpress.co.uk or buy on-line using this link.

Highlights of the GTN Garden Products Bestsellers chart for last week are here

Highlights of the GTN Garden Plants Bestsellers chart for last week are here

Highlights of the GTN Growing Media Bestsellers chart for last week are here

Highlights of the GTN Veg-2-Gro Bestsellers chart for last week are here

WARNING the GTN Bestsellers Charts seriously improve the business of our subscribers.  Invest 15 minutes each week in improving your sales using the GTN Bestsellers charts and your turnover and customer satisfaction will improve too.

Get the GTN Bestsellers charts in full every week in the GTN Bestsellers newsletters for only £145.00.

GTN Bestsellers is the only industry source of weekly garden centre sales information, collating Epos data from centres with an aggregate turnover in excess of £100m.

Use the weekly Garden Products and Growing Media Top 50 sales volumes charts to plan your hotspot and other promotions and ensure you have the right products in stock to satisfy the needs of your customers.

For further information contact karen@pottingshedpress.co.uk or call 07973504214.

Buy your subscription today and start receiving the GTN Bestsellers charts this week.

Fish4Pets, home of the Fish4Dogs brand, has launched a new range of fish-based treats, specifically designed for puppies.

The champions of fish are well known in the pet food industry for pioneering fish as ‘the perfect protein’, packed full of natural, healthy goodness for our canine companions.

Karen Hubbard, Product Portfolio Manager at Fish4Pets, said: "We have one of the largest range of treats in the industry, utilising many different varieties and formats of natural, healthy, sustainably-sourced fish, and whilst many of our treats are suitable for puppies, we have never before had a specific life stage range.

"We have taken three of our leading alluring adult dog treats and formulated them specifically for growing puppies, each product in the range addressing a specific need of a developing puppy." 

The new range gives puppy owners absolute confidence that the treats are appropriate for their new canine companions and that they are safe and healthy for them to enjoy.

The new packaging, which complements the adult range, but clearly differentiates the two categories, also makes it much easier for retailers to merchandise, and simpler for the consumer to make an informed product selection.

For a puppy training regime, Fish4Dogs Puppy Superstars Sardine treats are small, crunchy treats which are wildly aromatic to keep a puppy engaged.

To support the development needs of a puppy Fish4Dogs Puppy White Fish Mini Morsels are delicious, tiny fish-shaped treats that are super tasty and enhanced with prebiotics to help support good digestion. Perfect for delicate tummies. 

Supporting joint development, Fish4Dogs Puppy Salmon Mini Morsels are flavour-packed, mini fish-shaped treats with added nutrients that support good joint health.

All the treats in the new Puppy range are grain-free, healthy, and full of marine-sourced omega 3, known to support joints, skin, coat and cognitive development, so a perfect complement to healthy feeding.

The puppy treats range is the second in an extensive programme of new product introductions for the Fish4Dogs brand this year. The brand introduced a senior variant to its Finest Dry Complete range in January and has plans for more exciting new food and treats later in the year. 

For more details on the Fish4Dogs Puppy Treats products, please contact your representative, or call Fish4Pets on +44 (1299) 252 352.

Wilsons Pet Food first launched their Wilsons to the Rescues campaign in 2019 with the aim to help support dogs in need at rescue centres across the UK, and this month they mark an impressive 20,000 meals donated.

Having produced pet food in Scotland for 160 years, Wilsons produce a range of nutritious and delicious cold pressed and raw frozen dog food in their purpose-built factories, using 100% natural and quality ingredients. 

Over the last year, as pet owners have started to become more aware of what is in their dog food leading them to search for more nutritious and natural pet food, Wilsons has seen a positive increase in sales. They are now stocked in over 250 stores across the UK, along with the launch of their new website and the relaunch of their eco-pack dog food which means across their range, every product is either fully biodegradable, compostable or recyclable.

For every pack of Wilsons Pet Food sold, another 2.5% of the volume is donated to charity. So with each 10kg bag, 250g of cold pressed dog food is donated - that’s enough to feed a medium sized dog for a day!

Most recently, they have proudly supported Snowdonia Animal Sanctuary and The Red Foundation following nominations from their customers, with donations to these sites totalling over 1,700kg. 

As they enter their 160^th year of producing pet food in Scotland, Wilsons have been busy building their brand awareness and developing their eco-conscious range of pet food, which received an extremely positive reaction and has helped them increase their customer base.

Craig Wallace, MD at Wilsons Pet Food, says: “We have seen significant growth over the last 12 months and as a business it is so important to us to give some of this back to rescue centres across the UK.  It is part of our moral obligation as a business and something we want to continue to support. We look forward to hitting our next milestone of donating over 50,000 meals to rescue dogs. Thank you to our retail partners and customers for helping us make this happen.”

Voting for our next rescue centre is now open on the Wilsons Pet Food website.

Find out more about Wilsons to the Rescues and their range of quality dog food at www.wilsonspetfood.co.uk.

According to new research by dog food brand Laughing Dog, 47 percent of dog owners are dreading having to return to working in an office full time with the prospect of leaving their pets home alone, with one third saying they worry they will both suffer from separation anxiety.

Veterinary expert Dr Michael Lazaris, who is working with British dog food brand Laughing Dog on their new ‘dog happy dinners’ campaign said:  "This Laughing Dog research has proven more and more people treat their dog as an important member of the family too, almost as much as their own siblings(!)….British dog owners really do prioritise their pet’s and that health and happiness.

Dr Michel advised that separation anxiety is very real issue and we can all start to take steps to help minimise this: 

“Tackle the problem before it becomes an issue…Start working in absences while you’re working from home. So maybe leave your house for about 5 – 10 minutes, just do that once or twice a day to get your dog used to you not being there and then you can gradually increase the time that you are away. 

“Another useful tip is you could record or set up a camera while you are out, just to see what your dog is doing so you can see if they are showing any signs of separation anxiety.

“You need to feed your dog or take your dog for walks – it encourages you to go outside. . Even if you are feeling down and out one day or feeling a bit depressed or anxious, your dog gives you something to get up for or go out for.

“You should always have something in place to make sure our dog is not left for more than 4 hours unattended. Many of us are out of the house for maybe 11 or 11 hours a day and if you do own a dog that is definitely something you need to consider and plan for.”

So close is the bond between owner and dog that one third of owners claim they can tell when their furry friend is feeling upset or anxious, with further findings revealing:

Two thirds of Brits have become even closer to their four-legged friends during challenging times within the last 12 months (66 percent). It’s no surprise that 32 percent have found their furry friend to be a lifeline over the last twelve months, with 24 percent adding that caring for their dog has given them something to focus on. Meanwhile 69 percent agree that dogs can help their owners cope better with problems like depression and anxiety.

Dr Lazaris goes on to comment: “What’s equally as extraordinary is how the bond with our dogs has strengthened whilst we’ve been at home during lockdown, with 66% of owners saying they now feel closer to their beloved pets. This shows us how dogs can be an important lifeline when people are suffering with their mental health, something that has become far more prevalent in the past 12 months. As much as we want the absolute best for our furry companions, they clearly want the same for us, which is why feeding them a healthy diet is so important!"

The research also reveals that the dog photo capital of the UK is Liverpool, where owners will snap up to 174 photos a year of their pet pooch. This was closely followed by Glasgow (134), Belfast (128) and Cambridge (121).