Woodstock Chimes founder and owner, Garry Kvistad, on his front porch, enjoying his Chimes of Olympos – the original Woodstock Chime.

• Authentic and original musically tuned windchime
• Premier quality, affordable & value priced
• Created by GRAMMY® Award-winning musician Garry Kvistad
• The choice of discerning UK customers for nearly 40 years
• Chimes are in stock and ship within 48 hours from our UK warehouse

The first ever musically tuned windchime

Woodstock Chimes founder and owner, Garry Kvistad, created the first windchime tuned to specific musical notes. In the 1970s he was fascinated by the scale of Olympos, a musical scale from the 7^th century B.C., that couldn’t be played on modern instruments. Inspiration struck when he realised he could cut and tune aluminium tubes to the exact frequencies of that ancient scale, and just like that the first musically tuned windchime was born! Garry continues to be the talent behind the design and tuning of all Woodstock Chimes.

The Amazing Grace Chime – Medium, tuned to the opening notes of the popular hymn.

In the beginning, Woodstock Chimes were tuned to scales from various world cultures, such as the Chimes of Kyoto™, which are tuned to an ancient Japanese scale. From there Garry added chimes that paid homage to beloved composers such as Mozart and Pachelbel, and introduced more modern tunings, such as the Amazing Grace Chime™ (above), tuned to the opening notes of that popular hymn.

GRAMMY® Award Winner at the Helm

In addition to his work at Woodstock Chimes, Garry is a professional musician. He has been performing and recording with the ensemble Steve Reich and Musicians since 1979 and is one of the 18 musicians to win a GRAMMY® Award for the 1998 recording of Steve Reich’s Music for 18 Musicians. In 2002 Garry joined NEXUS, the internationally renowned chamber music ensemble based in Canada. Called “the high priests of the percussion world” by the New York Times, NEXUS is considered to be one of the premier percussion ensembles in the world today.

Nearly 40 Years of Chimes

A family-owned business, Woodstock Chimes has been making beautiful music for nearly 40 years. During this time, our product line has expanded many times over. We have the widest variety of price points, tunings and designs in the industry. Many of our chimes now include removable windcatchers that can be personalised to commemorate life events, making the gift of a Woodstock Chime even more special.

Garry is passionate about music, which is why the music made by our windchimes, bells and gongs is unparalleled in the industry.

Hearing a Woodstock Chime is like listening to a

perfectly tuned musical instrument, played by the wind.

See all the Woodstock Chimes UK products here

www.woodstock-chimes.co.uk

White Pebble International
Unit 2, Plot 11, Terminus Road
Chichester PO198 TX UK
Tel +44(0)1243 780501
Fax +44(0)1243 839332
info@whitepebbleint.com

As the school summer holidays arrive there is a flurry of new summer activities at garden centres this year.  Adding to the plethora of garden centre beaches there are outdoor cinemas (Webbs), crazy golf courses (Bents), maize mazes (Skylark) and now at least three Fairy & Dragon grottos (Hayes, Ruxley and Whitehall) opening.

As our graph below shows the summer low in garden centre sales volumes is very consistent year after year.  If only a substitute for Christmas could be found to drive high footfall and therefore push sales and create a summer peak instead.

Given the sales levels of garden lighting, plants looking great and other combinations of instant summer garden decoration any increases in family footfall generated by these initiatives could be the start of a new trend.

Are you opening a new summer footfall driving attraction this year? Let us know about your idea: trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

• Garden Products Top 50 – down 20%
• Growing Media Top 50 – down 17%
• Veg 2 Gro Products Top 50 – down 19%
• All Plants index – down 10%
• All Items index – down 8%

Since its founding over 20 years ago, in Richmond, Virginia USA Evergreen Enterprises has grown into being the #1 décor supplier to Garden Centres throughout the USA.

In mid-August, they will release their Spring 2018 range for the UK. This new Spring brochure will be comprised of more than 50% new products, joining the very best selling pieces from the 2017 range.
As a sneak preview, here are a few of the new product categories you’ll see:

  

Evergreen’s Sassafras Switch Mats provide an inexpensive way to dress up any entryway. These colorful, durable mats sit perfectly in their all-weather mat frames (sold separately) provided the perfect system through which your customers can change to a variety of mat styles and themes throughout the year.

  

Their texture of their dimensional Embossed Mats elevates both the design and function. These 46cm x 76cm mats are made of outdoor safe polypropylene and feature a rubber back to keep them secure on your porch or floor.

  

Fun whimsical Door Décor offers a unique way to decorate a door or gate. Offered in a variety of materials, these colorful pieces clearly demonstrate how Evergreen’s Attention to Detail Makes the Difference at Retail!

See these and many more of Evergreen’s fresh, innovative, quality products by visiting their stand at GLEE, or by contacting them at:

White Pebble International
Unit 2, Plot 11, Terminus Road
Chichester PO198 TX UK

Tel +44(0)1243 780501

Fax +44(0)1243 839332

info@whitepebbleint.com

One of the UK’s leading manufacturers and suppliers of top gardening brands Slug Gone, Green Up, Q4 and Nippon, is expanding its operations following a season of significant growth.

Vitax Limited, which is based in Leicestershire, is investing in the expansion of its production facility in Skelmersdale and warehouse in Coalville to meet demand for the 2017/2018 season.

Trusted by both professional and amateur gardeners, the manufacturer has continued to see year-on-year growth, with retail sales outperforming projected forecasts for 2016/17.

“Each year Vitax invests in new products that gardeners want and need. Developing a range of specialist products, coupled with improved marketing of our core brands has contributed to a busy season,” says Daniel Wilkinson, Vitax’s managing director.

“The surge in demand has highlighted the need to invest in our production facilities to not only meet future orders, but ensure we continue to deliver a first-class service to our customers.

“This year’s unexpected increase in sales across our complete range has highlighted areas for improvement and by expanding our Skelmersdale operations and warehouse facilities, we will continue to meet the orders placed by new and existing customers.”

Although investment in the new facilities will take priority over the coming months, it is not the only investment the company will be committing to as Wilkinson explains: “During the past couple of years we have improved our marketing and packaging to help support garden centres promote key brands.

“This has included the re-design of many products as well as new, waterproof packaging. For the 2016/17 season we took it one step further by bringing brand consistency to both the commercial and retail side of the business with the launch of three new websites.

“A key part of that investment was the creation of Garden World, a new consumer-led website developed to introduce and provide enthusiastic gardeners with all the information they need about Vitax, its product range and where products can be purchased.

“This has helped drive gardeners towards local stockists and next season, we will once again be supporting our customers by providing new point of sale material and stands to accompany key products.

“Visitors to Glee will be the first to see the new marketing materials, as well as inspiration as to how products can be displayed to generate maximum sales,” says Wilkinson.

For more information about Garden World, visit: www.gardenworld.co.uk

New garden products for growers are in abundance on exhibitors' stands in the British pavilion at spoga+gafa 2017.  Among the latest innovations in the growing sector are biodegradable seed pods, raised beds, grow pots, growhouses, self-watering pot systems, plant nutrients, nursery greenhouse products, a simple-to-use weather responsive digital tap timer and a range of gifts for gardeners.  

Other sectors of the garden market are also well served with new solar powered lighting, outdoor refrigerators, wall trellis, bird control items, animal deterrents, decorative obelisks, garden storage sheds and many more innovations. 

The British group has been organised by the Gardenex export federation, whose team will be manning a British information stand for the benefit of visiting buyers.

The British exhibitors are as follows: 

ALM Manufacturing (Hall 6.1, Stand D50) is exhibiting its wide range of consumable parts for garden power machinery.  The family-owned company, based in England, manufactures trimmer spools and plastic blades for almost every electric/battery grass trimmer on the market, including private label brands.  Supplied with high quality trimmer line, the company’s spools offer a direct replacement for the original/OEM spool and line.  A comprehensive range of oils, chainsaw chains, lawnmower blades and greenhouse parts are also available.

Apollo Gardening (Hall 9.1, Stand D33) is a leading supplier of products for all uses within the garden and DIY sector.  The company’s focus remains on providing quality and great value with new products ranging from greenhouse heaters to incinerators to coloured mini bins.  Apollo Gardening also provides landscape fabrics, nets and meshes, maintenance tools and much more.

Blastcool Outdoor Refrigeration (Hall 7.1, Stand B32) is launching its new Extremis range of outdoor refrigerators.  They are claimed to be Europe’s only range of electrically safety approved outdoor food and beverage chillers. Designed for climates of up to 43c and as cold as -30c, the new Extremis range is designed for any conditions.  The refrigerators are water-resistant, rust proof and cool 5 times faster than conventional chillers.

Boskke (Hall 10.1, Stand F32) is exhibiting its beautiful and functional urban gardening products. Boskke is evolved gardening design.  The company has improved conventional gardening tools and products for contemporary urban lifestyles and has encouraged abundant greenery in homes and workplaces.  The product range includes Boskke Sky Planters -- hanging flowerpots designed to decorate walls or ceiling spaces in order to create vibrant floral arrangements, light and airy soaring orchids, tropical ferns or exotic flowers.

Catwatch (Hall 9.1, Stand D34) is extending its range of UK manufactured animal deterrents with the addition of an indoor mouse deterrent that offers an effective alternative to poisons and traps.

G Plants Ltd (UK) (Hall 9.1, Stand E35) is launching its BEES™ Gifts, a new range of gardening and growing gifts for year-round sales.  The gifts include quality planters with spring flowering and summer flowering varieties, as well as other gifts designed for the gardener.

Gardenex (Hall 9.1, Stand C34) is The Federation of Garden & Leisure Manufacturers Ltd, the export trade association that brings together UK suppliers and international buyers.  The association has organised a group of British exhibitors at spoga+gafa for over 40 years.   Gardenex provides a free supplier and product sourcing service for international buyers, and its sister division, PetQuip, offers similar services in the petcare product sector.  The information stand at spoga+gafa will be manned by the Federation’s multi-lingual team of industry experts who are happy to help with any buyer enquiries.  Free refreshments are also available on the stand for overseas buyers and buyers can obtain their copy of the latest edition of the federation's guide to British gardening products and services. 

Harrod Horticultural (Hall 9.1, Stand D30) is a leading supplier of arches, obelisks, supports, crop cages and raised beds.  Recently added products include decorative wall trellis panels, indoor log store solutions, raised beds and hoop systems.  The company’s award winning, UK manufactured garden structures collection features unique designs.

Haws Watering Cans (Hall 9.1, Stand C32) is renowned in the UK and overseas markets for its quality metal and plastic indoor and outdoor watering cans.  The company began hand-crafting watering cans in 1886, and since then has added new designs and colours to its extensive range.  In addition to watering cans, the company manufactures quality gifts for the garden and home.

home2gardens.co.uk (Hall 9.1, Stand E31) is exhibiting its new Magic LED String Lights.   Enclosed in a perfectly transparent, high quality glass sphere which hangs from a straight, black chord, a multitude of small, sporadic LED bulbs are randomly spaced internally, creating refracted curves and splinters of subtle light. The pieces emit a golden yellow light in order to achieve a unique glowing ambience.  The solar powered lights are fitted with a dusk sensor, and light up as the evening approaches.  The elegant lights are both water and frost-proof, so can be installed wirelessly outside.

Hum Pots (Hall 9.1, Stand D36) is extending its range of growing pots with the addition of two new sizes.  The new small Hum Pots (15cm) are perfect for window sills and for growing kitchen herbs.  Decorated in beautiful patterns and colours, these plastic pots are UV-resistant for outside or inside.  The new large Hum Pots (25cm) can hold bigger plants and look fantastic on patios and balconies.  Together with the original medium size pot, they make a set of three, all manufactured in the UK.

Hydrogarden (Hall 9.1, Stand D31) is showing its PLANT!T GoGro, a new, ingenious and versatile self-watering pot system, requiring minimal upkeep and designed for maximum yields.   GoGro’s patented valve controls the flow of water into a tray with capillary action, keeping media hydrated so that the plants are always watered.  Also on show is The VitaLink Try ME Pack that provides essential nutrients for your GoGro, producing strong root systems, healthy vegetative growth and abundant fruit/flower development.

Irrigatia (Hall 6.1, Stand D41a) manufactures a range of weather responsive solar automatic watering systems.  In addition to the well-established eco series that pump water directly from a rain barrel, Irrigatia has now introduced a Weather Responsive Digital Tap Timer.  The timer adjusts the period of watering according to the weather, which means that more sun equals more water. It is simple to setup and use and enables expert gardeners to adopt more sophisticated watering.

Kent & Stowe (Hall 9.1, Stand E33) is displaying its ranges of ‘Know your soil’ heavy duty tools, children’s tools and weeding tools.  The Kent & Stowe collection covers all aspects of digging, cultivating, cutting and tidying; ensuring that gardeners have the right tool for the job.  The company’s tools are based upon the designs and drawings of garden tools from the 1800s, combined with the benefits of modern manufacturing; constructed using current and more advanced techniques to improve both strength and quality.

Porous Pipe (Hall 9.1, Stand D32) manufactures porous pipe irrigation hoses and watering kits in the UK and sells the product to horticulture & irrigation distributors.  The company also exports its products to over 15 countries, including Eire, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, USA, Canada and South Africa.  The product is renowned for its recycling properties and for its intelligent use of water. It uses up to 60 per cent less water than other conventional watering methods.

SeedCell (Hall 9.1, Stand D34a) is showing its award- winning, easy to use, biodegradable, plantable pods filled with seeds.  The pods are made in the UK from peat-free recycled materials. The pods are simply pushed into the soil and then water added, allowing anyone to grow fresh herbs and vegetables from seeds, even where space is limited.  Successful growing results can be achieved by users with no experience in gardening.

Smart Garden Products (Hall 9.1, Stand D21) is a leading supplier of garden products, committed to introducing an extensive selection of new products each year, along with eye catching packaging and merchandising solutions.  The range of products includes solar powered lights and water features, battery powered lights, clocks, lanterns, doormats, garden décor, hanging garden and plant supports.  New decorative products include flower stakes, glass decorative items as well as a new generation of growhouses.

STV International Ltd (Hall 6.1, Stand B32), the specialist home and garden pest control product supplier, is launching a brand-new range of bird control products under the Defenders brand.  The range, designed to scare away common garden pests, includes Floating Croc Head and Snake, The Hunting Falcon, Hunting Owl and Hawk Kite designs.  The products have multi-lingual packaging, making them perfect for a multitude of European markets.

Trimetals Limited (Hall 6.1, Stand A43) has added four more sizes to the Guardian Shed selection, ranging from 3x3ft to 6x3ft.  The company’s superior quality sheds are modern in style and are ideal for general garden use for storing tools, ladders, sports, etc.  A new parcel delivery box has been introduced that is perfect for larger items that cannot be accommodated in a letter box.  The box is able to store multiple items, and keep them safe from the weather and theft.

VegTrug Ltd (Hall 9.1, Stand D35) is the manufacturer of the original, iconic raised-bed planter.   New at the show is a VegTrug nursery greenhouse package, Bee Bar insert for the VegTrug, modular trellis concept and decorative obelisks in stunning colours.  There is also a Poppy Go and classic VegTrug range in new grey wash.

Waspinator (Hall 9.1, Stand D36a) is exhibiting its visual wasp repellent that contains no chemicals and requires no maintenance.  It is designed to change the behaviour of foraging wasps and makes them stay away from gardens and back yards in areas where the device is positioned.  Waspinator is a best-selling product in hardware stores and garden centres, and is ideal for mail order.

Worth Gardening/Garland (Hall 9.1, Stand C30) has added over 70 new products for the 2018 season.   Among the items is a four-tier grow pot tower with an 11ltr planting capacity.   The self-watering tower is 1.5m high, has a 4ltr water reservoir and is available in three colours.  Also new is a polypropylene lawn rake with a wooden handle.  Four new garden covers for hanging chairs and casual dining sets have been introduced, as well as a litter picker, plastic bags, basket liners, spiral tree guard, flexible ties together with other garden care products.

Yardmaster International (Hall 6.1, Stand E50) is showing its flat-packed DIY metal garden sheds that are available in a choice of sizes, colours, finishes and roof types.  Made exclusively from premium hot dipped galvanised steel, Yardmaster sheds are highly resistant to rust, blistering, cracking, warping, swelling or damage from pets and insects.  Yardmaster’s sheds require no painting or the use or preservatives and are virtually maintenance-free.

For further information on the British exhibitors or Gardenex, the trade association that works on behalf of British companies to help them increase sales worldwide,

telephone:  +44 (0) 44 1959 565995   or   fax:  +44 (0) 1959 565885

Email:  info@gardenex.com  or visit the Gardenex website on  www.gardenex.com

With stand visitors and sales orders for 2018 at record levels, leading UK barbecue supplier Outback International voted this year's NEC Solex Exhibition "an outstanding success".

Mark Osborne, Outback CEO said: "Offering a selection of freshly-cooked barbecue dishes on the stand proved a great attraction among trade buyers, and meant we were able to host a number of top executives in a relaxed business setting over the three days of the show.

"We more than doubled our visitor throughput, with garden centre, on-line and specialist sector buyers keen to invest in the Outback brand across the board."

Trade confidence in the Outback portfolio was seen as a reflection of continuing interest among UK consumers in the premium end of the market, with one buyer snapping up 15 of the company's latest top-end innovation the Bar-Grill - a combination of barbecue and bar that adds a new focal point to the alfresco dining scene.

While Outback plans to build on the success of its Bar-Grill concept by offering a choice of different finishes next year to complement the existing stucco and marble-top model, the soaraway Solex star attraction was the Jupiter series of 3, 4 and 6-burner gas barbecues in a choice of striking red or stainless steel design.

The barbecue's centre plate that accommodates a pizza stone, wok or griddle - stored alongside utility trays to hold menu ingredients - has proved to be a major selling point in the Jupiter's success since its 2016 launch.

"Alongside the established popularity of our Meteor range, the Jupiter barbecue proves the added value to the trade of offering  a selection of premium barbecues to an increasingly discerning consumer", said Mark Osborne.

Finally, the strength and appeal of the brand was underlined by the high level of interest in and sales of the Outback padded relaxer chair range which, alongside the new patio heaters, flame tower and gazebo, demonstrates the company's stake in the outdoor leisure market.

Further information from Mark Osborne on 07795 422871, mark@outbackbbqs.com

Leading home improvement and garden wholesaler, Decco has been appointed as the exclusive distributor for Johnston & Jeff premium quality bird food, feeders, feeding stations, bird tables and nest boxes. 

The range is one of the oldest and highest quality in this category and is ideal for independent DIY, hardware and garden retailers, garden centres and agricultural merchants.

Supplier Relations Manager of Decco, Chris Gladwin commenting on the company’s latest launch, explained, “Wild bird care is an immensely successful sector.  In fact, it has been so successful that some aspects of the market have become far too commoditised, with a consequent decline in product quality.    At Decco, we know that this is a category in which our retail customers want us to be active, and feel that the time is right to offer a top-quality product that is correctly produced, nutritionally excellent and superior in ways which our customers will recognise and appreciate.  Johnston & Jeff is a long-established British brand, which offers exactly that combination of retail benefits.”

Johnston & Jeff has been supplying wild bird care products since 1880.  Its range is all produced in house, including the manufacture of their wooden nest boxes and bird tables. The bird food range includes thirteen different seeds, feeds and blends, ranging from specialist products such as niger seeds which are ideal for finches, tits and siskins to more familiar items such as sunflower hearts and peanuts.  All ingredients are sourced for their quality and nutritional value, with several crops grown to Johnston & Jeff’s own specification.  All seeds and feeds undergo a rigorous cleaning process which ensures not only the best results for bird health, but also the elimination of the dust and residue which can undermine the retail value of competitor products.

Blended feeds are mixed to Johnston & Jeff in house formulations, ensuring the correct levels of nutrition for the targeted species. Specialist blends include superior wild bird food with fruit, premium wheat free with suet and a robin and songbird mix. The range also includes mealworms, fat balls, fat feast half coconut shells, suet pellets and suet blocks.  

Chris Gladwin continued, “All the Johnston & Jeff bird food packaging enables the consumer to view the product quality and the feeds are complemented with a range of bird tables, nest boxes, feeders and feeding stations.  Decco customers can also benefit from an excellent support package of product presentation, point of sale, a wall feeding chart and stand deals to ensure maximum sales in-store.”  

Interested retailers should contact Hannah Griffiths on 01635 556650 or email hannah.griffiths@decco.co.uk

www.decco.co.uk

North East and North West regional members of The Garden Centre Association collected their 2017 regional awards during a presentation last Wednesday, July 19, at Klondyke Strikes Wilmslow Garden Centre.

In the North East, Cowell’s Garden Centre was awarded Garden Centre of the Year in the Garden Centre (GC) category and Tong Garden Centre received Garden Centre of the Year in the Destination Garden Centre category. In the North West Fron Goch Garden Centre (GC) and Bents Garden & Home, above, (DGC) received the accolade.

Iain Wylie, Chief Executive of the GCA, said: “The second round of our regional awards meetings was extremely enjoyable and we’d like to say a big ‘thank you’ to Klondyke Strikes Wilmslow Garden Centre for being wonderful hosts.

“It was great to see our members picking up their awards, which included Klondyke Lady Green Garden Centre collecting the Dick Allen Award for Most Improved Centre in the North West and Tong Garden Centre in the North East.

“The winners of The Barton Grange Trophy for Innovation and Creativity were Cowell’s Garden Centre in the North East and Bents Garden & Home in the North West.”

The next regional awards meeting for the Midlands will take place at Planters, Tamworth on Tuesday, July 25.

The full results for the North East and North West regions GCA area awards are as follows for the GC and DGC categories:

North East

Garden Centre of the Year: Cowell’s Garden Centre (GC) and Tong Garden Centre (DGC)

Best Customer Service: Klondyke Stokesley Garden Centre

Environment and Community Award for Best Environmental Practice: Klondyke Stokesley Garden Centre

The Barton Grange Trophy for Innovation and Creativity: Cowell’s Garden Centre

The Dick Allen Award for Most Improved Centre: Tong Garden Centre

The ifse Award for Catering Excellence for Best Garden Centre Restaurant: Klondyke Northallerton Garden Centre (GC) and Tong Garden Centre (DGC)

The GIMA Award for Best Garden Products Retailer: Cowell’s Garden Centre (GC) and Tong Garden Centre (DGC)

Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer: RHS Harlow Carr Plant Centre and Gift Shop (GC) and Heighley Gate Garden Centre (DGC)

Best Outdoor Living Retailer: Coletta & Tyson joint winner with Klondyke Beverley Garden Centre (GC) and Tong Garden Centre joint winner with Langlands Garden Centre - Shiptonthorpe (DGC)

North West

Garden Centre of the Year: Fron Goch Garden Centre (GC) and Bents Garden & Home (DGC)

Best Customer Service: Barton Grange Garden Centre

Environment and Community Award for Best Environmental Practice: Bents Garden & Home

The Barton Grange Trophy for Innovation and Creativity: Bents Garden & Home

The Dick Allen Award for Most Improved Centre: Klondyke Lady Green Garden Centre

The ifse Award for Catering Excellence for Best Garden Centre Restaurant: Fron Goch Garden Centre (GC) and Bents Garden & Home (DGC)

The GIMA Award for Best Garden Products Retailer: Fron Goch Garden Centre (GC) and Barton Grange Garden Centre (DGC)

Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer: Fairways Garden Centre – Macclesfield (GC) and Barton Grange Garden Centre (DGC)

Best Outdoor Living Retailer: Fron Goch Garden Centre (GC) and Gordale Nurseries (DGC)

The GCA represents nearly 200 garden centres nationwide. Through sharing information and its inspection programme the GCA helps members to achieve high standards in customer service, plant quality and reliability.

For further information, please call 01244 952170. Alternatively, please visit www.gca.org.uk, log on to www.facebook.com/pages/GardenCentreAssociation or follow the organisation on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GC_Association.  

Greenfingers Charity commissioned TV Gardener Adam Frost to design the new Courtyard Garden at Keech Hospice Care, Luton with the help and support of Homebase.

As an existing good friend of Greenfingers, the charity was delighted to invite Adam to perform the official opening ceremony held on Monday 17 July 2017.

This is the  53^rd therapeutic and recreational garden built by Greenfingers Charity in children’s hospices around the UK, from the Isle of Wight to Loch Lomond. Funding for this project very much relied on the generosity of the Homebase DIY chain who have been donating all the 5p carrier bag tax collected since the levy was introduced in October 2015.

The original plain space was transformed from a drab concrete courtyard with the muscles and resources of Jody Lidgard and his team of skilled craftsmen at Bespoke Outdoor Spaces. They created a colourful, three-dimensional garden with easy access for wheelchairs using plants that will delight all the senses of the adults and children who spend time at Keech Hospice Care and their visitors. Jody and his team have also been commissioned by Greenfingers Charity to work on the design and build at  another children’s hospice garden in the grounds of St Andrew’s Children’s Hospice, Grimsby – due to be created later this year.

Speaking at the opening, Adam Frost said, “I hope this Courtyard Garden surprises people to start with and then puts a smile on their faces. It’s a wonderful space which life-limited children and adults can use in many different ways.”

Until now the courtyard garden at Keech Hospice Care, which supports adults from Luton and South Bedfordshire, and children from Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Milton Keynes, has remained relatively bereft of interesting plants or features since the hospice opened twenty-six years ago.

Adam said he designed the new garden to be a vision of bright colours, with a water feature at its centre and chose bold circular patterns to take visitors on a journey. “I didn’t want to be too clever, but it’s not just any place we are creating. It’s a space that mums and dads and their kids will use and where patients can look out to when they’re being cared for and having their complementary therapy.

“I’ve tried to bring wildlife and the garden inside the hospice and give patients here at Keech Hospice Care a place that is calm and reflective,” said Adam.

Liz Searle, Chief Executive Officer at Keech Hospice Care, said “The new garden will give patients and their families a space to relax at a time in their lives when it matters the most.”

She continued, “It’s the perfect place to just sit and be still. It provides a beautiful space for the opportunity of reflecting, relaxing and escapism not only for patients but also our excellent care team and volunteers. At a time when a person needs peace and quiet or when families want to sit, laugh and make memories – Adam’s garden will be there.

“We all love the bright colours of the garden as we are a hospice full of life! It’s a real oasis, it’s magical. We’ll be showing it off to the public at KeechFest on Sunday, 10 September 2017 as we invite everyone to buy tickets and join us for an afternoon of live music here at Keech Hospice Care.”

Tickets for KeechFest on Sunday, 10 September 2017, which will feature an afternoon of live music can be bought at www.keech.org.uk/keechfest or by phoning 01582 707940. 

Planters Garden Centre, Tamworth have installed two ‘Walk the plank’ elements in time for the 2017 school summer holidays.

The 6-inch wide stand-alone beams set the stage for a daring walk of 6 feet without handrails! Planters have installed a static plank on the lower level and on the upper level a tipping plank, the first of it’s kind in Europe. The tipping plank slightly tips forward when the participant walks further than 1ft, this elicits a rush, adding to the fear and adrenaline fuelled fun as you walk towards the edge and see the ground, over 24ft below!

Manufactured in the USA and shipped to the UK, Planters is the first in the UK and Europe to install a ‘Tipping Plank’ on the popular Sky Trail Navigator attraction.

Gerald continued: "Planters really is the home of Summer Fun, including our bigger than ever ‘Beach’ with all the fun of the seaside without driving to the coast! A fantastic play area for little adventurers and not forgetting Sky Trail for the brave and daring! Our pet area is home to cute & furry friends, we have an aquatics centre on site and a restaurant serving delicious meals, all in our award winning garden centre"

GCA Midlands area members can rise to the challenge on Tuesday 25th July.  Their regional awards evening is at Planters and delgates can face their fears and walk the plank at Planters - dare you! 

A survey by Squire’s Garden Centres has found that 72% of people spend more than 3 hours gardening each week, which is great for health and well-being.

However, getting out in the garden is not just about serious horticulture, 84% of people surveyed have ‘played’ in the garden in the last year, by doing handstands, cartwheels, used a hula hoop or even run through a sprinkler just for fun! The statistics are even more interesting when you consider that the majority of respondents (85%) were aged fifty plus.

• 33% have run through a sprinkler
• 23% have done yoga, pilates, or used a fit ball in the garden
• 21% have been on a swing or slide
• 16% have used a hula-hoop
• 15% have jumped on a trampoline
• 14% have skipped in the garden
• 7% have done a handstand or cartwheel

Will this lead to a new trend of adult playgrounds in garden centres, or just a reminder that being in the garden is great fun, whatever your age?

Notcutts Garden Centre in Staines held a special ribbon cutting event last week to mark the opening of a new ‘Notcutts Garden’, designed to inspire local gardeners with creative ideas for their own outdoor spaces.

The ribbon was cut by Nicky Dulieu, Chairman of Notcutts’ 18 garden centres nationwide, alongside Councillor Tony Harman, Spelthorne Borough Councillor for the Riverside and Laleham ward, customers and the team at Notcutts Staines.

The Notcutts Garden, designed by the expert Notcutts team, is filled with beautiful plant combinations and aromas with a Mediterranean theme.



The garden features over 400 plants in total, most of which are sun-loving, drought-hardy plants from 50 different varieties. The Table feature (above) is the focal point of the garden laid out as dining table, planted with a range of succulent alpine plants. A Mediterranean-style design with paved path and gravel walkway leads visitors through an array of colourful shrubs, exotic plants and shady trees.

The garden was designed by Notcutts’ Head of Visual Merchandising, Marco de Jongh, and Plant Buyer, Stuart Andrews, and took just over two weeks to complete. It is a permanent display at the Staines garden centre, as a celebration of Notcutts’ expert horticultural knowledge. Since 1897, Notcutts has won 50 Gold medals for designing their own show gardens at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, and has enjoyed sharing advice and design ideas for gardeners across the country over the years.

Matt Ellis, Centre Manager at Notcutts Staines said: “Thank you to all who joined us in celebrating the official opening of our beautiful Notcutts Garden at Staines. We are proud to open our glorious garden for customers to enjoy, and are delighted to showcase the best of what we do at Notcutts. We hope local gardeners will come and visit the garden and will take home lots of inspiring ideas for their own outdoor projects.”

The Notcutts Garden is free to visit all year round at Notcutts Staines, and is one of the first of Notcutts’ 18 garden centres across the country to open a garden of this kind for customers. Throughout 2017, which marks Notcutts’ 120^th anniversary year, further gardens will open at other centres.

Notcutts Staines is on Staines Road, Laleham, Staines TW18 2SF. For further information please call the centre on 01784 460 832 or visit notcutts.co.uk.

Small animals including reptiles and amphibians, fish, rabbits, guinea pigs, mice, gerbils and insects and spiders, are reported to have died in a fire that destroyed the Pet Safari pet shop at Stephen H Smith's garden centre in Pool Road, Otley.

The blaze broke out late on Tuesday night, 18^th July 2017 and led to fire crews from six stations, being sent to the scene.

Richard Coggill, general manager of Stephen H Smith's told the Bradford Telegraph and Argus: "The pet department, unfortunately, suffered very severe damage.

"This has been a tragic occurrence and catastrophic for the owners, they are devastated."

On facebook a Pet Safari staff member wrote: "We managed to save a few animals but many were lost."

The garden centre re-opened on Thursday, but not Pet Safari.

Read the full story at:  http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/15419723.Fifty_firefighters_tackle_garden_centre_blaze/#

Early in 2017 fifteen leading garden centre owners from around the world met with John Stanley in Paris, France to develop new ideas to ensure their business prospered in a changing retail world. It was agreed that John would not reveal their thoughts and actions until after the GCA Congress in Chicago on Tuesday 15^th August this year where John is the keynote speaker.

Those ideas have now been developed into a workshop or conference presentation for the rest of the industry.

The Programme

The Objectives

• To introduce new “experience mapping” to leading nursery business to enable them to introduce them into their business prior to the introduction of new retail channels being developed which could erode their business if action did not take place.
• To analyse trends and convert them into action plans that will encourage more consumers to use independent retail garden channels to purchase their products.
• Develop a profitable retail model for the future when the existing model will fail to grow sales.

The Presentation

• Why change is inevitable and why now is the time to change
• The new consumer we need to attract, what we are missing and why?
• Experience mapping and how we can use it to grow sales
• Plants are the “core”, we need to market them to our consumers in different way.
• The role of online selling for independent garden centres
• The new look retail outlet, what needs to change and why.
• Why the future is positive for the independent, developing an action plan to meet the needs of the aspiring consumer.

This presentation has been designed as either a one-hour conference presentation or as a one day workshop.

To plan your presentation or workshop

Contact : John Stanley :         john@johnstanley.com.au

As last year the warm summer evenings of July spark a huge increase in volume sales of garden lighting products.  While overall Top 50 volumes are down 20% year on year for the week, garden lighting sales match last year and climb 31% on the previous week.  This year there are a record sixteen garden lighting lines in the Top 50, over 30% of sales.

• Smart Solar’s Eureka! Neo Light Bulb Lantern that comes in clear, blue, or pink is the highest placed lighting line at No 5.
• Premier Decorations Coloured Led Pull Light & Bulb, a favourite for hanging under parasols moves up 5 places to No 7.
• The Lustra Gazing Ball providing garden mood lighting from Smart Garden Products (above) was the highest new entry at No 27.
• There was also high demand for plant food.  Scotts Miracle-Gro All Purpose Soluble Plant Food, 500g, saw a huge sales increase to re-enter at No 1.

To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

What is the threat?

Xylella fastidiosa is one of the most harmful bacterial plant diseases in the world. It can cause severe losses in a wide range of hosts and there would be a massive impact on the plant trade across all business sectors in the event of an outbreak in the UK.

An outbreak of this disease, where several different plants are infected, will trigger immediate stock destruction within 100 metres and a movement ban of host plants within a 10-kilometre radius for up to five years. This will dramatically and immediately affect most plant selling operations, as well as impacting on all businesses dealing in plants within the 10km zone. Gardens could also be affected.

What should businesses do to stop it coming into the UK?

Only buy potential host plants from trusted plant passported suppliers who know where their plants come from. We strongly recommend that potential host plants are not sourced from or near regions where there have been findings of Xylella fastidiosa. Current demarcated areas can be seen at: http://ec.europa.eu/food/sites/food/files/plant/docs/ph_biosec_legis_list-demarcated-union-territory_en.pdf

The list of host plants is growing and includes many popular garden and landscape plants, such as lavender, rosemary, oak and many others. The current list of confirmed hosts is at:https://ec.europa.eu/food/plant/plant_health_biosecurity/legislation/emergency_measures/Xylella-fastidiosa/susceptible_en

What happens if the disease is found in the UK?

The full emergency measures imposed at EU level are only triggered when the disease has spread and there is an outbreak. The full emergency measures are not triggered if the disease is found on a single plant or within a batch of plants and is diagnosed and contained before it spreads. This is known as an interception. Stock will still be destroyed in this circumstance but the movement ban is very unlikely to come in force.

Several wholesale nurseries have signed up to plant sourcing statements such as the one below:

“The following nurseries have taken the decision NOT to knowingly purchase any host plants originating from regions where the disease Xylella is known to exist. The decision has been taken after detailed consideration as to the potential catastrophic impact the introduction of the disease could have to the UK environment, coupled with the ever increasing number of host plant genera of this disease. This is in line with DEFRA’s good practice recommendations.”

These nurseries include:

• Bransford Webbs Plant Company
• Christies of Fochabers Ltd.
• Country Garden Plant Sales Ltd.
• Farplants Group
• Golden Grove Nursery
• James Coles and Sons (Nurseries) Ltd.
• Johnsons of Whixley
• Lovania Nurseries Ltd.
• Lowaters Ltd.
• Oakover Nurseries Ltd.
• Plants for Europe Ltd.
• R V Roger Ltd.
• Wykeham Mature Plants

If you wish to add your nursery name to the list, please email Policy@hta.org.uk with confirmation that you agree to the statement.

‘Tis the season for Christmas spuds.  As soon as the Autumn planting seed potatoes from Taylors Bulbs reached the shelves last week they started selling through in higher volumes than any other Veg-2-Gro line to claim all three top spots in the GTN chart. 

• Maris Peer proved the most popular variety to sell through first this year.
• Duke of York came in at No 2 with Charlotte at No 3.
• Pentland Javelin, normally the autumn favourite re-entered the chart at No 17.

Fleuroselect, the international organisation for the ornamental plants industry, is proud to announce that the FleuroStar Award 2017/18 goes to Calibrachoa MiniFamous® Double PinkTastic from Selecta one. Breeder Anita Stöver accepted the prize from FleuroStar Committee Chairman Heike Gronemann and Fleuroselect President Herman Hamer.



Calibrachoa MiniFamous® Double PinkTastic from Selecta one was competing against Calibrachoa Conga Sunset Kiss (Florensis), Dahlia LaBella® Maggiore Rose Bicolour (Beekenkamp Plants), Helianthus interspecific Sunfinity (Syngenta Flowers), and Pepper Mamba-Red F1 (Prudac).

MiniFamous® Double PinkTastic truly catches the eye thanks to two bicoloured pink-white circles of inner petals in each flower, which add to an in-depth colour perception.

This excellent summer performer enjoys all the benefits of the MiniFamous® series, such as easy growth, improved root system, the very early flowering and mildew tolerance.

The new 'Winner with the Wow Factor' was announced at the FleuroStar Evening on Thursday 15 June at Beekenkamp Plants in Maasdijk (NL). Attended by approx. 90 persons, the first edition of the event was a success. Herman Hamer, President Fleuroselect: "We felt that the time was right to dedicate an entire evening to the FleuroStar Contest. Each year, this Evening will take place at a different Contest Location, kicking off this year with Beekenkamp Plants. During the FlowerTrials, the entire horticultural industry is watching The Netherlands. Therefore, it is the ideal moment to put the pot or bedding plant with the highest wow factor in the spotlight."

Frank Sonnenberg, Product Manager of the German high street flower shop chain Blume 2000, joined his colleagues from Intratuin and Obi in the 2017 FleuroStar jury. Also Arjo Maat, Dutch pot and bedding plant grower specialising in Begonia, offered his expert view. Over 30 professionals in breeding, production, trade and retail as well as journalists and marketing specialists evaluate each entry on point of sale attractiveness and commercial potential.

The new FleuroStar winner will receive considerable marketing support. Next to conducting an international press campaign, Fleuroselect promotes the new winner at trade fairs and industry events. Contest sponsors KAS Tuinbouwcommunicatie offer an advertising campaign, marketing agency Pull Position a tailor made promotion project at retail level and DeschPlantpak a full spread in its lifestyle brochure.

The FleuroStar Contest is held annually during the FlowerTrials week in June in the Netherlands and Germany. Fleuroselect members can enter their top breeding breakthrough of the season to become the new 'Winner with the Wow Factor'.

info@fleuroselect.com

Penstemon and Dahlias were the big movers in the GTN Plants Chart Top 10 last week as gardeners look to add instant summer colour to their borders and patios.  With sales of traditional summer bedding tailing off earlier than last year, Roses also moved up the chart, showing their value as a summer plant and of course as a gift. 

• Penstemon moved from No 15 up to No 8 on the back of a 33% sales increase.
• Gaillardia climbed the most places in the Top 50, up 21 places to No 22.
• Calibrachoa was the highest placed re-entry, back in at No 29.

Wyevale Nurseries has announced that it has seen growth in 2016 and 2017 so far of more than 10% each year on its shrub category after several years of decline.

The Hereford-based company has seen significant increases in reserves for 2018 already placed for shrubs with a number of general A-Z lines already selling out.

Adam Dunnett, Sales & Marketing Director at Wyevale Nurseries, said: “This is fantastic news and shows shrubs are making a comeback. There is a demand from retailers and from the amenity market too.

“Flagship shrub ranges for us include the Hydrangea such as the Hydrangea Magical Series, for which we have UK exclusivity, and Hydrangea Miss Saori, winner of Chelsea Flower Show Best New Plant for 2014 and not forgetting Hydrangea LA Dreaming, which flowers with pink, purple and blue flowers on the same plant. A stunning shrub. 

“Phormium is also a very popular shrub with our customers and we have seen an increase in demand for Phormium ‘Chocomint’. It is a distinct two tone Phormium with chocolate midribs and mint edges.

“We have a new Phormium for 2018, which is Phormium Blondie, a dwarf variety with an arching habit. Our Phormium production has increased by more than 60% for 2018 so we will have about 40,000 3ltr pots and 8,000 7.5ltr pots.

“We have also reintroduced some of the standard A-Z reserves in to the 2018 catalogue such as the Ceanothus collection. There are also several new shrub introductions in the catalogue such as Ceanothus ‘Cool Blue’, Cordyline ‘Electric Pink’, Magnolia ‘Cameo’, Syringa Bloomerang Collection, Dianella ‘Wyeena’ and Ilex ‘Little Rascal’.”

Ceanothus ‘Cool Blue’ is a variegated Ceanothus, which is full hardy. Upright and broadly spreading in habit it remains neatly compact. The foliage has a deep green centre with striking cream contrasting margins. The plant will be smothered in pale blue sweetly scented flowers in late spring.

Adam added: “Cordyline ‘Electric Pink’ is outrageously bright. Shocking electric pink edges with darker red markings up the centres of the leaves. A stunning variety, bound to tempt impulse buys. Ideal for container planting or as single specimens.    

“Another new shrub is Magnolia ‘Cameo’. This Magnolia is extremely floriferous producing masses of purple-red flowers with centres which fade from red to white. The flower shape is similar in form to tulips. It has a compact habit and will form a small tree in time.

“The Syringa Bloomerang Collection are compact growing repeat blooming Syringas. They are highly fragrant and pink or dark purple flowers are produced in spring and again in mid-summer to autumn. The collection is highly attractive to butterflies.”

Dianella ‘Wyeena’ is an architectural plant to bring drama to the garden. The broad foliage is olive green with white margins and grows with an upright, arching form. Ideal for planting in swathes or as background plants to smaller grasses or shrubs. It has great cold and frost tolerance.

Adam continued: “As its name suggests Little Rascal is a compact, dense evergreen with spiny bright green leaves and small white flowers in spring. The foliage turns deep purple in winter, is eye catching and gives great seasonal colour throughout winter.”

The product selection available from Wyevale Nurseries is enviable across the industry and the talented team regularly introduces new, award-winning plant varieties.

Its main business is to supply garden centres, landscape contractors, local authorities, foresters and landowners with a comprehensive array of trees, shrubs, hedging, herbaceous and specimen plants.

For further details about Wyevale Nurseries, which is based in Hereford, please call 01432 845 200, visit www.wyevalenurseries.co.uk, follow the company on Twitter at www.twitter.com/WyevaleNurs or log on to www.facebook.com/WyevaleNurs. 

Special mix composts saw the biggest volume sales increases last week as overall growing media sales drop to their low summer levels.  Organic Garden Mix and Chelsea Mix were big movers from Bord na Mona.  Gro-Sure Vegetable compost and Gro-Sure Rose Tree and Shrub compost also benefitted from increases of over 100%. 

• Bord na Mona Vital Earth Organic Garden Compost, 50 litres, climbed 42 places to No 3.
• Westland Gro-Sure Rose, Tree & Shrub Compost & 4 Month Feed, 50 litres, re-entered at No 17.
• Growth Technology Cactus Focus Repotting Mix, 2 litres, also saw a 50% increase in sales.

The preparations for spoga+gafa 2017 (3 to 5 September) are in full swing, spoga+gafa has continued on its course of growth: In addition to the already announced big industry players, who are presenting at spoga+gafa 2017, further top names have been added to the list.

Among others, the trend themes Smart Gardening and Battery as well as the Outdoor Kitchen World in the furniture and BBQ section have generated an extremely positive response.

The final sprint became more and more distinct over the past months: The numerous innovations to the concept such as the POS Solution Islands or the theme islands Smart Gardening and IVG Power Place Battery have attracted a thoroughly positive feedback. This is now paying off.

Seramis is among the new exhibitors. The company from the Westerwald is exhibiting at spoga+gafa in Passage 4/5.

The Dutch company fatboy, which in addition to its world-famous beanbags will also be presenting further highly exciting lifestyle products, is also represented at the trade fair again.

The much-talked about within the industry trend themes, Battery and Smart Gardening, are also displaying top level development in terms of content. For example, it was possible to win over two further new exhibitors for this section - Gardena and Weber-Stephen - who as top players stand for smart solutions in the garden and BBQ sector.

The Outdoor Kitchen World also has a fantastic alignment for its premiere: The entire spectrum of high-quality designs from the outdoor kitchen market will be on display in Hall 8 of spoga+gafa. From globally-operating players such as Napoleon through to local manufacturers like MK2-Gartenküchen or the Herrenhaus Werkstätten für Wohnkultur (Workshops for Living Culture).

The company Volvo is presenting and enhancing the Outdoor Kitchen World in a communicative manner.

The spoga+gafa 2017 is open to trade visitors on 3 and 4 September from 09:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m. and on 5 September from 09:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m. Further information is available at www.spogagafa.com

The Garden Day 2017 is open to end-users and trade visitors on 2 and 3 September from 09:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m. Further information is available at www.tagdesgartens-koeln.com

Amongst the various plant brand leaders in the Anthony Tesselaar stable is the Rock and Roll® Alstroemeria. Its variegated foliage is striking enough but this is upstaged when it comes into flower. The effect  is astonishing.

Rock and Roll® Alstroemeria is a completely different plant. The new young foliage surprises you with its perfect rosette shape that first starts off with a soft cream quickly turning to white, all the while framed by  a rich green edge.  Rich pink red flowers then appear above this startling foliage.  
 

The plant is at home in either full or part sun in the garden. 

'Wow Factor'

This comment is often used in the plant sector but in this case is more than appropriate. It's appearance creates a genuine feeling of exhilaration. Rock and Roll® Alstroemeria is an attractive plant even without flowers which creates an extended window for retail sales.

Young plugs of these plants are available from either Rijnbeek & Son and All Plants who are the grower/distributors of these young plants in Europe. These plants are all produced in Tissue-Culture which and ensures stable rooting and growing for production in the greenhouse

Long Flowering Season

Anthony Tesselaar continues… “From experience in our major trial gardens, it shows attributes of day length neutral capability. We have seen this plant in full colour and flower during summer, autumn and even in our mild winters of around  5-10 deg C! It's not very often one could say the foliage of Alstroemeria is a show piece in its own right, but Rock & Roll®  does have this attraction.”

Patented Product

Tesselaar Plants continue to introduce distinctively different plants! Visit their stand (67) at Plantarium from August 23-26.

Www.Tesselaar.com

The European Union has added four more aquatic plants to the banned list of species that can no longer be sold in the UK in the future.

Transitional arrangements will be in place to enable the plants to continue to be sold for a year – provided contractual arrangements ordering stock in these four plants are put in place before 1 August 2017.

And the industry is being reminded that all stock of four pond plants banned last year – including water hyacinth – must be cleared from the shelves from 2 August and cannot be sold anymore.

The full list of aquatic species that cannot be sold in the UK is available on the OATA website here http://ornamentalfish.org/what-we-do/set-standards/invasive-species/

The latest four plants to be banned as part of an update to the Alien Invasive Species Regulation are: 

• Alternanthera philoxeroides (Alligator weed)
• Elodea nuttallii (Nuttall’s waterweed)
• Gunnera tinctoria (Giant Rhubarb)
• Myriophyllum heterophyllum (Broadleaf watermilfoil) 

“These are not bigger sellers in our industry but nevertheless it is yet more aquatic plants being chipped away from what can be sold. And we know the EU is already working on its next list of invasive species and there will be more aquatic plants and ornamental fish being considered for that,” said OATA Chief Executive Dominic Whitmee.

“We would suggest plant growers, wholesalers and retailers read the Defra advice on this and put in an order before 1 August if they want to continue to sell these for the next pond season in 2018.

“And we also need to remind the industry that Eichhornia crassipes, Cabomba caroliniana, Lagarosiphon major and Lysichiton americanus must not be sold from 3 August 2017.

“We continue to make the point to Defra that many of these pond plants do not pose an invasive issue for the UK because they cannot survive our winters so should be allowed back on sale as soon as possible following our exit from the EU.”

Advice from Defra is also available 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 printed newsletter.

As the year goes on we give sales volume comparisons with 2014 as well as 2015 to allow your teams to see variations over a three year period.

Access is by subscription only.  For £195.00 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 01733 775700, e-mail karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or buy on-line using this link.

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

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

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

Highlights of the GTN Growing Media Bestsellers chart for this 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.

Stewarts Garden Centres has appointed Robert Meaney, from Gosport, as Catering Manage for Abbey Garden Centre in Titchfield. 

With decades of experience within Chef and catering operations for national companies, and more recently with Marwell Wildlife, Robert has started to meet with regular customers to gain information on what menu suggestions they will prefer.

“The feedback shows great enthusiasm for more freshly made and prepared food from local producers and to move away from the centre’s tradition of microwaveable dishes,” said Robert.  “Stewarts other centres are highly popular and praised for their home grown and often home reared produce, from their own farm, so we will be able to cater for the tastier menu requested.”

Terry Head, the Retail and Marketing Director at Stewarts, says that they will eventually provide a sustainable and environmental balance decent food selection.

The passion for horticulture has been in the Stewarts family for 8 generations.  The business can be traced back to 1742.  Stewarts created the earliest dedicated garden centre opened in Ferndown, Dorset  in 1955 before their first out of town centre at Christchurch opened in 1961.  Abbey Garden centre was aquired in December 2016.

There will be additional job opportunities to boost the current team of 42 at the Abbey Garden Centre over the next 12 months.  Ongoing information available from www.stewarts.co.uk