Wyevale Garden Centres has announced that Podington Garden Centre has been sold to Cherry Lane Garden Centre [CLGC]. The sale is expected to complete by the middle of August, with WGC continuing to operate the centre until this date. CLGC acquired Barnett Hill Garden Centre from WGC in March 2019.

Anthony Jones, Chief Operating Officer at WGC, said: “We are pleased to have agreed the sale of Podington Garden Centre to a well-established garden centre operator. I would like to thank our colleagues for their commitment and contribution since joining the group in 2014 and wish them all the best for the future.”
 
Nick Rubins, Chief Executive of QD Group which owns Cherry Lane, said: “The acquisition of Podington Garden Centre is another step in the growth and success of Cherry Lane. We are a family run business and are very pleased to welcome the team from Wyevale Garden Centres and are looking forward to sharing with our customers our great value, excellent quality and ever-changing spectacular new deals.”

The Garden Centre will be known as Podington by Cherry Lane and will retain all staff enabling them to remain in their existing roles.
 
Cherry Lane will be working to introduce a number of key improvements and developments to the garden centre over the next few months to enhance customers enjoyment and experience of the great value and quality of products from garden furniture, comprehensive pet department and wild bird care not to mention seasonal special offers and the wonderful array of plants, many grown within the Group’s three nursery operations, located across the country.
 
Podington by Cherry Lane is now the 14th garden centre owned by the QD Group.

Following the completion of this and other previously announced sales, WGC will trade 42 garden centres plus 4 centres trading under license. These include 41 restaurants and 154 concessions with 125 partners.

Ade from Agents of Field has a passion for plants and a background in television. Ade is a bit of an avant-gardener, usually found on the allotment, nurturing his fruit, veg and flowers. This year he became the very happy owner of a Vitavia Phoenix greenhouse, so we thought it only appropriate to find out why he chose us and what he thinks of it!

What made you pick a Vitavia greenhouse?

I liked the fact it’s a family-run business. Straight away you feel this is a company that cares about both their products and reputation. Customer care is important to them, as well as greenhouses that have been tried and tested, giving you quality and workmanship. Also, having recently moved to Suffolk, I wanted to support local business.

What made you decide on the Vitavia Phoenix?

Not only did it come in a very stylish black, but the low threshold is a great bonus, especially for someone as clumsy as me. With no threat of tripping myself over in the doorway, I can carry my precious plants in and out of the greenhouse. Also, with its high eaves, it means my plants can reach for the stars without fear of being squashed. Just what a tomato grower needs.

How was the delivery of your Vitavia greenhouse?

It couldn’t have been simpler. No fuss, no problems and delivery was on time, as agreed.

Was your greenhouse quite straight forward to install?

I have to say, it was a lovely chap by the name of Trevor Bailey who installed it, and he did a wonderful job. I don’t know if it was his workmanship or the crafted pieces of the greenhouse that made the installation look effortless. As I’m someone who likes to know how things work, Trevor was very patient and explained how the greenhouse assembles and about the materials used. It was a real joy to watch him work – he clearly enjoys what he does.

What did you first grow in your greenhouse?

As soon as I got the greenhouse, I went a bit nuts with the sowing. From the off it was tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, chillies and broad beans. All this was done within the first 24 hours of having the greenhouse. At the moment I have more things growing in there than a commercial nursery.

What do you love most about your Vitavia greenhouse?

It’s a greenhouse that’s built to last.

Will you use your greenhouse solely for growing or outdoor living too?

It hasn’t been all work in the greenhouse. Having moved my favourite garden chair in there, it’s a place I often sit first thing in the morning. With the radio quietly on, I sip my coffee and daydream about gardening.

What has your greenhouse added to your garden space?

Everyone who visits our garden always makes a beeline for the greenhouse first, it gets so many compliments. As it sits in my new kitchen garden, it’s added so much style to the overall design.

If you had to sum up your Vitavia greenhouse in 3 words, what would they be?

Sturdy, Stylish, Sassy

Fifty new videos including ‘How To’ style animated videos and product lifestyle videos have been produced and launched by Zest 4 Leisure to make building timber garden products easier. Used in conjunction with Zest 4 Leisure’s standard instructions, the ‘How To’ videos show every detail of how the product fits together and can be seen here and at SOLEX in July.

In addition, Zest 4 Leisure is opening a new photographic studio at its Saltney site which will benefit garden centres nationwide, and enable Zest 4 Leisure to increase its focus on marketing support for its garden trade customers. The new studio will be used all year round to produce product and animated assembly videos. These are available on YouTube and will enable garden centres to embed videos into their own websites. Having this facility, Zest 4 Leisure will be able to supply a variety of digital product images in lifestyle settings with models and the occasional dog!

Zest 4 Leisure images will also feature on a variety of merchandising and marketing support materials including point of sale (PoS), customer brochures, modular merchandisers and header boards as part of the enhanced Zest 4 Leisure marketing support package.  

Commenting on the new ‘How To’ videos and new studio, Steve Morgan, Zest 4 Leisure’s Managing Director, said: “This new approach will mean that we have a comprehensive digital library of product shots available so that we can supply a diverse range of high quality marketing materials to our customers at no cost to them.

“New images and videos will also be used on social media platforms in order to target consumers and raise awareness of the Zest 4 Leisure brand to boost sales.”

With a focus on continuous improvement, the new animated videos and studio are the latest in a series of major strategic investments made by Zest in 2018 and 2019. Zest has also invested in new and improved warehousing to offer a wider choice for garden centres, and a new logistics partnership with P & O Ferrymaster, enabling the company to offer an improved delivery service nationwide

Steve added: “These investments and more besides, have been put in place to build a solid foundation for successfully integrated services for Zest 4 Leisure customers. Our aim is to be a supplier of choice, delivering quality timber garden products with excellent customer service and these investments will help us achieve that goal.”

Visit Zest 4 Leisure at SOLEX, stand 310, to meet the Zest 4 Leisure team and to learn more about its full marketing support package.

Visitors to last week’s HTA National Plant Show at Stoneleigh Park, sponsored by Hortipak, a clematis as their favourite plant.

The Visitor Vote results, sponsored by Floramedia, were:

• Best in Show and Shrub & Climber - Clematis ‘Elodi’ from The Bransford Webbs Plant Company and The Guernsey Clematis Nursery
• Best Annual - Nemesia fruticans hybrid ‘Boysenberry’ from Kernock Park Plants
• Best Herbaceous Perennial - Geum ‘Fiery Tempest’ from Farplants
• Best Houseplant - Anthurium Livium Red from Profitplant
• Best Tree & Conifer - Cherrycot ‘Aprikyra’ from Frank P Matthews

Visitors also voted for their most inspiring retails stands and concepts at the events.

The winner of the Planting the Seed Award, which highlights stand displays that capture the imagination, provide clear information and attract attention was:

• Winner – Farplants
• Highly Commended - Pentland Plants
• Commended - Pickmere Nurseries
• The Best Plant Concept for Retail award - again voted for by visitors - went to the Love Tilly's Make Your Own Air Plant kit from Key Essentials. This standalone display is aimed at the huge on trend craft market and houseplant lovers. Customers are able, in three easy steps, to choose all they need to make their own beautiful air plant arrangement.
• The Innovation winner in the New Product Showcase was HIS Florence LED Horticultural Solutions Grow Light from Intelligent Horticultural Solution. These LED Grow Lights designed specifically for low and no sunlight applications, maximising growth potential whilst minimising both initial purchase costs and on-going running costs.
• The Sustainability winner in the New Product Showcase was Colour Your Garden Flower Mix - Zero Plastic from Javado UK. The Colour Your Garden Flower Mix - Zero Plastic - aims to inspire consumers with the takeaway boxes containing three different perennials with a colour theme. The plants are grown directly in take-away boxes made of recycled cardboard and are 100% recyclable.

Three intruders were arrested after an early-hours break-in at Blue Diamond’s Sanders Garden Centre at Brent Knoll last week.

The men, aged between 23 and 29, were arrested at 1.30am near the centre shortly after the break-in.

CCTV cameras captured footage of the trio forcing their way into the garden centre grounds shortly before security staff alerted police.

The trio were released pending while police enquiries continue.

A spokesman for Sanders told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “We were notified by our security monitoring control room that three intruders had been seen entering the site at 1.40am.

”The police were alerted and attended the site with dog handlers and our control room directed them towards the intruders.

“After attempting to flee on foot, the police helicopter was called in for assistance and all three were apprehended and arrested.

The spokesman added: “This incident highlights the effectiveness of our 24-hour CCTV security monitoring facility along with the prompt and clinical way in which it was dealt with by our local police.”

Three daredevil souls from the garden retail industry have just days to overcome their fears before taking to the skies for an adrenaline-fuelled wing walk in aid of the Greenfingers Charity.

The wingwalk, which had been due to take place earlier this month, was postponed after a technical glitch grounded the plane. With a new venue and aircraft secured, the trio plan to get airborne on Saturday, 29 June, in a bid to raise £15,000 for the charity.

The delay led to a nerve-wracking wait for GIMA director Vicky Nuttall, SBM LifeScience’s Lowri Walker and Evergreen Garden Care’s Mark Portman – but all three have vowed to take to the skies and raise vital funds for Greenfingers, the charity that builds magical gardens at children’s hospices across the UK.

More than £7,560 has already been pledged by 126 supporters, and the wing walkers have appealed to the industry to back their stunt and smash through the £15,000 target.

Taking care of the daredevils on Saturday will be expert pilots at AeroSuperBatics, the team behind the Breitling Wingwalkers, a much-loved display act at UK airshows. On arrival at RFC Rendcomb Airfield in the Cotswolds, Vicky, Lowri and Mark will be briefed before being strapped to the top wing of a Boeing Stearman biplane, built in the 1940s and used by American forces to train pilots during World War Two.

Wing walkers will then experience the roar of the plane’s 450hp Pratt & Whitney engine – the largest and most powerful engine operated in the UK for wing walking – with the propeller hitting speeds of up to 760mph at full throttle! Once the flight is underway, wingwalkers will only be able to communicate with their pilot via hand signals, as the plane performs daredevil flypasts, zoom climbs, steep dives and banks in front of friends and family. Greenfingers supporters are welcome to come along on the day, too.

GIMA’s Vicky Nuttall, a self-confessed “anti-adrenaline junkie,” said: “I won’t lie, I’m terrified of the prospect of the wing walk, but also incredibly excited. I’ve no doubt it’s going to be an afternoon to remember! But no matter how scared I am, I’ll just have to remind myself why I’m doing this. You can’t put a price on what Greenfingers does, so being able to contribute something means a great deal.”

Evergreen’s Mark Portman, who admitted he is neither a fan of heights or roller coasters, added: “Greenfingers is a wonderful charity that does lots of positive work at a local level. It is this personal touch that I find so engaging about the charity, and why I am so proud to be able to support it. I hope that my efforts can go some way in assisting the Greenfingers Charity to continue their work both now, and long into the future.”

SBM’s Lowri Walker, who completed a skydive in aid of Greenfingers and Rugby for Heroes several years ago, said: “Nerves kick in every time I think ahead to this, for me this will be one hell of a personal challenge and certainly something which will need a lot of mind over matter!” But she added: “Greenfingers is a truly wonderful and worthwhile charity and it’s not surprising our industry supports it in the way it does.”

On its website, AeroSuperBatics reassures wing walkers: “It will be the most thrilling thing you have ever done. Once you get over your nerves and are strapped in, the excitement will overtake the fear.”

Anyone wanting to donate can do so by visiting https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/gima-wing-walkers

A charity ball held by Bents Garden & Home at Warrington has raised £11,480 for Manchester based charity Once Upon a Smile.

The event is held annually in support of the centre’s charity of the year. The funds raised for this year’s chosen organisation, which helps bereaved children, was more than double last year’s total.

The Exclusively 2019 trade show held at London’s Business Design Centre last week beat last year’s attendance record by 5% and attracted more retailers.

The show featured some 150 exhibitors presenting more than 275 brands. Feedback from exhibitors applauded the quality of visitors to their stands as well as the increasing numbers of influencers and bloggers.

The show’s Brand Showcase initiative, now in its third year, more than doubled its 2018 attendance.  Will Jones, CEO of Bheta and chairman of the Exclusively Shows, said the initiative, alongside the Trend Initiatives with Scarlet Opus, highlighted how the content of the show needed to adapt and mirror the changing face of the market.

The Brand Showcase also attracted more press interest this year. managed Richard Watts, who managed the feature, said: “From our Monday night press preview up until doors closing on the Wednesday, the Brand Showcase was buzzing as we welcomed more members of the media to the show than ever before.”

He said exhibitors particularly welcomed the huge increase of Influencers attending the show, due to the instant engagement this generated for them across social media. “Brands have seen an increase in followers, consumer reach and ultimately product sales, thanks to recommendations from some of the biggest UK influencers relevant to our industry.”

Tony Golby of exhibitor George East said: “Business has changed dramatically in recent times. Who would have thought that 10 years ago that we would have been just as excited about meeting a blogger as we were making contacting with a department store chain or a cookshop group then.”

Kerry Cooper of Polder Products said: “This was our fourth and best year at the Exclusively Housewares.  In my opinion, in one of the tougher times in the market this was a fantastic way to stay close with the retail community, have their full attention at a small venue and discuss ways to invigorate success.”

The Trend Talks programme at the Trend Hub offered talks from Scarlet Opus (designers of the display above), who talked through interiors trends, providing an insight into what consumer will want next, four sell-out trend tours, plus talks and displays on food and catering.

Exclusively 2020 will take place at the Business Design Centre on the 9 and 10 June.

Sun, snow, rain, wind, tears and laughter were all experienced as staff from the Klondyke group took on…. and smashed…..their 3 Peaks Challenge, raising £12,000 in the process.

The challenge involved hiking up (and down) Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon, the three highest peaks in the UK, and had been organised to raise funds and awareness of three charities close to the hearts of the team members  – Cancer Research UK,  Greenfingers and the Multiple System Atrophy Trust.

On 3 April the team took on Snowdon, which stands at 1085m; Scafell Pike, (978m) was climbed on 16 May and finally on the 13h June, the team made their way up Ben Nevis ( in 1345m - pictured on cover page).

“The Three Peaks Challenge is a great test of determination and I’m proud to be part of the team that completed it,” said chief executive David Yardley.

“I would like to thank all those who took part, giving up their valuable time to help raise so much for charities close to everyone’s hearts. Thanks again for everyone’s time, good humour and the effort put in to raising this fantastic sum of money for charity.”

An HR professional has relocated from Melbourne to Saltaire to take up a top role at a Tong Garden Centre.

Neil Barwise (pictured below, centre, with members of the Tong team) joins the team in the newly created position of head of people and culture, bringing a wealth HR experience from a career in the weddings and events industry.

MD Mark Farnsworth said: "We are delighted to welcome Neil to the team. His role will be to manage all the day-to-day HR responsibilities and to develop our biggest asset - our people - as the business expands from our single site to a multi-site operation.”

Neil is excited about the opportunities ahead: “I'm looking forward to building a strong culture to take us forward, evolving our shared values and purpose to continually engage, develop and motivate our growing team.

“The purpose of my role is to make sure that we attract, recruit, retain and develop the best people, but also to make sure that Tong continues to be a great place to work.

“I'm originally from Whitehaven in Cumbria, but studied HR in Leeds, so I feel like an adopted Yorkshire man now and it's good to be back.”

When he's not working, Neil works out, follows Rugby League and is currently planning his wedding in August.

Tong Garden Centre's owners acquired the centre in 2015 and are currently completing an ambitious £4m investment that includes a new soft play centre opening this summer and are actively seeking additional sites to replicate the successful formula.

Fundraisers for the Breast Cancer Now Pink Ribbon Lottery were at Haskins’ Roundstone garden centre on Wednesday and Thursday last week, speaking to members of the public about subscribing to the lottery as a fun and rewarding way to support vital breast cancer research and raising awareness for Breast Cancer Now. They raised a total of £4,062.24 in lottery pledges.

Pictured (left to right): Elorri Idiart (brand ambassador), Millie Hetherington-Wilkes (brand ambassador), Mark Lephard (assistant general manager at Haskins Roundstone), Jo Hung Lau (brand ambassador).

Wyevale Garden Centres has sold 11 more centres to four separate buyers –  British Garden Centres, The Plant Area Limited (t/a Clandon Park Garden Centre), Coolings Garden Centres and Maidenhead Aquatics...

British Garden Centres have acquired eight centres – Albrighton, Birchencliffe, Bressingham, Gardenlands, Hemel Hempstead, Louth, Tarporley and Wolseley Bridge – to add to the six bought previously, bringfing their total estate to 24 sites.

The Plant Area Limited, who have operated Clandon Park Garden Centree near Guildford since 2003, have acquired Woking Garden Centre,

Coolings Garden Centres will acquire Wych Cross.

Maidenhead Aquatics will acquire Dummer garden centre.

WGC's CEO Anthony Jones said the deals took the total number sold to 101 since the sale process began. "I’m delighted that these 11 centres will remain as garden centres and would like to thank all colleagues for their commitment and contribution and wish them all well for the future,” he added in the conventional post-sale statement.

Charles Stubbs, MD of British Garden Centres said: “We are proud to announce the purchase of these additional centres into our rapidly expanding British Garden Centres family. Phillippa, Robert and I and all the British Garden Centres teams are looking forward to supporting the new centres in the set up for the autumn/winter trading period. We would like to express our thanks to all involved in this complex purchase process.”

Lee Wong, MD at Clandon Park Garden Centre said: “Clandon Park has been under our independent ownership since 2003 and we are delighted to welcome all the staff at Woking Garden Centre into our company. The two centres serve different towns, but are less than 20 minutes apart and already share many customers offering significant opportunities to work and grow together.”

Paul Cooling, chairman of the third generation family business said: "The whole team at Coolings is looking forward to welcoming their new colleagues from Wych Cross. The centre and nursery has a great reputation for roses, and is a great fit for Coolings. After completion the centre will close temporarily for refurbishment and will re-open as Wych Cross Nursery on Friday 23 August."

David Lawrence, MD of Maidenhead Aquatics said “Maidenhead Aquatics are pleased to have acquired Dummer Garden Centre. Having traded from the site for over ten years as a concession it was an opportunity to secure both the future of the site as a local traditional garden centre as well as enhancing and securing our existing specialist aquatics offering. We very much look forward to working with the existing team and further improving the centre.”

WGC now has 43 garden centres plus four centres. Guy Hands, CEO of owners Terra Firma, has  told GTN Xtra that all the remaining centres willbe sold by the end of the year. At last week's HTA National Plant Show, rumours were circulating about a number of other sales in the pipeline.

Wyevale GC’s Sherfield On Loddon Garden Centre at Hook has become the latest acquisition for award-winning Capital Gardens, which now has five plant-centric garden centres...

Sherfield is the second aquisition Capital Gardens has made this year. The group owns and manages successful sites at Alexandra Palace, Neals Nursery, Studley Green and Woods of Berkhamsted.

MD Colin Campbell Preston said: “Greatly expanding the plant offering to include new and unusual cultivars is what Capital Gardens Centres are known for.  Sherfield will offer the most exciting range of indoor and outdoor plants of any centre in the area”.

Stephen Reynolds, manager at Sherfield, added: “It’s great to be teamed up with Capital Gardens. Wwe’ll be working alongside skilled experts. Already, we’ve got exciting things ahead – better pricing and the expansion of our range of plants.”

Squire’s Garden Centres and Buckinghamshire & Surrey Trading Standards joined forces recently to revamp the garden at Burbank Children’s Home in Woking.

The garden makeover took place to celebrate Squire’s becoming they Trading Standards department’s 100th primary authority partner. Squire’s donated plants and Councillor Ayesha Azad joined the teams and the children to help with the planting.

“It is important that children understand where food comes from and they have had much pleasure in planting from seed, caring and nurturing the vegetables and herbs and then finally being able to harvest, ‘fork to fork’, and enjoy the simple pleasures of a homegrown tomato or carrot," said Sharon Newton, Burbank’s manager.

Sarah Squire, chairman of Squire’s Garden Centres, said:  “As a family owned business we believe our garden centres should be at the absolute heart of the community. We are delighted to be recognised as Buckinghamshire and Surrey’s 100th Primary Authority Partner. Giving the children at Burbank the opportunity to experience our enthusiasm for gardening seemed like a great way to mark the milestone.”

Under the ‘primary authority’ scheme, a business can apply the tailored advice of one trading standards service to any area around the country they work in. The scheme helps businesses operate with confidence while also protecting consumers from poor practices.

Denise Turner-Stewart, Surrey County Council's cabinet member for community safety, fire and resilience, said: “It’s great news that 100 companies big and small – from household names to start-ups - are now benefiting from the expertise of our award-winning trading standards service. Our officers support firms to navigate all the rules and regulations relating to their business, helping them to make decisions with confidence and provide high standards of customer service, and I’d encourage others to get in touch to find out more. The project to revamp the garden at Burbank is a wonderful example of how businesses and trading standards can work together to make a real difference in our communities.”

Pictured: Sharon Newton (Burwood manager), Ed Ridgeon, Councillor Ayesha Azad and Michele Manson.

Retailers seeking products of the future and the latest in-store merchandising ideas need look no further than the Retail Lab at Glee.

Now in its third year, this inspirational feature area, in association with the Horticultural Trades Association, is bursting with ideas. In fact, 61% of Glee’s visitors say they will attend Glee 2019 as a result of seeing the Retail Lab last year. Here, we meet one of the sponsors of this year’s feature, Meadow View Stone, who brings over 25 years’ experience of supplying the widest range of imported and exclusive decorative aggregates and landscaping stone to the garden centre industry.

Meadow View Stone’s Marketing Director, Sarah Hill, said: “We’ve been a sponsor of the Retail Lab since its initial conception, and see it as a fantastic tool to not only showcase our products, but also view it as an opportunity to gain great insight into current trends/buying direction.

“For us, we view the Retail Lab as a great hub of inspiration, providing garden centre retailers and merchandisers with invaluable insight into how to display products in store to drive sales and provide effective cross selling opportunities.  We strongly support this theory as we have similarly merchandised a selection of our key accounts with extensive lifestyle display gardens, which have inspired and influenced customers and as a result returned excellent sales growth for these accounts.”

Whilst the Meadow View Stone team are still deciding which products will feature in the Retail Lab come September, Sarah has confirmed that a selection of the company’s porcelain

paving and some of its exciting new product lines - yet to be released - will form part of the various displays.

With future trends such a key focus of the Retail Lab, Sarah shares some of the key trends that have been shaping Meadow View Stone’s business in recent months, and will continue to influence future ranges. She said: “The colour grey has been a major influencer on both our paving and aggregate collections. This has been proven over the past two years and is featuring heavily in our product selections and sales performance for the immediate future.

Looking ahead to the wider show, Sarah added: “We will be maintaining the same core elements of the stand, with our extremely successful Gin Bar and Innovation Hub, both of which were immensely successful last year. 

“The Innovation Hub will continue to feature market leading insight into how garden centres can increase the sales value of their areas, whilst providing invaluable trend reports and case studies from customers who have embraced our stocking suggestions and recorded some excellent sales successes.  The Gin Bar, undoubtedly, is now an established part of our stand and provides an excellent informal and relaxed social space, allowing us to conduct private meetings whilst rewarding our customers with a well-earned drink!

“Our POS and innovative display gardens will also feature as a means to show retailers how to inspire their customers and generate increased sales. With two new product categories also to be unveiled we have an exciting collection of products and merchandising to suit every garden centre visiting Glee 2019.

The heavy rain of the past two weeks really hit plant sales, according to GTN Bestsellers Epos Data analysis.  During the week ending 16th June total plant sales volumes were down 36% on the same week last year and dropped to the lowest level for the second week of June over the past four years.

Year to date plant sales volumes are now 5% down on last year but 1% up on 2017.

It wasn't just plants that suffered last week.  Total Garden Centre volume sales, as measured by the GTN Bestsellers All Products index dropped by 17% from the first week of June and were 20% down on the same week last year.  Year to date, overall garden centre sales are still managing to stay up year on year, by 2% on 2018 and statci with 2017.

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year: week 24

•          Garden Products Top 50 – down 13%

•           Growing Media Top 50 – down 32%

•           Wild Bird Care Top 50 – up 5%

•           Veg 2 Gro Top 50 – up 10%

•           All Plants index – down 36%

•           All Items index – down 20%

The Greatest Awards winning houseplant team at Aylett Nurseries have always been passionate about houseplants, keeping a full houseplant “house” throughout the past 10 years.

“Houseplant sales have grown in the past few years and now account for 6% of our total turnover, we were and still are passionate about housplants” said Julie Aylett.  “The sales mix has changed recently with foliage plants outselling flowering plants.”

Having said that when you have the space to put on displays of flowering houseplants of the quality of Ayletts it’s no surprise that those sales are increasing for them too.

Even though they don’t run an Instagram account at Aylett’s, Kathy Sanger, department manager, explained: “They come up with their list from google and from which plants since they say first pyou know what the next plants are going to be”.

Whilst the Aylett houseplant are has the look and feel of a traditional garden nursery greenhouse that doesn’t stop them stocking a selling new houseplants.  Plants grown on lava rock is the latest new addition from the continent.  Within 5 days of then going on sale half had already sold through!

Aylett Nurseries are also at the fore front of sustainable garden retailing with many displays highlighting recycling, re-use and organic gardening products.

Dobbies CEO Graeme Jenkins and Customer Director Louise Niven show GTN Xtra around their flagship Edinburgh centre.

Look out for the new, lower shop fittings that open up the store, the revamped restaurant and coffee shop (which will be moving to full waitress service when their IT systems allow) and an express check out.

In-Excess, who added four ex-Wyevale garden centres last Autumn are pulling up trees at their existing Ringwood site.  

The team have increased turnover to £4m with a mix of discount value retailing, own brand products and quality plants.

Out in the planteria they are able to maintain high plant quality really easily on a sloping site by building bespoke plant benches with plastic watering trays fitted in to avoid the need to water from above for most of their stock. According to their David Austin rep they have the best kept display in the area as a result.

N1 Garden Centre is often talked of as the place to watch for new trends in houseplants and a visit to the small centre, squeezed in between terraced houses on the edge of the Hoxton area of North London explains all. 

It is a houseplant paradise, brimming full of plants including some rare and exotic varieties. No wonder their website says they are: Making London an urban garden, one home at a time.

Creative Director, Paul Holt, told us that 20 years ago, when the business started, houseplants were only a fraction of the centre, now they occupy all of the “inside” retail area and trade is brisk.  “Our customers really love and care for their houseplants so we are always looking for new plants to offer them. We also make sure our pot range is very special, sourcing them from many suppliers not found in usual garden centres.”

An example of the specimen plants at N1 when we visited were variegated Cheese Plants that were on sale for £350.  “We can’t get enough of these.” Paul explained.

Houseplants are on trend and sales are on the increase.  GTN Xtra has been on the trail of the garden centre houseplant sales phenomenum to unearth great sales ideas and trends that are driving younger customers into garden centres like never before.

Elsewhere in this issue we feature pictures and ideas from Aylett Nurseries, Stewarts Christchurch, Perrywood, Whitehall Lacock and the London houseplant trend leaders N1 Garden Centre but we started our journey of houseplant discovery at Notcutts Norwich, the biggest Notcutts centre for houseplant sales and now one of the Top 10 garden centres in the UK for houseplant sales.

We first spotted the big change in the Notcutts Norwich houseplant area last Christmas, it’s quite different from a traditional garden centre houseplant department, funky industrial style racking that is stacked full of plants, plus loads of hanging houseplants create an inspirational plant forest effect.

Colin Dale, Category Manager for Plants and Garden at Notcutts explained that the inspiration came from his daughter two and a half years ago.  “She was then 23 and she came to me asking to go to the garden centre to buy some houseplants. Now that is not the sort of thing I expected from my daughter at all. There's something really strange here. What she bought were succulents and things like sanseverias. It's all the trend she explained to me, it's all on social media.

Read the full interview in the June issue of GTN using this link: https://issuu.com/gardentradenews/docs/gtn_june_19_digital_version

At Perrywood, houseplant sales are booming. 

With an Instagram account unique to houseplants, perrywoodhouseplants, driving people to the centre from as far afield as central London, the team watch trends from other centres, N1 in particular, and make sure they have as many new plants available as possible.

Their unique houseplant room sets, this year with clever planting right into the props, gives existing customers plenty of inspiration to buy more houseplants.

The importance of Instagram for their houseplant sales is explained by Zoe Willis: “We get so many questions through Instagram daily and then when we've had a delivery in and we put up a post everyone wants to know; can I come and get them and how much are they?”

“I have an Instagram account, zoeshouseofhouseplants, myself and I've got 5,000 followers. I think it's an amazing community to meet people, find out about different plants and get advice. I get so excited about it.”

Perrywood have also been making the most of aspiring houseplant owners wanting to ensure the watering of their precious plants is as easy as possible.  Using in-store sales demos and Instagram videos they are driving good sales of the Elho Easy Watering pot inserts.

At Plymouth Garden Centre, the only one we've visited that has a drawbridge as part of the entrance structure, they make the most of every plant and pot sales opportunity, even with popular Blueberry plants.

They also take great care on which greetings cards to stock and as a result sell over 65,000 cards a year. 

Nick Oliver at St Johns Ashford leaves customers in no doubt that the centre has different owners, they bought the centre from Wyevale last year, and at the same time underline their planty background.

St Johns original site in Barnstaple doesn't offer a childrens menu, just child sized portions of their main menu, which can also be ordered by "customers with smaller appetites." It is a huge success for them.

Stewarts Christchurch win the GTN Award for the most in-store trolley parks and the best use of trolley park space. 

Every trolley park was also being used as a merchandising unit meaning more could be deployed across the centre to ensure customers could easily find that trolley as soon as the need one.

Compared to some other garden centre houseplant areas Stewarts Christchurch is relatively tiny, but because they pack so much in they create a tropical forest effect which entices people to stop and but on their way into the centres and on their way to the tills.

In April, houseplant sales across the three Stewarts garden centres were up by 23%, and that was on top of good increases last year.

As well as a good range of pot covers, Stewarts also had available a good range of small tables and plant stands, a much needed extra purchase when you want to add more plants and you’ve run out of windowsill and shelf space to put them on.

The GTN team are always looking for innovative items on garden centre menus and at Whitehall Lacock we found the most delicious ‘Moving Mountains Plant Based Burger’ in the Lavender Lodge Restaurant. 

Top marks for taste and top marks for emphasising the plant-based items on the menu of a garden centre restaurant.  We can’t wait to go back again and try more.

What a spectacular entrance to the furniture department at Whitehall Lacock, an idyllic spring garden setting created with backdrop and props.  It matches the cover of Whitehall’s Beautiful Gardens magazine too!

Houseplant sales are 50% up at Whitehall Lacock. Peter Self says’ “It’s all about green architecture.  Every time we order some bigger plants they just sell though.”

“Sales had been flat up to a couple of years ago and slowly the momentum has built. The Instagram generation is leading the way.”

Calatheas have been particularly good sellers for the Whitehall team who are also amazed at the number of macramé pot hangers and cover pots they are selling.

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One of Vitax's longest serving area sales managers will be taking a well-earned rest at the end of July as he retires from his role. Julian Goodhand, who has been with the company for 37 years, will officially retire from the firm on 31^st July.

With an eye for a sale, Julian’s early career started at WH Smith before undertaking a variety of sales roles including the sale of tyres right through to confectionery.

Joining Vitax in 1982, Julian has built up an enviable reputation with both colleagues and customers across Avon, Wilts, Hants and Dorset due to his product and industry knowledge and is well-known and respected by his peers.

“When I joined Vitax I knew nothing about gardening and the company was still relatively small with a core of well-known brands such as Nippon and SBK. Thankfully over the past 30 years my knowledge has improved and Vitax has grown year-on-year, and I am very proud to have been part of that growth,” says Julian Goodhand, South West area sales manager at Vitax.

“During my time with the company I have made many friends, who I will continue to stay in touch with, but I am looking forward to a slower pace of life.

“The only thing I currently have planned is a holiday to India with my family and then who knows!” added Julian.

As part of a special thank you to Julian and his wife Susan, Vitax have treated the couple to afternoon tea at Rubens Hotel, a visit to the Chelsea Flower Show and attendance at the Greenfingers Charity Garden party.

“Julian is a key part of Vitax and has been integral to our success in the South West for many years. Whilst we will miss his humour and candour he brings, we are delighted he will now have the time to explore his love of travel and spend time with his family,” says Paul Gooding, Vitax’s chairman.

“We wish him a long, happy and healthy retirement and thank him for all his support.”

Pictured, left to right (all Vitax): Carl Welsh – managing director,  Mark Butler – national sales manager, Julian Goodhand and Paul Gooding – chairman.

National Garden Gift Vouchers has launched its photography competition to find six photos for use on our gift voucher wallets and gift cards.

Running until 13 October 2019, the competition is open to the public, garden centres and their staff –  a fun way, says the HTA, of keeping gardens and gardening in people’s minds over summer and autumn.

Participants have to submit their garden-themed images via the National Garden Gift Voucher website.

Winning entries receive £100 of National Garden Gift Vouchers with one grand prize winner, voted for by members of the Horticultural Trades Association, winning £500 of vouchers and two tickets to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2020.

Find out more here where you can also download artwork to promote the competition.

Consumers can enter using this link.

Wyevale Garden Centres has today announced the sale of 11 garden centres in four separate transactions to British Garden Centres, The Plant Area Limited (t/a Clandon Park Garden Centre), Coolings Garden Centres and Maidenhead Aquatics.

British Garden Centres will acquire 8 centres: Albrighton, Birchencliffe, Bressingham, Gardenlands, Hemel Hempstead, Louth, Tarporley and Wolseley Bridge. This follows their earlier acquisition of six centres.

In separate transactions, The Plant Area Limited will acquire Woking garden centre, Coolings Garden Centres will acquire Wych Cross garden centre and Maidenhead Aquatics will acquire Dummer garden centre.

Anthony Jones, Chief Operating Officer at Wyevale Garden Centres, said: “The sale of a further 11 centres takes the total number sold to 101 since the sale process began. I’m delighted that these 11 centres will remain as garden centres and would like to thank all colleagues for their commitment and contribution and wish them all well for the future.”

Charles Stubbs, MD of British Garden Centres said: “We are proud to announce the purchase of these additional centres into our rapidly expanding British Garden Centres family. Phillippa, Robert and I and all the British Garden Centres teams are looking forward to supporting the new centres in the set up for the Autumn/Winter trading period. We would like to express our thanks to all involved in this complex purchase process.”

Lee Wong, MD at Clandon Park Garden Centre said: “Clandon Park has been under our independent ownership since 2003 and we are delighted to welcome all the staff at Woking Garden Centre into our company. The two centres serve different towns, but are less than 20 minutes apart and already share many customers offering significant opportunities to work and grow together.”

Paul Cooling, Chairman of the 3rd generation family business said: "The whole team at Coolings is looking forward to welcoming their new colleagues from Wych Cross. The centre and nursery has a great reputation for roses, and is a great fit for Coolings. After completion the centre will close temporarily for refurbishment and will re-open as Wych Cross Nursery on Friday 23rd August."

David Lawrence, MD of Maidenhead Aquatics said “Maidenhead Aquatics are pleased to have acquired Dummer Garden Centre. Having traded from the site for over ten years as a concession it was an opportunity to secure both the future of the site as a local traditional garden centre as well as enhancing and securing our existing specialist aquatics offering. We very much look forward to working with the existing team and further improving the centre.”

Christie & Co, the specialist business property advisor is managing the sale process on behalf of Wyevale Garden Centres. There still remains the opportunity to acquire a small group or a portfolio of well performing garden centres located in attractive locations.

Following the completion of this and other previously announced sales, Wyevale Garden Centres will trade 43 garden centres plus 4 centres trading under license. These include 42 restaurants and 154 concessions with 125 partners. These have been key to driving footfall and de-seasonalising the business, making the centres attractive all year-round destinations.

At the RHS Chelsea Flower Show last month, Guy Hands told GTN Xtra that all of the remaining centres would be sold by the end of the year and at The National Plant Show there were plenty of rumours flying around about other sales and purchases that are in the pipeline.

Who do you think are the best buyers of 2019?

The search is on for the Glee Buyers Power List and the journey starts with your nominations before voting by all members of the trade and the winners being announced on Wednesday at Glee 2019.

There are 7 categories you can make nominations in this year:

• Best single site independent Garden centre
• Best multiple site independent garden centre (5 stores or less)
• Best Garden Centre groups (6 stores or more)
• Best DIY/Builders Merchant buyer/buying team (check votes from last year)
• Best Online retailer buyer/buying team
• Best Supermarket/department store buyer/buying team
• Best high street garden retailer buyer/buying team

To make your nominations send an e-mail with "Buyers Power List" in the subject to: grace.reilly@ite-exhibitions.uk

Nominations close on June 30th 2019 and then the voting process runs through to the end of August.

Last years winners were:

Best Independent Garden Centre Buyer – Perrywood 
Multiple Garden Centre Buyer – Blue Diamond
Best Builders Merchant Buyer – Stax 
Best Online Buyer – Primrose
Best Supermarket Buyer – Waitrose
Best High Street Buyer – The Range

See you at Glee 2019.  Tuesday 10th September - Thursday 12th September.

15 years after Nick Seaby and his father Mick bought Mill Race Garden Centre at Aldham near Colchester they have decided to sell the business as a going concern.

Both Nick and Mick experts within the Aquatics business and well respected and recognized for being one of the best in the UK. They have 4 aquatics site, Harling, Rayleigh, Colchester and also as a tenant in Gravesend as part of the Millbrook Garden Centre site.

The garden centre business, which was extended by way of spending £750k on a new 5500 sq foot building (pictured above) in 2008, although profitable has not the attention it deserves and thus having reviewed all options they have decided to sell as an on-going concern. They still have confidence in the Colchester site and will still trade the Aquatics business here as a tenant rather than as a freehold landlord.

"We purchased the garden centre 15 years ago and have traded successfully and benefited from the loyalty of both customers and our team. We are however specialists in Aquatics and are aware that a new operator could do more justice to the potential of the team and the opportunity that exists on the site and in Colchester. We therefore wish to see the business transition to new ownership and a prosperous future." said Nick.

"The Garden Centre benefits from approximately 25 000 sq. ft. of internal space, an extensive planteria and coffee shop with access onto the river, and is located close to one of the fastest growing towns in the UK, it is believed that there is potential for the site to triple its current turnover.

"We have appointed Quinton Edwards to help us find new owners and they will begin actively marketing the garden centre as from this week.

"Please contact Simon Quinton Smith or Rachel McMordie on 01635 551441 if you would like further information."

The start of June 2019 has been completely the opposite of 2018, wet and windy this year, glorious sunshine last year. And sales have been affected just as when we have snowfall in March. It just goes to show that whatever else is affecting garden centre business the weather is still our over-riding deciding factor. 

Thank goodness a break in the weather is forecast for this weekend.  Perhaps we may have a flaming end to June and make the most of gardening and leisure sales before we move into holiday time.

Did you make a note that the Early May Bank Holiday is moving next year? To allow for 75th Anniversary of VE Day celebrations it is moving from Monday to Friday 8th May.  The last time this happened was in 1995.  Did garden centres join in the celebrations then?  What will you plan with your local community for 2020?

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year (week 23)
Garden Products - down 14%
Growing Media - down 18%
Wild Bird Care - down 2%
Veg-2-Gro - down 8%
All Plants Index - down 28%
All Items Index - down 19%

The industry has made substantial progress made towards the adoption of kerbside recyclable non-black plant pots, a meeting of the Nursery Working Group has heard.

Growers attending the meeting reported that they have all moved away from using black pots and have either switched all production to non-black recyclable pots or are on track to do so for 2020.

There have been no reports of any issues with growing in the recyclable replacements and they have been well received by customers and consumers alike.

The Nursery Working Group was established following last year’s National Plant Show, where growers recognised the need to come together to start tackling the issue around black plastic pots which are not recyclable from the kerbside. Following discussions with pot manufacturers, the move was made to grow in a recyclable, carbon black pigment free polypropylene pot, with the taupe pot being adopted as the industry standard colour.

The Group and the HTA have been working with RECOUP (RECycling of Used Plastics Limited) and LARAC (Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee) on developing a strategy to move the initiative forward by liaising with reprocessing facilities and Local Authorities.

Chair of the Nursery Working Group, David Chilvers from The Bransford Webbs Plant Company, said: “It is quite incredible to see how much progress has been made since last year’s National Plant Show and really encouraging to see businesses coming together to make a change for the greater good of the industry.”

He added “The work is far from complete and we are eager to keep the momentum going with the next phase focussing on working with materials re-processors and local authorities to ensure that the pots are collected and recycled. The new pots are really starting to make an impact in garden centre plant areas, and it will be interesting to see how this is reflected by exhibitors at the National Plant Show. Further information and messaging will be available to visitors and exhibitors at the show.”

HTA Policy Executive Sally Cullimore will be presenting an update on plastics in horticulture in two seminar sessions at the show, wherer there will also be a recyclable pot feature area.

Nursery Working Group members include:  Allensmore Nurseries, Binstead Nurseries, Darby Nursery Stock, Double H Nurseries, Farplants Group, Hillier Nurseries, Hills Plants, Johnsons of Whixley, Lovania Nurseries, New Leaf Plants, Porters Fuchsias, The Bransford Webbs Plant Company and Wyevale Nurseries.

Growers wanting to find out more about the Nursery Working Group should contact Sally Cullimore, HTA Policy Executive on 01235 776196 or by email. policy@hta.org.uk.

Agapanthus ‘AMB001’ ‘Fireworks’ from Fairweather’s Nursery has been crowned this year as Best in Show at the New Plant Awards on the opening morning of the HTA National Plant Show. The show, sponsored by Hortipak, takes place today and tomorrow (18 and 19 June) at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry.

When discussing the winner, the judges commented, “The agapanthus has the ‘wow factor’. It has a romantic, naturalistic look and looks exceptional even when in tight bud. It is a good commercial plant and looks to be a good improvement on its predecessor, ‘Twister’, because it is more robust and fills the pot quicker, therefore better value for money. It is exciting to have a fantastic plant that looks great in the container and in the border.”

The judges also recognised that the houseplant category was worthy of note due to an increased number of entries, with foliage houseplants on trend. There was also an increase in new retail concepts, with some good plant names for retail and those new to gardening.

The New Plant Awards, sponsored by the RHS, are the beating heart of the show and create an area bursting with inspiration for our visitors. This year there has once again been over 100 entries – meaning that over the history of the show over 1,000 new plants have been showcased.

The winners are:

Annuals
Gold and Best in Category - Impatiens walleriana ‘Beacon®’ - Ball Colegrave Ltd

Silver - Hypoestes phyllostachya hippo 'Rose' - Kernock Park Plants Ltd

Silver - Nemesia fruticans hybrid 'Boysenberry' - Kernock Park Plants Ltd

Silver - Solanum ‘F1 2414’ Plum Tomato' – Javado UK

Bronze - Helianthus annuus ‘Sunsation® Yellow F:1’ - Javado UK

Bronze - Fuchsia 'Bella Faya' - Javado UK

Bronze - Fuchsia 'Bella Laura' - Javado UK

Bronze - Fuchsia 'Bella Maria' - Javado UK

Bronze - Fuchsia ‘Bella Fuchsia ® Lisa’ - W D Smith & Son

Bronze - Petunia x hybrida ‘Amore Pink Hearts’ - Profitplant UK & Batchmere Ltd

Bronze - Petunia x hybrida ‘Amore King of Hearts’ - Profitplant UK & Batchmere Ltd

Bronze - x Petchoa hybrida ‘BeautiCal French Vanilla’ - Earley Ornamentals Ltd

Herbaceous Perennials
Gold and Best in Category - Agapanthus ‘AMB001’ 'Fireworks' - Fairweather's Nursery

Gold - Agapanthus ‘Poppin Purple’ - Wyevale Nurseries Limited/ Fairweather's Nursery

Gold - Buddleia davidii ‘Monarch® Blue Knight’ - Allensmore Nurseries Ltd

Gold - Dianthus x allwoodii hort 'Cherry Burst' - Whetman Plants International

Gold - Digitalis isabelliana (‘ISOB007’PBR) PBRAF ‘Bella’ - Hillier Nurseries Ltd

Gold - Lysimachia christianiae 'Sunburst' - Kernock Park Plants Ltd

Gold - Nepeta nervosa ‘Neptune’ - Allensmore Nurseries Ltd

Silver - Agapanthus 'Andbin' 'Ever Sapphire' – Fairweather’s Nursery

Silver - Dianthus 'Aztec Star' - Whetman Plants International

Silver - Dianthus 'Blushing Star' - Whetman Plants International

Silver - Dryopteris wallichiana ‘Jurassic Gold’ - Seiont Nurseries Ltd

Silver - Nepeta 'Cat's Pajamas' – Fairweather’s Nursery

Silver - Salvia guaranitica 'Amante' - Wyevale Nurseries Limited and Darby Nursery Stock

Silver - Sempervivum arachnoideum ‘Coral Red’ - Lovania Nurseries Ltd

Bronze - Agapanthus ‘WP001’ 'Ever White' – Fairweather’s Nursery

Bronze - Digitalis x hybrida ‘Pink Panther®’ - Profitplant UK & Batchmere Ltd

Bronze - Geum ‘Fiery Tempest’ - Farplants Sales Ltd

Bronze - Geum ‘Coral Tempest’ - Farplants Sales Ltd

Bronze - Salvia greggii ‘Amethyst Lips’ - Seiont Nurseries Ltd

Bronze - Salvia greggii ‘Cherry Lips’ - Seiont Nurseries Ltd

Bronze - Sempervivum ‘Gold Nugget’ - Lovania Nurseries Ltd and Newey Ltd

Houseplants

Gold and Best in Category - Aloe zebrina ‘Danyz’ - Javado UK

Gold - Rhapidophora tetrasperma ‘Minima’ - Javado UK

Gold - Senecio peregrinus ‘Jumping Dolphin’ - Javado UK

Silver - Anthurium andreanum  ‘Anthfytwal’ - Profitplant UK & Batchmere Ltd

Silver - Philodendron bipinatifidum ‘Philodendron’ - Profitplant UK & Batchmere Ltd

Silver - Philodendron hastatum - Javado UK

Silver - Tradescantia nanouk - Javado UK

Bronze - Asplenium nidus ‘Campio’ - Javado UK

Bronze - Cambria Odontioda ‘Nippon’ - Javado UK

Bronze - Philodendron atom selloum ‘Atom’ - Javado UK

Bronze - Tillandsia intermedia x streptophylla 'Curly Slim' - Javado UK

Shrubs and Climbers
Gold and Best in Category - Clematis ‘Elodi™ Tudor Patio® Evipo 115 (N)’ - The Bransford Webbs Plant Company & The Guernsey Clematis Nursery

Silver - Clematis ‘Sugar Sweet’ - New Leaf Plants Ltd

Silver - Hebe ‘Sunrise’ - The Bransford Webbs Plant Company    

Silver - Hydrangea paniculata ‘Early Harry’ - Lovania Nurseries Ltd

Silver - Lavandula angustifolia ‘BeeZee Blue’ - Darby Nursery Stock

Silver - Lavandula angustifolia ‘BeeZee Pink’ - Darby Nursery Stock

Silver - Lavandula stoechas lamorosia ‘TM Purple Flag ®’ - Javado UK

Silver - Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Breebay’ - Hillier Nurseries Ltd

Silver - Vaccinium angustifolium aiton × V. corymbosum L. 'Berrybux' - Javado UK

Bronze - Cordyline australis (‘TUS019’PBR) EU 49536 'Pink Star' - Hillier Nurseries Ltd and Newey Ltd

Bronze - Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Kazan’ - Javado UK

Trees and Conifers
Gold and Best in Category - Tilia x europaea ‘WILTIL’ 'Golden Sunset' - Frank P Matthews Limited

Silver - Prunus pumila var. besseyi x armeniaca ‘Aprikyra’ - Frank P Matthews Limited

This year’s judging panel include Sabatino Urzo from the RHS, Ken Cox from Glendoick Garden Centre, Tamsin Westhorpe co-chair of the Garden Media Guild and Melanie Livingston plant buyer from Fron Goch Garden Centre with HTA’s Director of Operations Martin Simmons overseeing.

All New Plant Award entries can be viewed at the show and visitors too can have their say by taking part in the Visitor Vote Awards, sponsored by Floramedia. The winner of the Visitor Vote Award will be announced on the afternoon of Wednesday 19June.

The HTA National Plant Show takes place on 18 and 19 June at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire. For more information and to register in advance please visit www.nationalplantshow.co.uk

A new, state-of-the-art Welcome building at RHS Garden Wisley has been opened on June 10 by founding RHS Ambassador Alan Titchmarsh.

A bigger Plant Centre covering 5000 sq m will stock tens of thousands of plants and feature displays by specialist UK growers all year round. The RHS claim at Wisley they will be making a larger variety of rare and unusual plants available for people to buy for their homes and gardens than anywhere else in Britain.

RHS Greening Great Britain launched last month to encourage everyone to grow more plants across the UK to bring significant benefits to our health and the environment.

Alan Titchmarsh said: “Millions visit Wisley every year to be inspired by the horticulture on display and now the RHS flagship site will be a permanent showcase to celebrate specialist UK growers, just as it does at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and its other world-famous events. These plant specialists lovingly grow the rarest, most unusual and beautiful varieties in the world, which thrive in UK gardens because they’re so used to our climate.”

Country Garden Plant Sales (Dorset) will display ferns, including the new ‘Jurassic Gold’ which has golden leaves and can withstand very cold temperatures. W.D Smith and Sons (Essex) will display pelargoniums, many with unusual scents including orange, pine, rose and cola. A large range of dahlias, including some the size of dinner plates by Pheasant Acre Plants (Bridgend). Peonies by Primrose Hall Nursery (Milton Keynes), hostas by Stafford Lake Nursery (Woking) and acers by Credale Nursery (Herefordshire).

Alan added: “I promise to help Greening Great Britain by continuing to promote and buy from specialist UK growers. If the UK’s army of 27 million gardeners were to do the same, we would be protecting the UK from pests and diseases coming in from abroad; helping pollinators which need a diverse range of plants in order to survive; and supporting this vital industry that is worth more than £24 billion to the UK economy.”

To meet the growing houseplant trend, there will be more houseplants in stock than ever before. Houseplant sales at RHS plant centres are up 50% with non-flowering varieties up 64%. Plants with air-purifying qualities are selling well with sales in ‘snake plants’ increasing tenfold. Ferns are enjoying a resurgence and cacti are becoming even more popular.

The new Welcome building also contains improved visitor facilities including a spacious arrivals hall, a 100-seater restaurant, bigger shops selling gardening and artisan products and a larger café.

For the first time, visitors will be welcomed by world class horticulture on arrival with new landscaping by multi-award-winning Christopher Bradley-Hole. 250 native trees will be planted in and around the car-park and visitors will enter the 240-acre garden through an avenue of 100 cherry trees.

Once inside the garden, visitors can explore several new areas. Namely, the 75-metre long Wisteria Walk, The Exotic Garden and Heather Landscape with ornamental grass borders.

This is the first of three major projects that make up a wider £70 million transformation of RHS Garden Wisley. The second is the creation of the UK’s first National Centre for Horticultural Science and Learning, opening in 2020, and the restoration of its iconic Laboratory. The RHS is currently fundraising for the final £2 million.

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 2017 as well as 2018 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 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 Growing Media Bestsellers chart for this week are here

Highlights of the GTN Wild Bird Care chart for this week are here

Highlights of the GTN Veg-2-Gro 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.

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 £120m.

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.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or call 01733 775700.

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