Kent garden centre operator Bill Cox is in the process of selling Alkham Valley Garden Centre near Dover to an investment company.

Working with agents Alexander Mackie Associates, the business will change hands on 1 March, and the sale transaction is due to complete next Tuesday (February 28).

Mr Cox and his wife Caroline and their two young children are planning to move to the Westcountry, where they will start a new non-gardening venture.

It is understood the new owners will continue to operate the business as a garden centre and tea rooms.

The Coxes have run the business for 14 years.

“We have built up a loyal customer base over the years,” Mr Cox told GTN Xtra, “and fully anticipate that the new owners will build on this and continue to grow the business.

"The centre will benefit from the recent closure of Wyevale's Folkestone centre. The centre will be restocked over the coming weeks ready for the new season.”

Alkham Valley will be the fourth garden centre to be sold by Alexander Mackie Associates this year.

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year (week 7):

• Garden Products – up 19%
• Growing Media – up 30%
• Veg 2 Gro Products – up 15%
• All items index – up 7%

The sixth annual Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Day take place nationally on the 17 March, with many events continuing throughout the weekend. The 24hr Plant-athon, which was a runaway success last year, is being rolled out to more garden centres, and the Garden Re-Leaf Walk boasts a huge uptake in registrations and aims to be both more inclusive and challenging.

Top 10 fundraising ideas

Over the past six years, a host of garden centre fundraising ideas has been launched, tried and tested.  Here are the top 10, with tips on how to make them a success in your garden centre…

24 hr Plant-athon

Alton Garden Centre, Blue Diamond, Hillview, Klondyke, and Hillier have already committed to the event for a second year running.  Orchard Park in Dorset is the latest to sign up, with more expected to follow between now and the 17 March.  But time is running out! If your garden centre is looking to register for Garden Re-Leaf Day, contact Linda at Greenfingers as soon as possible, via linda@greenfingerscharity.org.uk or by calling the Greenfingers office on 01494 674749.

General Knowledge Quiz

Independent garden centres with a loyal local following, such as Perrywood in Essex, have turned this into an annual evening long event, providing food and allowing participants to bring a bottle. The questions don’t have to be about gardening, and as it’s St Patrick’s Day you might want to make that your theme!  Drinking responsibly of course…!

Raffle

It’s a popular choice for a reason and that is that it raises a great deal of money, and can be done in conjunction with suppliers.  Last year,Monkton Elm in Taunton (pictured, below) experienced an increase in footfall and sales as a direct result of their raffle.  Shoppers bought tickets, and the winners returned to collect their prizes – resulting in further money spent in the café, and on plants and other items on the way out.

Bake or book sale

If you’ve got a café and a farm shop this is ideal – but even without either you can still put on a bake sale.  Or a book sale.  Or a mixture of the two! The more creative the better. Fairweather’s in Hampshire are keeping it on-brand - selling special green Garden Re-Leaf cakes throughout the weekend.

Sponsored cycle

Whether your staff members are fitness freaks or salad dodgers – a sponsored cycle is the perfect excuse for exercise!  You can set yourselves a challenge that links in with a theme – for example, Coolings cycled 220 miles to Buckingham palace last year to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday. A great way to entertain and engage with your customers, who can sponsor and donate as they shop.

Create a display from trade promotions

Suppliers such as Gardman sold a range of products last year, with a Greenfingers Charity Tree Mat and Cole & Bright Solar Hanging Jars raising 50p from each item sold, as well as 20p from each Hanging Basket Coco Liner. This year, Deco-Pak has pledged to donate 5p from each small bag of their new play sand on orders placed in March.

Open garden

Alan Down at Cleeve Nurseries is opening up his private Hellebore collection (click here) – why not organise something similar with a local garden writer or private landowner?

Wishing Tree

The premise is as simple as it is effective - place a potted tree within the main sales area, accessible enough so that children and adults can easily and safely add a note – or write a wish on the back of a star in the case of Whitehall’s in Bristol.  Customers will enjoy being able to express their wishes and will eagerly donate for the privilege.

Coffee mornings/afternoon tea

Cafés are usually busy whatever the weather, so holding a coffee morning can be a real winner, and works well in tandem with bake sales.   Last year Barton Grange in Preston sold afternoon cream teas, with £5 donated for each one sold.  This year Squire’s at Hensham are including an afternoon tea party as part of their weekend-long spring launch in aid of Greenfingers.

#Gluvies

More for awareness than fundraising – or can it be both?  Once you’ve taken a picture or a selfie of your team – or with your customers – you can post to Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #gluvies and tagging @GardenReLeaf - or post galleries on Facebook tagging participants to spread the word.  But also the gloves themselves (Briers’ Greenfingers All Seasons Gardener gloves) can be sold in the same way as the famous red noses to raise funds; 35p from each (medium or large) pair is donated to the charity by Briers – who now also have a Greenfingers kids’ gardening kit to further raise funds. Last year the #gluvies hashtag reached 20,000 people on Twitter, but this year we’re aiming for twice that amount!

Last year, Greenfingers launched its ‘A Million Moments Appeal’, aiming to raise £1 million, over three years.  With the help of events such as Garden Re-Leaf Day, the charity is aiming to provide at least 5,000 children and their families that rely on hospices to enjoy spending precious time together outdoors.

Here's a link to the Garden Re-Leaf Day 2017 Countdown e-mail newsletter:  http://tgcmc.newsweaver.co.uk/gardenreleafday2107/1qwi8xn073m

Grange Fencing has established a brand new distribution site at Harwich, creating over 30 jobs for the local area.

The site at the Essex port comes as the result of a significant investment from Grange’s Polish parent company, Stelmet, with the location being favoured for its excellent supply links to Stelmet’s recently opened £30m manufacturing facility in Grudziadz, Poland.

Grange MD Neil Taylor said the site would enable them to improve distribution across the board, creating operational efficiencies across the company. “The fantastic positioning of the Harwich site in relation to the manufacturing base in Grudziadz will help to shorten lead times and will enable Grange to create a stronger distribution network, working in tandem with our Telford headquarters. This increase in our supply chain efficiency is central to the company’s ability to deliver growth across all aspects of the business, from product development to improved customer service.”

Covering nine acres, it is expected that over 2.5m Grange products will be distributed from the new base during its first year.

Seven concession businesses at Hare Hatch Sheeplands garden centre in Berkshire have finally lost their battle to stay open.

They will have to leave the site by May following a High Court ruling that their presence was unlawful.

Enforcement action has been ongoing since 2012, when owner Rob Scott was accused by Wokingham Borough Council of breaching the green belt and extending a café and play area unlawfully.

The council said the business only had planning permission to operate as a plant nursery, café and farm shop, not a full garden centre. Mr Scott could not prove the unauthorised operations had been running for 10 years or more and thus came outside the rules.

The council said it had no choice but to take legal action after Mr Scott ignored an enforcement notice.

Mr Scott and the businesses appealed the notice and the case was heard at the High Court last month.

In a written judgement issued this week, judge Karen Walden-Smith granted an injunction against the garden centre, obliging it to comply with the enforcement notice and close any unlawful activities by 1 May.

She said Mr Scott had completely exhausted the planning process and rejected his argument that the notice was flawed.

Mr Scott was ordered him to pay the council’s costs, with an initial payment of £20,000 within 28 days.

Judge Walden-Smith said: “There is a clear need for the local planning authority to be able to enforce planning control in the green belt in the general interest of the public.

“Even if there is a general and widespread support for this business, as I am told there is, that support does not circumvent the need for planning control.”

She conceded that her ruling would adversely affect businesses on the site but said Mr Scott and other occupiers had shown “a clear and wilful intention to breach planning control” and that he had been warned about the council’s intentions over a considerable period of time.

 “It is clear from the evidence that this was an issue fraught with difficulties. Mr Scott has heavily invested in the site and I am told that the effective closure of the business would result in extreme personal hardship.

“The council was seeking to uphold its planning obligations, protecting the green belt and resisting creating a precedent. The local planning authority has an obligation to enforce planning control for the greater good, particularly where they are protecting the green belt from harm.”

Judge Walden-Smith asked the council to redraft the injunction notice so it would be “understandable” to the businesses.

After the ruling, Mr Scott said he had not given up hope.He said: “The next step is for my legal team to view the reworded document and advise me on what action we can now take. I will not know what that is until we have all had a chance to get together and discuss the options.” On the garden centre website, he reassures customers that it is business as usual in the meantime.

The centre had drawn support from hundreds of customers as well as several Wokingham borough councillors and even Prime Minister Theresa May who, at a public meeting in 2014 when she was Home Secretary said she shopped at the centre and offered to broker a deal between the business and the council.

Last year, more than 4,800 people signed a petition started by Mr Scott.

In September, a public inquiry refused a separate appeal by Mr Scott against the council’s refusal to grant a certificate of lawful use.

Bord na Móna UK has been nominated ‘Supplier of the Year’ at the recent Wyevale Spring Show...

Bord na Móna UK has been supplying Wyevale Garden Centres with an own brand range of growing media since February 2016. With a total of 19 SKUs, the Wyevale own brand label covers a wide variety of peat-based and peat-free options, including specialist blends and multipurpose formulas.

Bord na Móna’s head of marketing, June Dowling said the accolalde was "testament to all our efforts over the past year. Bord na Móna has really hit the ground running in 2017 and we are keen to continue providing the very best in product quality and customer service."

This newest award follows the recent results of the annual Which? Compost Report in which two products under the Wyvale own brand label were cited as best buys by the consumer ratings magazine. June continued, "We are incredibly proud to have produced such award-winning formulas on behalf of our customers. Bord na Móna UK is all about providing market leading products and we are delighted that our aspirations have led to the recognition of the company as Supplier of the Year."

Bord na Móna UK is part of the Bord na Móna plc, which specialises in eco-fuels, growing media, recycling, resource recovery and renewable energy.

Garden writer, broadcaster, designer and former Hillier Director, Andy McIndoe, has been awarded the prestigious Veitch Memorial Medal, one of the highest accolades in the world of horticulture.

Sir Nicholas Bacon, President of the Royal Horticultural Society, presented Andy with the Veitch Memorial Medal at the prestigious RHS Awards ceremony in London in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the advancement of the practice of horticulture.

“I am overwhelmed and delighted to be awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal by the RHS,” said Andy.

“During the past forty years, I have had so much pleasure sharing my love of plants and gardens with new and experienced gardeners alike.

"I consider myself very fortunate to have had the opportunity to help others on their career path in this wonderful industry and to encourage those that enjoy gardening as a pastime. The RHS is an amazing organisation which brings us all together, and I am honoured to be part of it.”

 Andy has had a lifelong fascination with plants. He studied horticulture at Bath University before joining the world-famous Hillier Nurseries & Garden Centres in 1978, working his way up from garden centre manager to be the first Managing Director from outside the Hillier family.

Andy designed a staggering 25 Gold medal-winning gardens for Hillier at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in as many years, and has lectured worldwide, written nine gardening books and contributed to countless gardening broadcasts and publications.

Since stepping down from Hillier in 2015, and now aged 60, life for Andy is busier than ever. He runs a thriving and varied business as a garden designer, book author, radio presenter, garden writer and horticultural consultant, and gives gardening courses, lectures and tours Europe-wide. Andy is a trustee of Greenfingers, the charity that creates gardens for children’s hospices.

In the summer months, Andy and his wife, Ros, also welcome groups to their stunning two-acre naturalistic garden at Sandhill Farm at Sherfield English in Hampshire.

Following the huge success of Gardman’s poppy bird feeder campaign last year, which raised £218,359 for The Royal British Legion in just four months, Gardman is beginning a new charity partnership with Marie Curie, the UK’s leading charity for people living with a terminal illness and their families.

The money raised through the sale of the #GardmanDaffodil will allow Marie Curie to help more people living with a terminal illness and their families make the most of the time they have together by delivering expert hands-on care, emotional support, research and guidance. Last year, Marie Curie cared for and supported over 50,000 people affected by terminal illness across the UK.

The Cast Iron Daffodil Bird Feeder will retail at £6.99 and will be sold alongside Marie Curie branded premium Wild Bird Seed Blend, ideal for garden lovers and for those who love to feed birds. The feeder is suitable for all year round feeding with universal appeal to a variety of different birds. The Wild Bird Seed Blend retails at £4.99 (1.8kg pack) and £14.99 (12.55kg pack).

Gardman will donate 50p for every sale of its #GardmanDaffodil and 50p for each pack of 1.8kg bird feed and £1.50 per pack of its 12.55kg charity Wild Bird Seed Blend. The brand hopes to raise donations in excess of £200,000 for a second year.

Gavin White, marketing director at Gardman, said: “The striking design of the Gardman Daffodil Bird Feeder is inspired by Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal, and we are proud to have launched such a beautiful and decorative product to not only brighten gardens across the country, but more importantly benefit thousands of families requiring end of life care.”

Nicky Read, Head of Corporate Partnerships at Marie Curie, said: ‘We’re delighted to be partnering with Gardman this year. We’re incredibly grateful to have their support and look forward to working with them.”

John Cleland, CEO of Dobbies Garden Centres and Charlie Lacey, CEO Designate at Decco will both be speaking at the next GIMA day conference.

The event is on Thursday 23 March at Horticulture House, in Oxfordshire

Following the sale of Dobbies to Midlothian Capital and Hattington Partners, John was appointed CEO in July 2016. Having now been in the role for 8 months, Cleland will set out his vision for Dobbies, one of the UK’s largest chains of garden centres in the UK.

Charlie Lacey takes over the reigns at Decco when John Findlay retires at the end of March.  Charlie will be providing delegates with an overview of the business and the value they can add for GIMA Members as a line of supply to the retail sector.

Joining the line up of speakers is Trevor Pfeiffer who will be sharing some award winning garden centre retailing trends from a year of GTN's Greatest Awards visits, plus Matthew Mein from Glee who will be updating delegates about the show and the recently announced Glee Spring Fair concession.

Vicky Nuttall, GIMA Director, said ‘I’m delighted with the line up of speakers and we hope to announce more very soon.  We’ll also be providing delegates with an update on some of the exciting things we’ve got planned for GIMA and its membership’

The Day Conference is open to anyone who wishes to attend, with GIMA members benefiting from subsidised rates. The GIMA AGM will precede the Day Conference and is open to fully paid up GIMA members only.

To book your place, click this link, contact the GIMA office on 01959 564947 or e-mail here

A recently launched online garden business in Dubai is the latest company to accept an invitation from the Gardenex export association to participate in its next popular ‘Meet the Buyers’ event.

Other influential buyers taking part will be from Ireland, Norway and Sweden.  The event will be held at the association's head office in Brasted, Kent on 15th March 2017.

The event is the latest in a series of highly successful ‘Meet the Buyers’ initiatives that provide UK suppliers with the opportunity of meeting overseas buyers on a one-to-one basis.  The invited buyers have already expressed an interest in the product areas to be presented to them, and the format of the event has proved to be highly successful for both suppliers and buyers over a number of years.

The international garden product buyers travelling to the UK to meet with British suppliers are:

• A Dubai online garden company and distributor that is a newly-launched sister company of a leading pet food and accessories distributor.  The latter already supplies customers throughout the Gulf region and sources from over 35 international suppliers, including from some members of Gardenex' sister association, PetQuip.  The new company’s key product categories comprise indoor and balcony, outdoor and gardening, and children’s gardening.  The main sub categories within these sectors include pots and planters, gardening tools, soils and fertilisers, watering systems, seeds, decorative items, chicken-keeping, footwear, clothing and wild bird products.  In addition to sales direct to consumers, the company provides a distribution service to other retailers, landscapers and interior designers.  The buyer will be looking for quality garden products suitable for the UAE market.

• An Irish wholesaler supplying hardware stores, decorators' and builders’ merchants, garden centres and lifestyle stores across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.  The company’s garden range includes garden chemicals and organic solutions, insect repellents and pest control, watering/spraying equipment, tools, incinerators, planters and hanging-baskets, as well as outdoor grills and accessories.  The buyers are looking to expand their range.

• A Norwegian online store selling quality products for garden and home.  The company’s product range includes greenhouses, sheds, garden storage, children’s outdoor play equipment, planters, furniture, outdoor lighting and cooking accessories.  The buyer is looking for all type of products for house and garden that activate grandparents, parents and children to take part in healthy activities.  The company is also seeking any products that will add attraction to the house and garden environment.

• A Swedish online store selling direct to the general public, as well as acting as importer/distributor for several UK companies.  The product range includes all types of practical equipment and accessories from tools, pots and plant protection to hydroponics and irrigation; greenhouses and accessories; pond liners, pumps, lighting and fountains; garden decoration, gazebos and pergolas; and wild-bird items.   The buyer is looking for grow-your-own accessories and equipment, plant care and garden maintenance items, as well as landscaping and garden decoration.  The company is also seeking a new supplier of products for garden ponds/water in the garden.

To ensure that you don’t miss out on the opportunity to apply for 25 minute one-to-one meetings with any of the buyers on 15 March, or to find out more about future ‘Meet the Buyers’ events for both the garden and pet sectors, contact theresa@gardenex.com as soon as possible.

Further Gardenex/PetQuip ‘Meet the Buyers’ events in 2017 are to be held on 7 June and 20 June. The meetings will be held in Brasted, Kent.  Two leading German mail order buyers are already confirmed for the 7 June meeting, and a Canadian mail order and retailer buyer will be attending the 20 June meeting.

After helping with support duties last year, Trevor and Karen Pfeiffer vowed to do The Great Garden Re-Leaf Day walk in full in 2017, so Labradoodles Olly & Floyd thought they’d better join in to pull them towards the finish as the miles clock up and their feet and legs are hurting.

Olly & Floyd are brother Labradoodles who love walking and getting dirty so they are really looking forward to the 20 mile walk from Scotsdales Garden Centre in Horningsea to Scotsdales Garden centre in Shelford Cambridge.

It’s a shame they won’t be able to walk through Jesus College garden or The Cambridge Botanic Gardens, but there is a special route around the outside of the gardens that Karen and Trevor can run around the to make sure we don’t lose any time.

We’re looking forward to meeting all the fellow walkers – both 2 legged and 4, and making lots of friends as we walk through Cambridge on March 17th.

Please sponsor us, or Trevor and Karen if you must, using our Just Giving page: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/OllyandFloyd. 

We really do want to raise as much money as possible to help create another Greenfingers garden at a children’s hospice.  Then we can go and visit that too and meet some of the wonderful children, parents and carers who gain so much benefit from spending time outside in a Greenfingers garden, which has been magically designed and created to help them.

Woof woof.

Olly and Floyd

Here's a link to the Garden Re-Leaf Day 2017 Countdown e-mail newsletter:  http://tgcmc.newsweaver.co.uk/gardenreleafday2107/1qwi8xn073m

• EXCELLENT PLANT KNOWLEDGE AND GOOD GARDENING EXPERIENCE
• GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE SKILLS
• BE HELPFUL, POLITE & COURTEOUS

• MONDAY TO FRIDAY
• 8.30AM – 5.30PM (EVERY WEDNESDAY OFF)
• EVERY OTHER SATURDAY 8.30 – 5.30PM & SUNDAY 10.00 – 5.00PM
• AVERAGE 39 HOURS PER WEEK

• •Lead and motivate the team to success
• Control costs on a daily basis to ensure the profitability of the store
• •Maintain the high standards expected of the centre
• Be able to deal with staff issues efficiently and compassionately
• • Increase profitability

• Good plant and garden product knowledge
• Be forward thinking and not scared to try new things
• Be target driven
• Have a good understanding of computers
• An enthusiastic and positive attitude
• Good customer service skills.
• Less than 6 points on their driving license and own a car as they will be expected to travel to trade shows and other events.
• Have worked in other garden retail environments and be able to bring new ideas to the business.

• Paid Monthly
• A Competitive Salary
• 32 days holidays
• Staff discount

• Excellent skills with programs such as Excel and a head for numbers is a must.
• Experience working with EPOS would be advantageous.
• Retail knowledge is desirable.
• Demonstrable management skills are also required as the successful candidate will be managing a small team.

Garden Centre Manager | Kent (ref:DS9089)

• To manage the running of the centre enabling everyone to inspire, educate & equip customers.
• Constantly find ways of improving the centre & motivating your staff to achieve agreed company targets & objectives.
• To drive performance maximising commercial potential.
• To promote staff ownership & accountability to create a positive & enjoyable working environment.
• To ensure your centre runs within budget and achieves agreed targets.
• To ensure that the centre operates within current Health & Safety legislation.
• To contribute to the success of the Group as a whole.

• Ideally someone who has worked within the horticultural retail trade and understands the seasonal challenges that a business like this can face and can plan and organise staff and goods to respond to this.
• Great communication skills, a motivating and inspiring leader who can instil confidence in staff and get them to perform at their best.
• Someone who is a planner and can look ahead to insure that stock is available when needed, displays are always topical and can respond to the challenges of every season.
• A superb people person who has a passion for Garden Centres.

• Enrolment into company pension scheme within 3 months, 5% employer & employee contributions.
• Private Healthcare after 12 months premium paid by employer.
• Non - contributory health scheme after 12 months to cover osteopathy, dental, optical, access to consultants, and many more. Premium paid by employer, invoice settled by employee and subsequently reclaimed from insurance.
• 28 days holiday inclusive of 8 statutory days
• Employee discount after six months (20% garden centre, 50% café)
• Net profit bonus

To apply for this role click here

Sales Support Advisor - Amenity (ref:DS9088)

• Ensuring quotes are issued within 24 hours of receipt of customer enquiry.
• Converting quotes to orders.
• Issuing pro-forma invoices for non-credit clients.
• Liaising with customers to ensure delivery information is correct.
• Managing the Order Book so that customer orders are delivered when requested.
• Following up quotes and orders advising Account Managers of status and actions required.
• Undertaking outbound marketing campaigns (telephone/email).
• Raising and processing invoices.

• Experience of outbound sales in a fast-moving customer services environment.
• A demonstrable achievement in improving customer service.
• The ability to work to tight deadlines.
• Excellent communication, negotiating, IT/computer and telephone skills.
• Accuracy and attention to detail.
• Excellent plant and horticultural knowledge.

To apply for this role click here

Amenity Account Manager South | Home Counties (ref:DS9067)

Location: Hertfordshire
Salary: Excellent package
Date: 10 Feb
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent


Our client is a leading UK horticultural nursery stock producer who are seeking a dynamic, driven Account Manager for its Amenity division to expand its customer base within the landscape contractor, local authority and landscape architect's sectors in the UK.

For this role you will have a minimum of 5 years' B2B field sales experience within horticulture with strong commercial skills as well as financial and business acumen.

You will also have experience of selling into landscape contractors, local authorities and landscape architects, a knowledge of trees, as well as proven experience in securing new customers.

Outstanding customer service is required as is the ability to create and develop customer relationships. Excellent communication, IT skills, attention to detail and the ability to work on your own initiative and manage your time effectively is essential.

You will be able to demonstrate achievement in meeting and exceeding challenging sales targets through completing quotes and tenders and negotiation to achieve the required level of profitability.

This position is home based and you will ideally live in the Beds, Bucks, Herts area with easy access to the M1 to ensure accessibility to the customer base.

Reporting to the Sales Director, you will be part of a professional and ambitious team and will be required to attend meetings at head office on a regular basis.

The successful applicant can expect a competitive package including company pension, private health insurance and company car.

To apply for this role click here

• Scotts Evergreen Complete 360 sq m + 10% Extra Free was the highest re-entry.
• Gardman Solar Rockspot was the highest new entry.
• Growth Technology Orchid Myst was the highest climber.

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

News has only just reached us of the death at the end of January of former Country Gardens garden centre group director David Good. He was 83.

A familiar figure in garden centre retailing in the 1990s, he was a director of Country Gardens, later sold to Wyevale, between 1991 and 1999 and had previously worked with his brother Dudley at Beacon Garden Centres. Earlier he had worked for the family dairy firm.

He was also a shareholder at Country Homes and Gardens, also now part of Wyevale.

Country Gardens could be said to have pioneered concessions in garden centres. The group’s Brighton centre was one of the first to sign up Pets Corner in 1991.

Despite being born with only one forearm, David Good became a skilled and highly successful amateur motor racing driver and in 1961 won the British Hill Climb Championship. He was a keen tree climber and cricketer before discovering motorsport.

He died in hospital in Swindon, following treatment for cancer. A funeral service was held at St Michael’s Church in Bray, Berkshire.

The Turtle Mat Company Ltd, popular suppliers of doormats to garden centres, has been acquired by Kleen-Tex Holdings (UK) Ltd.

"With Turtle Mats, we are gaining a strong retail brand for our company portfolio, especially in the UK market," said Kleen-Tex Europa MD Jürgen Teubenbacher. "For both companies, there are very positive synergies - on sales, marketing, and distribution."

With a shared mission to provide tried, trusted and innovative products to their customers and with a focus on excellent customer service, Turtle Mat was an excellent choice to grow Kleen-Tex's position within the UK.

Turtle Mat has a thriving e-commerce and mail-order business, and more than 300 trade customers, including leading John Lewis, Lakeland and Countrywide, as well as masn y garden centres. The move offers opportunities for Kleen-Tex, a European and global manufacturer of high quality mats, to bring their extensive product offerings into these areas.

“We are very happy to join the Kleen-Tex organisation. Kleen-Tex has a wealth of product expertise and market knowledge, which puts us in a strong, competitive position.” said Susan Leaver, director and general manager of Turtle Mat.

• Kapiteyn Onion Sets Centurion was the highest new entry at No 34.
• Farplants Strawberry Cambridge Favourite was the highest re-entry at No 7.
• Thompson & Morgan Tomato Shirley F1  was the highest climber, jumping 33 places to No 13.
• Taylors Onion Sets Stuttgarter moved up to the top spot.

• Westland John Innes Repotting No.2 (30 litres) was the highest climber, moving up 25 places to No 14.
• Scotts Levington Multipurpose Compost with John Innes (55 litres) was the highest re-entry at No 17.
• Another product returning to the Top 50 was Scotts Levington Ericaeous Compost (56 litres).

• Pelargonium lead the way in plug plant sales re-entering the chart at No 9.
• Tulip sales give them a leap up 20 places to No 8 as beds indicate a promise of early colour.
• The popularity of Fuchsias to grow on at home means they re-enter at No 19.

As it preparers to mark its 150th anniversary, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company has announced the formation of a charitable foundation with a core focus on environmental issues, the creation of community gardens and greenspaces and the development of high-potential, under-served students through education.

“This decision is a testament to our culture and our proud history of supporting the environment and the communities where we live and work,” said Jim Hagedorn, chairman and CEO. “As we prepare to celebrate our 150th anniversary, this is the right time to create a foundation. Such a milestone should do more than simply reflect on where we’ve been, it should focus on where we’re headed. The creation of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation marks a long-term commitment to a series of important causes we hold dear and that we trust the next generation of leaders and associates will proudly build upon.”

One of the first major programs to be supported by the Foundation will take place March 22, which is World Water Day. The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation and The Everglades Foundation will co-sponsor a national Impact and Innovation Water Summit, which will address concerns around the growing problem of water nutrient pollution, particularly from excess phosphorus in waterways. The event, which will be held in Florida where nutrient issues have become a significant concern, will mark a formal collaboration from both groups towards supporting bold and lasting designs for water protection.

When Wilkinson Sword were contacted by the Trafford Veterans Mess Charity advising that their portacabin had been attacked by arsonists, the garden tool company decided to see what they could do to help.

The charity consists of a group of volunteers who have a connection with, or have served in, the Armed forces or Emergency Services. Through sharing their experiences they are able to help one another to settle back into civilian life, and recover from various mental health issues that sadly come with being a member of uniformed services.

They have found that their members find gardening very therapeutic, and are in the process of developing their facilities to further this offering. On the evening of August 24th, however, the portacabin was set alight, putting all of their hard work back, and leaving the members without this essential resource.

Wilkinson Sword wanted to do something to help them get back on their feet, and to help them to continue with growing their beneficial gardening resource, and sent them a selection of tools including two Carbon Steel Digging Spades, two Carbon Steel Digging Forks, a Felling Axe and a Grenade to help to split logs.

Nick Hills, Garden Division General Manager for Wilkinson Sword, commented: ‘We were shocked when we heard what had happened at the Trafford Veterans Mess Charity, and wanted to do something to help. We hope that the tools we have sent will enable the charity to continue with the important work that they do, and to go towards turning their orchard into the memorial garden that they have dreamt of’.

Further information about Wilkinson Sword’s range of garden tools can be found at www.wilkinsonsword-tools.co.uk.

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.

Squire’s Garden Centre in Hersham is having an official opening of their new look garden centre on Friday 17^th March - which is 33 years to the day that it first opened in 1984.

The Mayor of Elmbridge Councillor Tannia Shipley will open the newly extended garden centre at 3.30pm, then customers can come and celebrate with Squire’s by booking a special one-off “Gardener’s Delight” Afternoon Tea.

Hosted by Colin Squire, the delicious gardening themed menu includes a glass of Prosecco with Hibiscus, an allotment of petit fours, a selection of finger sandwiches (beetroot infused salmon & horseradish crème fraiche, plus free range egg & cucumber with light chive mayonnaise), lemon & basil scone with lemon curd and clotted cream, and a pot of loose-leaf tea.

Customers will be entertained during the afternoon with live music from guitarist John Canham in the Café Bar - which is now 20% bigger and has been completely refurbished with new furniture, kitchen, and a new decked verandah with views over the plant area.

Tickets cost £15 per person and include afternoon tea, a glass of Prosecco, and a gift. Squire’s will donate 10% of the price to the charity Greenfingers, who create magical gardens at children’s hospices.

It is also enjoy Squire’s first “Seasonal Planting Masterclass” on Friday 17^th March at 10am & 2pm, where customers can create their very own “Herbal Bath”! A stylish zinc alloy bath trough can be filled with a wide selection of herbs, and for interest add some strawberry plants to create a beautiful cocktail of flavours.

The Herbal Bath Masterclass lasts about 45 minutes and costs just £20. This is fantastic value, as it includes tuition from Squire’s gardening experts, the container and compost, plants, tea or coffee and cake, plus 10% off all additional plants purchased on the day!

To book the Herbal Bath Masterclass or Gardeners Delight Afternoon Tea (or both!) call 01932 247579 or book in person at Squire’s on Burwood Road, Hersham, KT12 4AR. www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk

A new farm shop, complete with a coffee shop and deli at Pugh’s Garden Village has been given the go-ahead by local planners.

While planning permission was given for a new building at Morganstown, Cardiff, last year, there were issues with positioning of drainage pipes. New plans were created so that access to a manhole for those pipes can be maintained.