The Soil Association is the charity that digs deeper to transform the way we live and care for our natural world. The mission of the Soil Association is help everyone understand and explore the vital relationship between the health of soil, plants, animals and people.
The Blue Diamond Group is the 2nd largest Garden Centre Group with 37 Garden Centres situated over the UK and Channel Islands. Blue Diamond is committed to reducing its impact on the environment and to promoting a greener, cleaner and more nature friendly way of gardening and so the exclusive partnership with The Soil Association is the perfect fit.
During 2021 Blue Diamond and The Soil Association aims to break down any perceived barriers to gardening in an organic and more nature friendly way, to raise awareness of the benefits of using organic approved products and natural alternatives and to point customers on a journey towards changing to organic approved products and natural alternatives when gardening, all of which will hopefully encouraging customers to become more eco-aware.
Alan Roper the Managing Director of the Blue Diamond Group says;
“I am pleased that by forming this partnership we are able to shine a spotlight on the commendable charitable work of the Soil Association whilst at the same time helping gardeners on a path to 100% environmentally friendly gardening so they can rely on healthy gardens the natural way.
This is a really important and exciting initiative which I hope our customers will get behind. We hope to encourage and give confidence to our customers to make the switch to gardening with products that are kinder to our environment.”
During the month of April, Blue Diamond and The Soil Association will focus on Lawn Care and will provide hints, tips and guidance to customers on which products are available to help care for their lawn in a natural and eco-friendly way. Blue Diamond’s “Make the Switch” campaign is all about educating and promoting products which will keep lawns in top condition without the need to resort to artificial products/chemicals.
Blue Diamond’s goal is to offer their customers an organic approved or nature friendly alternative for every chemical product they currently use to encourage them to make the switch to products that are kinder to our environment. Each month Blue Diamond will then focus on different natural/organic approved alternatives for different parts of the garden such as Roses, Vegetables and Composting for example.
From May onwards, the focus will turn to Organic Rose Care and how to ensure your roses stay pest and disease free using organic approved products, along with advice on companion planting and other natural methods to ensure your roses stay blooming lovely!
Blue Diamond takes its environmental responsibilities very seriously and over the years Blue Diamond has already taken many positive steps to reduce its impact on the environment and has implemented measures to reduce its carbon footprint.
Read more about our environmental steps – click here; https://www.bluediamond.gg/environment
Peat and ways to become peat free is at the forefront of many customer’s minds at the moment. Blue Diamond is committed to becoming peat free and is working in collaboration with The Soil Association at ways to achieve this. Blue Diamond’s own nursery at Bridgemere already grows crops in reduced peat and is undergoing production trials of peat free with a view to rolling out peat free crops this Autumn, roses being the first peat free plants.
Blue Diamond will continue to work with its suppliers and organisations such as The Soil Association to achieve a greener and more nature friendly way of gardening, this is better for the Earth, better for us and certainly better for bees!
To find out more about The Soil Association and how you can support this charity please click here: www.soilassociation.org
