Insiders believe Wyevale Garden Centres owner Terra Firma is in the final stages of negotiation with Tesco to buy the 35-centre Dobbies group.

Sources say they have been told the due dilligence process is under way, which could mean an announcement is only weeks away.

Speculation about a deal between the two has been rife since the early days of  Terra Firma’s ownership of Wyevale (then The Garden Centre Group), but has increased during the past year following the Tesco group’s profits crisis and its recent divestment of unprofitable subsidiaries.

Tesco acquired a majority shareholding in 2007 in a takeover that valued Dobbies at £155m, completing the deal the following year by buying Sir Tom Hunter’s remaining 29% stake for £36m.

Dobbies reported profits of £6.7m on turnover of £142m in the last published results (November 2014)).

A merger would give Terra Firma control over 182 garden centres with a combined turnover approaching £450m, profits (based on 2013 results) of some £30m and a workforce numbering around 8,000.

The deal is an attractive one for Terra Firma on a number of levels – extra buying power, additional geographical coverage (particularly in Scotland) and an opportunity to strip out duplicated administrative costs. Wyevale could also expect a surge of recruitment to its Garden Club membership of more than 2.4 million.

Profit per centre at Dobbies is around £191k, compared to £158k at Wyevale.

Terra Firma, which is committed to growth by acquisition, is also believed to have contacted many of the 11 member companies of the Tillington buying and marketing group, with offers to buy their centres.

Tillington, which buys core lines centrally and promotes through customised editions of its free Beautiful Gardens magazine, comprises many of the UK’s most profitable independents and chains. They are:

Alton, Bents, Frosts, Hayes Garden World, Otter Nurseries, Ruxley Manor, Scotsdale, Squires, Van Hage, Webbs of Wychbold and Whitehall GCs.

The market will be keeping a keen eye on how ongoing retail rationalisation, not just by Wyevale but by other currently acquisitive businesses, will affect the UK’s garden centre landscape.

Alton Garden Centre owner Derek Bunker (a Tillington member) believes there will always be a demand for well-run independent garden centres. “We’ve heard scare stories before…they warned us that Texas, Sainsbury’s Homebase, Gardenstore, B&Q and the like were all bad news for us, but we’re still here and thriving. Most of my customers would never dream of going to them.

A garden centre owner was threatened with violence after he introduced a ‘Tory tax’ on shoppers who voted Conservative in the general election.

Matt Woodruff, the owner of Woodruffs Yard, Lewes, put a sign outside the centre asking Conservative voters to ‘identify themselves’, as they would be charged 10% extra.

“I’m sure, as someone who has opted to support a party of elitist, self-serving types, that you understand that this is one of the many ‘tough’ decisions I need to make to ‘balance the books’,” the sign says.

UKIP voters were asked to ‘shop elsewhere’.

A picture of the board has gone viral, leading to extreme responses.

“It’s my right to protest, but I’ve sure got flack for it. It’s supposed to be humorous, for people to enjoy it,” Matt said.

“There have been swear words, I’ve been threatened that they’ll come down here, beat me up, trash the shop. I’ve had to unplug my phone at home, which will have to go on for at least a month.”

Matt admitted the idea of the sign was to poke fun at the Tories, it’s a parody of them. The response is ridiculous.

He was concerned the damage the sign could have on his business, but footfall had picked up. This week Woodruffs Yard has been full of shoppers.

And he has received lots of emails of support, being sent from as far afield as Japan, France, Australia, America, Italy, Germany and Russia.

Overstrand Cottage Garden Centre near Cromer in North Norfolk has gone on sale for an asking price of £675,000. The business is available for purchase due to the pending retirement of the current proprietor.

It has been described by estate agent Arnolds Keys as a thriving, well-establish and family-run garden centre located in the heart of Overstrand village.
According to the estate agent details, the business benefits from a large catchment area, with the nearest specialist garden centre of a relative size located 12 miles along the coast.

This site, of just over an acre provides a variety of units. The main building on site is of brick and block construction under a pitched tiled roof. At ground floor level the building provides the front sales and reception area of the business and an attractive café to the rear. Internally, this consists of vinyl flooring to plastered and emulsioned walls under an artex ceiling. Central heating via wall mounted radiators is provided throughout. The café has a stainless steel kitchen installed to the rear.

The first floor of the main building provides a three bedroom flat comprising a kitchen, bathroom, living room and bedrooms, situated under the eaves of the flat and lit by Velux windows.

The shop in turn leads into covered display areas which are generally formed from polytunnels, they provides extensive accommodation across the site.

To the remainder of the site is a small office building of block construction clad with timber and this provides functional accommodation as a manager's office in addition to staff canteen facilities. There is a warehouse to the rear which is of timber truss construction but provides a concrete floor for extensive storage. There is also a large glasshouse with concrete floor heated by an oil fired convection heater with polycarbonate roof.

For more information call Arnolds Keys on 01603 620551 or email gareth.mears@arnoldskeys.com, guy.gowing@arnoldskeys.com

Work has started on a new housing development on the Swanland Nurseries site near Hull, which was recently sold by owners John and Shirley Waters to Linden Homes.

The house builders are promoting Swanland Gardens as one of their prime sites in the region. It will contain 31 properties and the Waters family will get two new houses as part of the deal.

The sale, for an undisclosed sum, was handled by city agent Garness Jones.

Managing director Dave Garness said the four-acre site attracted considerable interest when owners John and Shirley Waters decided to sell their 65-year-old family firm.

Mr Garness said: "The level of interest was such there was no need to market the site.

"It was clear from the start this was an excellent site for residential development, and as a result John and Shirley received direct approaches from a number of house builders.

"They brought us in to advise upon how best to handle these enquiries, conduct negotiations and arrive at an agreement."

The process took 13 months from an initial inquiry by Linden Homes to completion of the sale.

Commenting on the the family's decision to sell, John Waters said: "Swanland Nurseries was founded by my parents 65 years ago and I'd been in it all my life. It was a sound business, very profitable and popular and I know a lot of people were very disappointed when we decided to close.

"But I am at retirement age and so is Shirley and our children didn't want to run the business because they have their own careers.

"Once the land was allocated for development we approached various house builders and others came to us.

"The interest from house builders and the need for more housing in Swanland presented an opportunity to retire and secure a retirement house in a place we love."

In the past Swanland Nurseries have been recognised in The Greatest Awards organised by Garden Trade News, winning a Silver in the Christmas Awards 2011 among many other accolades.

Expanding decorative aggregate and garden accessory specialist Deco-Pak is experiencing its most successful ever spring sales period, with turnover during April being the highest in its 10 year history, 14% up year on year.

Due to a busy trading period during the Easter Bank Holiday, and with April being the sunniest on record with 212 hours of sunlight measured by the Met Office, conditions for the Yorkshire based family company and sales of their aggregates, decorative birdhouses and new growing media range have been unprecedented.

Deco-Pak's General Manager Rod Slater said the weather was only one part of the reason for their success.

"Products such as our new Chelsea Garden range of growing media are now filling the gap left by other suppliers leaving the market. 

"I think another factor to consider would be our investment in marketing, logistics and the much greater presence we’ve had at trade shows during the past year. 

"New and existing customers now know we can supply products like professional horticultural sands and aggregates as well as our usual range of decorative aggregates.”

Other new products such as the sparkles-when-wet Champagne Gold and Strawberry & Cream decorative aggregate mixes have also been instant hits for Deco-Pak, with aggregates sales alone 16% up for April. 

Rod Slater added: “Promoting these new products through valuable press coverage has helped us sell over 80,000 packs of the new aggregate mixes in a 3 month period, 39% of which came from repeat orders.   It is always encouraging to see successful stock turnover, especially with a new product - as it means demand is coming from consumers as well as retailers.”

Deco-Pak’s birdhouses are due to be featured at this month’s Chelsea Flower show and also at Hampton Court, with award winning garden designer Annie Guthrie using the company’s gravel and Chelsea Garden range as part of her entry.

For more information visit www.deco-pak.co.uk . 

Orders and enquiries can be made by contacting the team by telephone  on 01422 204394 or by email  sales@deco-pak.co.uk.

The May Day Bank Holiday proved to be a second bumper Bank Holiday Monday for 2015, according to EPoS data supplied by garden centres for GTN Bestsellers.  

Volume sales were up in all departments with garden lighting and veg plants for Grow Your Own the star performers.

With warmer temperatures forecast and all the media publicity surrounding Chelsea Flower Show on the horizon for next week, the omens are starting to point towards a bumper May for garden centre sales all around.

We continue to hear of huge increases in garden furniture sales too, resulting in big turnover increases year on year.  Why do you think customers are buying more garden furniture in centres this year? Has the garden furniture internet bubble burst? Why are sales so good despite the colder spring? Do you expect the same performance for BBQs?  If you can shed any light on these questions please email trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

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

• Garden Products – down 7%
• Veg-2-Gro Products – up 43%
• Growing Media – up 6%
• All items index – up 1%

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

Wyevale Garden Centres have become the first national retailer to stock Dalefoot’s eco-friendly & sustainable Wool Compost, made from sheep’s wool and bracken.

A total of 40 Wyevale stores as far afield as Hayle in Cornwall and Morpeth in Northumberland are now selling the product.

The National Trust’s Morden Hall Park garden centre, the UK’s first all peat free garden retailer, is also now selling Wool Compost as well as Dalefoot’s Wool Compost for Seeds and Wool Compost Ericaceous.

The range is on sale as well at acclaimed horticultural hotspot Petersham Nurseries.

Other new Wool Compost retailers include Charlies Stores in Welshpool, Burford Garden Company, Alleyn Park Garden Centre in West Dulwich, Potash Garden Centre in Essex, The Herb Farm near Reading and Hayes Garden Land in Ayrshire.

Dalefoot Compost’s Wool Compost range cleverly harnesses the natural properties of wool to trap water, whilst releasing a steady steam of nutrients to feed the plants over the growing season. Made from totally renewable British resources, the range has composts forcontainer growing, flowers, vegetables, shrubs, seeds and ericaceous plants.

Dalefoot appointed its first sales and marketing manager, Paula Davies, last autumn and has plans to continue expanding its business to premium trade outlets and develop new products for eco-conscious gardeners. The range is also available online at www.dalefootcomposts.co.uk.

Wool Compost is made on a 120-acre family farm at Dalefoot in the Lake District fells by farmer Simon Bland and environmental scientist Jane Barker, using wool from their own flock and the Herdwick ‘wool-clip’ of neighbouring hill farmers, including National Trust tenants.

As well as helping the growing number of gardeners who want to switch to peat free, the compost finds a novel use for British wool - good news for struggling sheep farmers.

Simon Bland said: “We’re making it easier for customers by giving them the choice of buying our compost online or at their local garden centre. This will hopefully encourage more people to try our compost and convert to using peat free in their own gardens. We’re also keen to hear from more retailers interested in stocking our Wool Compost range.”

The compost has a similar soft texture to peat and has a wide range of naturally occurring trace elements for good plant health. It uses the natural hydroscopic properties of sheep’s wool to keep compost moist for longer which is particularly important when buds set during the summer and essential for those summer hanging baskets. Wool also provides a steady release of nitrogen, perfect as a slow release fertiliser.

The use of bracken in Wool Compost is also beneficial. The spread of this aggressive, waist-high plant in the Lake District makes grazing difficult and impacts upon native species. Composted it boasts high levels of natural potash, essential for fruiting and flowering. A win for nature lovers and gardeners alike.

As well as making peat free compost, Jane and Simon also help save Britain’s ancient peat bogs. They run a leading peat bog restoration contracting firm responsible for re-introducing peat forming sphagnum across hundreds of hectares of degraded upland and lowland bogs of Northern England and Scotland for clients such as Yorkshire Peat Partnership, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Scottish Natural Heritage and Natural England. So they are real peat free champions!

To contact Dalefoot call 01931 713281 or email info@dalefootcomposts.co.uk

Johnsons Seeds, one of the UK's oldest brands with a history dating to 1820, has given its retail seed range a complete makeover for the 2016 season, based on comprehensive market research conducted with gardening consumers.  The fresh, bright design is across all packets and point-of-sale material, building on the company's tradition with a solid, upmarket feel. 

The targeted range offered  sits well alongside its sister-brand Mr Fothergill's.  Seed packets are now clearer, feature a strong varietal image and show relevant icons, such as the RHS Perfect for Pollinators and RHS Award of Garden Merit.  Each standard packet still includes the added-value free colour plant label.

New for 2016 is Jekka's Herbs range, carefully chosen by Jekka McVicar, the UK's foremost herb expert, whose Herbetum is often described as 'a living encyclopaedia of herbs'.  The collection comprises 47 species and varieties, including popular 'classics' and some more unusual herbs, all displayed on a dedicated, eye-catching stand.  The large packets feature Jekka's beautiful photography, full cultural instruction and suggestions on each herb's uses.

Also new for the 2016 growing season are two Seed Tin Collections - Perfect for Pollinators Flowers and Award Winning Vegetables - each with 10 packets of seeds and an attractive, hinged lid seed tin.  Both would make inexpensive, thoughtful gifts for gardening friends, with a recommended retail price of £14.99.

To complement its Microgreens range launched last season, Johnsons now offers Micro Snips with which to harvest microcrops at a RRP of £3.99.  The compact size and spring-action handles make them easier to use than scissors, while the carbon steel blades ensure a long-lasting cutting edge.

Among 24 new seed varieties launched for 2016 is the exclusive marrow Babymax F1, a UK-bred hybrid which produces useful, smaller sized fruits than most.  The unique, pale yellow blooms of Xanthos represent a true breakthrough in Cosmos bipinnatus.  Other improvements include the expansion of Johnsons Organics range, and an increase in the number of chilli varieties offered, all now with a heat scale given on the packets to aid consumer selection.

To find out more about Johnsons and how it can increase retailers' turnover, log on at www.johnsons-trade.com or telephone 01638 554111.

Town & Country returns to the world’s most famous flower show next week - its 23rd consecutive visit - and will be using the occasion to announce the final tally of its recent fundraising efforts for Greenfingers.

It all started when the company pledged to donate 25 pence for every pair of gardening gloves sold on Garden Re-Leaf Day 2015, which took place on Friday 27th March, to Greenfingers - the charity dedicated to supporting the children who spend time in hospices around the UK, along with their families, by creating inspiring gardens and outdoor spaces for them to relax in and enjoy.

It has been confirmed that a total of 8,420 pairs of Town & Country gardening gloves were sold on that single day – raising an impressive £2,105 for the charity.  A cheque will be handed over to Matthew Wilson, Chairman of Greenfingers, on the Town & Country stand (Eastern Avenue EA30) on press day, Monday, 18th May. 

Linda Petrons, Head of Fundraising at Greenfingers, commented: “Town & Country has long been a supporter of Greenfingers and we already have a lot to thank them for. This latest fund-raising initiative comes after an already generous donation of £7,000, which was made earlier this year. We would like to thank them for their ongoing support. Fantastic contributions like these are vital if we are to continue our much valued work.”

Enquiries:  Town & Country; 01530 830990; info@townandco.com; www.townandco.com

One of the more democratic features of the 2015 RHS Chelsea Flower Show (which opens to the press on Monday and RHS members on Tuesday) is the Main Avenue built by the winner of BBC2’s Great Chelsea Garden Challenge

The  winning amateur garden designer was revealed on screen last Thursday evening as Sean Murray, 51, an occupational therapist and nurse from Northumberland.

He was one of six would-be designers mentored by Joe Swift of BBC2's Gardeners' World for the series as they built show gardens in different styles over just four days. The series was recorded last September at gardens across including RHS Garden Harlow Carr, while the finale took place at RHS Garden Wisley.

The gardens - cottage gardens, formal gardens and conceptual gardens – were judged by  RHS judge James Alexander Sinclair and Gold medal-winning garden designer Ann-Marie Powell.

The prize was the opportunity to create a Show Feature at Chelsea inspired by the RHS Greening Grey Britain campaign. The designers were judged on how well they met the brief, their horticultural knowledge, design skill and their garden’s sense of theatre.

Wyevale Nurseries, appeared in the second programme (filmed at Sudeley Castle, Gloucestershire) for which they supplied the plants.

The RHS briefed Sean to design a front garden for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, incorporating parking and plants as part of the charity’s new campaign to get Greening Grey Britain. As many of the UK’s front gardens are paved over for parking, the RHS wanted Sean to design a garden that would demonstrate how you can have space to park a car, but that it is also possible, and important, to incorporate plants within a front garden. 

Sean's design incorporates gravel with naturalised planting and he has kept hard surfacing to a minimum, due to its associated impact on local flooding and rising temperatures. The ebb and flow of a water-filled crevice divides the garden, symbolising the flooding and draining of the earth. Reclaimed materials have been included to complement the slate dry stone walling and paving.  Nooks and crannies are created to support nesting and overwintering habitats for wildlife. Secluded seating is situated beneath a tree canopy, while a tapestry of shrubs, perennials and scented climbers is interwoven with annuals and bulbs, providing year-round interest from leaf texture, form and changing colour.

Left: John Lawrence of Wyevale Nurseries, who supplied plants for the second programme.

Multi award-winning garden centre Barton Grange, near Preston, is now the subject of a new book 'A Topping Tale', which was launched at a special event at the Barton Grange Hotel.

A special house, a determined woman, her impulsive son and over 100 years of horticultural know-how – these are the seeds from which the Topping family of Preston grew their business, including one of the UK’s most successful garden centres.

Now, in a new book just published, the story behind the multi award-winning Barton Grange group of companies is being told.  ‘Barton Grange: A Topping Tale’ has been written by Ian Topping and local author Carole Knight and is an epic story of Lancashire life and sometimes unusual business practices!

The book was launched at a special event held at the Barton Grange Hotel on Thursday 7th May, attended by family members, the authors and many of the people who have played a part in the fascinating history of Barton Grange.

From the early 1900s when Eddie Topping’s grandparents started growing fruit and vegetables on their Longton farm, to today’s thriving business, employing over 400 local people, there lies a story of humble beginnings, heartache, happy times and a lot of very hard work.

At the centre of the story is Ada, Eddie’s mother, who took on the manor house at Barton and set about converting it into the Barton Grange Hotel. Whilst her tennis, dancing and piano playing-obsessed husband pottered with his market gardening business, Ada set about making the hotel ‘the place to be’. She developed the hotel business almost single-handedly, until able to share some of the burden with her son, Eddie.

Impulsive to say the least, Eddie’s approach to business makes hugely entertaining and humorous reading. Never to be deterred, ignoring advice and acting often on a whim, he forged ahead with his dreams. 

Pictured above: Guy Topping and Peter Topping working for their father as youngsters. Top picture: Eddie Topping in his van in the late 1950s.

Employing his sons whilst still almost toddlers and, at times, driving some of his most loyal staff to distraction, he took the Garden Centre side of the business from a shed on a car park to the shopping equivalent of a palace, grand enough to be opened by a Princess!  Now overseen by youngest son, Guy Topping, Barton Grange Garden Centre has won the GCA Award for Destination Garden Centre of the Year for the past four years.

From the rural Preston of the late 19^th century, through some fascinating accounts of living in 1920’s Preston and telling how the original manor house was requisitioned during the war, the book provides a snapshot of social history in Lancashire.

Bringing the reader right up to the present day, with Eddie’s sons now in charge, it’s an absorbing and often touching account of a family determined to succeed, but to do so with a smile on their faces, and on the faces of those who worked with them.

Barton Grange Garden Centre in 1963 when it opened.

Roundup has announced the winners from the second round of 2015’s ‘Pimp up your Roundup’, a 3-month promotion that challenges independent retailers to get creative when displaying Roundup in store.  

Running until the end of May there is still an opportunity to win a share of the £6000* prize by submitting photos of inventive Roundup displays.

April was a difficult month to judge with a high number of creative and interesting entries, but the winners have now been announced. Crowders Garden Centre, Horncastle, won for its innovative display using a real weed before and after treatment with Roundup, and Orchard Park Garden Centre, Gillingham, won for its great use of Roundup POS. The two winners from the April round of judging will both receive a Roundup Gel 150ml x 140 unit display as a reward for their creativity.

Gary Philpotts, Roundup Lawn and Garden UK business director, said: “The Pimp up your Roundup promotion has been a big hit again in 2015, with a high number of entries, all of top quality. A big thanks again to everyone that has taken part, and I’m sure it’s having the desired effect of boosting sales of Roundup, especially as we’re now in the main gardening season. With a few weeks left to go, there’s still time to get final entries in and be in with a chance of winning a great prize.”  

To enter retailers simply need to take a photo of their pimped-up Roundup display and email the photo to pimpuproundup@roundup-garden.com before May 31st.  At the end of May two winners will be chosen based on their display photo and will each win a Roundup Ready to Use 1L x 116 unit display.

To find out more about the ‘Pimp up your Roundup’ promotion and to read the terms and conditions, visit www.roundup-garden.com/pimpup or call 01483 410334.

*at Suggested retail value

Pictured: Top, the display at Orchard Park Garden Centre, Gillingham; left, Crowders Garden Centre, Horncastle.

All good garden centres sell fruit juice and fruit drinks and all good garden centres sell fruit trees and fruit plants. But how many merchandise them together?

At the Tuinzaken Garden Retail Experience earlier this year there were several examples of linking the plants to the food products.

Pictured is a display of Dutch apple food products – juice, cakes etc from Food Kitchen – with the added angle of young apple trees being merchandised alongside.

Apparently, where this had been tried in Holland it was making a big impact on sales of the apple food and juice products. It was too early in the season to know if it also inspired an increase in tree and fruit plant sales.

With all the interest and sales of young veg plants at the moment, have you thought about using those plants to add to the merchandising of your food ranges?

GTN Bestsellers are arranging a trip out to The Garden Retail Experience 2016 from Feb 17th to Feb 19th. If you’re interested in joining us please email trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

Food Kitchen can be contacted via kimberley@foodkitchen.nl or www.foodkitchen.nl

Plant Buyer (ref:BP7298)

Location: Romsey
Salary: Commensurate with experience
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

MorePeople have been retained by Hilliers to help them find an outstanding Plant Buyer to join the team at their Head Office in Romsey.
 
As well as being one of the most renowned Garden Centre groups in the UK, Hilliers are also one of the country’s leading growers of hardy nursery stock and have been awarded a Gold medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show for the past 69 years! They are justifiably proud of their worldwide reputation for quality, plantsmanship and innovation and are keen that the business continues to expand and develop.
 
This role will have total responsibility for developing and sourcing the range of plants available at Hillier Garden Centres and will work with the garden retail team, and the Head of Purchasing, to create a robust and innovative selection for their customers.
 
The Right Person will……  

• Be an outstanding plant buyer with experience in the UK and international market.
• Have a strong horticultural pedigree and be passionate about plants.
• Be an experienced negotiator and knowledgeable in using market and statistical data to help deliver optimal performance.
• Have the relationship building skills to develop existing partnerships as well as develop new sources.
• Be a self-confident and assertive buyer, with the insight and creativity to help the business develop a unique offering.

 This recruitment assignment is being handled exclusively by MorePeople and any direct or third party applications will be forwarded directly to them.
 
Please apply by sending your cv to info@morepeople.co.uk or for more information please contact Guy Moreton on 01780 480530 or 07932 161444 for a confidential conversation.

Amenity Sales Person (ref:DS7328)

Location: Norfolk
Salary: 25K
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

Our client is a leading amenity nursery who supply a wide range of stock to landscape contractors, local authorities & designers across the UK.

They are currently seeking an office based sales person with superb HNS knowledge to join their busy sales team. 

The role is to sell the company goods and services to existing and potential customers.

To be responsible for identifying and managing sales opportunities, building an understanding of client business's and manage the sales process to a successful conclusion.

For this role they are seeking someone with experience in the amenity sector with experience/knowledge of commercial soft landscaping - supplier or contractor.

Please submit your CV in the first instance, or to discuss further please call Dianne Saunders at MorePeople on 07929013910

Amenity Sales Executive (ref:DS7330)

Location: Leicestershire
Salary: 20 to 30K per annum
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

Our client is one of the UK's leading amenity nurseries who supply a wide range of stock to landscape contractors, local authorities & designers across the UK. They are currently seeking an office based sales person with superb HNS knowledge to join their busy sales team. 

The role is to sell the company goods and services to existing and potential customers. To be responsible for identifying and managing sales opportunities, building an understanding of client business's and manage the sales process to a successful conclusion. 

Job purpose:

-To communicate with customers on all pricing, availability and horticultural issues from the quotation stage to the dispatch of goods and beyond.

Key responsibilities and accountabilities:

As part of the Sales Management Team, responsible for:

-Conducting sales activity, and encouraging additional sales with customers.
-Making accurate, rapid cost calculations, and providing customers with price and availability.
-Being aware of goods in stock and growing on and as necessary assist in the process of purchasing stock for re-sale and liaising with suppliers.
-Maintaining and developing relationships with new and existing customers in person, and via telephone calls and emails to encourage new business.
-Monitoring any customer dissatisfaction or complaints and resolving these equitably and swiftly.
-Gathering market and customer information. Feeding future buying trends back to Senior Managers.
-Representing the company at trade exhibitions, events and demonstrations.
-Reviewing your own sales performance, aiming to meet and exceed targets.
-Gaining a clear understanding of customers' businesses and requirements, to be able to satisfy their needs and deadlines.
-Assisting in the process of credit control.
-Attending team meetings and sharing best practice with colleagues, working together to identify any improvements to processes, standards, efficiency and profitability.
-Assisting in the training and development of junior staff and listening and supporting colleagues, devoting time to impart expertise, instil confidence and expressing positive expectations regarding the team's and company's performances.
-Speaking positively and enthusiastically about the company and its products and services to ensure that a professional company and brand image is provided at all times to customers and colleagues.

Please submit your CV in the first instance, or to discuss further call Dianne Saunders at MorePeople on 07929013910

Garden Retail Manager (ref:BP7312)

Location: East Midlands
Salary: 28-32K per annum
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

I am seeking an experienced garden retail manager to lead the team at a successful independent garden centre in the East Midlands.

-The garden centre is a plant focused site with a newly refurbished shop section.

-The centre also has a strong catering offering making it a destination in the local area.

-The site is family owned and there are plans to expand and continue to grow in there next phase of development.

-This recruitment will focus on finding a manager that is both flexible enough to devote the time into developing this business into a stronger all round retail environment as well as managing the team and driving them to succeed in the current format.

-I am looking for a hands on manager who is able to take ownership of the site and work with the management team to continually develop the skill level of the staff on site.

-I am looking for candidates with a good level of garden centre management experience, this could be from a site role or in a duty manager role in a large centre.

-The team is very strong in horticultural knowledge so plant knowledge isn't essential but a passion for the sector is.

Please submit your CV in the first instance, or to discuss further call Brad Peck at MorePeople on 01780 480530

Following a successful event at Gardening Scotland last year, the HTA are holding a reception event in the Scottish Parliament later this month, which will also include tours of the parliamentary garden at Holyrood.

Confirmed speakers for the reception include Dr Richard Simpson MSP, who is a Patron of the therapeutic gardening charity, Trellis, and Christine Grahame MSP, event sponsor.

The reception will take place on the 27 May 2015, from 6pm until 8pm in the Garden Lobby of the Scottish Parliament. So far over 140 people have confirmed their attendance. A number of charities, organisations and friends of the HTA will also have stands at the event – allowing MSPs to find out more about the diverse nature of the gardening and horticulture sector.

HTA Chief Executive Carol Paris comments: “This event provides us with the opportunity to demonstrate the importance of horticulture in Scotland and the role it plays across many aspects of our lives to a parliamentary audience.

"The HTA has an increasing presence in Scotland, with the recruitment of Neil Cummings as Regional Business Manager for Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland last year, involvement in Gardening Scotland and increasing public affairs activity to ensure that members’ issues are heard.”

HTA President Stan Green added: “Scotland has an amazing horticultural heritage – from internationally renowned parks, public and private gardens with many societies and community groups to boot. We are all waking up to the importance of horticulture in our daily lives in Scotland, individually substantial but collectively hugely significant. What better place to come, than the Scottish Parliament to collectively celebrate the importance of plants in our lives, and most importantly how we can build on this privileged inheritance going forward.”

Saul Leese has been appointed as Head of Retail Brand Marketing at i2i Events Group, to work across the portfolio of retail exhibitions, which includes Pure London, Spring and Autumn Fair and Glee.

Previously Saul spent three years at Media 10, where he was Group Trade Brand Manager.  He has also worked with some of the most influential and successful companies in the entertainment, event and publishing sectors.  In the past 18 months, Saul has been shortlisted for 19 awards across the events sector, going on to win this year’s Exhibition News Award for the Best Use of Social Media and the Best Trade Show Marketing Campaign, as well as an AEO Excellence Award for the Best Trade Launch.

Louise Young, Divisional Director Retail at i2i Events, said:  “We are delighted to welcome Saul to the Retail division.  His valuable experience across design, marketing and events will be a great asset to the team taking our retail brands to the next level in their development.”

Louise’s sentiments were echoed by Glee’s Matthew Mein, who will be working closely with Saul to further build Glee’s reputation as the must-attend annual garden retail show.

Matthew said: “The Glee team and I are pleased to welcome Saul on board. His expertise and experience will be invaluable for further driving Glee’s reputation. I’ve no doubt that under Saul’s guidance we can build the show even further, creating a multi-platform and highly accessible 365 resource for garden retailers.”

Saul Leese, Head of Retail Brand Marketing, commented, “Our Retail shows are market leaders and have long been highly successful events.  I am excited about launching new, product-led initiatives and powerful content programmes to enable our customers to grow their businesses which will be at the heart of our strategy.”

The Garden Industry Manufacturers’ Association has attracted 11 new members since the beginning of the new year. The increase in numbers comes after a successful end to 2014, which saw over 20 companies join the thriving trade association. 

This influx of new members is set to bolster another busy year for GIMA, with an event calendar packed full of activity including several Day Conferences, the popular charity golf day (June 4), the annual GIMA Awards (July 16) and also several Buyer Connect events throughout the year.

The new members are all UK companies and include outdoor living brand Bramblecrest, hose and tube supplier Copely, rodent trap specialist Pest Stop, UK manufacturers of plastic storage and planters Whitefurze, innovative garden waste solutions company Hot Bin Compost, and high end luxury garden buildings brand Crown Pavilions.  

Hard landscaping product manufacturers Hedge UK, green space campaigners and creators of Moshi Monsters, TCV, well established greenhouse supplier Eden Halls, horticultural requisites supplier Fargro and household name pest control brand Rentokil complete GIMA's roster of new members.

Fargro's key accounts development manager, Kieran Daly, believes joining GIMA is a great method of business development.  Joining GIMA has been an integral part of Fargo’s expansion plans, making the transition from supplying commercial growers to a wider retail audience. "We joined GIMA because we feel it is a fantastic way to promote the Fargro brand and its products into the retail sector, whilst offering the best way to promote our business and bring us closer to existing and potential customers."

Kieran’s comments are echoed by Simon Dixey, Sales and Marketing Manager at Copely, suppliers of UK manufactured hoses. Simon says that joining GIMA is essential to ensure comprehensive promotion of new products.

He said: “We joined GIMA because, as a long-established British based hose manufacturer, we believe it provides some excellent networking and promotional opportunities, at a time when we are launching one of our most exciting garden hose innovations in (RHS) Everflow, which features patented technology unique to Copely Developments that allows the water to flow even when kinked, crushed or tangled.”

Douglas Palarm from the The Conservation Volunteers says their aim is to get more young gardeners interested in looking after their green spaces. "We have joined GIMA as we believe it can provide an excellent opportunity for us to engage with retailers within the gardening sector and raise awareness of our children's range of Moshi Monster products."

Welcoming all new members, GIMA Director, Vicky Nuttall said: “Firstly I’d like to welcome all our new members to GIMA. Their collective knowledge, expertise and varied product ranges are a well addition.

“This recent influx of members is undoubtedly good news for us all, especially the members themselves and the industry as a whole.  As more companies are recognising the benefits of joining the association, our increased numbers mean we are able to continue to build even further on our range of services and strengthen our position as a leading voice in the UK gardening industry.”

To keep up to date with GIMA news, visit the GIMA website, get in touch with the GIMA office on 01959 565885 or email info@gima.org.uk.

Announced at the recent Garden Industry Manufacturers’ Association (GIMA) Day Conference, the new GIMA Buying Group – created in association with Buying Support Agency (BSA) - offers unique new benefits for members of the thriving trade association, helping to bring better access to vital services and business purchases.

Billed as ‘a one-stop-shop’ for members’ buying needs, the exclusive GIMA Buying Group is designed to provide members with bulk buying power and access to significantly reduced prices. This in turn could not only offer cost-savings of up to 35%, but will also make it less time-consuming to source the cheapest deal on non-core overheads and services.  

Presently GIMA members who join the Buying Group have access to 20 different service and amenity providers, including telecoms, gas and electricity, stationery, parcel courier services, waste recycling, catering, work wear, cleaning services, packaging and photocopying. ‘Eco buying’ also features, for those companies wanting to reduce their carbon footprint. There is also no contract period, meaning GIMA members can opt in and out as they see fit, whilst the £495 annual fee that would normal apply for such a service has been waived.

Speaking at the GIMA Day Conference, BSA managing director, Matthew Roper said: “The Buying Group has been designed to allow GIMA members to maintain operational control of suppliers, whilst enabling them to benefit from both cost and time savings.  Additional peace of mind also comes from the fact that BSA will continually monitor supplier performance to ensure the absolute best service and value for money.  We already have several hundred suppliers trading and thousands of businesses benefitting from the process, and we look forward to welcoming GIMA members on board.” 

In addition to providing the GIMA Buying Group service, BSA also offers additional benefits including a procurement health check and a series of purchasing training workshops offered with a 10% discount.

Vicky Nuttall, director of GIMA, said: “The GIMA Buying Group is just the latest in a long line of benefits for members.  The ultimate aim is to save our members money, offer peace of mind and free up more time to help our members grow their business. The response so far has been incredibly positive.”

To join the GIMA Buying Group, call BSA directly on 0845 555 3344. To keep up to date with GIMA news, visit the GIMA website, get in touch with the GIMA office on 01959 565885 or email info@gima.org.uk.

Garden lighting sales have powered ahead of the rest of lines in the GTN Bestsellers Garden Product charts. With 10 lines in the Top 50 this week, lights make up 35% of the total chart volume as opposed to 29% in 2014.

• Smart Solar steal the No 1 spot with their Cornish Jar Lantern (pictured).
• Gardman Solar Stainless Steel Glass Marker Light moves up 13 places to No 5.
• Scotts Miracle-Gro Pour & Feed 1 litre is the highest re-entry this week.

Runner Bean White Emergo is top of the crop again for the second week running and for the second year in the first week of May.

Tomato plant sales continue to dominate with 20 lines in the Top 20, notably none of them are grafted plants this year. Grafted plants are selling through but not in volumes to make the Top 50 this year.

Star performers include:

• Quantil Sweet Pepper Snack Pepper 8.5cm is the highest climber, up 20 places.
• Quantil Sweet Pepper Green 8cm is the highest re-entry.
• Quantil Bean Runner Dwarf Patio Hestia in strips of 8 is the only new entry to the Top 50.

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

Veg planting is helping to drive up growing media sales with three very specific veg growing media products featuring in the Top 10.  Scotts Levington Gro-bags, the Levington Tomorite planter and Westland’s Gro-sure vegetable compost have all had good sales weeks.

Star performers this week include:

• Westland Gro-Sure Vegetable Compost 50 litres is the highest climber, up 17 places.
• Scotts Organic Choice Gro Sac is a re-entry at No 45 with a sales increase of over 100%.
• Westland Gro-Sure Ericaceous Compost, 25 litres, is the highest re-entry.

The David Colegrave Foundation (DCF), the charity for people studying horticulture, is launching a new fundraising collection of Phalaenopsis Orchid.

The collection which offers a distinctive fusion of summer colours and striking markings will be sold into retailers this summer. Every orchid purchased will help to fund the DCF’s scholarships for students studying horticulture at colleges across the UK.

The charity worked with Garden Centre Fresh which originally approached DCF with the initiative, as well as two young growers who have a passion for orchids to select the collection.

Victoria Miles, a horticulture student at Bicton College and Jessica Laurent a past horticulture student at Writtle College, were selected for the project after previously demonstrating their passion for orchids through a scholarship application to the DCF. Remembering their interest, DCF offered the duo a bursary giving them the opportunity to join DCF and the Garden Centre Fresh team in the orchid selection.

Jessica says: “Long have I been interested in orchids, so when I was asked to participate with this project, I was extremely excited to be given the opportunity. The collection will be fantastic for the time of launch and different from most Phalaenopsis orchids. I would like to thank the DCF for helping students and young horticulturalists like myself with the work they do and for giving us the opportunity”.

The trip was also a fantastic learning experience as Victoria explains, “I have been researching commercial orchid production, so this was an excellent opportunity to see it first hand and a valuable experience in my horticultural journey. I am very grateful for the experience; it was really nice to feel like our opinion was valued in this process”.

Brian Redman of Garden Centre Fresh says: “We’re delighted that The David Colegrave Foundation Orchid Collection will go on to help students of horticulture. It’s great to be involved in a project that supports our industry and encourages consumers to get involved too”.

Jeff Colegrave, DCF Chairman, says: "What great news, the purchase of plants helping provide more sound advice in the future for their care". 

DCF will be launching the orchids at the HTA National Plant Show which takes place at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry on 23/24 June 2015. Visitors can take one home for a voluntary donation which will also help to support DCF scholarships. Visitors can visit the Garden Centre Fresh stand to find out more or place an order.

For more details on The David Colegrave Foundation visit www.davidcolegravefoundation.org.uk

Jessica Evans, Head Gardener at Tintinhull Gardens, National Trust, won the much sought after and nationally acclaimed Chartered Institute of Horticulture’s 2015 Young Horticulturist of the Year competition.

Jessica, representing the South West Branch of the Institute, won the coveted £2,500 Percy Thrower Travel Bursary, provided by the Shropshire Horticultural Society. The Bursary enables the competition winner to undertake a trip, anywhere in the world, to study a subject related to their chosen field of horticulture.

Jessica said: “I am delighted to have won the Young Horticulturist of the Year 2015 competition and look forward to using the travel bursary to further my training in horticulture. Having finished second in the competition last year, my over-whelming emotion when the final scores were announced was relief, especially as this was the last year I would be eligible to enter.

"I would now really like to support the running of the competition, and to encourage others to take part, as it is vitally important to celebrate the quality and knowledge of young horticulturists. I’m not sure yet where the travel bursary will take me, but I will be looking to find best examples of horticultural standards to give myself something to work towards.”

The contestants from the Institute’s eight branches battled it out in a closely fought competition in front of an audience of 60 supporters from across the industry, including the national competition sponsors; James and Julie Hodgson representing the Shropshire Horticultural Society, Peter Hunt from MorePeople and Ruth Ashfield from the Horticultural Development Company (HDC).

There were cash prizes for all contestants, plus a year’s free membership of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture and Plant Heritage.  Overall, the prize money for the eight finalists was £5,000, as well as other prizes throughout the competition, totalling in excess of £13,000, for those who took part in the heats and regional finals.

This prestigious competition is now in its 26th year and over 1,800 young horticulturists from across the UK and Ireland have taken part this year in local heats and regional finals over recent months.

For the eight finalists it was a hard slog to reach the Grand Final, having answered 40 questions in the heats, as well as upwards of 40 questions across every aspect of horticulture in their regional finals. They also had to cope with tough plant and pest and disease identification rounds to secure their places in the Grand Final. 

Rosie Yeomans, Broadcaster, Lecturer, Writer, Garden Consultant, and Question Master for the Grand Final said: “What a friendly and impressive group of young horticulturists gathered at Barrington Court for the 2015 Grand Final of the YHoY, their calm professionalism stood out. Well done to winner Jessica and all the finalists, it was an exciting and closely fought battle.

"After the competition we toured the gardens, notebooks and cameras out again; it’s great to know that the future of our profession is in such good hands.”

The 2015 finalists, from the eight Chartered Institute of Horticulture branches were:

• 1st place - Jessica Evans, Head Gardener, Tintinhull Gardens, National Trust - representing the South West Branch
• Runner-up - Alexander Hankey, Student at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew - representing the South East Branch
• 3rd place - Josh Egan-Wyer MCIHort, Nursery Manager, Pershore College - representing the West Midlands and South Wales Branch

Other finalists:

• Jonathan Davies-Coleman, Student at Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh/Scotland's Rural College Edinburgh - representing the Scotland Branch
• John Grundy, Student at Myerscough College - representing the North West and North Wales Branch
• Samuel Moore, Student at Writtle College - representing the Eastern Branch
• Francis Mulholland, Student at Greenmount Campus, CAFRE - representing the Ireland Branch
• Sian Nichol, Student at Kirkley Hall Campus, Northumberland College - representing the Northern Branch.

Mr Fothergill's has launched its 2016 retail offer with a host of new products and seed varieties aimed at boosting its stockists' turnover and profit. 

It includes four new floral Pot Toppers, building on the success of last season's launch of herb and salad versions, a hotspot stand promoting the pan-European Year of the Cosmos and Tomato initiative, plus a range of four mixed flower Seed Shakers.


Ideal for those with no garden, Pot Toppers are pre-sown seed mats designed to fit on top of a compost-filled 25cm pot, while the 'Year of' stand focuses on flower-of-the-moment cosmos and ever-popular tomatoes, including some excellent new varieties, including exclusives. The Seed Shakers comprise Mixed Red, Mixed Blue, Cottage Garden and Mixed Wildlife Annuals, packed in outers of eight which can be placed straight on the shelf.

The company's large packet seed range is further strengthened by the introduction of 13 exclusives, including sweet pea Jimelda, named for much-loved husband and wife actors Jim Carter and Imelda Staunton, carrot Norfolk F1 and runner bean Firelight, plus 16 other new varieties.

Mr Fothergill's Garden Time range, in association with Buzzy, now includes two new Chilli Pepper Grow Kits, complete with pot, seeds, compost and full instructions. Also new for 2016 is a range of six vegetable GroTrays to complement the recently launched GroBox and GroMat. The GroTray is a compact propagation system which only needs watering once prior to germination, and comprises a growing tray, compost disc, seed and a propagation bag.

For more information on how Mr Fothergill's can boost stockists' profits, telephone 01638 554111, log on at www.mr-fothergills-trade.com or email info@mr-fothergills.co.uk

The relatives of three men who died after catching Legionnaires' disease following an outbreak from a dirty hot tub on display in a DIY chain’s garden centre are suing the retailer.

Delivery driver Richard Griffin, 64, and customers William Hammersley, 79, and Harry Cadman, 71, died after contracting the disease in the summer of 2012.

A report by The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said the bug originated from a hot tub on display at the JTF Warehouse in Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, which had not been filtered or cleaned for weeks. The Nordic Impulse Deep Hot Tub is believed to have exposed customers to the disease over a two-month period.

Bacteria formed in the stagnating water, causing the build up of Legionnaires' disease droplets. The particles became airborne and spread around the garden centre when the tub was turned on.

Father-of-two Mr Griffin, from Clayton, Staffordshire, was the first victim and died after spending a week in hospital. He had been delivering meat to the cafe, next to the display hot tub.

Mr Hammersley, from Chesterton, Staffordshire, and Mr Cadman, from Stoke-on-Trent, died from the disease a few days later. Both had been browsing the garden warehouse near the hot tub, which was displayed near the tills.

A further 18 people needed hospital treatment following the outbreak.

Thirteen claims for compensation have been settled out of court but the families of those who lost relatives and one of the survivors are pursuing their cases through the courts.

The Crown Prosecution Service is considering whether to pursue criminal charges.

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 2012 as well as 2013 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 Veg-2-Gro Products 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.

Since 2012, the Food & Catering Zone at Glee, an i2i Event, has become a ‘must-see’ feature for those thinking of setting up a catering facility from scratch, or in need of ideas to reinvigorate an existing one.

This year, to drive further content and catering inspiration, Catering Design Group (CDG) has come on board as exclusive partners of the Glee Food & Catering Zone.

As an award-winning restaurant and commercial kitchen design company, offering a full design service for both front and back of house, CDG is well placed to deliver unrivalled support and educational content for this thriving section of Glee.

In its short existence so far, the Food & Catering Zone has become renowned as a central hub providing advice, information and inspiration for garden retailers to take their concept to the next level, as well as offering visitors an unrivalled selection of food and catering-related products to suit all budgets. 

Philip Howard, Managing Director of Catering Design Group, said: “We’re delighted to be returning to Glee as the exclusive sponsors of the Food & Catering Zone in 2015.

"We’ll be bringing along our great team of experts across design, kitchen planning and project management to give visitors advice and answer any questions on all aspects of restaurant design and build.

"We’ll also be sharing an abundance of hints, tips, trends and insights to enable visitors to create a destination catering space, so do pop by and say hello.” 

This year the Food & Catering Zone is set to be better than ever, and will be a rich resource for any retailer wanting to expand their catering facilities.  As always this dedicated area will address key issues via an unrivalled workshop programme, with details of the full schedule set to be announced shortly. 

Additionally there will be a wealth of big name brands and niche suppliers covering areas of expertise including catering services, confectionary, kitchen equipment, kitchenware and café/restaurant design consultancy.

Key names to look out for include Bon Bons Wholesale, Findlaters Fine Foods, BBQ Gourmet, Chaucer Foods, The Cutlery Polisher, and Tudor Coffee.

i2i’s Matthew Mein, Glee event director, said: “This year’s Food & Catering Zone is set to be the best yet! The area will not only be bigger and packed full of more exhibitors than ever before, but with the guidance of Catering Design Group as our exclusive partners we will be able to develop a programme that is as targeted and hard working as possible.”

To keep up-to-date on all the latest news log onto www.gleebirmingham.com.

Garden Centre and Catering Consultant Doug Stewart argues that the phrase “locally produced food” is just plain boring.

Every time I go out to eat I read about how the restaurant or café is using locally produced food. Boring. The message, that is, not the food.

Supporting genuine artisan local producers who supply us with delicious ingredients that add magic and sparkle to your catering offer will never be boring.

So why not make your message personal?

“By eating here you are supporting over 20 artisan, local food producers.”

Doesn’t that sound a lot more amazing and exciting?

Doug can be contacted through his website www.waringstewartassociates.co.uk

Owtons Butchers, who supply the farm shop at Garsons Garden Centre in Titchfield, Hampshire, are sharpening their knives ahead of competing in a national barbecue competition.

Their trademark Oozing Lamb fillet fired them to victory in the Specialist Barbeque Product category.

Now the award-winning fillet will be put to the test nationally to compete against other leading butchers' around the country.

Almost 300 products are being showcased there, with the finest producer overall crowned the nation's supreme champion.

General manager John Harding said: “The Oozing Lamb Fillet always goes down very well.

“The fillet is beaten out, covered with mozzarella, sage and spinach and rolled up like a roulade and cooked on a barbecue.

“It's the high end choice for people who don't just want burgers and sausages."

Q Guild 2015 National Barbecue Competition takes place on Sunday, May 31, in The Windmill Village Hotel in Coventry.

The shop won five gold awards at the regional contest for their pork sausage, sirloin steak, beef burger, duck and hoisin sausage and its wild boar, cranberry, spring onion and rosemary burger.

Mr Harding added: “We won gold awards for every product we entered so we're very pleased. It was a good result.”

From tractors to sausage-making, bread-tasting to turkey-rearing, the event will feature zones where the children can find out more about how food is produced, take part in activities and watch demonstrations.

The aim of this fun and educational event is to bring children ‘out of the classroom’ and  give them a better understanding of the food chain and the role played by farmers in Essex, as well as raising awareness of the countryside, environmental issues and healthy eating. 

With over 3,000 primary schoolchildren visiting Writtle College to learn more about food, farming and the countryside, this interactive event will certainly deliver an exciting experience for all.

Rosemary Padfield, chair of the event’s steering group, said:  “We are thrilled that this event is so embedded into the schools’ diary that within weeks of us announcing the date last autumn we were heavily oversubscribed. Our event coincides with Healthy Eating Week, which is something we, as producers, are passionate about, so for us it’s brilliant timing.

“For those of us organising this day it is heart-warming how schools are keen to come to learn how Essex farmers manage the countryside and what crops we grow to help feed ever-growing populations. I feel privileged that as a farmer I work in a rare industry where schools and schoolchildren have such a keen appetite to learn about what I do. I am sure there are few industries which can say that.

“As farmers we are involved in the basics of life - producing food and being custodians of the countryside.  Over 70% of Essex is rural and grows a high percentage of the crops grown in England so as farmers we appreciate everything we do can be seen by those living around our farm, which is why we are all passionate about explaining our work to schools and the wider community. What better way to harness the curiosity of children than to teach them through an interactive and fun Essex Schools Food and Farming Day.

“I am so proud that fellow farmers and allied industries rally around us to help with this day volunteering to either exhibit or act as a steward to help the children make the best of their visit. They are all so passionate about our industry that they are keen to help the children learn and think about the environment they live in, encouraging them to ask questions about what they see. We need to inspire the next generation of farmers, and those working in our allied industries – I cannot think of a better way to encourage this!”

The event is split into a farm trail around five zones – machinery, crops, livestock, countryside & environment and food. Each zone encompasses a key element of the food and farming story with fun, interactive exhibits provided by mainly Essex organisations and businesses featuring hand-on activities like tasting local produce; identifying vegetables fruits and seeds; a sheep-shearing demonstration; meeting a cow and her calf; seeing how sausages are made; discovering where flour comes from and seeing how farm machinery has developed over the years with a showcase of farm machinery.

The event involves 300 farmers and Writtle College staff with 500 teachers and assistants visiting with the schoolchildren. Volunteer stewards guide small groups of the eight to 11-year-olds through the various activities, giving pupils direct contact with members of the local food and farming community.

Karen Watson, Essex Agricultural Society, Organiser and School Liaison Officer, said: “We are very proud to be able to give children the opportunity to leave the classroom and take part in this extremely fun, educational day where we aim to improve their understanding of where their food comes from, and the hard work farmers do to put food on all our plates.   These children are our future consumers and countryside users and it is important to explain to them how and why we, as farmers, go about looking after the Essex countryside so that it is productive, bio-diverse and beautiful.

“The visit really gets our young visitors thinking about their food; fresh, good quality ingredients; and the tasty nutritious produce they turn into.

“We hope they all leave with a greater appreciation for the great outdoors, gaining an understanding of the importance of farming, both in supplying food and protecting wildlife within its natural habitat.”

Writtle College Principal Dr Stephen Waite said: “Over the years this event has become hugely successful and well-regarded and I am very much looking forward to this year’s Food and Farming Day.

“You are never too young to discover the delights of  the countryside and we hope the day will both inspire and educate children to find out more about food and farming – maybe they will become the rural leaders of the future!”

Food is cooked in a closed cavity with multiple catalytic converters, breaking down grease into moist hot air, which is used in the cooking process for improved quality and healthier food. The catalytic converters also clean the oven’s exhaust air, eliminating the need for costly and often inconvenient extraction hoods.

The oven may be used for cooking, baking, broiling, grilling a wide range of food, from chilled or frozen, including croissants, pizzas, paninis, toasties, steaks, burgers, pies, pasties, chicken wings, chips, omelettes and even a full English breakfast. Speed of service is another advantage of the Ovention oven; it can cook a steak in 3 minutes, a pizza in 2 minutes 30 seconds and a full English breakfast in 3 minutes and 40 seconds.

Scott Taylor, Business Development Manager, Gamble Retail Solutions, stated: “The combination of the Adande drawer unit and our Ovention Matchbox oven, provides an ideal foodservice solution for fast food operators, allowing them to deliver an all day hot food offer of the highest quality. The workstations occupy a limited footprint, require a relatively small capital outlay with minimal running costs and can be operated by unskilled operatives, creating very attractive profit opportunities in a wide variety of foodservice environments.”

For more information visit www.adande.com or email info@adande.com