After weeks of meetings, debate and discussion the judges have finally decided upon the winners of GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards 2022 and here is the list of centres whose teams are finalists across the 15 Christmas Team categories for this year:

• Altons
• Azure
• Barton Grange
• Baytree
• Bennybeg Plant Centre
• Bents
• BGC Arcadia
• BGC Bournville
• BGC Braintree
• BGC Bridgenorth
• BGC Burford House
• BGC Harrogate
• BGC Hatton
• BGC Studley
• BGC Thatcham
• Birkacre
• Blue Diamond Bridgemere
• Blue Diamond Fryers
• Blue Diamond Three Shires
• Blue Diamond Newbridge
• Brimsmore Gardens
• Caerphilly
• California Lodge
• Castle Gardens
• Chasewater
• Chepstow
• Chessington
• Colne Valley
• Coolings Lifestyle
• Dobbies Livingston
• Dobbies Woodcote Green
• Ellerker Lodge
• Fosseway
• Fron Goch
• Garsons Titchfield
• Gates
• Gordale
• Gouldings Santa Experience
• Groves Bridport
• Highfield
• Keydell
• Klondyke Astbury Meadow
• Klondyke High Legh
• Litte Dobbies Richmond
• Longacres Bagshot
• Meadowcroft
• Newquay
• Palmers Enderby
• Pengelly
• Perrywood Tiptree
• Planters Garden King
• Planters Tamworth
• Poundbury Gardens
• Pugh's Radyr
• Pugh's Wenvoe
• Rosebourne, Aldermaston
• Rosebourne, Solihull
• Rosebourne, Weyhill
• Ruxley Manor
• Sapcote
• Scotts of Southend
• Silverbirch
• St Peters Worcester
• Stratford
• Summerhill
• The Garden Society
• The Grange
• The Old Railway Line
• The Plant Place
• Tingley
• Wentorth
• Whitehall Lacock
• Woodland Walk
• Woodlands Ash

To find out which teams win the coveted Gold, Silver & Bronze Greatest Christmas Awards for 2022 come and join us at Spring Fair on Monday 6th February.  The awards will be announced and presented to the winners at 5:00pm on the Inspiring Retail Stage in Hall 6. 

Come along early as there will be drinks and snacks available for our celebration of all that’s great about garden centre retailing.

Our team of judges had a truly wonderful time visiting all of the 100 garden centres nominated in this year's awards and have been overwhelmed by the excellence of garden centre retail teamwork once again, despite continuing difficult circumstances.  We look forward to celebrating that excellence with as many garden centre teams as possible on Monday evening.

£101,000 raised at the GCA Conference last week. What an amazing achievement. In three days Guy Toppings big, bold plan raised as much money as the then fledgling charity did in a year when it was set up in 1999. 

Richard Jackson, Greenfingers Charity’s Founder President told GTN Xtra: “I can’t quite believe it! In our very first year, Greenfingers raised £100,000 and it took the whole year of mass activities by the industry to achieve this. To do this in just a few days is simply staggering. I never dreamed it would be possible. I’m amazed, stunned and absolutely delighted. Huge thanks to Guy and everyone else involved”.  

The lucky winners of the single raffle prize, they cost £1,000 each, were Woodmansterne. “Wow! We are bowled over to have won the grand prize at this year’s GCA conference!" MD Seth Woodmansterne told GTN Xtra.

"Since we started working with Greenfingers it has become a charity very close to our hearts at Woody, so we didn’t hesitate to answer Guy Topping’s call to arms. We are proud to be part of such a friendly and successful industry, and to support such a worthy cause in Greenfingers. Helping raise an extra £17k through auctioning the donated gifts was the icing on the cake!”

See the full list of companies that supported the raffle and auction at conference below.

Greenfingers Chairman, Sue Allen has written the following letter of thanks:

Dear Friends and Supporters

At the end of a week that has been an emotional roller-coaster I wanted to express my thoughts as an individual and also my thanks as Chairman of Greenfingers Charity to so many people and felt that GTN would be the ideal channel.

Those who attended the remarkable GCA Conference in Blackburn will know that on the Sunday evening proceedings were launched with the traditional Greenfingers Challenge Cup between the Pansies (Garden Centre Retailers) and the Cabbages (our suppliers - and this year’s winners!). Guy Topping was our more than generous host at The Flower Bowl at Barton Grange where he expressed his determination to raise £100,000 for our charity before the end of Conference.

So, those who attended the Gala Dinner on Tuesday will have experienced the most incredible evening, with Mike Burks as so much more than an M.C.  The atmosphere was electric and we were privileged to hear truly eloquent speeches first from Ron Bent, on receiving his honorary membership of GCA, then from his son Matthew, when Bents won the Best Destination Centre of the Year and then from Guy Topping when he and we achieved that magical target of £100k. 

They all spoke of what a truly unique industry we work in, although, as they said, it is so much more than ‘work’; more a loving family.

We have really felt the love this week as, on Friday, many of us were honoured to be at Poplars Garden Centre to celebrate the life of their manager Alistair Jackson.  Hundreds of us - staff, customers, garden centre retailers and suppliers laughed, cried and relished the memories of his times with us in this loving family.  All donations in his memory also went to Greenfingers.

It is impossible to thank everyone who has contributed individually not just financially, but in giving time, enthusiasm and energy to ensure the on-going work of creating our magical Children’s Hospice Gardens.  I am continually amazed by your generosity.

Thank you all so much,  Sue Allen

The following were the supporters of the Greenfingers Challenge £100,000 raffle.  Thank you to you all.

• Associated Independent Stores
• Aylett Nurseries
• Barton Grange
• Bents Garden Centres
• Bob Marley
• Bosworth's GC
• Bridgford Holdings
• British Garden Centres
• CADIX UK
• Cedar Associates
• Chessington Garden Centre
• Coolings GC
• Corby + Fellas
• CSY Retail Systems
• Davidson Richards
• Evergreen Garden Care
• Ferndale Garden Centre
• Garsons
• Geo Hodges & Son Ltd
• Gordale GC
• Grovewell Garden Centre
• Haskins
• James Barnes
• Klondyke
• Knights Plant and Life
• Meadow View Stone
• Milbrook Garden Centres
• Monkton Elm
• Newspan
• Perrywood
• Planters Garden Centre
• Pleydell Smithyman
• Poplars Garden Centre Ltd
• Pugh's Garden Centre
• Quinton Edwards
• Raglan GC
• Ruxley Manor
• Scotsdales
• Simpsons Inverness
• Squire's Garden Centre
• St Peters GC
• Stratford Garden Centre
• Taylor's Bulbs
• The Garden Group
• The Old Railway Line
• The Solar Centre Ltd
• Thirsk Garden Centre
• Thurrock Garden Centre
• Twiggs
• Webbs
• Westland
• Woodlodge
• Woodmansterne
• YGC Group – Tong

The Harrogate Christmas & Gift Fair saw Hogewoning attending for an eighth time.

The company enjoyed a highly successful show and met many clients who admired the Christmas dressing of the stand.

Clients were impressed by an array of new items ,especially the Hobby Consumer Packs with Berries and Cones and delivered in display boxes.

The prices of the products were met with delight as many of them were reduced from last year. This was by way of the transport prices reducing and this being passed on to customers.

The feedback from customers was extremely positive with many placing their orders!

For further enquiries email daan@hogewoning.com

Corby & Fellas Ltd. are delighted to announce that Perrywood Garden Centres, based in Tiptree, Essex and Sudbury, Suffolk, have chosen WinRetail as their EPoS and Retail Management system.

Perrywood is an independent, family-owned garden centre and nursery run by the Bourne Family in Essex; Their every day mission is to offer a memorable garden centre experience; delivering wow customer service and giving employees, customers, suppliers and our local community a reason to smile.

Their large covered areas allow you to visit whatever the weather, and you can enjoy a home cooked meal or cream tea in their light, bright modern coffee shop & restaurant. Their Tiptree site is surrounded by beautiful countryside, backing onto woodland and views over the Kelvedon valley.

Pictured at top: Alan McCammon, Corby + Fellas MD, & Simon Bourne, Perrywood Retail Director

East Coast House, Galahad Road, Beacon Park, Gorleston, NR31 7RU

01493 658800

Contact: Kim Corby sales@corbyfellas.com

www.corbyfellas.com

Perrywood was named third in the Top 100 UK Garden Centre League Table, at the GCA conference, making it one of only 10 ‘Garden Centres of Excellence’ in the whole of the UK – and the best in the South of England.

Additionally, Perrywood Tiptree came third in the The Outdoor Living Award, third in The GIMA Award (Garden Products Retailer) and was a National Finalist in The Ruxley Rose Competition for Best Plant Area.

The GCA carries out an annual unannounced inspection of all its members and uses this to compile the league table. The association adds up scores for a number of elements including customer service, merchandising, sustainability, creativity and innovation, quality and range of products and much more. This is a fantastic achievement for Perrywood and highlights the hard work of every single team member.

Simon Bourne, Retail Director, comments: “To be recognised for our hard work, passion and dedication to bringing more plants into people’s lives is a real achievement. As always, we look forward to the new gardening year ahead. Continuing to be the best we can be, customers can be guaranteed some exciting new products and plants, inspiring displays and new customer initiatives in 2023, so watch this space.”

Perrywood Sudbury featured in the league table for the first time, at number 40. It is an amazing achievement to have placed so highly after only four years of trading.

Gardening startup Grow Sow Simple, which uses the latest in compostable packaging innovation, has become a winner in this season’s Dragons’ Den. 

The key component of Grow Sow Simple’s judge-wooing seed kits, which won an £80,000 investment from Dragon, Sara Davies, are clever biodegradable pods. They’re made of bespoke moulded fibre, a wonder material, by Cullen Eco Packaging. The pod is just one example of the sustainable, compostable material shaped into an increasing array of designs to replace plastic packaging. 

Entrepreneur Dan Robson, the man behind Grow So Simple, won backing on the BBC show which aired on 19th January 2023. His firm’s sought-after seed kits make growing your own veg more accessible. The flagship product, a biodegradable pod with multiple seeds inside (e.g. allotment garden mix of cauliflower, broccoli, brussels sprouts and cabbage), sells in over 150 stores in the UK and has lucrative orders coming in from as far as California. 

Cullen Eco Packaging’s zero waste innovations are rapidly replacing plastic packs for everything from gardening products like Grow So Simple’s kits to moulded fibre bottles, a paper bottle replacement for dry goods such as vitamins, spices, home cleaning products and more. 

David MacDonald, Cullen ECO-Friendly Packaging’s Owner, said: “Congratulations to Dan and his team on winning the Dragons’ Den investment. Dan is as passionate about innovation and sustainability as we are. Our moulded fibre packaging is a game changer not just for Grow So Simple but also anyone using plastic containers. We can design, engineer and manufacture replacements for most plastic packaging, and currently do so not just with Dan’s great business, but with over 1 billion products per year to companies in 34 countries.”  

Dan Robson, added: ““The idea for my company was born out of my passions for sustainability and making gardening accessible. I am delighted that Sara, whose phenomenal brand was also created off the back of her own obsession for crafting, saw potential in our company at this critical phase in our journey.”

Dragons’ Den panellist and investor, Sara Davies, said: “I liked Dan the moment I met him and I really resonated with his commitment to giving all people, from all walks of life, the chance to grow their own vegetables. This level of passion, along with a strong concept, is critical for business success so I’m looking forward to seeing him develop and grow his fantastic brand.

With so much on offer at this year’s show (June 27th-29th) there are more reasons than we can count that retail buyers need to add the date to their diaries and start planning their visit now.

However, for just a little taste of what you can expect at Glee 2023, here are just five reasons you can’t afford to miss the show in June:

1. Unrivalled access to new product and new opportunities

No other show in the industry brings more suppliers and innovative product together under one roof. At Glee 2023, you will have access to hundreds of suppliers and manufacturers spanning 10 categories, including Garden Care, Landscape & Garden Decoration, Outdoor Entertaining, Plants, Food & Catering, and Pet & Animal Wellbeing (PAW). This year, Glee has significantly expanded its Home, Gift & Clothing sector, and also introduced, for the first time ever, a DIY sector, helping buyers to further diversify their offer and capitalise on emerging trends and opportunities. The broad mix of both leading brands and pioneering start-ups exhibiting in the halls means you have direct access to suppliers and products you might otherwise miss in the market. And, with the new June timing better matched to buying cycles, it is the perfect time to conduct a range review and asses your offer.

2. Get hands-on

Not every brand has a host of reps on the road these days, so unless you have time to spare making countless showroom visits around the country, the chances are you aren’t able to get up close and personal with many products until the stock you’ve ordered arrives in store. At Glee, with so many suppliers in one place for three whole days, you have an unmatched opportunity to browse new and existing ranges on stand at your leisure, and to get truly hands-on with products, see merchandising options and packaging in the flesh. Glee also means you get the time for suppliers to talk you through benefits and answer any burning questions you may have. You can also enjoy detailed pitches on those products shortlisted for the coveted New Product Awards, gaining greater insight into exciting new launches that are set to make waves in the market. The products themselves – as well as being available to view on individual exhibitor stands – are also brought together in the New Product Showcase for you to touch and feel.

3. Inspiration and ideas to take back to your business

If you’re in need of some fresh thinking when it comes to merchandising, pay a visit to the Talent Store; a brand-new addition to the 2023 show. Not only will the finished showcase provide merchandising inspiration for visitors, with true insight on how to interpret houseplant and outdoor plant trends in store, but the process itself is designed to nurture new talent in the horticultural industry, offering unique training and mentoring for participants. It will be a real crash course in merchandising, branding and retail, with the chance to learn from experts. Glee wants to encourage and develop the next generation of retailers through this project and foster effective merchandising in garden centres across the country. It’s not too late to take part, so if you have a colleague you’d like to put forward, nominate them now. Alternatively, enjoy the fruits of their labour and take notes when you visit in June to see the pop-up shop in all its glory within the Glee Green Heart.

4. Networking, networking, and more networking

With Glee earmarked as a key event in the garden industry calendar, you can guarantee there will be a long list of people attending that you’ll want to get some valuable facetime with; from influential buyers and game-changing suppliers, to trade association heads and industry peers. As always, Glee 2023 promises to provide a wealth of networking opportunities, helping you to forge new friendships, strengthen relationships with existing contacts, and work with one another to drive the garden retailing sector forward.

5. Exclusive seminar content

Find time to attend any of the seminars or presentations at the show’s educational hub, The Stage, this year and you won’t be disappointed. With exclusive content tailored to help retailers grow their business, maximise sales potential, and stay ahead of the curve by capitalising on trends and opportunities as they emerge in the market, The Stage is a fixture not to be missed at Glee 2023. Yes, we know it might take you off the show floor for 30-45 mins but, when you consider the value these presentations bring to your business – whether uncovering key trends, helping you to develop a strategy for omni channel, or advising on areas like branding or how to put a sustainability plan in place – it is well worth it.

Visitors will also be in for a treat, as all plant-based content will be lead by Glee ambassador, Mr Plant Geek, Matthew Perry, who has developed several exciting new concepts for 2023.

Make sure that when you’re onsite that you check out the seminar timetable to find the most relevant talks for you and we guarantee you will come away fired up about ways to enhance your business.

Find out more

Glee is the UK’s leading garden retail show, focusing on building year-round profits for buyers and suppliers within the core gardening and outdoor leisure product categories. To keep up to date on the latest Glee news visit www.gleebirmingham.com.  To enquire about exhibiting at Glee 2023, which will take place June 27th-29th, call+44 (0)203 3545 9752.

The worldwide biggest garden lifestyle fair looks back upon a successful year 2022. After decades of the fair being staged in September and a two-year break due to Covid restrictions, the fair celebrated a fortunate re-start on 19 June in 10 exhibition halls in Cologne, successfully launching the first phase of its digital matchmaking platform spoga+gafa 365 at the same time.

The industry is now actively paying back its leading global trade fair for the success of the exhibition year 2022 with a strong rebooking rate and the registration of new and returnee brands for the coming trade fair in June 2023. The “Global DIY-Summit” (EDRA/GHIN, HIMA), that ends in Berlin just two days before spoga+gafa is also having a positive influence on the increasing number of exhibitors, since its participants are subsequently invited to attend spoga+gafa in Cologne. Staged from 18 to 20 June 2023 in Cologne and online all-year-round, the worldwide key theme of the coming spoga+gafa year is "Social Gardens - Places of encounters".

Live and on the web, spoga+gafa greeted and supported over 40,000 active industry decision-makers with the re-start of the three day trade fair in June 2022, the subsequent digital "spoga+gafa After Show" and the first digital theme week "BBQ Deep Dive" in October. In challenging times for the industry, the brand spoga+gafa successfully supported its partners as a permanent business platform for supply and demand, and as a means of grooming their existing contacts and discovering new supplier relationships.  The booking figures for the current year are already demonstrating that the added value spoga+gafa provides is also relevant for the exhibitors in 2023. In direct comparison to 2022, the number of exhibitors who have already registered and the exhibition space booked is clearly up on last year's figures. In addition to a strong increase in returnee exhibitors from North America, Asia has particularly multiplied its exhibition space at the Cologne exhibition halls. Relaxed travel conditions in China and the good feedback to last year's spoga+gafa at international level are leading to a tangible rise in the demand.

Key theme: Social Gardens - Places of encounter
During the three-day trade fair it will be especially interesting to see how the exhibitors co-shape the multifaceted key theme of spoga+gafa 2023 "Social Gardens ‒ places of encounter" at their stands. The theme focuses on the connecting power of gardens: "Whether one spends time gardening together, celebrating or relaxing, gardens, balconies and terraces, but also garden centres and DIY stores are meeting points for families, friends and neighbours. We would like to highlight at spoga+gafa how manufacturers and the trade support this function of the garden ‒ from garden tools for toddlers, to living interiors including fully-equipped outdoor kitchens, through to tool sharing initiatives," said Stefan Lohrberg, Director of spoga+gafa. "Furthermore, sustainability will continue to be a dominating industry theme. We always find it important to put the spotlight on new themes and thus give our exhibitors and visitors an orientation for their presentation."

Thrilling returnees within BBQ segment
A particular focus lies on the BBQ segment. In the corresponding Halls 7 and 8, we have recorded an increase in bookings from exhibitors from North America and the DACH region. The good experiences the exhibitors and visitors from the specialised trade and large-surface outlets enjoyed in 2022 are the reason for the positive booking behaviour in these challenging times for the BBQ industry. Above all the quality of the visitors attending from Germany and abroad, whether from the specialised trade, large-surface outlets or online, convinced the exhibitors. The success of the trade fair party on Sunday, where the BBQ exhibitors were the focus of attention, as well as the prominent involvement of globally relevant BBQ creators is having an additional favourable impact on the current booking status. Here it becomes apparent that the BBQ exhibitors proactively plan their trade fair appearance and alongside the large exhibition areas also place a special focus on live cooking and exclusive show areas outdoors. Among others, returnee brands like Char Broil and Santos are on board here. spoga+gafa is also greeting products of the brand Traeger at the fair grounds again and is supporting brands like Enders or Campingaz with the expansion of their exhibition space.

garden living strong as usual and expansion of garden creation & care
The suppliers of outdoor furniture are a further strong group of international exhibitors in 2023 ‒ and that in spite of an active trade fair market, a difficult market situation and a trade that is suffering from a lacking number of visitors. 80 percent of the companies that exhibited in 2022 already confirmed their participation in 2023 during the early booking phase that ended in mid-September. This positive booking trend was ongoing, so that spoga+gafa 2023 can already look forward to welcoming the majority of the worldwide outdoor furniture suppliers. The most significant expansion of this year's trade fair once again proved to be a threefold increase in exhibition space up to 900 square metres in the section of outdoor furniture suppliers. Among others brands like Glatz, Doppler or Kettler have repositioned themselves, enlarged their stands or are carrying out more advertising measures. What's more, in 2023, the members of the DOFAS (Dutch Outdoor Furnishing Association), such as Apple Bee, LIFE Outdoor Living or 4SO are for example placing their bets on the international visitors of spoga+gafa.

Top players of the garden lifestyle industry
The exhibitors as a whole have always reflected the diversity of the garden lifestyle industry and thus that of spoga+gafa. In 2023, the international top players from the "Playing in the Garden" section as well as the large plant pot and decoration manufacturers will showcase their brands and wide range of products on regularly sized or indeed larger stand areas. Alongside well-known companies, BIG-Spielwarenfabrik is also exhibiting for the first time in Hall 5.2. On the other side of the trade fair boulevard in Hall 10.1, among others the members of the EFSA (European floral and lifestyle suppliers association) are presenting themselves on further enlarged exhibition space in 2023. Among others, Capi Europe has expanded its presence; in cooperation with new members of the EFSA, which will be presenting their product developments in different halls in 2023. The expansion of Hall 6 under the "garden creation & care" segment is also experiencing a positive development. Not only are the customary number of companies that belong to the IVG (Industry Garden Association) exhibiting, Bosch or Merotec for example are expanding their presence at the coming event or are taking part for the first time again. Moreover, new exhibitors such as Ikra are also profiting from the appeal of Hall 6.

Global DIY Summit taking place in Germany right before to spoga+gafa
Due to the fact that the Global DIY Summit ends just two days before spoga+gafa, many transcontinental visitors will make their way to Cologne again. The elite of the DIY trade is invited to get to know worldwide new products as well as the current trends and developments of the international garden industry during the three trade fair days of spoga+gafa. The exclusive evening event on Sunday, i.e. on the first day of the trade fair, is also exciting: It will offer the visitors and exhibitors a chance to engage in an exchange at the Rheinterrassen and intensify the discussions they held during the day while enjoying a view of the Rhine and Cologne Cathedral.

Koelnmesse – industry trade fairs for the interior, outdoor and design sector: Koelnmesse is the world’s top trade fair organiser in the fields of interiors, furnishings, design, home living, garden lifestyle and modern work environments. At the trade fair grounds in Cologne/Germany, the leading international trade fairs imm cologne, LivingKitchen®, spoga+gafa and ORGATEC showcase the latest trends, products and innovations, serving as international, central gatherings for the global industry. In addition to the events at its Cologne headquarters, Koelnmesse is strategically expanding its portfolio internationally: The inaugural ORGATEC TOKYO will be hosted in 2022. It will be the first trade fair in Japan to focus on professional and hybrid work environments. As the satellite event for imm cologne and ORGATEC, idd shanghai provides European companies in the premium and luxury segment of the interior design industry with a unique platform for showcasing exclusive, design-driven products. 

Further information: https://www.spogagafa.com/trade-fair/spoga-gafa/industry-trade-fairs/

Catering was the bestselling department at garden centres across the country for the third month in a row during December, according to the Garden Centre Association’s Barometer of Trade report.

Sales were up 19.66% compared to the same month in 2021. Other non-traditional categories that were good sellers during the month included food hall and farm shops, 14.07% up, and clothing at 18.7% up.

GCA Chairman, Tammy Woodhouse, explains: “During December 2021, many of our member’s restaurants and cafés were still under Covid restrictions, so it’s no surprise that sales were up in 2022, once restrictions were completely gone.

“Most customers had finished their Christmas shopping by December time and were instead spending their money in more non-traditional categories such as clothing and food hall and farm shops. We are aware of many garden centre restaurants posting record day sales during December, which is quite unusual, but would suggest customers are still very happy to spend money on a good food experience, and bodes very well for the year ahead.

“There was even a small flurry of sales in the seeds and bulbs departments as sales were 1.11% up compared to the previous year, as customers prepared for the upcoming new season.”

Houseplant sales were down -8.39% and outdoor plant sales were down -20.28%.

Sales in garden sundries were down -12.43%, furniture and barbecue sales down -5.79%. Pets and aquatic sales were up 0.62%.

Tammy added: “Gift sales were down -2.95% and Christmas sales were also down -1.01%.”

Overall sales for the month were up 2.14% with a year-to-date variance of -3.04%.

The GCA BoT reports are compiled using actual sales figures and provide an up-to-date trading position statement. They are made available mid-month following the end of the prior month after all member garden centres have submitted their results.

The BoT reports allow members to compare their trading positions with other centres.

The GCA represents nearly 200 garden centres nationwide.

Through sharing information and its inspection programme the GCA helps members to achieve high standards in customer service, plant quality and reliability.

For further information, please visit www.gca.org.uk.

Dobbies is hosting two free interactive workshops in stores across the country this February, to help residents get their garden in shape. 

Dobbies' February Grow How session will be held on Saturday 4 February and will focus on teaching customers how to sow Sweet Peas, the scented favourite. The workshop will emphasise the importance of sowing in early February for earlier blooms. Customers will also learn the right temperature for optimum growing and frequency of watering to ensure a successful transition from seed to flower. 

Dobbies’ stores will also host their monthly Little Seedlings workshop on Sunday 5 February, perfect for kids aged 4-10. This educational session is all about The Wonder of Weeds, shining a light on the various kinds of weeds, also known as wild flowers, found in the garden; how they spread, how they can be removed and what they can be used for. Children will also learn some fun facts and the health benefits of weeds.

Dobbies' Partnership and Events Manager, Sarah Murray, said: “We’re passionate about getting our customers into gardening and are looking forward to our Grow How and Little Seedling Club sessions. 

“Our February workshops are a great chance to learn more about your outdoor space. Grow How will showcase beautifully fragrant and easy to grow Sweet Peas - you can even plant them in pots so you don’t worry about having a big garden space.

“Our Little Seedlings workshop will get kids interested in weeding, where they’ll understand the dos and don’ts, how to prevent them, and some of the health benefits associated with them.”

Sustainability is at the heart of Dobbies' workshops, and the horticultural experts will highlight the great selection of environmentally friendly products that can be purchased in-store.

For more information about the two workshops and how you can take part, visit www.dobbies.com/events

Grow How is currently not running in Dobbies’ Thornbury store and the Little Seedlings Club is currently unavailable at Beaconsfield, Hungerford, Keston, Tewkesbury and Thornbury.

As green shoots start to sprout in gardens across the UK, exciting new highlights are announced for the BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair which opens at Beaulieu in the New Forest from 28-30 April. Whether you’re a keen gardener, experienced plant enthusiast or a budding beginner, inspiration will be in plentiful supply, and tickets are on sale now.  

Headline partner, Hillier, will present a stunning walk-through garden inspired by The Secret Garden. Enclosed by high hedges, visitors will step inside to discover a spectacular display of colour co-ordinated plants and shrubs portraying the movement of the sun during a spring day, from the cool whites and purples of daybreak to the fiery reds and oranges of sunset. As the UK’s biggest tree grower, trees will feature prominently in the Hillier garden with a contemporary area planted with brilliant white trunked Himalayan Birch (Betula ‘Jacquemontii’) amongst a sea of lush green hostas. Wildflowers will surround the entire garden. Visitors feeling inspired to recreate elements of the Hillier garden at home will find plant information throughout the display, advice stations and a large Hillier retail area offering plants and garden accessories. Hillier Gardening Club members will be able to access the alfresco Club Lounge at the Spring Fair.     

The shopping doesn’t stop there. New nurseries and plant specialists Alchemy Ferns, Calamazag, Eleplants, Hedgehog Plants, John Cullen and Jurassic Plants will be joining the line-up of more than 150 exhibitors offering quality outdoor and indoor plants, garden tools, kit and accessories. Don’t want to carry your haul of new plants and garden bargains around the show? The Spring Fair’s Plant Crèche is the place to leave shopping so you can enjoy your day bag-free, collecting it all when you head home.    

Visitors to the Spring Fair will find imaginative design and planting ideas at every turn. Award-winning designer Paul Stone’s showcase garden, Theatre of Greens, will be packed with veg and edible plants and features an accompanying programme of daily talks. Hosted by Chris Bavin, the talks area will feature ‘grow your own’ gurus including Garden Organic’s Head of Horticulture and former Blue Peter gardener, Chris Collins, fungi experts The Caley Brothers, veterans from the National Vegetable Society and more to be announced. New Forest based garden design firm, The Landscape Service, will present the calming Nordic Retreat, a large Showcase Garden featuring spaces to relax, unwind and rejuvenate. An array of compact 9m2 Beautiful Borders will offer inspiration for small gardens and challenging spaces with the theme of ‘My Garden Escape’, and on a micro scale, organic gardening charity, Garden Organic, will present a 1m x 1m design inspired by bugs, birds and biodiversity, featuring a veg plot, composting system and high-rise bug hotel. 

Horticultural students from Kingston Maurward, Merrist Wood and Cannington Campus (Bridgewater and Taunton College) will create budget-friendly gardens, under the expert eye of mentor Cherry Carmen, the award-winning garden designer whose accolades include a Gold Award at BBC Gardeners’ World Live.  

The BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Stage features special guests, Frances Tophill (Friday), Arit Anderson (Saturday) and Adam Frost (Sunday), who will be joining the Magazine’s editors to share practical advice about ‘what to do now’ in your garden.  

Spring Fair visitors can book added extras for their day out, like the ever-popular Plant Expert Tours of Beaulieu’s Victorian walled gardens with Lucy Chamberlain, Saul Walker and Beaulieu Head Gardener, Kelvin Yapp; Floral Crown workshops with tutors from the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies’ (NAFAS) Hampshire group; and Oyster Mushroom Growing workshops with the Caley Brothers.  

For visitors looking for a bite to eat, there will be delicious food and drink to be enjoyed at the BBC Good Food Market and a variety of artisan producers and street food vendors, with live music at the Bandstand. 

Rachel Poletti-Gadd, Portfolio Director - Gardening Division at Immediate Live, organisers of BBC Gardeners’ World events, said: “This will be our third Spring Fair and we can’t wait to be back at beautiful Beaulieu, surrounded by gorgeous plants. Whether you’ve got a bare patch of grass, a mature garden or a window box, our inspiring events for hands-on gardeners are packed with advice, inspiration and take-home ideas, plus you’ll find some well-known faces sharing their experience, expertise and probably a visitor selfie or two! Of course, a good day out isn’t complete without something tasty to eat and drink so a visit to the BBC Good Food Market and street food vendors is a must. With so much to offer gardening fans and first-time gardeners alike, including all of Beaulieu’s wonderful attractions, this really is the perfect spring day out.”        

Visitors to the Spring Fair can enjoy a full day out as tickets include access to Beaulieu’s stunning grounds, gardens and attractions, including Palace House, the National Motor Museum, the Monorail, and Little Beaulieu adventure play area. 

Rachael Goldstraw, Head of Marketing & Business Development at Beaulieu Enterprises, said: “We always look forward to the BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair and to sharing our own wonderful gardens with green-fingered fans from far and wide. Spring is the perfect time of year to make garden plans for the warmer months and we can’t wait to see what the incredible designers, landscapers, growers and exhibitors involved will be inspiring us with.”  

Tickets for the BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair at Beaulieu are on sale now. Advance tickets from £15, concessions £14, children £8.50, under 5s free. Transaction fee applies. www.bbcgardenersworldfair.com 

Spring Fair has announced its Inspiring Retail Stage line-up. Featuring leading industry professionals and rising stars, the line-up features 40 speakers, sharing exclusive market intelligence, insights and valuable industry information all designed to provide buyers with the opportunity to increase their knowledge, understand critical market trends and themes, and connect with leaders in the field.

Located in Hall 6, the Inspiring Retail Stage has a jam-packed programme with trend updates, e-commerce advice, sustainability guidance and business tips across the four days.

Focus on the future

With sustainability front of mind, the Inspiring Retail Stage promises to inform and educate on eco-conscious developments. Sara Simmonds, CEO & Chief Mentor at The Conscious Innovator will share her expert roadmap for business owners to reimagine their products in her session, ‘How to Sell More and Waste Less: New Era of Conscious Consumerism and Sustainability’. Highlighting the scale of the ecommerce delivery network and looking at how to minimise the impact of supply chains, Josh Pitman, Managing Director of Priory Direct – Planet Friendly Package, will offer his advice in ‘Delivering Sustainably – How Ecommerce Supply Chains Can Make the Difference’. Georgia Elliott-Smith, Managing Director of Element Four will also be looking at ‘A Disruptive New Model for Corporate Sustainability and ESG’ exploring how to adopt a new approach that has a meaningful impact.

During ‘Delivering The Sustainability Message: Reaching Buyers, Retailers, And Consumers’, John Pearce, CEO of Made in Britain brings together a stellar panel of speakers from leading British manufacturers including Dartington Crystal, Wrought Iron & Brass Bed Co, and Little Soap Company, to examine the latest innovations in sustainability messaging, as businesses step up to the increased demand from buyers, retailers and consumers for information about the environmental impact of goods.

The Highlights

Join retail entrepreneur and TV dragon, Theo Paphitis who will be in conversation with The Sun’s Business Editor, Ashley Armstrong, looking at some of the current challenges facing businesses across the UK today, and the opportunities that arise out of tougher trading conditions.

Kubi Springer, Director of Brand Marketing, Avantgarde Dubai, will be exploring the impact of personal branding. Kubi is a business media personality who has appear in several media outlets including Forbes, Sunday Times, The Guardian and Red Magazine providing brand commentary and she has a bi- monthly column in Harper’s Bazaar. Since 2007 she has hosted a number of radio and TV shows. Currently she is a BBC Radio 5 contributor, and she hosts her own TV Show broadcast in the USA to 1.2 million homes.

The Style Sisters will be sharing their knowledge and expertise on the hybrid home – where we work, play and rest. The retail market has an opportunity to capitalise on growing demand for highly functional, yet fabulously designed products for the home, as consumers adapt to a new way of living.

The stage will also host trend updates with TrendBible. Trend Update: 2024 Home and Lifestyle Trends will uncover how householder behaviours and lifestyle choices are set to underpin product and design trends for the home over the next 12 months and beyond. Trend Update: Celebration and Gifting Trends for 2024 will provide vital insight into the key trends impacting consumers and the opportunities which will elevate celebration, occasion, and gift ranges to new levels.

Don’t miss Modern Retail’s Good Retail Awards as it celebrates the best in retail, and the GTN Greatest Christmas Awards ceremony.

Get your head around tech

With technology advancing at lightning pace every second, it’s crucial to keep up with the newest ways to engage with customers. The metaverse has been one of 2022's hot topics and interest looks set to grow in 2023. Award-winning Tom Puukko, founder of Superdwell, the architecture & interior design community for the metaverse, will delve into the myths, truths, and opportunities of this exciting new space during his talk ‘How to Win in the Metaverse’. The presentation will cover understanding what the metaverse, virtual reality and alternate reality are and how they all connect, the latest trends and growth data, with case studies and easy steps to take to win in the metaverse.

Join moderator Charley Crocker, founder of The Pop Up Shop Agents for a retailer-led panel discussion on ‘Growing The Next Generation of High Street Retailers - How Savvy Brands Are Making the Most of Hybrid Shopping’, which looks at how the new generation of tech savvy entrepreneurs are combining bricks-and-mortar shops alongside online. The Inspiring Retail Stage will also welcome Therese Oertenblad, Founder of Small Business Collaborative and Elizabeth Stiles, Fashion & Textiles Brand Consultant as they discuss ‘How to sell on TikTok’, looking at the best way to use this free tool to sell and connect with customers. If you’ve been tempted by embarking on a new media, ‘Zero to Podcaster in 30 Days’ is the session for you. Alex Ryan, Marketing Mentor & Owner of Marketing 101 Agency will be demonstrating the effectiveness of podcasts as part of a marketing strategy and showing how easy it is to start.

Expand your mind and your business

Award-winning business coach, Roo Davies will be leading a discussion on ‘How a Positive Mindset Can Help you to Grow Your Business with Confidence’, looking at how to feel confident when navigating challenges. Steve Manser, Head of Marketing at DCUK will be exploring how adopting child-like approaches and attitudes can improve our marketing, selling and business tips, with his session, ‘Child Mindset Marketing: Are you Kidding?’. Also focusing on business improvement will be Catherine Erdly, Founder of The Resilient Retail Club. She’ll be asking, ‘Do you know which key numbers will help you grow your business?  Five Crucial Figures You Need to Know to Boost Your Business In 2023’ in a session that will cover the five key numbers you should be tracking this year.

All this and much more awaits visitors to Spring Fair 2023. As the largest and most accessible “shop for shops”, Spring Fair is the UK’s trusted platform for discovery and innovation, putting the most sought-after products, bright new finds, and industry-leading creative thinkers, under one easy-to-navigate roof whilst giving retailers unparalleled cross-buying opportunities.

Spring Fair encompasses 14 sectors within four destinations across 8 halls – Home which includes Living & Décor, Housewares, Everyday, and The Summerhouse, Gift including Christmas, Floral and Seasonal Decorations, and Modafashion featuring its own Catwalk as well as Jewellery & Watch, Womenswear, Fashion Accessories, and Footwear, and the newly launched responsible sourcing show Source Home & Gift - all offering thousands of much loved and established favourites alongside an array of sustainable and new brands showing for the first time. The show creates a compelling and unmissable platform for buyers to touch, feel, and experience the latest products, trends and innovations.

As the buyers one-stop marketplace for everything new and on-trend for 2023, Spring Fair is the leading home, gift and fashion buying showcase. It runs from 5th - 8th February 2023 at NEC Birmingham. For further information please visit www.springfair.com  

The only international sourcing platform of its kind in the UK, Source Home & Gift taking place from 5th – 8th February at NEC Birmingham, has announced its seminar programme of informative talks taking place on its new Responsible Retail Stage across all four days of the inaugural show including a keynote with founder of JoJo Maman Bébé, Laura Tenison MBE on building an ethical business.

Designed to spark the imagination and inform the mind, the programme has internationally renowned professionals and experts from across the industry attending to share knowledge and advice for the coming season on topics from the latest retail trends to B Corps movement and sustainable packaging development.

Suzanne Ellingham, Director of Sourcing, Source Home & Gift says, “Whenever we talk about sustainable and responsible sourcing, the biggest thing that comes out of those conversations is everyone wants to know what ‘good’ really looks like, and how they can achieve it. At a time when sustainability can mean almost anything, and there are no measurements, no definitions, no common language, many businesses are simply doing their best, but there is a community that wants to learn from each other. The Responsible Retail Stage is packed full of innovators and business leaders who are on that journey and willing to not just share their successes, but also share where things didn’t quite go to plan and use that insight to move their own journey forward faster. If we can give people even one great idea or actionable point to take back to their business, then we will all be delighted.”

Kicking off the four-day seminar schedule on Sunday at 10.30am, Terrie Isaac and Gwyneth Holland of trend forecasting fashion retail specialists, BDA London will be looking at ‘The evolution of trends’ across consumer behaviour. Ever-changing speeds of production and consumption demand a more considered approach to trends, meaning consumers are looking for brands to balance newness with longevity, making sustainability a more important part of the value equation.

The talk explores how shifting consumer behaviours and market conditions mean trend forecasting must become more agile, that the consumer has never been more influential in shaping the decisions brands and retailers make, and how a new approach to core and seasonal collections can help brands to be both sustainable and inspiring.

Next up, Jack Stratten, Head of Trends at Insider Trends presents ‘Ethical interiors start with responsible sourcing’ looking at the competitive advantage, customer loyalty, and improved brand reputation, gained from responsible sourcing.

Packaging solutions business Wrapology and jewellery brand Enibas take to the stage to discuss 'Shop in a box: Use less packaging, make more impact', at 1.30pm, discussing their 10-month journey redesigning 12 pieces of packaging.

The conversation on packaging continues with a session on ‘Climate crisis action: Meeting sustainable packaging standards’ with WRAP, who is committed to a circular economy for plastics beyond 2025, both in the UK and globally. While the UK is making some progress in tackling key environmental issues, a lot more collaboration and action is needed from businesses to achieve the level of change required, and to keep climate goals within reach, through the UK Plastics Pact targets, extended producer responsibility (EPR), and targets one to four.

Monday opens with BDA London’s second trend presentation ‘Protopia: Key home directions for SS24’. Protopia, a realist’s idea of progression, is central to strategic and creative thinking for Spring/Summer 2024 and BDA London’s Trendhub research reveals how this hopeful but realistic view filters through to home and interiors, identifying the key commercial messages across colour, materials, and form.

For an inspiring session on manufacturing and eco design, join Josh Valman, Chief Executive Officer of RPD International for ‘ULTIMATE efficiency: Manufacturing design and purchasing practices’ as he uncovers the most effective ways manufacturers can reduce resource use and waste production.

The Responsible Sourcing Stage then welcomes Laura Tenison MBE, Founder of JoJo Maman Bébé for her Keynote presentation at 1.30pm on ‘ReCommerce Revolution: The second-hand industry comes of age’ during which she will discuss the rise of thrifting, the second-hand market, reverse commerce, and how to build an ethical business.

For a deep dive into ‘Going for green: A sustainable – and profitable – retail supply chain’ don’t miss Tom Barton, Co-Founder and Director of Food, Quality and Sustainability at Honest Burgers as he presents the first steps to developing a more sustainable strategy, including introducing ethical sourcing practices, reusing waste or by-products, and redesigning your processes and optimising transport.

On Tuesday morning, James George, Strategic Adviser at Pyrexa Global will be joined by Helena Stopher from Products of Change to ask, ‘Circular Economy: What is it and why should you care?’, unravelling facts about using the right materials and the policies surrounding them as well as how to ‘green’ your business. Overseas sourcing tips will be on offer from the experts at Retail 100 as they present Country intelligence: A beginners guide to sourcing overseas with practical advice and guidance.

‘The B Corp Movement: Toast Ale’s eco journey’ will be under the spotlight, with co-founder Rob Wilson explaining more about their B Corp journey and first steps to B Corp without simply succumbing to the ‘greenwashing’ trend.

Packaging will be another focus with Kate Usher from TrendBible looking at the key pillars of responsible packaging sourcing and more with her seminar ‘Back to the drawing board: Sustainable product development’. She will explore what sustainability’s impact is on new product development, who’s at the cutting edge of making real change, and whether consumers will change their behaviour and buy more ‘cheap’ and less sustainable products again.

On Wednesday, Lewis Blitz, Co-Founder of Skinnydip London delves into the wasteful business of eCommerce returns as well as his journey creating one of the UK’s most well-loved accessory brands. Free returns are a massive selling point for online retailers to entice potential customers, making purchases seamless. But eCommerce returns are a messy, wasteful process. Not only do retailers lose hundreds of billions in revenue each year, there is also the environmental impact to consider. Retailers are starting to examine the sustainability of their returns and Blitz will explore ways to minimise them without sabotaging sales.

With a growing list of exhibitors and attendees, Source Home & Gift promises to be one not to miss. Already pre-registered to attend are leading retailers and brands including Dunelm, Pandora, Avon, Dobbies, Wilko, Oxfam, RSPCA, Liverpool FC, and many more.

Join Source Home & Gift from 5-8 February at NEC Birmingham and visit Seminars 2023 - Source Home & Gift 2023 (source-homeandgift.com) for the full schedule.

Launched to unite the best manufacturers from key sourcing regions around the world with key retailers, brands, contractors, and interior designers who are looking to find new suppliers or explore private label opportunities, Source Home & Gift reflects a new vision for sustainable, ethical and inspirational product sourcing.

Spring Fair, the UK’s leading marketplace for wholesale Home, Gift and Fashion taking place at the NEC Birmingham from 5th-8th February 2023, has announced it will host the Gift of the Year 2023 judging featuring the shortlisted products in a dedicated showcase and welcoming over 70 expert judges from across the industry during the four-day show.

The judging panel is made up of a diverse and lengthy list of experts and leading retailers in the gift industry, with extensive knowledge and understanding of products and categories. Judges include Senior Design Manager at Moonpig, Dale Boreham; design award-winning judge Jen Baptiste from Black Culture Market; small business retail expert and founder of The Resilient Retail Club, Catherine Erdly, brand licensing expert Emma Russell from the Natural History Museum; Trading Director at Hobbycraft, Heather Robbins; Giftware Buyer at F Hinds, Amanda Evans; award winning retail professional, Michael Apter from Paper Tiger; and Adam Bass, founder of Golden Goose brand licensing consultancy. They make up just a few faces on the panel, with many more retail, sales and brand experts attending Spring Fair and adding their expertise and professional opinion to the judging.

Highly respected as a top industry accolade, ‘Gift of the Year’ recognises the best products, talent, and inspiration across the gift industry. The shortlisted brands include a large number of Spring Fair exhibitors.

The best sellers and the must-have gifts, My Gift of All Time celebrates the best of the best. Shortlisted exhibitors include Sock Academy LTD with A Very Oddsock Christmas – a festive kids advent calendar; Fallen Fruits with their DIY Terrarium Kit, with everything you need to plant and maintain an indoor terrarium; Rainbow Designs Large Classic Cuddly Paddington Bear; RHS Gifts for Gardeners from Burgon & Ball, with design-led, practical gifts; The Bottled Baking Co Baking Mixes in a Bottle, with handmade, scrumptious baking kits; Puzzle Post’s The Deceit, an at-home escape room; Warmies Premium Hot-Paks, to keep cosy; and Heathcote & Ivory’s William Morris At Home Canine Companion Dog Walkers Kit, full of hand cream, hand warmers, cloths and more.

Beauty, Bath & Spa celebrates grooming, beauty, health and wellbeing products as well as those that bring a spa-like touch into the home. Shortlisted exhibitors include County Collection Candles from Home County Co with their beautifully hand poured candles;Warmies Luxury Bottle, with the softest, cosiest grain and French lavender luxury bottles; Crystal Candle by Gift Republic, creating candles with crystals hidden inside; Eau Lovely from Enesco Limited, offering a range of fragranced gifts; and William Morris At Home Forest Bathing Take A Breath Set by Heathcote & Ivory – a self-care set harnessing the power of trees with a William Morris print.

The Branded Gift category includes products linked to well-known characters or brands, and those licensed by famous designers, organisations or household names. Shortlisted in this category and exhibiting at Spring Fair are Build Your Own Fire Engine by Clockwork Soldier; discovering the inner workings or a modern day fire engine in miniature, Disney Home by Widdop & Co with their Mickey Pattern Circle Vase; M&S Colin & Percy Baking Kits in a Bottle by The Bottled Baking Co, allowing bakers to create their own cakes; Minecraft Fine Tip Pen by Puckator Ltd, pens representing the four main characters; Peter Rabbit Pop Up Card Collection by Cardology Ltd, bringing to life the lovable characters in greeting card form; The Crafty Kit Company X Moomin with a range of Moomin craft kits; Three Wise Stormtrooper by Nemesis Now Ltd, with three light-hearted stormtrooper figurines; andV&A Bookaroo Collection by IF, offering a stylish way to carry your stationery.

Cards, Wraps and Stationery includes diaries, calendars, paper, gift boxes, pens, notebooks and more. Shortlisted exhibitors include Acid Drops by Wendy Jones-Blackett Ltd, a contemporary greetings card range; Boxed Sterling Silver Jewellery Greeting Cards from Crumble & Core, a letterbox card and gift in one, Dinkies by Paper Salad Ltd, cards with bright neon inks; Eco Plantable Seed Paper Calendar and Eco Plantable Seed Paper Crackers from Little Green Paper Shop are shortlisted; as well as Fabulously Flat Paper Pens from IF – tear off pens for convenience. Miniature World pop up cards by All Joy Designs create 3D cards with a range of different designs; and Lola Design’s Wildlife Botanical Wiro-bound notebook organisers are designed with different wildlife images.

Toys, kits and gadgets for children are included in the Children’s Educational and Pre-School category. Exhibiting at Spring Fair will be shortlisted businesses including Global Journey with Grow Your Own Name, a personalised plant that appears with your name on it; Grubs & Bugs - Little Green Fingers Gardening Range by Fallen Fruits Ltd; jumini PLAY Garden Collection by Inside Out Toys Ltd, a range of wooden pretend play items; Make Your Own Dinosaur Timeline & World Map from Clockwork Soldier, allowing children to explore the time of the dinosaurs in a map and timeline; Mini sausage dog in a little box by Rex London, a cuddly little Dachshund for little ones to look after; Puzzle Post’s The Space Station, a space themed escape room in an envelope; and Tom Gates Games Range  -  Monster Games Compendium, 3 Tom Gates double sided Puzzles & Card Gamefrom University Games and The Lagoon Group.

Commemorative, Collectable and Charitable celebrates gifts for any occasions, including collectibles, souvenirs, personalised products and trinkets. Shortlisted exhibitors include Enesco Ltd with Beatrix Potter Soft Toys; Gift Republic with Bucket List Scratch Books featuring a range of topics including 100 movies, 100 dates or 100 things to do with family; Build Your Own London Fire Engine by Clockwork Soldier, a chance to build a cardboard replica; NMR’s David Bowie Album Jigsaw Puzzle; and Just Like Us by Gibsons, a special puzzle to commemorate 50 years of Pride.

Contemporary Gift offers funky, design-led gifts with a modern feel. Spring Fair welcomes shortlisted exhibitors including Made Happy Gifts with their Brick Compatible Letters; Stitching Me Softly’s Crochet Basket Craft Kit Range; Gingko Design’s Lemelia Light, a small 7-colour changing light; Samantha Morris Mug & Pet Bowl from Mclaggan Smith Mugs Ltd, a quirky gift for pet lovers; Scion Living’s Baby Collection from Enesco Limited; Seeded pet loss sympathy gift by Letterbox Love, with a touching poem of sympathy; Gingko Design’s Velvet Accordion Lamp, in the shape of an accordion, with five shades of velvet available; and Warmies Long Hot Water Bottle, for extra comfort and style.

Products designed and made in smaller studios come under the Design and Craft category. Shortlisted exhibitors include The Craft Kit Company Ltd with their Bertie Bunny Needle Felting Kit and Seasonal Fruit Needle Felting Kit; Clockwork Soldier’s Create Your Own Paper Pocket Money Kits! with small folding card projects, and their Create Your Own Plastic-Free Magic Tricks! kits.Stitching Me Softly’s Crochet Basket Craft Kit Range contains three craft kits with step-by-step instructions; and MetalMotif Ltd’s Woodpecker Wall Mount, a steel bird for walls, fence posts, sheds and any other outdoor space.

Fairtrade and eco-friendly gifts make up the Ethical and Sustainable Gift category. Shortlisted exhibitors include Fabrix WWF Collection, wooden building blocks featuring endangered species, compatible with Lego, from Inside Out Toys Ltd; Honest Bottle from Honest, the only reusable bottle that’s designed and made locally from UK-sourced recycled bottles; The Silicone Straw Company’s Reusable Silicone Straws in Handy Travel Tins, replacing soggy paper straws; and Seeded pet loss sympathy gift by Letterbox Love, with a touching poem of sympathy printed on seeded card to plant.

The Fashion Accessories and Jewellery category includes wearable accessories and jewellery made from a multitude of materials. Exhibiting at Spring Fair will be shortlisted brands including Goodlookers with their bold vintage Deirdre Reading Glasses; Sock Academy Ltd with Hippy Go Lucky, an explosion of colourful odd socks; Magnetic Brooches from Miss Milly Limited; Recycled Polycarbonate sunglasses by Peace of Mind .925 Ltd; Ewing and Wragg LTD ta Pretty Pink Eco-Jewellery’s Tagua Nut rings – also known as vegetable ivory; The Leela Collection – jewellery from Shrieking Violet; and The Signature Collection Compact Mirrors by Meg Hawkins Art, featuring original watercolour decoration.

Festive and Occasions wraps up products specifically designed and themed around key calendar events or parties. Shortlisted exhibitors in this category include the unusual Christmas Slate Hanger with Pebbles by Richard Lang & Son; The Craft Kit Company Ltd with their Christmas Jumper Needle Felting Kit; the soft and cute Christmas Reversible Squidgly and build it yourself Festive Gingerbread Cat Playhouse by Puckator Ltd; thoughtful Greeting Cards For Difficult Times from Fox Under The Moon; Harry Potter Charms advent calendar from Widdop & Co; Puzzling Crackers, offering escape room style games in Christmas crackers from Puzzle Post; and House of Marbles’ Santa's Snowball Ski-Jump Game for a festive seasonal game.

Celebrating the Food and Drink shortlist with gifts you can eat, drink or make are Spring Fair exhibitors Ross & Ross Gifts with their Gastronomic Trio Tubes, packed full of premium seasonings and condiments, as well as their Steak & Chips Gift Sets, with seasonings and suggestions to make dinner delicious; and Popcorn Kitchen’s Giant Moneybox Popcorn Bottle, full of popcorn treats and ready to reuse once empty.

Board games, card games, party games and non-traditional games make up the Games category, with a range of shortlisted exhibitors. These include 5-Letter Wordlet from University Games and The Lagoon Group, a five-letter word guessing game;NMR’s David Bowie Album Jigsaw Puzzle; a competitive, connection-making game, Hexagone and a trivia game, Rainbow Go! by Professor Puzzle; a wooden mix and match game, KIDOKI Animal Mix Up! Wooden Puzzle and Knot Game from Kikkerland Europe BV; Ocean memory game, a pairs game from Rex London; a fast-thinking truth and lies game, Sounds Fishy by Big Potato Games; dino stacking game, Stackosaurus from Gift Republic; and an immersive mystery game, The Missed Flight byPuzzle Post.

The Home and Garden category includes any item that adorns the home - modern, tradition, classic, country, urban living or fun and quirky. Shortlisted exhibitors include Enesco Limited with Allen Designs, whimsical pieces designed by American artist Michelle Allen; Fallen Fruits Ltd’s Avocado Floater lets you grow your own avocado tree; Widdop & Co’s Frida – a set of two leopard print glasses and their Hestia – a recycled vase; Grow Your Own Name with Global Journey’s personalised bean plants; Fizz Creations Ltd with Peter Rabbit Grow Your Own Herbs, a garden for little ones; Solar Powered Light Up Terrarium by Gift Republic, illuminating plants at night; Wildlife Botanical Wallpaper Collection, with bold and beautiful designs by Lola Design; and Sophie Conran for Burgon & Ball heart-shaped trowel, an eye-catching garden tool.

Home Fragrance includes products that bring fragrance into the home, with shortlisted exhibitors including Wild Olive Ltd with their Artisan Candle Collection made with natural soy wax and decorated with real hand pressed flowers; The Foxglove Tree’s Botanical Cast Fragrance Diffusers, bringing the outside in with casts made from real plants; Home Fragrance Signature Range from Meg Hawkins Art, with calm and peace at its core; and St Eval’s Nature's Garden Collection, Large Pots, with unique summertime scented candles.

With gifts for budding chefs and those who love to entertain, the Kitchen and Dining shortlist showcases the best in the category. Shortlisted exhibitors include Rex London with their individual canned Fish salt and pepper shakers; Fizz Creations Ltd and their Mr Creations Ice Cream Station, for soft scooped ice cream all year round; and Mclaggan Smith Mugs Ltd with the Samantha Morris Mug & Pet Bowl Set, a quirky gift for pets and their humans.

Celebrating all those techy, gadgety gifts, the Novelty, Tech and Gadgets category incorporates gifts with a touch of silliness. Shortlisted exhibitors in this category include Big Potato Games with their Big Screen Games, a collection of online party games; a combined light and speaker from Gingko Design – the Drum Light Speaker; a squeezy stress Homosexuwhale from Gift Republic; Kikkerland Europe BV’s 16 in 1 Bike Tool; Personalised Memento Co’s Personalised LED Gaming Controller Stand; a Rainbow Catcher light, using solar power from Gift Republic; and the Wayfarer Range from Fizz Creations – with tools, equipment and more for the outdoors.

Any gift product retailing at £15 or below was considered for the Under £15 category, with shortlisted exhibitors including Widdop & Co. with their DIY Gift in a tin, a tractor to make yourself; Bucket List Scratch Cards from Gift Republic, featuring 52 cards of hidden activities; Mindful Picture Books For All Ages – warm and whimsical stories from Fox Under The Moon; The Silicone Straw Company and their Reusable Silicone Straws in  Handy Travel Tins; Seeded pet loss sympathy gift by Letterbox Love, with a touching poem of sympathy printed on seeded card to plant and mindfulness Weekly Wellness Cards - Happiness, Yoga, Mindfulness – from Gift Republic.

Winners of the Gift of the Year Awards will be announced on 11th May, and more information on the complete shortlist and judging panel can be found at www.giftoftheyear.co.uk.

As the largest and most accessible “shop for shops”, Spring Fair is the UK’s trusted and inspirational platform for discovery and innovation, putting the most sought-after products, bright new finds, and industry-leading creative thinkers, under one easy-to-navigate roof whilst giving retailers unparalleled cross-buying opportunities.

Spring Fair encompasses 14 sectors within four destinations across 8 halls – Home which includes Living & Décor, Housewares, Everyday, and The Summerhouse, Gift including Christmas, Floral and Seasonal Decorations, and Moda fashion featuring its own Catwalk as well as Jewellery & Watch, Womenswear, Fashion Accessories, and Footwear, and the newly launched responsible sourcing show Source Home & Gift - all offering thousands of much loved and established favourites alongside an array of sustainable and new brands showing for the first time. The show creates a compelling and unmissable platform for buyers to touch, feel, and experience the latest products, trends and innovations.

As the buyers one-stop marketplace for everything new and on-trend for 2023, Spring Fair is the leading home, gift and fashion buying showcase. It runs from 5th - 8th February 2023 at NEC Birmingham. For further information and to register to attend please visit www.springfair.com

A team of runners from Staverton Nursery – comprising Tom C, Mike, Tom H, Will, Fred and Harry – will be taking part in The Beachy Head Marathon on 21st October  to raise funds for the Chailey Heritage Foundation. 

Tom H's son Seth was born with a rare muscle deficiency. He needs constant care and thoroughly enjoys spending time at Chailey Heritage, particularly at the Patchwork Farm.  All donations will go directly to this project. 

The team are currently in training, if you wish to sponsor them, CLICK HERE to donate via the JustGiving page.

Over 600 fruit and ornamental trees, grown by FPM, have been delivered to various locations around Birmingham. The trees were donated by the National Trust to 171 sites along the number 11 bus route which forms a circle around the city.

The project aims to create a symbolic ‘Ring of Blossom’ in recognition of the gardens and orchards that once surrounded Birmingham but were lost in recent decades due to development.

Matthew Thomas from FPM joined the ‘Blossom Bus’ which carried some of the trees to their planting destinations. "It’s a brilliant project to be involved with and we’re delighted to have been able to supply the trees,’ he said. ‘Birmingham is such a fantastic city and restoring some of the tree canopy is great for the environment and for the mental wellbeing of local residents," he said.

Trees have been planted at Blakesley Hall in Yardley and several were planted by students at Hodge Hill College. Other trees have been planted in community allotments and public parks.

Katy Wade from the National Trust worked closely with FPM to ensure the right trees were delivered to the desired locations. She explained: ‘Blossom Together in Birmingham is one of several projects falling under our National Blossom Programme which aims to raise awareness of blossom and help get more trees in cities. People can follow our progress and share their own blossom stories online using the hashtag #blossomwatch.’

Other planting projects have taken place in London, Plymouth, Nottingham and Newcastle. More are in the pipeline.

For a positive start to 2023, people in horticulture can kickstart their physical and mental fitness for free with Perennial’s Health and Wellbeing platform and app.   

The service provides advice and support for mental health, fitness and nutrition for all those who work, or have worked, with plants, trees, grass or flowers and their families. For people in this type of work, a good level of physical and mental fitness is necessary so it’s important for them to keep their health and wellbeing in top condition.  

Hundreds of people are already benefiting from the platform and app which is packed full of guidance, tools and tailored insights, created by experts, to help with the body, mind and life. There is something for everyone to explore whether you have a healthy lifestyle already or want to create one. Popular articles and paths include: Stay mobile - stay flexible, The stress boat, Looking after your emotional wellbeing and Snack smart. New content is added regularly to keep people coming back for more rewarding recipes, fitness plans, exercises, articles, podcasts, meditations and eLearning modules.  

Perennial’s Director of Services, Julia Hayne, says: “We’re delighted to know the platform and app is enhancing people’s health and wellbeing. Having a free service like this is really valuable right now and we’re keen to share it with everyone in horticulture and their families. So, if you’re enjoying it, please tell your colleagues and workmates and if you’ve yet to benefit, please do sign-up. Content is added all the time so there’s plenty to keep you going throughout the year.”   

Take a look and see what’s there to share at perennial.org.uk/wellbeing

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The Horticultural Trades Association has welcomed Fran Barnes as its Chief Executive, completing the strengthening of its senior leadership team. 

Fran’s first week has included meeting HTA members, working with her management team in the HTA’s head office at Horticulture House and meeting international associations at one of the sector’s leading trade fairs, IPM Essen.  

Fran joins the HTA from the National Farmers’ Union of England and Wales (NFU), where she has worked for over 10 years, first as Head of Strategic Communications and subsequently as Director of Communications. Prior to joining the NFU, she held a number of editorial roles on food and farming programmes at the BBC. 

Fran Barnes, Chief Executive of the HTA said: “I am delighted to have joined the HTA at the start of 2023, which is set to be a critical year for the environmental horticulture sector. The members, industry and HTA colleagues I have met this week have only strengthened my enthusiasm for horticulture. The sector delivers so much for the country’s economy, health and environmental ambitions, and I am excited by the opportunity to grow the HTA’s first-class reputation, influence and value for its members.” 

President of the HTA, Alan Down said: “I am very pleased to welcome Fran on board as the HTA’s new Chief Executive – her leadership skills, knowledge and experience will be invaluable as we look to continuously improve and innovate how we serve our members in these ever-challenging times.”

As Ivyline’s star continues to rise, it has further enhanced its internal team with the appointment of Chris Owen as the brand’s new National Sales Manager.

Chris has been part of the garden retail industry for over a decade with previous roles at Mr Fothergills and most recently, Darlac as General Manager. Together these have given Chris an unrivalled insight into the UK market, the future of the sector and a little black book that will pay dividends within this new role.

Chris’ new responsibilities will include overseeing all aspects of sales, including key account and multiple customer management. He will also be working as part of Ivyline’s wider sales team.

Talking about his new role, Chris said: “There are a million reasons why joining Ivyline feels like the right thing to do. From a collaborative approach to doing business, to a young team full of fresh ideas, it’s a brand that welcomes newness, celebrates innovation and champions sustainability.

“I’m excited to get involved and to leave my mark on the future of Ivyline. I’m also excited to learn even more from people such as MD, Scott Thomas, whose development of the company has inspired me from afar for many years.”

Scott Thomas, Ivyline Managing Director added; “We are delighted that Chris is joining to further strengthen the team. It demonstrates our clear intent to deepen our commitment to the garden centre market.  Chris comes highly recommended and in particular for his passion to go above and beyond for the customer.

Find out more

To find out more about Ivyline’s 2023/24 collections, or to book an appointment at Ivyline’s dedicated showroom please visit www.ivylinegb.co.uk, email sales@ivylinegb.co.uk or by calling 024 7633 9180.

GTN Xtra has been informed of the sad passing of much-loved salesman and agent Ken Eden.

Ken, who worked for Ewbank, Kenwood and William Lavine, will be missed by many in the garden industry.

Later in his career he became a sales agent for: Procter (Pest Stop), Chain Products, Landmann Barbecues, Imperial Housewares and Lifestyle Appliances, calling on DIY shops, wholesalers, cash & carries and garden centres.

He would be seen at Spring Fair, Exclusively Housewares, Glee and many Decco trade shows.

He was also a member of the Manufacturers Agent Association.

Squire’s Garden Centres has appointed Jordan Howell as its new Health, Safety & Facilities Manager serving its group of 16 centres.

Jordan joins from Thames Water, where he was responsible for Health & Safety with specific responsibility for service co-ordination, statutory inspections and compliance across the South West London area.  Prior to joining Thames Water, he served with the British Army.  Jordan will lead Squire’s H&S and Facilities matters for all garden centre locations across Surrey, Sussex, Middlesex, West London and Berkshire as well as Group Office.

Sarah Squire, Chairman of Squire’s Garden Centres, comments: “The well-being of our colleagues and customers is paramount. So this this is an absolutely key role within our business.  Jordan brings with him great experience in compliance and a skill set well-matched to his new role.  He also demonstrates great enthusiasm and a real commitment to his specialty. We are delighted to welcome him to Squire’s”.

Two UK growers have been recognised in major categories at the International Grower of the Year Awards in Germany, with Herefordshire-based Allensmore Nurseries winning Gold in the Sustainability category and Majestic Trees’ Eliot Barden being named Young International Grower of the Year. Both beat competition from across the globe to claim their awards. 

They were entered into the international Awards following their wins at the Horticultural Trades Association’s (HTA’s) national Ornamental Grower of the Year Awards, which took place in Birmingham last September. 

The International Grower of the Year Awards, organised by the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH), took place at the IPM Essen trade show in Germany on Tuesday 24 January. The Awards recognise best practice in environmental horticulture by growers and nurseries from around the world. 

The wins see the UK’s environmental horticulture sector recognised by an international jury, with winners in other categories coming from France, Colombia, China, Canada, Italy, Poland, Chinese Taipei and the Netherlands. 

Commenting on the wins, Chairman of the HTA, James Barnes said: “We couldn’t be prouder of Allensmore and of Eliot, and we're thrilled their work has been recognised on the international stage. Their wins represent global recognition for the truly excellent work that is being done in our sector, work which is instrumental in helping the UK to meet its environmental goals.” 

Based in Herefordshire, Allensmore Nurseries is a family-owned grower and supplier of ornamental plants to supermarkets, DIY stores, and garden centres across the UK. Allensmore is a supporter of the HTA’s Sustainability Pledge, which helps HTA members to build sustainability into every aspect of their business. 

The Young International Grower of the Year Award, presented in partnership with Jungle Talks, recognises “vibrant individuals, aged 25-40, who will lead the industry into the future.” Eliot Barden, Production and Education Manager at Majestic Trees, was selected as the winner after interviewing against other finalists. 

Michael Perry – better known as Mr Plant Geek – will be joining Glee 2023 (27th-29th June, NEC Birmingham) as the exhibition’s first ever ‘ambassador’.

In his new role, Michael Perry will bring his extensive knowledge and passion for all things horticulture to the very heart of Glee. From supporting the all-new Talent Store, to leading plant-based content on the exhibition’s educational hub, The Stage, Michael’s input is set to further elevate Glee’s very own ‘green heart’ by placing the emphasis on the exciting growth of plants, especially the boom in houseplants amongst younger consumers. 

From his TV work with the likes of QVC, This Morning and Steph’s Packed Lunch to The Plant Based Podcast alongside Ellen Mary, or his new book – Hortus Curious, which takes a closer look at the world's most weird and wonderful plants and fungi – Michael always offers a truly unique and fun take on the world of fauna and flora. It is this fresh look that visitors and exhibitors at Glee 2023 can expect to see through Michael’s ambassadorial role in the lead up to and during the June show.

Talking about his new role, Michael Perry said: “I had not attended Glee for almost 15 years. I broke the seal in 2022 and was incredibly impressed by what I saw. The 2022 event really inspired me to get involved to help further evolve Glee’s content and cement its position as a key date within the horticultural trade calendar.

“I'm super happy to join in an ambassador role, where I hope to bring some exciting new concepts, with a focus on positioning new products in the right way in order to get the best exposure and buyer take-up. I am feeling super enthused about the Talent Store, and am excited to share more details about some of the other projects we’ll be launching at the show including ‘One Minute Sells’, ‘Future Plants’, as well as facilitating discussions around the current trends that are driving market change."

Matthew Mein, Glee Event Director welcomed Michael on board by saying: “Glee has been an avid follower of Michael and the Mr Plant Geek platform for some time, so to have him join as an ambassador is an exciting prospect. Michael has a phenomenal vision for the world of horticulture, and we have no doubt that his input is going to add significant value for anyone at Glee 2023.  It’s a superb prospect to be placing plants right back at the heart of Glee where they belong.”

Find out more

Glee is the UK’s leading garden retail show, focusing on building year-round profits for buyers and suppliers within the core gardening and outdoor leisure product categories.  To keep up to date on the latest Glee news visitwww.gleebirmingham.com.  To enquire about exhibiting at Glee 2023, which will take place June 27th – 29th, please call +44 (0)203 3545 9752.

Nick Healey from Berkshire has joined the team at plant information company Joy of Plants as its new Head of Product.

Nick will be refining the user experience and setting the roadmap for future development of Joy of Plants’ services, which help retailers sell more plants and care products, via online and in-store information.

He said: “There’s a world of people out there who haven’t yet experienced the joy of plants, and we intend to bring them through our customers’ doors, help them find the right plants and succeed in growing them, so that we in turn grow new generations of gardeners.”

Prior to his position at Joy of Plants, Nick has a long Design career in the desktop and mobile software world, designing PDAs for Psion, phones for Nokia, apps for everyone from tech start-ups to Goldman Sachs, restaurants for Inamo – and products for Joy of Plants too.

In his spare time, he is Secretary of his local Allotment Society and enjoys growing unusual vegetables. His top tip for vegetable growers for 2023 is the Giant Bolivian Achocha (Cyclanthera pedata).

Terri Jones, Managing Director at Joy of Plants, said: “We’re thrilled to have Nick join us to lead our product design and roadmap for the future. He has a passion for making technology easy for ‘normal people’ and a track record in delivering product designs that delight their users.

“He has worked with us on projects before, so he already has wide experience of our services and an understanding of our clients’ needs. I’m sure he can take our services to the next level.”

Joy of Plants’ mission is to make plant information easy and accessible to all. It has created a library of more than 15,500 UK garden plants and trees and offers a platform of tools to help garden centres, retailers, growers and breeders maximise their plant sales and income.

It provides this information in many products including a Plant Finder for websites and Touchscreen Kiosks, an Image and Text Library for ecommerce sites, and “print on-demand” Bed Cards.

For further details about Joy of Plants, please call 07717 532323 or visit www.joyofplants.com.

The Commercial Horticultural Association is proud to present the largest UK exhibitor group yet in its new location in Hall 21.

Showcasing the best of UK commercial horticulture at Fruit Logistica this year with a British group, the CHA pavilion and commercial horticulture information stand are located in a new, light and airy position close to the show entrance.

The CHA team at the show looks forward to welcoming visitors to our UK group of growers, wholesalers and suppliers, all offering innovative and new technologies.

Visitors will be warmly welcomed at the CHA Information stand (Hall 21 B-30) for further details about the companies listed in this release, as well as information on other British suppliers and the British horticultural sector. 

We will also be happy to introduce you to representatives from the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Department for International Trade (DIT), who are on hand to answer questions about importing into and exporting out of the UK market, DEFRA having recently published new guidelines on Border controls.

There will be new information available regarding the AgriTech UK website, managed on behalf of DIT by the UK Tag (UK Genetics Association), the Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA) and the CHA.  The portal is an international information source for anyone wishing to do business with UK companies and it is linked to the CHA website for full information on CHA member companies, CHA initiatives and events.

The UK companies exhibiting at the show are:

Botanicoir Ltd (21.B-32)

Botanicoir is a leading manufacturer of coir substrate products, with expertise in specific mixes for strawberries, raspberries, tomatoes, cucumbers and aubergines. With its own production facilities in Sri Lanka and India, it is able to guarantee a consistent supply and traceability of high-quality products. As a globally operating company, and a leader in the UK market, as well as the USA, Australia and Northern Europe, Botanicoir is positioned at the forefront of developments within the industry. The company works alongside local agronomists and growers to develop products that provide the optimum substrate solutions for specific crops, local climates and existing systems.

Chambers (21.B-40)

Based in Kent, UK, the company’s farms span over 750 hectares and grow a full range of berries, cherries and some niche crops in order to offer a “full fruit basket” direct to its customers.  Chambers’ direct ‘end-to-end’ supply chain model enables it to sell its own fruit produce, collaborate and manage other growers’ sales, import &and export berries and offer a full 52-week calendar solution, directly to retail supermarkets.

MD Import Export Ltd (21.A-50)

MD is a dynamic business which works directly with its partner growers to provide customers with fresh produce on demand. It is exhibiting its tree-ripened ready-to-eat Ataulfo Mangoes. Through innovation in the specialty mango category, it supplies this variety of mango year round. It will also be showcasing its Tropical Avocados. It has an extensive range of Exotics including Bitter Melons, Chillies, Papayas and Okra.

Through its in-house freight operation, it can consolidate produce from around the world and re-export by air and sea. This includes the full range of European salads and the best of British produce.

Primafruit (21.B-34)

Primafruit is a leading name in the fresh produce industry, specialising in the sourcing and supply of fresh fruit to the UK market. Its team is proud to work with one of Britain’s best-known retailers and other foodservice customers, delivering consistently great quality fresh fruit, whatever the time of year. Primafruit product categories include bananas, citrus, stonefruit, grapes, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, dates, kiwi, exotic fruit, melons and pineapple. Great tasting fruit is at the heart of everything the firm does, achieving this by working closely with its talented network of growers from all around the world.

Russell IPM & Bio Solutions (21.B-36)

Converta NPK – Innovative Bio Fertilizer is a specialised liquid biofertilizer. It fixes atmospheric nitrogen, mobilises soil’s potassium, and solubilizes Phosphorous. It is effective against biotic and drought stress. The beneficial effect of Converta NPK touches every corner from nutrient solubilisation, Plant growth promotion, and Degradation of certain organic and inorganic pollutants to Bioremediation of heavy metals and pesticides.

It is effective, containing valuable quantities of beneficial soil microbes; it is produced using a natural process; and it is sustainable, Giving back all the good you put in, but as an enhanced product. Its high levels of quality, consistency and safety mean it is a British quality product.

Scottish Agri Export Hub (21.A-50)

The Scottish Agri Export Hub provides a platform for Scottish seed potato growers and exporters to engage with existing and a new clients.

Seed potatoes produced in Scotland are considered to be some of the best in the world. With support from expert scientists and breeders in the industry, Scotland has highly specialised and innovative production systems to ensure high-quality and high-yielding potato crops. Customers of Scottish seed can be confident that they are buying and growing seed that has been produced by experts under the best possible conditions.

In addition to the individual exhibitor stands, there are two ‘Base Space’ participants, based on the CHA information stand (21.B-44). They are:

GPS Capital Markets, operating in global foreign exchange and corporate treasury;

VEG-UK Ltd, which operates in export, import, wholesale, retail and supermarkets.

The CHA is the UK trade association for manufacturers and suppliers of plants, products and services to commercial horticulture worldwide.  We represent the interests of the British horticultural supplies sector in both UK and international markets. Never have export associations been more relevant than in this era of Post-Brexit, providing important information for both international buyers and UK suppliers and producers.

Gardeners and landscape gardeners are among the most thriving jobs in the skilled trades, new analysis of workforce data has revealed. 

Having taken a deep dive into 15 years’ worth of data, electrical training provider Electrician Courses 4U has revealed the number of people working in these two jobs has increased by a steady 4.92% since 2006. 

The research which aims to shine a light on the evolution of the trades over the past three decades, discovered that in 2006 there were 138,200 people working as gardeners or landscape gardeners. 

By 2021 this number had increased by a substantial 6,800 to 145,000. This means on average over the last 15 years the total number of people working as gardeners or landscape gardeners has increased by over 450 workers per year. 

Looking at the overall picture, gardeners and landscape gardeners rank 15th when it comes to the skilled jobs which have seen the biggest increase in their workforce over the last 15 years. 

The job which has seen the biggest increase in staff is aircraft maintenance workers where the number of employees has more than tripled since 2006 - rising from 24,000 to 88,300. 

One of the key factors for the rise is the ever-increasing popularity of holidays abroad, which drives the growth of the aircraft maintenance market as the planes need to consistently be maintained, repaired and fixed.  

Another trade which has seen a significant rise in their workforce is rail and rolling stock builders and repairers who have seen a 114.29% increase in the number of workers over the past 15 years. 

With the persistent demand for freight and passenger transportation as well as new high speed railways being built such as HS2 it is no surprise as to why the job is in demand.

A full breakdown of the trades which have experienced the biggest rise and decline of workers over the past 15 years can be found here: https://electriciancourses4u.co.uk/useful-resources/evolution-of-the-trades-the-skilled-jobs-on-the-rise-and-decline/

This year’s three-day GCA Conference in Blackburn came to an end on Wednesday evening in spectacular fashion with Ron and Wendy Bent of Bents Garden and Home not only becoming honorary GCA members but also seeing their family company be recognised as a Garden Centre of Excellence and named Destination Centre of the Year. 

Matthew Bent said the awards were a win for the whole team who each year strive to become better in everything they do.

Also having cause for a great celebration was the team from  Klondyke Garden Centres which scored a hatrick in the Garden Centre of the Year category. Morton Hall Garden Centre took the overall prize with Klondyke Garden Wise and Strikes Stokesley centre runners up.

GCA Garden Centres of Excellence

Barton Grange

Bents Garden and Home

Cowell’s Garden Centre

Fron Goch Garden Centre

Gordale Garden & Home

Strikes Garden Centre, Stokesley

Pacific Nurseries

Perrywood - Tiptree

Ruxley Manor

The Old Railway Line

The Best Marketing Campaign or Initiative - The Worrall Cup went to Pugh’s Garden Centres for its Christmas influencer campaign. They fought off stiff competition from Coolings Garden Centre’s Feel Good Gardens and Tong Garden Centre’s  Love Nature Garden initiatives.

Wyevale Nurseries was recognised as Associate Member of the Year winning The Haskins Stewart Cup. Other finalists in this category were Woodlodge and Westland.

Consultant Andy Campbell also became an honorary member in recognition for his more than two decades of judging for the GCA.

Another outstanding winner was the Greenfingers Charity which received a cheque for a staggering £100,000 raised by delegates throughout the three-day event. Guy Topping from Barton Grange presented the cheque to an overwhelmed Sue Allen who said it would go towards a GCA sponsored garden.

The first GCA Conference since February 2020 got off to a crazy start with Sunday evenings delegates raising over £50,000 for Greenfingers playing crazy golf, crazy pool, ten pin bowling and curling at the Barton Grange Flower Bowl.

The Challenge event between the Pansies (retailers) and the Cabbages (suppliers) was narrowly won this year by the Cabbages captained by Ian Flounders of Woodlodge.  GCA Vice Chair, Will Blake, captain of the pansies vowed to win back the trophy next year.

Guy Topping generously provided access to the golf, pool, bowling and curling for the 60 delegates who travelled the short journey from the Conference venue of the Mercure Dunkenhaigh Hotel & Spa.  Huge thanks go to the team at the Flower Bowl, managed by Guy's neice, Emily.

Bob Marley won the award for the highest individual score across all 4 Challenge activities.

Fundraising for Greenfingers continues throughout the GCA Conference which concludes with the GCA Dinner and Awards on Tuesday night.  If a target total of £100,000 can be achieved that will mean the charity can deliver another complete Childrens Hospice garden funded by the GCA.

See GTN Xtra's gallery of photos from the Challenge below:

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.

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