With just two weeks until Easter, which is considered to be the start of the season for hard landscaping, Meadow View Stones stock inventory across their multiple production sites is at its peak, ready and able to react quickly to the anticipated increases in demand...

With e-commerce providing a quick and easy shopping experience for consumers, it is important for retailers to maximise the customer experience in store. Hartman wanted to support customers in this journey and as a result have created some in-store spatial branding that defines the centres garden furniture offering without compromising on shop floor space.

Following media stories, some of which are included in this issue of GTN Xtra, about further developments on the peat-ban, the Defra Press Office issued the following Blog on Friday 24th March...

James Barnes, Chairman, HTA commented: “UK growers are absolutely behind the sustainable transition from peat-use..."

Defra has confirmed that while some peat-containing products will be banned from shelves in 2027, others will be exempt from a ban until 2030. This means that for some professional growers, peat use will still be permitted for the next 7 years...

Replacing the estimated 1.7 million cubic meters of peat used in horticulture with sustainable alternatives is a huge challenge, but one which has today been boosted by £320,000 of grant funding secured from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation...

According to the March Market Update report from the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), garden centre sales received an early boost in February 2023, showing the value consumers place on their gardens despite challenging financial times...

Catering and gardening categories were the standout successes in February, according to the Garden Centre Association’s Barometer of Trade report...

The Blue Diamond Group, which recognises that plastic compost bags are single-use, has been working closely with one of its key suppliers, Evergreen Garden Care...

As the garden retail sector ramps up activity ahead of the International Festival of Garden, Leisure and Pet, Glee 2023 – taking place at the NEC in late June (27th – 29th) – the team has been busy behind the scenes to ensure that this year’s edition of the show will be bigger and better than ever...

Dobbies is partnering with BBC Radio 2 by handing out 75,000 free packets of seeds from today (Monday 27 March) to encourage the nation to brighten up the country this spring...

Blue Diamond are partnering with BBC Radio 2 for Let it Grow by donating 45,000 packets of Forget me Not seeds...

The Colegrave Seabrook Foundation are delighted to announce that a record 19 students have been awarded scholarships this year...

New Products for the UK Garden Trade for Spring and Summer 2023 from GIMA Members: AHS, Auto Pot Global, Azpects, Carbon Gold, EKJU, elho, Evergreen Garden Care, Fiskars, Forest Garden, Glee, Handy Distribution, Honeyfields, Hozelock, Husqvarna, Hygeia, Johnsons Seeds, Leon Boots, Maze, Patio Black Spot Removal Company, PlantWorks, Primeur, Rollins Bulldog, Smart Garden Products, Sorbus, STV International, The Real Soil Company, Vitavia, Westland Horticulture, Woodmansterne, Zest.

Suppliers from all continents will meet up with decision-makers from the specialised trade and worldwide large-surface outlets at the Cologne fair grounds from 18 to 20 June. spoga+gafa begins two days after the Global DIY Summit, which is being staged in Berlin in 2023...

Building on the successful relaunch of the Four Oaks Trade Show conference programme at the 50th-anniversary show, means addressing issues of major importance to the sector to add value to the visitor experience for 2023...

Tingley Garden Centre is celebrating springtime and its first gardening season with a celebration launch weekend next month...

Research from Dobbies has found that almost three-quarters of Brits (73%) plan to grow their own fruit, vegetables and herbs this spring...

This year, once again, sufficient sponsors have been brought together in order to realise the Dutch flower decorations for Easter Mass in St. Peter’s Square in Rome...

Garden centre owners are being encouraged to check out an acclaimed Danish brand of confectionery with a new authorised partner supplier...

The team at a Bradford-headquartered garden centre group is celebrating after reaching the final of a regional food and drink business award...

In this issue:

• Hillier grows – Interview with Chris Francis,
• GCA Conference 2023 – Big, bold, sustainable and £100k raised for Greenfingers,
• GCA Winners – All the winners from the GCA Conference,
• PATS Sandown Show preview,
• BeefEater – LOFA Member profile,
• Beautiful stonework from The Patio Black Spot Company,
• GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards Presentations at Spring Fair,
• Pictures from all The Greatest Christmas Award winning centres: Barton Grange, Rosebourne, The Old Railway Line, Pughs, Gates, Longacres, Gouldings, Alton, Groves, Meadowcroft, Brimsmore and Poundbury, British Garden Centres, Pengelly, Blue Diamond, Klondyke, Gordale, Silverbirch, Woodlands, Little Dobbies, Azure, Stratford    , Chessington, Chacewater, Coolings, Sapcote, Wentworth, Perrywood, Garsons Titchfield, Keydell, The Grange, Tingley, St Peters, Garden King, Fron Goch, Ellerker Lodge, Chepstow, Birkacre, Bennybeg,
• Thank you to the judges and sponsors of The Greatest Christmas Awards 2022,
• Encouraging signs for Spring – HTA Column,
• Cash is king – GIMA Column.