With speculation mounting that a sale of Solus Garden & Leisure is imminent, the administrators acting on behalf of the company re-iterated the fact that they were hopeful of completing a sale. And Ross Yealland told GTN Xtra there could be an update on the matter next week.

Tony Barrell, joint administrator and director, PwC, said:“From the outset, we have been focussed on securing a sale and have received expressions of interest from a number of parties. 

“We have reviewed the offers received to date and are now in detailed conversations with several parties. We are making progress and remain hopeful of completing a sale." 

GTN Xtra has learned from a number of garden centres that Solus sales reps have been telling them that a sale of the business is imminent, and the potential buyer was a leading supplier in the garden industry.

Two weeks ago the administrators announced that the company's Rackheath depot in Norwich is to close next month and that 19 jobs could be affected.

Solus will continue to serve garden centres in the region, added the administrators, but this will now be done from the Midlands (Hunnington) in future.

Supremo, the new brand replacing Bellagio UK, is set to get off to a flying start at SOLEX, with the launch of new collections in some of its most popular outdoor furniture ranges.

Visitors to Stand 445 will be able to see the latest Ashbourne and Cannes products, as well as viewing firsthand the Eaton lounge dining range that has enjoyed a complete overhaul with a number of creative touches.

Other attractions will be the cutting edge designs and colours of Ferrara and Fresco, the Bari and Latina ranges and the new Andria and Anzio mesh products.

Julian Windsor, Managing Director, commented: “This is going to be one of the most exciting Solex shows for ages, with the launch of ‘Supremo’ and a whole host of new collections for us to showcase.

“We want to explain the essence behind the brand so that buyers understand what we are trying to achieve…inspirational products that create environments where you can enjoy ‘your time’ in style and comfort.”

He went on to add: “A champagne reception on July 7 will mark the official launch and we’re expecting many existing and new customers to join us.”

Supremo will be the umbrella brand for the company’s range of products and paves the way for the launch of a number of consumer facing brands under the strapline ‘the essence of style’.

Based out of its head office and distribution centre in Telford, it offers buyers over 60 different configurations of outdoor furniture including chairs, tables, hammocks, loungers, parasols and accessories.

For enquiries, please contact Julian Windsor on 01952 671100, visit www.supremouk.com, follow @supremouk on twitter and like us on Facebook.

Perrywood Garden Centre near Tiptree in Essex has decorated and planted up ten bikes which are displayed in-store ahead of the Tour de France coming to Essex.

In the car park are four bikes in the colours of the four jersey colours – riding up-hill with the yellow jersey in the lead. Our ‘potty’ cyclist is in pride of place at the entrance, and looks like he is ready to join the tour at any moment!

In-store customers are being encouraged to find the remaining five bikes - which include a seaside themed bike covered in shells and a Provence garden scene - to be in with a chance of winning a £20 Perrywood Gift Voucher.

Communications Manager Hannah Powell commented: “We are well known for our creative displays and the team has been very busy spray painting, planting and building. There is a lot of excitement about the Tour de France coming through Essex so we wanted to play our part.”

The bikes were sourced from Colchester-based charity Re-cycle in return for a donation. They ship donated bikes, tools and spare parts to Africa, where trusted partner organisations refurbish and distribute them. They have sent out more than 54,000 so far. www.re-cycle.org

Total volume sales for June, recorded by the GTN Bestsellers Epos data from garden centres, shows June 2014 down 16% on 2013, up 8% on 2012 and 17% up on 2011. Taking the average June sales volumes for the five previous years, it has been a just-below-par month.

After the great start we had to the year, that’s somewhat disappointing, but turnover may well have performed considerably better based on the high levels of outdoor furniture and BBQ sales that centres have reported when the GTN team visited them for The Greatest Awards.

“By displaying this corner casual dining suite in the gazebo, we’ve sold a high value gazebo as an add-on for nearly every sale,” Sue Bolam from Klondyke’s Houghton Hall Garden Centre told GTN Bestsellers.

Those centres who took the gamble and bought containers of outdoor furniture for this season are sitting pretty with more stock ready to meet demand, while others are shopping around to fill gaps.

It promises to be a good SOLEX at the NEC next week!

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

• Garden Products – up 7%
• Veg 2 Gro – down 26%
• Growing Media – down 19%
• All items index – down 7%

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

Suttons Chilli Fiesta plants are again the biggest winners in this week’s GTN Bestsellers Veg-2-Gro chart with nine entries...

• Chilli Fiesta Tobasco is the highest cliumber, jumping  41 places to No 7.
• Piri-Piri is the highest re-entry while Zimbabwe Black is the highest new entry.
• Other newcomers to the chart are Suttons Lettuce Wonderful and Thompson & Morgan Carrot Eskimo.
• Quantil French Dwarf Bean replaces Runner Bean at the top.

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

Suffolk seedsman Mr Fothergill's believes it is the only company in the world capable of filling two different types of seeds into a perforated twin pack of two discrete chambers - and it is putting its technology to good use for the 2014/15 season with the introduction of its Planting Companions range.

The company's production director Jeremy Sharp says: "The technical developments and investment made in the machine seed filling process now means Mr Fothergill’s can combine 80 per cent of its seed varieties in any twin combination. 

"We have been working towards this goal of giving customers one package of Planting Companions varieties, thereby adding value to the traditional seed packet, since we acquired the packing lines in 2012."

The launch is based on the success of its Value Twin Packs for the 2013-14 season.  Planting Companions Twin Packs is a mini-range which pairs eight species known to work naturally together to reduce pests when growing close to each other. 

With a distinctive logo and highlighted on-stand with new point-of-sale material, Mr Fothergill's believes Planting Companions will prove popular with those gardeners who prefer to combat pests by natural means.

The pairings are:

• Carrot and Spring Onion to deter aphids, carrot fly and onion fly.
• Lettuce and Chervil to protect from aphids and slugs.
• Cabbage and Thyme to repel cabbage white butterflies.
• Tomato and Marigold to combat whitefly and aphids.

For more information on how Mr Fothergill's range of innovative seed products, telephone 01638 554111, log on at www.mr-fothergills-trade.com or e-mail info@mr-fothergills.co.uk



Twin seed packing filling machine.

The Garden Trade News team will be at SOLEX to bring coverage of the event for special editions of the enewsletter SOLEX SUN. 

Organiser Phil Gibbs said that SOLEX SUN had become an integral part of the show, bringing everyone involved the industry up-to-date news, views and pictures.

“I was amazed by the effect that the SOLEX SUN had last year,” said Phil. “I had people ringing me up to ask if they could attend the show after reading the preview edition.”

As well as Sunday's live preview edition on the eve of the show, SOLEX SUN will be published again live from the show on Monday and Tuesday afternoons with a follow up edition after the show.

If you’re an exhibitor and would like to be featured in the SOLEX SUN then email words and pictures to neil.pope@tgcmc.co.uk

SOLEX SUN is a great opportunity to add to any awareness campaign and to promote offers for 2014 and 2015.  To advertise contact pat.flynn@tgcmc.co.uk or mandy.atkin@tgcmc.co.uk

The Greatest summer awards and evening garden party will take place in association with SOLEX at the National Motorcycle Museum on 7th July at 7.15pm.

Reward your team after a busy day at SOLEX and rub shoulders with The Greatest Garden Centre teams in the business.

Included in the ticket price is a pre-dinner drinks reception, a three course meal with wine, coffee and mints and the prestigious awards ceremony, followed by dancing to our live band.

Back by popular demand after their success at the Greatest Christmas Awards, The Rockits are the resident band from the Cavern Club in Liverpool.

Dress code is smart casual

Book early to avoid disappointment, call 01733 775700 or book on line using the Buy Now link below:

Tickets

1 Ticket £102.00 GBP2 Tickets £204.00 GBP3 Tickets £288.00 GBP4 Tickets £384.00 GBP5 Tickets £450.00 GBP6 Tickets £540.00 GBP7 Tickets £630.00 GBP8 Tickets £720.00 GBP9 Tickets £810.00 GBPTable of 10 £840.00 GBP

Sir Roy Strong, landscape designer, writer and ex-Director of the Victoria & Albert Museum, was the guest speaker during an open day at one of the UK’s leading commercial nurseries.

He attended Wyevale Nurseries in Hereford on July 2 to meet landscapers, amenities experts and plant buyers from garden centres that were invited to the event.

Adam Dunnett, Sales and Marketing Director at Wyevale Nurseries, explained: “We were delighted that Sir Roy was our guest speaker for our open day. He has had a varied career and his talk was very interesting. The event was a huge success and it was great to meet current and potential customers, and show them around some of our 600 acres.

“We pride ourselves on the high quality of our plants and the incredible range we offer. We thought the open day would be a great chance for people to come and see it for themselves.”

Sir Roy joined the National Portrait Gallery in 1959 and became its Director in 1967. In 1973 he became Director of the Victoria & Albert Museum, a post which he resigned in 1987 to pursue a freelance career in the media and as a writer and consultant.

He was knighted in 1983. Over the years he has written extensively on the country’s history and culture, as well as on garden design. His more recent books include The Laskett, The Story of a Garden, Coronation, A Little History of the English Country Church and Visions of England.

Adam added: “We hope people who attended found the day entertaining and inspirational. We started the open day with a tour of the nursery. People were able to see how we care for the broad range of products that we grow. There was also a hog roast lunch provided by a local butcher. We ended the day with a little fun in the form of an archery competition. 

“We would like to congratulate Peter Chmiel from Grant Associates on winning the archery competition. He was presented with a boot full of plants.”

Wyevale Nurseries is one of the largest family-run wholesale nurseries in the UK. It was established in 1928 by Harry Williamson, a horticulturist and entrepreneur. It became the company it is today under the leadership of his son, Peter, who sadly passed away in 2011.

The Williamsons’ saw the opportunity to sell their product to an undeveloped retail market, creating one of the first garden centres, followed by a chain. In 1987, the retail side needed to expand and the 19 garden centres were sold as a PLC. 

The family then turned its focus to Wyevale Nurseries Ltd. It continues to be a family-run business with ownership and joint chairmanship currently being held by the third generation, Heather and Simeon Williamson, with plans for the fourth generation to takeover in the future.

Wyevale Nurseries has a significant product range and is regularly introducing new plants. It offers a large variety of trees, shrubs, hedging, herbaceous and specimen plants to garden centres, landscape contractors, local authorities, foresters and landowners.

For further details about Wyevale Nurseries, which is based in Hereford, please call 01432 845 200 or visit www.wyevalenurseries.co.uk.

Heather Williamson and Simeon Williamson, joint chairmen of Wyevale Nurseries, welcoming customers to the open day with Louis the dog.

Peter Chmiel (left) from Grant Associates, winner of the archery competition with his boot full of plants, and Andrew Congera, Amenity Sales Manager at Wyevale Nurseries.

The Garden Centre Group is reporting an increase in revenues by £17 million to £276.2 million for the year ending December 29, 2013, while operating profits showed a decline of £6.1 million to £22.0m. The figures were issued today by Trellis Capital Limited, the holding company for TGCG, in its Annual Report and financial statements.

Stephen Murphy, Chairman of The Garden Centre Group, said: “I am pleased that 2013 was a year of successful progress and development for The Garden Centre Group.  We completed several acquisitions, which further strengthened our market position, continued our focus on strengthening the management team, and made major improvements, which led to the profitability of the business significantly improving.”

Meanwhile, Kevin Bradshaw, Chief Executive Officer of The Garden Centre Group, commented: “In my first full year as Chief Executive, I am delighted at the overall performance of the Group.

"Despite a year of challenging weather conditions for the industry, we delivered a positive increase in revenue while exceeding prior year performance on all profit and margin metrics.

"Our strategy brings a sharp focus on the most valuable opportunities to build and develop the business, and I am confident we will be able to grow significantly in the coming years.”

2013 Operational Highlights

-          Strengthening the executive team:  Appointments have been made throughout the year that have brought a wealth of skill and experience to the executive management team to drive the business forward and improve the value and quality of products and services offered to customers.

-          Growing concessions:  The Group introduced many new concessions partners including WHSmith, Laithwaites Wines, Viners, and Bonmarche reflecting our emphasis on ‘weather proofing’ the business and increasing footfall to the garden centres.

-          Introducing new sales channels:  The Group has introduced a ‘Click and Collect’ service, which allows for plants to be ordered online and collected in its stores. The Group plans to further expand the online offering.

-          Expanding through acquisitions: During the year the Group completed the acquisition of ten garden centres: Bolton Garden Centre was acquired from Barton Grange Group, Cheddar and Lechlade Garden Centres from Park Garden Centres, and the Garden and Leisure Group from Louis Delhaize Group.  These acquisitions further strengthen the market position of the Group and the Board is confident that these will deliver a strong return.

2013 Financial Highlights

-          Reported EBITDA: EBITDA, TGCG's key indicator for measuring performance, grew by 50% to £42.7 million, highlighting the focused effort management has made on strengthening margins and reviewing the cost base.

-          Revenue:  While overall it was a challenging year for the industry, as mixed weather patterns impacted footfall into our centres, revenue for the year increased by £17 million to £276.2 million on a pro forma basis.

-          Concession income:  The Group continued to focus on growing concession income and recorded an increase of 6.6% on 2012PF[1], rising to £14.4 million.

-          Gross margin:  Pricing initiatives, coupled with a more rigorous approach to executing key promotions served to increase gross margins by 3.7%, as did a strong focus on refining business mix and reducing the cost of goods sold via improving rigour behind tendering processes.

-          Operating profit:  The Group’s operating profit shows a decline of £6.1 million to £22.0m as result of exceptional items. In 2013, total net exceptional costs were £6.1 million, driven by restructuring expenses, costs related to strategic projects helping to establish the strategy of the Group, and acquisition related costs. Operating profit in 2012 was impacted by an exceptional gain of £16.8 million as a result of negative goodwill. With the exclusion of this gain, operating profit has increased in 2013 compared to 2012.

-          Cashflow:  The Group generated £37.8 million from operating activities, up by £29.2 million on 2012 actual reported numbers for the eight month period to December 2012. The increased operating cashflow was reinvested to improve the estate and expand the Group.

-          Net Assets:  The Group’s net assets grew from £18.4 million to £38.3 million, mainly driven by additional shareholder equity contributions, reflecting the strength of the Group’s financial backing.

[1] 2012 pro-forma results for the 12 month period ending 30 December 2012, including the four months of trading pre- the acquisition of The Garden Centre Group by Terra Firma.

The full report can be found at http://www.thegardencentregroup.co.uk.

The boss of The Garden Centre Group, which has bought a total of 11 centres in the past year, has revealed that the company will continue to grow at a similar rate over the next two or three years.

Kevin Bradshaw, who became CEO of TGCG in November 2012, told GTN: “It’s a fragmented industry, and as the market leader we’re still relatively small compared to the overal market. I can see significant growth from this point forwards.

“This isn’t about The Garden Centre Group driving growth at the expense of others. A lot of the investment we are putting into the business serves the purpose of growing the overall industry itself – that’s got to be good for our competitors and suppliers.”

TGCG is owned by Terra Firma and among its acquisitions in 2013 was the Garden & Leisure group of centres. 

“Terra Firma is a fabulous shareholder and has been very supportive of growing and improving the business,” said Kevin. “Although I can’t speak for their exit plans, I can say that Terra Firma’s interests and those of the management team are aligned and we have been working very hard together to transform this business.

“Our vision is to be the UK’s favourite, most inspiring destination for garden, home and leisure. We’ve got to inspire customers when they walk through the door.”

Meanwhile, Marketing Director Sarah Fuller admitted: “We’re looking at the branding of the company. We’ve got a portfolio of strong brands within the group and we’ve been looking at how we’re going to use them."

The full interview with Kevin Bradshaw can be found in the July issue of Garden Trade News.

My client is a small garden centre group based in the London area.

They are looking for an experienced garden centre manager to lead the team of a large destination style garden centre based in a scenic and historic part of London.

You will have site management experience previously and be ready to take on a challenging role in a very competitive environment.

There is an opportunity to grow with the business. 

info@morepeople.co.uk

My client is a large independent garden centre with an excellent reputation in the industry.

They are currently looking for a talented horticulturist with good retail experience to join their team.

You will be responsible for leading a team in the shrub area of the plantarea and will be responsible for maintaining quality of both the customer service and the plants.

The planteria supervisor must have excellent plant knowledge and would be able to potentially cover other areas outside of shrubs.

Please call Brad Peck on 01780 480530, or apply with your CV to info@morepeople.co.uk

As J & E Importers re-structure, an exciting new opportunity has arisen for an experienced National Account Manager to join the team. The role will involve working from Head Office, out in the field and from home as required in developing and implementing a sales strategy for a group of products marketed primarily for large volume resellers. 

The ideal candidate will have good working experience in a similar role and knowledge in the Home, Garden and Pet environment and seeking a new challenge within this expanding industry. 

The successful candidate needs to be hardworking, energetic, enthusiastic and committed for this exciting and rewarding position.

This role provides an excellent opportunity within a growing company offering a range of recognised products across multiple markets.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience: applicants should possess the following:-

An understanding and background within the Home, Garden & Pet industry would be considered advantageous, but not absolute for the right calibre person.

Excellent communication skills and a warm outgoing personality

The ability to excite, engage the customer and explore the full potential.

The knowledge and ability to be able to deal with container sales as well as palletised options

Strong influencing skills are required, as well as a diplomatic manner and a positive pro-active outlook.

To nurture and develop customer relations

To establish new accounts and to develop a clear strategy and action plan to grow sales and profitability within our existing portfolio of accounts as well as new.

Regular concise, clear and logical reporting on a regular basis is a pre-requisite for this position.

Must be able to produce/substantiate a proven track record of sales within a similar position/role

The package includes a Company car, laptop, mobile phone, 28 days holiday including bank holidays and staff product discount

Please email vince.green@greenjem.co.uk for further information or to forward your current CV

Our client is a well established young plant supplier who supply the professional growing market with a large variety of plants. They are currently seeing a driven sales orientated individual who has both superb plant knowledge and an aptitude for sales or a professional sales person who has sold into the growing sector.

The SUCCESSFUL Candidate will be responsible for:-

• Managing key grower account
• Developing new business and managing existing accounts
• Provide technical advice to customers
• Represent the company at trade shows and exhibitions

For this role our client is ideally seeking:-

• A proven background in territory sales to the grower sector or an outstanding individual from the growing or retail sectors who has the drive to become a top sales person
• Be a target driven individual who has the ability to hit sales target and achieve growth within their sector
• A strong relationship builder who has excellent customer skills and can ensure customer satisfaction   

Please call Dianne Saunders on 07929 013910 or apply with your CV to info@morepeople.co.uk

Solar lighting brand Cole & Bright is offering garden centre retailers all they need to make their solar lighting offer shine out – its Autumn Deal boasts 12 ShaRRPer Prices, with savings of up to £15.  

“Without compromising on the brand quality we have put together some excellent deals and offers on existing Cole & Bright lines, already known and loved by consumers,” explained Duncan Ross, Garden Centre Sales Director at Gardman. 

“Our purpose is to give our retail partners the tools they need to drive up the volume of sales in solar lighting at a key point in the season.  The prices are compelling, perfect for trading impulse purchasers up to a better quality product.”

Gardman invests heavily in consumer research and product development in order to deliver a range that appeals to consumers.  Each of the 12 products selected for Cole & Bright’s Autumn Deal is a category best seller.  

The Autumn Deal incudes a saving of £5 on each Solar Majestic Light, two Low Level Ice Orb Border Lights for just £15, a saving of £15 on 250 Solar LED String Lights and two Stainless Steel Solar Spotlights for £10.  

“We know that to really highlight garden features like ponds or to create an effect in a bed or border consumers often want two Spotlights or Ice Orbs,” said Sarah Downing, Gardman’s Marketing Director.  “Our research found that offering two for such a compelling price will really tempt consumers and so will drive up volume sales.” 

The Solar Majestic Light and the Low Level Ice Orbs have been star performers this year. 

The Solar Majestic elegant glass light has two super bright LEDs and its stunning light effect projected from the crown and glass dome adds interest and shadows to beds and borders. 

The Low Level Ice Orb, an adaptation of the best selling post light, is made from stainless steel and crackle glass. Its white and colour changing function ability create a distinctive light effect.

For more information visit www.coleandbright.co.uk

Notcutts is looking to appoint a new person to its plant buying team.

Mark Wootton, from Notcutts, said: "We are looking to invest in more buying expertise and horsepower in our plant buying team to support and work alongside Colin Dale, our Senior Buyer.

"We are thus recruiting for this new appointment and seeking someone from within the sector – either supplier or retailer – who can bring with them the energy and knowledge to take our most important department to a new level for Spring 2015.

"We have invested heavily in benching, visual merchandising as well as training for the garden centre team this spring with good success and need to move on again for next year as part of our strategic focus.

"This position would be Woodbridge-based although travel would be needed to our 18 garden centres as well as suppliers across the country."

Any interested people should contact Mark at woottonm@notcutts.co.uk along with a CV and package details as well as a covering letter outlining areas of expertise.

There’s plenty of evidence of gardening activity despite sales of garden products being 15% down on the previous week.

• Creative Products Power Shot Hose Nozzle is the highest new entry in the GTN Bestsellers Garden Products chart at No 15.
• There are two other newcomers this week, both from Gripsnipz with their Mini Cutting Tool in green and orange.
• Gardman have two new re-entries - the highest placed being the Low Level Ice Orb Border Light at No 14. Bamboo Canes 9cm, pack of three, also returns.
• Scotts Levington Tomorite (1-litre) retains top spot.

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

Murphy Multipurpose Compost (50 litres) is one of the strongest lines in the GTN Bestsellers Growing Media chart, seeing a doubling of sales on the previous week, and moving up to the third spot.

• Growise Multipurpose Compost (56 litres) also had a good sales week and jumps 20 places to No 21.
• Arthur Bowers has two re-entries with its John Innes No 2 the highest placed at No 43, closely followed by Blended Farmyard Manure.

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

Kelkay, the market-leading manufacturer and distributor of aggregates, paving, fountains and garden features, has appointed ARC Southern Ltd to manage its south east sales division.

Complementing the Kelkay sales force in the south east of England will be ARC Southern's Andy Roe, formerly sales director at Solus; Andy Campion, who has represented many major garden centre brands; and Gary Collins. Collins joined ARC Southern this year to support its growing portfolio of accounts, which also includes Smart Solar, Crest and Pet Face.

Speaking of the appointment, Richard Pyrah, sales director at Kelkay, said: "We're delighted to welcome the team at ARC Southern to the Kelkay sales operation in the south east. We now have strong representation across the whole of the UK and Ireland and we'll be strengthening further before Glee 2014. This will ensure customers everywhere will enjoy the service and support they deserve."

By promoting aggregates, paving and fountains with eye-catching PoS, merchandising units and display stands, garden retailers have seen sales grow in these categories.

Kelkay's portfolio of brands includes Gardenstone®, Borderstone®, Build Mate, easyfountain® and Henri® providing retailers with single source of supply for a wide range of garden products.

Kelkay and its extended sales team will be exhibiting on stands A10-C11 and F06-E07 at Glee 2014, the garden industry's leading trade show at the NEC, Birmingham, 14-16 September.

For more information, visit http://www.kelkay.co.uk/

Somerset based Durston Garden Products returns to Glee this year with its comprehensive range of composts and growing media, and is very excited about the new look exhibition which promises exhibitors a fresher and inspirational new feel to the show, improving visitor flow whilst attracting more customers to its stands.

“Glee is an absolute must for us,"says National Sales Manager, Ruth Green. “It’s one of those occasions where everyone in the business can get together under one roof, not only to  do business, but to also catch up and compare notes about how the markets are performing,  as well as seeing, what’s hot  and what’s not."

Durston Garden Products client list continues to grow year-on-year and its extensive range of compost and growing media is now available in a wide selection of independent Garden Centres and retail outlets nationwide. 

This year the company’s full range of products will be showcased on its newly allocated Stand, K02, which is the first stand on the left as you enter Hall 18, and is guaranteed not to disappoint.

Existing clients and any potential new business visitors wishing to arrange an appointment prior to the show can do so in advance by contacting Durstons on: 01458 442688 and asking for Chris Durston or Ruth Green. 

Alternatively, anyone wishing to call by the stand at the show will be made very welcome by the Durstons team, who will be delighted to talk them through the company’s complete and up-to-date portfolio of products.

Royal Horticultural Society Hampton Court Palace Flower Show (8-13 July) is celebrating the 50th anniversary of RHS Britain in Bloom and will show how the campaign has changed since 1964 when it was started as a way to market the UK through floral displays. 

At 400-square metres ‘Fifty Golden Years: A Celebration of RHS Britain in Bloom' is the central feature of the show, designed by Bloom judge and multi-RHS Chelsea Gold medal winner Jon Wheatley. It will feature traditional floral displays as well as more contemporary sustainable and edible planting. 

Jon said: "I want visitors to experience the journey Bloom has been on since it started and also take a glimpse at the next fifty years. The garden will feature plants that have been used by communities to brighten up our streets over the last half a century like begonias and geraniums. Whilst these plants are beautiful they tend to be high maintenance as well as having short flowering seasons. 

"On the other hand Bloom groups, with the encouragement of the RHS, have developed a more sustainable approach with the use of longer term planting that is equally stunning but requires less attention like agapanthus. There will be wildflowers, a feast for pollinators, and mouth-watering produce like beetroot highlighting how many of the 3,900 groups are becoming self-sufficient by growing their own. All in all the contrast between the two concepts of past and future is demonstrated along with a range of colourful plantings that I hope will provide a real WOW factor." 

One section of the garden will showcase planting for wildlife which includes a field of poppies and pollinator-friendly ‘Giraffe' sunflowers. Stood amongst them will be Gerald - a 12 foot giraffe, who has made his way over from a community in Exeter especially for the show. 

Bloom groups and schools across the South West of England contributed ideas to the garden as did communities in London, the South East and Scotland. This is a real testament to the community spirit which is so vital to Bloom. 

Jon Wheatley's garden is the third show feature at RHS shows celebrating the work of Bloom volunteers. There will be five themes of the garden aimed to demonstrate to visitors what can be gained from making the most of public green spaces. After the show, the garden will be going to a Bloom community. 

Community gardening is a theme that features prominently across the show* and plants and resources fromThe One Showgardenwill be going to Bloom groups in Bath in Bloom which has been part of the campaign since the very start in 1964. 

Anybody can set-up their own Bloom group or join their nearest one for free by visiting: www.rhs.org.uk/getinvolved 

William Sinclair said half year losses widened and revenues increased as it settled compensation for its ending of peat bog operations at Bolton Fell Moss, Cumbria at £21.25m

The company said loss before taxation widened to £3.7m for the six months ended March 31st 2014 from £1.88m a year earlier, while revenue rose £21.8m from £20.4m.

William Sinclair said trading conditions in the six months to March 2014 were challenging, as had been expected. This was made harder by the refinancing of the company which meant strategic plans were put on hold for four months.

Chief Executive Peter Rush said: "We are delighted with the £21.25m agreement to settle our claim at Bolton Fell. After four years of negotiations this is a significant step forward and our strong financial footing will enable us to accelerate the transition to become the UK’s most advanced manufacturer of horticulture products.

"While there are further milestones to be met the largest investments have been committed and good progress has been made with the more challenging work. Improvements to product quality and efficiency benefits are already being created."

No interim dividend payment will be made this year compared to a 1.5p payment in 2013.

Every week GTN receives and analyses epos data from a number of UK garden centres to produce the GTN Bestsellers charts and weekly bestsellers sales tips.

The full charts which provide useful insight into product sales peaks, new trends and new link sales opportunities are published in the weekly GTN Xtra printed newsletter.

As the year goes on we give sales volume comparisons with 2012 as well as 2013 to allow your teams to see variations over a three year period.

Access is by subscription only.  For £145.00 per year you and your team can have access to the most upto date gardening sales analysis that has already helped many UK garden centres increase their sales.  To subscribe call 01733 775700, e-mail karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or buy on-line using this link.

Highlights of the GTN Garden Products Bestsellers chart for this week are here

Highlights of the GTN Veg-2-Gro Products Bestsellers chart for this week are here

Highlights of the GTN Growing Media Bestsellers chart for this week are here

WARNING the GTN Bestsellers Charts seriously improve the business of our subscribers.  Invest 15 minutes each week in improving your sales using the GTN Bestsellers charts and your turnover and customer satisfaction will improve too.