Blue Diamond have reported profits before tax of £21.8m from a turnover of £332.4m in their 2024 Report and Accounts published today.

Managing Director Alan Roper leads on "The missing millions" in his report: "In summary, £12.5m of profit per annum has been wiped out by 3 years of government intervention on wage costs."

He goes on to say: "When one considers the profit erosion of businesses through government policy, as I have outlined in my report, it's not surprising that companies have hit troubled waters. However, that doesn't mean that the consumer has turned its back on garden centres as an industry, as the UK media have suggested, or indeed that a business needs to sink...

"..The garden centre industry remains one with a bright, strong future. Blue Diamond is well-positioned as the most profitable and largest garden centre group in the UK, and it continues to prosper and grow as more garden centre businesses become distressed or are sold for family reasons...

"...I wish to thank the now 5,000 employees who collectively make the difference and help build the company DNA that makes us the leading force in the industry."

Read the full Blue Diamond Report and Accounts for 2024 using this link

GTN May 2025 - Summer Showrooms Directory Issue. In this issue: David Robinson CEO of Dobbies Garden Centres – GTN Interview, Find your happy place at SOLEX 2025, It’s all about quality at Melcourt Industries, Keeping retail fresh at Glee 2025, Diary dates for inspiration from Sumer Shows, Glee’s Roadshow visits the West Country, GTN’s 2025 Summer Showroom Directory, Welcome to the Floralsilk showroom, Westland’s showroom is open, Smart Showroom visits on the increase, Spotlight on trees and shrubs – GTN Planteria, Is planning broken? – Paul Pleydell Viewpoint, Sunshine & Shows - HTA Viewpoint.

GTN May 2025 link

Blue Diamond's immersive garden display in the Pavillion at Chelsea Flower Show has been awards at Gold Medal plus the Tree of the Show Award and Taytors Bulbs have won their 32nd Gold Medal.

See GTN Xtra's photos from Press Day at Chelsea 2025 below with more stories to follow...

The specialist daffodil collection of Taylors Bulbs, based in Lincolnshire have worked their way through yet another nerve racking and tense build-up to put on a gold medal winning display of daffodil flowers at the Chelsea Flower Show. This Gold Medal is the company's 32nd at Chelsea Flower Show and their 30th consecutive Gold with the first being won in 1986.

The display of 38 varieties and over 1100 flowers covers 12 weeks of flowering and is the result of over 30,000 bulbs grown in controlled conditions every year especially for the show, featuring varieties which normally flower in the garden as early as January right through to early May.

Charlotte Daubney explains; “The bulbs are planted after Christmas and kept temperature controlled until they go into the greenhouse 4 weeks before Chelsea.  In the first week we see leaf growth develop and then flowers beginning to form within 10 days.  This year has presented it’s own challenges compared to other years with a heat wave soaring temperatures to over 32 degrees Celsius in the glasshouse 2 weeks prior to the show. Thankfully we could crop very early in the morning to avoid such huge temperature differences going into the coldstore and there were over 71 varieties and 6,000 stems for the display”

The flowers are cropped fully open and kept in cold store for up to 2 weeks before the show, they only have an average life span of a few days in the Grand Pavilion so the display is re-staged twice to keep the standard high until the end of show week.

Charlotte says “The weeks running up to the show are intense and exhausting for the team but like a well oiled machine, pull on everyone’s strengths and hope nature allows us to put on a grand display.  I’m particularly proud we are showing such a diverse range of varieties flowering at this time of year, it certainly amazes the visitors! You won’t see Daffodils from January to May in one day anywhere else! 

www.taylors-bulbs.com

Mike Burks, a Board Member of the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) and Managing Director of the Gardens Group, was the keynote speaker to a group of parliamentarians at a Westminster dinner to mark the start of Chelsea week, highlighting the important role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in helping the UK achieve its Net Zero targets and enhance nature.

The event, hosted by the Industry and Parliament Trust (IPT) on Monday 19 May, was titled 'Small Businesses, Big Impact: Unlocking the Potential of SMEs for Net Zero and Nature'. Chaired by Toby Perkins MP, the Chair of the Environmental Audit Select Committee, the dinner brought together MPs, industry leaders from various sectors, and HTA representatives to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing SMEs in contributing to national environmental goals.

Mike Burks leads The Gardens Group, a horticultural business recognised as an HTA sustainability reference site and a leading example of eco-friendly practices. Operating three sites across Dorset and Somerset, The Gardens Group has made significant investments in sustainability. This includes installing solar panels, air source heat pumps, and biomass generators to reduce reliance on grid energy, alongside harvesting rainwater to minimise mains water use. They actively manage waste, collecting cardboard from local businesses for recycling and reuse, and collectively reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills.

The Gardens Group is committed to measuring and reducing its carbon footprint, continuously exploring innovative ways to reduce waste, expand recycled water capacity, and limit its environmental impact. The business actively encourages customers to adopt more wildlife-friendly and environmentally friendly gardening approaches. Future plans include increasing rainwater harvesting at all sites, moving away from gas-powered heating and integrating sustainability more deeply into their buying policy. Mike's personal dedication to environmental work in the garden industry was recognised last year when he was awarded the prestigious Pearson Memorial Medal for his outstanding contributions and leadership in the sector.

Mike Burks commented: “I quite often hear people say that the scale of the environmental and sustainability challenge is so great that they don’t know where to start. But my belief is that no matter where we each start from, it’s important to take a first step so that collectively we can make a huge difference.

“Having the opportunity to take that message, the voice of horticulture, to the heart of Westminster and speak about how small businesses can support nature and the environment, was a privilege. The more parliamentarians and policymakers can understand environmental horticulture and the challenges, innovation, and importance of small businesses like mine, the better. I am looking forward to this being the start of conversations. As an HTA Board Member and proud champion of the horticulture industry, I hope more businesses will speak up and engage with MPS on the issues they face.”  

The event provided a platform for policymakers to hear directly from the sector on how environmental horticulture SMEs are already contributing to environmental targets and the support needed to accelerate this impact across the UK. The HTA is a committed supporter of the work of the IPT, an independent, non-lobbying and non-partisan charity, supported by parliamentarians from both Houses of Parliament and business, aimed at educating those involved.

This morning, the Environmental Horticulture Group (EHG) hosted a breakfast briefing for the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Gardening and Horticulture (APPGHG) on the official opening day of the prestigious RHS Chelsea Flower Show, welcoming a high-profile group of parliamentarians and leaders. This event presented a significant opportunity to discuss the importance of the UK's environmental horticulture and landscape sector, as well as the key challenges and opportunities relevant to policy considerations.

The meeting, facilitated by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), provided members from both Houses with the opportunity to hear from Clare Matterson OBE, Director General of the RHS, and Boyd Douglas-Davis, Chair of the EHG. The EHG partner organisations are the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), the RHS, the Arboricultural Association, and the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI).

During the meeting, there was a surprise presentation by HTA members Raymond Evison to Baroness Fookes of the Baroness Fookes Clematis. A captivating purple/blue bloom, it is in honour of her being one of the first people to be awarded the new Royal Horticultural Society award, the Elizabeth Medal of Honour, in 2023, presented by His Majesty King Charles III, for all the exceptional work she has done in supporting British Environmental Horticulture and Landscaping, and assisting with parliamentary debates in the House of Lords.

The HTA also includes the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL), celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Following the breakfast, attendees were taken to meet some of the association’s members involved in both supplying, planting, and designing gardens, as well as exhibiting in the marquee.

The recent EHG reports, ‘Mission Green Growth’ and its accompanying economic analysis with Oxford Economics, took centre stage, revealing that the environmental horticulture industry has the potential to make significant contributions to the UK economy. By 2030, it could support GDP contributions worth £51.2 billion and create 763,000 jobs, representing a 45% growth opportunity with adequate government support. This is a clear indication of the promising future of the sector. 

The EHG works closely with the government to secure greater support for the sector, including garden centres and their supply chains, public and private gardens, commercial growers and nurseries, arboriculture, and domestic and commercial landscaping.

Jennifer Pheasey, Director of Public Affairs at the HTA, commented: “The EHG calls for the UK government to adopt a collaborative strategy supporting green economic growth, workforce development, sustainable urban spaces, climate resilience, and healthcare integration, positioning horticulture as essential for a sustainable, healthy, and resilient future.

"Chelsea provides a valuable platform and setting to engage parliamentarians and highlight our sector's importance for the economy, the environment, health and wellbeing. The need for understanding and support for key issues discussed today will hopefully ensure a thriving future for our industry. Being able to introduce them to our members involved with the impressive displays provided a valuable opportunity for them to witness firsthand the innovation, diversity, and scale of the UK's horticulture and landscape businesses and engage directly with those driving the industry forward.”

Pictured: Boyd Douglas-Davies speaking at this morning's breakfast briefing.

SOLEX Exhibition 2025 is revving up with an exclusive F1-themed Afterparty & Awards Evening on Tuesday 8th July at The Vox, NEC Birmingham.

Coinciding with the British Grand Prix Weekend, enjoy a night of celebration, networking, and F1 excitement.

LIVE ON STAGE: Sky Sports F1’s David “Crofty” Croft with exclusive insights from the track!

Evening Highlights:

• Welcome drink & hot food buffet
• The SOLEX Awards
• High-energy F1 vibe with top brands & industry leaders

Secure your place by registering for SOLEX.

Fran Barnes, Chief Executive of the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), commented: “The HTA welcomes the announcement of a commitment to deliver an ambitious and comprehensive new UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement, inclusive of plants. 

"We have been at the forefront of explaining the vital need for this agreement. The current border regime has caused uncertainty and huge costs to our members’ businesses.  We are incredibly pleased that the government has made this significant first step to deal with the issues we have continually raised. Whilst we await the details, we anticipate that the agreement should remove the need for unnecessary certification and checks on plants and plant products, which will save the sector millions and cannot come soon enough.

“Environmental horticulture businesses across the UK – from growers and retailers to landscapers and suppliers – have borne the brunt of costly and complex border trade processes and bureaucracy since the UK left the EU. Many have lost business, and all have faced supply chain disruption and rising costs.

“Addressing these impacts and ensuring the needs of our members are prioritised in trade and border policy has long been a priority for us. Today’s statement reflects the influence of the HTA’s sustained efforts, and we are encouraged to see SPS alignment on the agenda.

“The Leaders’ Summit marks an important step towards rebuilding practical, collaborative trade arrangements. The key questions now are the details of the new arrangements and reassurances that plants are not the ‘exceptions’ indicated in the standard text, as well as how quickly they can be implemented.

“We are optimistic about what can be achieved and we will work proactively on behalf of our members to ensure our sector has a strong voice in shaping an outcome that safeguards biosecurity, restores business confidence, and supports long-term competitiveness.”

Grower Jonathan Whittemore, Johnsons Nurseries and chair of the HTA’s Ornamental Management Committee (OMC) commented:

“Many growers will welcome the prospect of the removal of friction and burdens associated with cross-border plant trade becoming a reality. Johnsons alone has been hit by the financial and time demands of border checks and certification, which have not boosted our top priority of biosecurity but increased risk, uncertainty and disruption. We are looking forward to the details of what any new SPS arrangement in our sector will mean. We are grateful for the ongoing work of the HTA, which has been the leading voice for horticulture in lobbying for this change.”

Retailer Neil Grant, Ferndale Garden Centre and chair of the HTA’s Retailer Committee commented:

“Garden centres and their customers have seen prices rise and choice reduced as a direct result of the trade barriers we now have with European suppliers. We know of many retailers who report that inspection delays have led to damaged, unsalable stock, as well as staffing issues around ever-shifting delivery times, all of which add costs to garden centres across the UK. Lifting trade barriers should boost our range of plants and products and how quickly we can get them. We are very positive on the HTA’s ongoing advice, guidance and advocacy on EU-UK trade. We are looking forward to seeing the outcome of this hard work benefit UK garden retailers and their customers.”

Landscaper Dave Strows, Artform Landscapes and chair of the Association of Professional Landscapers Committee, commented:

“Landscapers and designers who deliver gardens and green spaces have experienced delays, damaged goods, and increased costs as a result of trade barriers for the plants and materials they need. Any step that reduces the risks and costs cannot come soon enough, and means we can deliver even better gardens for our clients. Many APL members have been sharing their experiences and challenges with the HTA, who have lobbied hard for an SPS agreement; this is a huge achievement for the HTA and APL.”

Hillmount Garden Centre’s Robin Mercer has welcomed the new agri-food deal with the EU, which will mean the reversal of a ban on some British-grown plants being sold in Northern Ireland.

Some common varieties have been prohibited since 2021 under the terms of Northern Ireland's original Brexit deal. Under the new deal the UK as a whole will realign with EU plant health rules, meaning the ban can be dropped.

Robin Mercer told the BBC that the deal was "long overdue" as the current arrangements had driven up costs.

"In the past before Brexit we were bringing in trolley loads of roses every week, now we're having to source them from different places and there isn't the same selection," he said.

"There's a lot of suppliers in England that won't work with us now because it's too much hassle, too much paperwork."

Downtown Garden Centre, Grantham, has one of the largest displays of garden machinery, lawnmowers, BBQs, furniture, and garden accessories in the East Midlands – plus a vast range of plants. Part of the family-owned Oldrid & Co. Ltd., the business is celebrating 25 years of the garden centre and over 200 years of retail history.

Originally founded as a department store in Boston, Downtown now operates two department stores and the garden centre across Grantham and Boston, Lincolnshire. The company is led by Managing Director Peter Isaac and Chairperson Dawn Isaac.

How Garden Machinery Became a Key Growth Driver for Downtown

While plants and outdoor living dominate garden retail - £1.4 billion spent on plants annually (Gov.uk) and furniture/BBQ sales up 54% since 2020 (GCA) - garden machinery is a high-value, high-margin category that drives profitable sales. It not only boosts average basket value but also encourages wider in-store spending, making it a strategic category for growth. Machinery accounts for an estimated 15 - 25% of garden retail sales, with 1.45 million lawnmowers sold last year (AEA). With an early, dry spring in 2025, the category is starting strong.

At Downtown Garden Centre, Buyer Keith Wiblin has overseen the machinery department since 2006, building a long-standing partnership with Handy. This collaboration has driven consistent growth, including a 10% sales increase in 2024 and what Keith describes as “a fantastic start to the season” in 2025.

Founded in 1938, Handy is one of the UK’s largest independent garden machinery manufacturers and distributors, known for its own brands Webb Garden Power, The Handy, and as the UK distributor for Greenworks. With expert support, over 70,000 spare parts in stock, and a shared focus on customer service, Handy and Downtown are growing together - enabling it to build a team driven by high performance and family values, very much in line with those of Downtown.

Getting Supplier Choice Right

At Downtown, choosing the right supplier means finding the perfect mix of quality products and dependable support. That’s why Handy is a key partner, with their garden machinery brands Webb and Webb Eco leading the way.

“The Webb range delivers strong value at the right price,” says Keith. “Our customers are drawn to the classic dark green design – it feels British, familiar, and built to last. And with cordless growing fast, Webb Eco is really taking off. The 43cm cordless lawnmower sold out, and we already have back orders lined up. We now offer cordless options across every range.”

The partnership works beyond the products. “Handy is easy to deal with - quick to respond and genuinely supportive. It’s a relationship that just works.”

Bricks & mortar matter

While the shift to online retail continues, Downtown sees its physical store as a crucial part of its success in garden machinery. “We’ve built a strong online presence, but garden machinery is still a tactile purchase,” explains Keith. “Customers might start their research online, but when it comes to something like a lawnmower, they want to see it in person - feel the build quality, compare sizes, and get advice from someone face to face.”

Downtown is positioned to meet this need. “We are a bit different to other garden centres in that we have our department store across the road with many items that other garden stores have diversified into.  Our core remains firmly rooted in gardening. And because our store is so large, we’re the biggest garden machinery showroom in the region. 

This blend of digital convenience and in-store expertise reflects the way today’s customers shop - researching online, but valuing the confidence that comes from seeing and trying before they buy.

Garden Machinery Doesn’t Have to Be Scary 

For many garden centres, garden machinery can feel like one of the most daunting categories - technical, warranty, seasonal, and full of potential headaches. These concerns can be easily addressed by building a range to suit the Garden Centre's capabilities, knowledge and confidence, such as replacing petrol machinery with cordless.  But with the right supplier partnership and a clear in-store strategy, it becomes a category of real commercial value and customer loyalty. 

“Garden centre buyers can’t be experts in every department,” says Mark Moseley, Director at Handy. “That’s where we step in - helping retailers create the right mix of products, backed by clear signage, impactful POS displays, and regular training.”

At Downtown, Keith works closely with Handy to build a well-balanced range - from trusted petrol mowers in the Webb range to the fast-growing Webb Eco cordless lineup. But he knows success goes beyond stock. “It’s about presentation, training, and giving staff the tools and confidence to support the customer.”

Appoint a product champion

Assign one team member to take ownership of the machinery section. This person becomes the go-to expert and can pass on knowledge to others  - keeps displays clean, engaging, and well-stocked, while confidently answering customer questions and demonstrating product use where needed. Handy supports this with regular site visits and training.

Delivering a positive customer experience

“There are two smart ways to lay out garden machinery,” says Mark. “Either by category -  all hedge trimmers together, all mowers together - so customers can compare brands specifications and price points at a glance. Or by brand - which allows for more immersive, fully funded POS that elevates the in-store experience. Both approaches help customers feel more in control of their purchase.”

Seasonal features drive engagement 

Use themed displays to create inspiration and cross-sell. “A ‘Revive Your Lawn’ zone might include a scarifier, moss killer, lawn feed, watering gear and a wheelbarrow,” says Mark. “It not only helps the customer visualise the job but boosts average basket size.”

Confidence is key - for customers and staff

 Downtown enhances Handy’s displays with custom price tickets showing nine key product specs. “They act like silent salespeople,” says Keith. “They make it easier for both staff and shoppers to understand the difference between models.”

And what about warranty concerns? 

Keith is clear: “Machinery can make retailers nervous, especially around warranties. But it doesn’t need to. If there’s ever an issue, Handy organised a nearby garden machinery dealer to look at any issue - as long as it meets the warranty criteria. That level of backup gives us real confidence in the category.”

The result? 

A garden machinery offer that sells, supports, and strengthens customer trust. “With the right layout, the right training, and the right supplier behind you,” says Keith, “garden machinery becomes a category you can lead - not fear.”

Making Garden Machinery Sales Easy

At its best, a supplier–retailer partnership should feel effortless and profitable. “Downtown has the advantage of space, which allows them to deliver a compelling in-store offer that generates substantial revenue,” says Mark Moseley, Director at Handy. “But you don’t need a huge footprint to make garden machinery work.”

Even smaller garden centres can tap into this high-margin category with the right approach. “If you can allocate just a few metres of wall space and room for four to six pallets - or even just a 1–2 metre wall bay - you can create a credible, high-performing machinery display,” Mark explains. “Work with a single supplier who understands the category, provides expert advice, branded point of sale, and staff training, and you are  set up to succeed.”

Whether you’re a destination store or a compact local garden centre, a smartly merchandised machinery section can deliver strong returns - with the right support behind it.

Ready to grow your garden machinery sales?
Visit www.handys.co.uk to find out more.
To learn more about Downtown, visit www.downtownstores.co.uk

The Patio Black Spot Removal Company Ltd has become famous, over the past fifteen years, for formulating products to cope with garden stonework cleaning issues.

During that period, the Patio Black Spot Removal Company have exhibited at around 130 garden shows, the length and breadth of the UK, including Ireland.

Patio Black Spot Remover and ancillary products have become house names. A trusted Brand, synonymous with the restoration of Garden stonework

At many of the Shows, one question that gardeners kept asking was,” have we a solution to remove rust from garden stonework?”

More specifically, the question invariably was, “how do you remove those orange spots from Garden Stonework?”

The Orange Spots are caused by overspill from lawn fertiliser which contains ferrous sulphate, which kills moss.

When wet, these leave orange rust spots that cannot be removed.

In addition, many gardeners have rust staining caused by fire pits, cast iron pots an planters, BBQ utensils, and so on.

Whether the stone be York stone or Indian Sandstone, Limestone or composite stone, or, more recently, Porcelain, the orange stains, caused by the run off of iron oxide, are both unsightly and virtually impossible to remove.

Until now!

The difficulty in removing rust from stone is that most commercial rust removers contain hydrochloric, phosphoric or other mineral acids. 

This is fine to remove rust from metal, but they must not be used on stone.

Hydrochloric acid will literally dissolve limestone, and stains Yorkstone, and Indian Sandstone, orange as it reactivates the iron in the stone.

The solution was not straight forward.

Our Product development is based on Green Chemistry, a field focused on designing chemical products and processes that minimize hazardous substances and environmental impact across the entire life cycle of a chemical.

It aims to make chemistry more sustainable, by promoting safer alternatives an efficient resource utilisation.

However, after almost four years of Research and Development, we created GO FERROUS.

Go ferrous is made from recycled green- leaf vegetables; those that have gone beyond the stage where they can be sold.

Go Ferrous is therefore fully sustainable, one of the reasons it got to be one of ten Finalists at RHS Chelsea in 2023, selected by a panel of three judges, headed by Deborah Meaden.

Garden stonework is expensive; small stains can ruin your investment.

Rust staining on garden stonework, is caused by metal oxidising (Rusting) and running off onto garden stonework.

This can be caused by old garden pots, overspill from lawn fertiliser, which contains ferrous sulphate, or, currently Corten steel panels, the new fashionable garden panel.

Go Ferrous is applied to the surface of the stonework, ensuring that the product is ‘puddling’ on the surface over the stain.

When GO FERROUS is in contact with rust staining, a chemical reaction known as a double -displacement reaction occurs. This changes the rust (a.k.a. iron oxide) into iron oxalate. Since iron oxalate is a water-soluble salt, it dissolves in water and easily rinses away, using hot water of a light pressure wash.

Over a period of between 30 minutes and two hours, the product changes the oxide back into a salt, dissolving the stain and allowing it to be removed with hot water, or a light pressure wash.

Go Ferrous is both is both biodegradable and harmless to surrounding plants, whereas acid-based products will change the soil pH, which has an adverse effect on surrounding plants. 

There are only two other similar products, both of which contain sodium mercaptoacitate and benzisothiazolinone and are acutely toxic, and  directly harmful to the environment.

Go Ferrous has the advantage of being able to be used from 3 Degrees Celsius, with no upper temperature limit. 

NB It should not be applied in full sun or when the surface of the stone is hot, as, once dried out, it will cease to work.

The ultimate aim of all the Products that we produce, is to allow old garden stonework to be completely restored, meaning that it will not only save the public money, but, equally important, it will reduce the need to through away garden stonework, at the same time, reducing the use of landfill sites as a dumping ground for old stonework ,  

This saves the public money and helps save the environment.

More Restoration, Less perspiration. 

Go Ferrous is sold through Garden centres all over the Country or delivered through well know networks such as Parcel Force or DPD

Can be used on any stone surface, without damaging or altering the appearance.

Allows existing stone to be restored without damage to surrounding plants.

GO FERROUS – A MUST for RUST!

The Horticultural Trades Association, representing the UK's £38 billion horticulture industry, is making a final, urgent appeal for a UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement to be negotiated that explicitly includes plant health. This crucial call comes just days before a key UK-EU Leaders' Summit in London on Monday, 19 May and at the start of the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show week. The HTA met with Minister Zeichner and DEFRA officials this week to discuss ambitions and opportunities for such an agreement.

For months and years, the HTA has consistently led calls for the UK and EU to negotiate a comprehensive SPS agreement that specifically includes provisions for plant health. The HTA continues to highlight the significant strain on its members caused by the disruption of cross-border plant trade since the UK's departure from the EU, leading to substantial costs, reduced consumer choice, and hardship for businesses navigating complex new processes in already challenging economic times.

The HTA has been at the forefront of advocating for immediate trade easements, providing essential advice and guidance to members facing border challenges, collaborating closely with EU sister associations, and consistently championing the vital need for an SPS agreement that encompasses not just veterinary matters but specifically plant health.

Commenting on the critical timing and the clear opportunity, Fran Barnes, Chief Executive of the HTA, said:

“With the EU and UK leaders’ Summit here in London on Monday 19 May, at the start of Chelsea Flower Show week, there could not be a better time to make the HTA’s calls for an SPS agreement a reality and to stop border friction, reduce costs and boost competitiveness for UK horticulture. Growers, retailers, landscapers and suppliers would welcome the certainty and confidence this could bring.

"This would benefit not just us but also our European colleagues, and we welcome the calls we have seen this week from Union Fleur and the European Nurserystock Association, calling for a reset in relations that boosts the trade in plants and flowers. Let us spend time blooming, not bogged down in bureaucracy.”

An effective SPS agreement including plant health would streamline processes, reduce inspection burdens, and lower costs associated with importing and exporting plants and related products between the UK and the EU, providing a significant boost to the entire horticultural supply chain on both sides.

The HTA urges leaders at the upcoming Summit to recognise the immense cultural and economic value of the horticulture sector and seize this timely opportunity to initiate negotiations on a plant-inclusive SPS agreement.

UK garden centres experienced a significant surge in activity and sales in April, driven by exceptionally warm and dry spring weather, which created strong consumer demand as people returned to their gardens. The latest data from the Horticultural Trades Association May Market Update and Q1 2025 Business Barometer reveals a robust start to the year for the environmental horticulture sector as a whole.

Following an already buoyant March, April delivered exceptional performance, with total garden centre sales soaring by +22% in value compared to April 2024, and up +12% on April 2023. Core gardening categories such as bedding plants, plant care products and gardening tools, as well as garden furniture and barbecues, were the primary drivers of this growth, with gardening category sales overall showing remarkable increases of +32% in value and +27% in volume year-on-year. The percentage hike is particularly large due to the exceptionally wet weather impacting sales in April 2024. This month’s uplift was also supported by higher average transaction values per visit in the garden store, which rose by +12% (reaching £32.26 excl. VAT). Year-to-date overall sales for garden centres are up +15% compared to both 2024 and 2023.

The positive trend is further supported by the HTA’s Q1 2025 Business Barometer, which covers the period up to the end of March, capturing sentiment and performance across all HTA and Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) members, including retailers, growers, landscapers, and manufacturers. Across the membership, businesses reported being an average of +3.9% ahead of their sales budgets for Q1, with 68% meeting or exceeding profit targets by the end of March. Short-term business confidence (looking ahead 3 months) has reached its highest level since summer 2021. However, this optimism comes with caution, as the strong sales performance is crucial to claw back some of the significant cost pressures members are now facing with April employment cost rises, and positive numbers need to be sustained over a more extended period to be considered a trend.

Fran Barnes, Chief Executive of the HTA, commented:

“April was an encouraging month for our sector, clearly demonstrating the impact of favourable weather on consumer behaviour and sales. Building on the momentum from March, the combination of record sunshine and calm conditions brought customers out in large numbers, directly translating into impressive performance, particularly in core gardening areas. Customers were clearly spending more per visit, with average transaction values notably higher than this time last year, indicating strong engagement and larger basket sizes. For many businesses, this positive start is providing a crucial springboard for the year ahead.

“Our Q1 Barometer across the entire industry also shows members ahead of budget on average. Short-term business confidence is currently at a nearly four-year high, reflecting the strong trading conditions experienced in the early part of the year. While this robust performance is hugely welcome and indicates underlying sector health, caution remains in the longer term. We are mindful of ongoing cost pressures, economic uncertainty, and the growing risk of drought if dry weather patterns persist, especially given the significantly lower rainfall levels seen in April compared to last year. Consumer confidence also saw a notable dip, reflecting broader cautious financial outlooks.

“This is a pivotal time for UK horticulture. As we look forward to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, just days away, and with the sun shining, this is all set in the context of increased costs and ongoing border chaos. The HTA continue to highlight the sector's vital contribution to policymakers and the public. Our industry is not only essential for greening our environment – it’s also driving local jobs, economic growth, delivering green infrastructure and supporting the UK’s climate ambitions.”

Looking closer at the April Market Update data, top-performing gardening categories included BBQs (+70%), bedding plants (+47%), garden tools (+32%), and furniture (+27%). Other strong performers, such as hardy plants, shrubs, and trees (+26%), plant care products (+28%), and outdoor containers (+24%), highlight the demand in core gardening categories. Non-gardening categories also saw steady growth, with food and farm shop sales up by +21%, gifting by +12%, and indoor living by +8%. National rainfall was just 40.4mm in April, less than half of the April 2024 levels (111.4mm), raising concerns about summer water restrictions. Consumer confidence fell by 4 points in April to -23, with outlooks on the general economy particularly cautious at -37.

Insights from the Q1 Business Barometer reveal variations within the sector. Retailers without catering facilities significantly outperformed those with catering, showing an average sales growth of +10.6 % compared to budget, versus +7.3% for catering retailers. This is largely owing to the strong gardening sales in March 2025. Although catering continues to perform well on its own, gardening categories outpaced catering’s growth, and garden centre catering also typically has increased overhead costs, further reflecting the difference in margins.

However, APL members (landscapers) averaged slightly behind budget at -2.5% for sales and -2.9% for net profit. Long-term business confidence (looking ahead 12 months) remains cautious across the sector, reaching its lowest level since records began in Q1 2015 for landscapers. Key concerns reported by businesses included rising operating costs, uncertainty in customer demand, changes to employment law, consumer spending power on big-ticket projects, and the impact of Autumn Budget 2024 policy changes coming into force.

HTA members can access further insights in this month’s Market Update and Q1 Business Barometer on our website.

Evergreen Garden Care has assured stockists that the company is actively managing stock levels during the current garden season boom.

Colin Stephens, MD of Evergreen Garden Care UK said: “Appetite for gardening across the UK is exceptional right now and we’ve seen sales surge across every major category. Over the past eight weeks alone, EPOS data shows compost sales up over 30% year-on-year, and plant food demand jumping by a staggering 45%. Ecomm retailers are seeing a 50% week-on-week spike in garden care sales of our products in the last week. 

“The industry is seeing a major uplift which is amazing to see, and while demand is high, stock levels are tight – with some retailers now holding less than two weeks’ worth of supply compared to several months of stock this time last year. 

“At Evergreen, our teams are working around the clock across all sites to ensure we have plenty of stock available across all the product ranges. With favourable weather patterns continuing and a growing interest in gardening, we expect this momentum to carry right through the season. It’s going to be a great year for gardening indeed.”

“Miracle-Gro has launched a brand new garden campaign this year centred on how Miracle-Gro ‘Brings Gardens to Life’ – not just by growing beautiful grass, blooms and produce, but also by encouraging the nation to get outside and benefit from the wonderful uplift of wellbeing from being in the garden – whether gardening, playing or relaxing. And it's clear that this is exactly what is happening up and down the country.”

This is a trend reflected across the industry with various market summaries reporting: 

• UK Garden Centre sales (ex. catering) were up by +22% in value in April 2025 compared to April 2024, and up +12% compared to April 2023, signalling a strong start to the core gardening season, according to the HTA report (May 2025) 
• All key gardening categories showed strong year-on-year growth. Bedding plants, plant care products, and garden tools were all up around +40% vs March 2024, with garden features and structures climbing +44%. (HTA report - April 2025) 
• GFK data for the garden care market (Oct–April) shows volume growth of over +14% year-on-year, with Peat Free compost up 28% and plant food up 30% (May2025) 
• Nielsen’s grocery data reveals similar momentum. Garden care sales in grocery are up +16% year-on-year, with compost up +23%, plant food up +13%, patio cleaner sales soaring +50%, and weed control up +18%. (May 2025)

Burgon & Ball is helping to grow young people’s love of gardening as Tool Partner to a UK school gardening tour spearheaded by Lee Connelly, also known as the Skinny Jean Gardener.

As Tool Partner for the 2025 UK School Gardening Tour, Burgon & Ball is supplying a range of tools and equipment from its RHS-endorsed Growing Gardeners range. The tools will be used during Lee’s in-school gardening sessions and can then be used by the schools to continue to get more children growing.

This year Lee will visit 15 schools in person and additionally will support a further 15 schools through engaging educational content. The aim is to reach a huge 10,000 young gardeners in just one week!

The UK’s leading children’s gardening educator, Lee is also the official ambassador for National Children’s Gardening Week 2025. This annual event takes place at the end of May – the perfect time for getting youngsters outside and learning about gardening.

Lee Connelly says: “I’m really proud to be working with Burgon & Ball on this year’s School Gardening Tour. Their tools are not only trusted by gardeners of all ages, but they help make gardening accessible, fun, and practical for children across the UK. Together, we’re inspiring the next generation to get growing!”

Rainer Schubert, MD at Burgon & Ball, explains: ‘We’re passionate about getting families engaged and having fun with gardening. Early successes can spark a love for gardening which lasts a lifetime. We’re delighted to be able to work with Lee on the School Gardening Tour to bring gardening to life for these young people using our Growing Gardeners range.”

Developed in association with the Royal Horticultural Society, Burgon & Ball’s Growing Gardeners tools and accessories have been designed for families who want to enjoy gardening together, but who might not be sure where to start. Supported by an online resource packed with projects and advice from the trusted experts at the RHS, Growing Gardeners aims to make family gardening easy and fun.

For further information on the Growing Gardeners family gardening range, visit www.burgonandball.com.

A strong contingent of British companies is set to take to the international stage when the world’s biggest garden and barbeque trade fair opens its doors from Tuesday 24 June to Thursday 26 June in Cologne.

The fair attracts 1800 exhibitors and 28 000 visitors from around the globe, with product sectors which include garden living, garden creation & care, garden bbq and garden unique.

The British group will be spread across several halls including halls 6, 7, 9 and 10. Products from the UK group will also be showcased in the Boulevard of Trends & Ideas, which offers visitors a compact view of the latest trends in the industry, in line with the main theme for the fair this year, Design Gardens.

Products on show within the British group include hand-crafted traditional garden tools, pots and planters, fire pits and heaters, ready-made garden borders, garden gifts, garden maintenance products and bicycle storage solutions.

“It’s very exciting to bring groups of British companies to spoga+gafa each year as the show draws a truly international audience. We have secured excellent locations for our exhibitors and we are looking forward to hearing about the contacts our group make at the show. We welcome distributors, retailers, members and potential members to come and see us on our stand to find out more about how we can help them to increase business,” said Eleanor Wigram, Research Manager for Gardenex.    

Gardenex will have a preview detailing all of the UK group exhibitors available on the stand for visitors to pick up, along with the printed edition of the newly published annual Gardenex Directory, a multi-lingual guide to member companies.

The British group includes:

Berry & Bird

Hall 6 A043

A beautifully hand-crafted range of traditional garden hand tools, from digging and cultivating tools, to potting and planting tools, covering every gardeners’ need. 

All products in the range have been hand designed with the consumer in mind, using the finest stainless-steel heads and ash handles, giving a feel of luxury. 

Berry & Bird tools are traditional in length, and adaptable to give the user the ultimate experience whilst making the gardening task straight forward. From patented handle design, to unique head creation, from spades to forks, hoes to rakes, trowels to planters, Berry & bird is the complete tool solution.

Creekwood Garden & Gift

Hall 10 F020

Premium lightweight garden pots and planters including glazed and terracotta finishes. Each pot is frost proof and made from 100% recycled plastic. All product ranges can be supplied with merchandising support display stands.

Eco Fuego

Hall 7 E030

Eco Fuego offers elegantly designed, environmentally friendly fire pits for warmth and convenience. Headquartered west of London, Eco Fuego has provided direct distribution to national retailers since 2021 and has established strong partnerships across Canada, Australia, South America, and parts of Europe. They are actively seeking distribution partners and retail groups to sell their innovative fire pit brand.

The award-winning fire pits, fuelled by a single specially designed wax candle, offer a solution for garden, DIY, and outdoor adventure stores. The wax technology reduces CO2 output and minimises smoke and odour, providing up to 8 hours of 650 degrees of heat. The refills light easily and can be extinguished and reused without cleaning. With a range of sizes and styles, Eco Fuego has a fire pit to suit almost any outdoor area.

Firestorm Heaters

Hall 10 G012

Warm up your evening with the unique Firestorm Heater, eco-friendly Patio Heaters.

Simply load the Firestorm with wood pellets and light, the flame will reach the full height of the 1.5m high tube in just 15 minutes and provide over an hour of enticing flames. By simply adding more pellets to the heater once lit you can extend the burn time as required. The Firestorm Heaters are easy to light and self-extinguish once your evening draws to a close.

Firestorm Heaters include 5kg of wood pellets to get you started, as well as a cleaning kit to keep maintained.

Garden on a Roll

Hall 10 G021

Garden on a Roll provides ready-made garden borders including a life-sized biodegradable paper plan including all the relevant plants to match the designed roll.

The company is working with Woodblocx to demonstrate their borders in a 3m x 1m timber raised bed at the show.

This will display plants on their positions on the roll, showing the stages of planting through the paper.

Gardenex

Hall 10 G021

Gardenex offers a warm welcome to international buyers who wish to discover more about the UK market, offering advice on how to source new, innovative British products. The association also organises ‘Meet the Supplier’ events through the year for international buyers, who are invited to the UK for pre-selected meetings.

Gardenex also works with Glee, the UK’s leading garden and outdoor living show, hosting the International Buyers’ Centre. International buyers are invited to find out more about our facilitated meetings programme at the event, which matches buyers with pre-selected UK suppliers.

For suppliers, Gardenex helps UK companies to export, through a range of member benefits including support at key trade shows, Meet the Buyer events, technical export support, research and market reports.

Home 2 Garden

Hall 10 G021a

Home to Garden is one of the UK's leading innovative garden gift exporters, working with major retailers and mail-order companies around the world. 

Home to Garden, specialise in a wide range of garden gift items, including:

solar lights, water features, wind spinners, faux ornaments, garden tools  and many more

The company designs all their products in England and manufacture locally when possible. Home to Garden has established products offices in China, Vietnam and Eastern Europe.

“We hope to gain an opportunity to complement customer product lines with our mesmerising designs while ensuring exclusivity in the market.”

Red Gorilla®

Hall 9 A011

Red Gorilla® has an extensive range of quality garden maintenance equipment such as Gorilla Tubs® (formerly Tubtrugs®) the original flexible tubs, Tidees™, rakes, brooms and more… 

From the Tidee™ range the Garden Companion Set is a practical tool, a must-have for clearing leaves, dirt and debris with ease. Perfect for effortlessly grabbing items from the floor without ever having to bend down. All products are available in different sizes and multiple colours. 

Retailers value the efficient supply chain, European manufacturing, branded retail value, point of sale, and marketing support. 

Trimetals Ltd

Hall 6 A033

Introducing the new Bicycle Store XL – an additional 40cm wider than the standard model, providing even more space for all types of bikes, including larger e-bikes. 

Trimetals is renowned for top-quality bicycle storage solutions, trusted by cyclists across the world. With its durable PVC-coated panels, robust security features, and their signature open-and-over door design, this new model offers easy access and secure protection for your bikes. Built to withstand harsh weather, it’s maintenance-free and designed to last. Perfect for families and cycling enthusiasts needing extra space.

With an early, record-breaking spring bringing unusually warm and dry weather, garden centres have seen a significant surge in consumer activity. According to recent HTA data, April reported a 32% year-on-year increase in gardening sales by value, coupled with a 27% increase in volume. This significant uplift has placed high demand on garden centres, and retailers are facing the challenge of maintaining stock levels during this critical peak season. The Westland Live ordering platform has been expertly designed to help buyers keep pace with the unprecedented demand with exceptionally fast stock replenishment and convenient ordering. 

Meeting Customer Demand When It Matters Most 

Westland Live enables garden centres to place orders instantly and receive deliveries with industry-leading speed. It provides real time stock updates and order history, as well as detailed product information and imagery. The self-serve website also ensures customers have a live view of their order, from the moment it is placed right through to fulfilment.  

Order Anywhere, Anytime 

The platform offers unparalleled accessibility with 24/7 availability, 365 days a year. Orders can be placed directly from the shop floor from a smart phone or tablet, and stock is allocated immediately, allowing buyers to act swiftly matching replenishment without delays or unnecessary processes.  

The Fastest Route from Order to Delivery 

Speed is at the heart of the Westland Live experience: 

• Instant orders, no matter the time or day of the week 
• Accelerated delivery timelines and stock allocation to keep shelves full during peak demand 
• Ability to create repeat order lists to save time  
• Mobile-optimised interface for on-the-go ordering 
• Real-time stock updates and order tracking 
• Streamlined process designed specifically for busy retail environments 

Graeme Evans, UK Supply Chain Director, at Westland Horticulture, commented: “As garden centres continue to experience high footfall, our commitment to rapid service delivery through Westland Live ensures retailers can maximise sales opportunities throughout the season. Our platform puts the ordering power directly in retailers' hands, allowing them to respond to stock requirements instantaneously and with full confidence their stock needs have been allocated immediately.”

“Furthermore, Westland Live operates as a non-transactional platform, with all invoicing and financial matters handled separately through our dedicated accounts department. This architecture means no financially sensitive data is stored within the system, providing retailers with complete peace of mind regarding data security – a crucial consideration in today's retail environment.”  

Supporting Retailers  

The Westland Live platform offers more than stock control, it is also an educational hub that provides expert knowledge, ensuring staff gain a deep understanding of Westland products, and how to provide advice to consumers to achieve the best results. It is also an asset to marketing teams with a variety of downloadable digital assets to support website content, social media, POS and eCRM campaigns.   

If you don’t yet have a trade account with Westland Live, call +44 (0)28 8772 1080 to have your account set up, or speak to your account manger.

Hillier Nurseries and Garden Centres, one of the leading names in the UK horticultural industry, has announced its new partnership with The King’s Foundation, the charity established by King Charles III in 1990 dedicated to building sustainable communities and transforming lives. 

United by a shared commitment, this partnership will promote environmental sustainability, community enrichment, and educational initiatives, reflecting the Hillier dedication to making a lasting impact within the horticulture and retail industries. 

As part of the collaboration, Hillier will contribute its expertise to support The King’s Foundation’s community engagement and education initiatives at Highgrove Gardens, including supporting local schoolchildren to develop gardening skills, providing talks and workshops at Highgrove for the local community, and assisting with sustainability projects designed to inspire and engage communities. 

George Hillier, Chairman of Hillier commented, “We are delighted to be working with The King’s Foundation to combine our horticultural heritage with their inspiring vision for building sustainable communities. This partnership is more than just a short-term collaboration – it's a long-term investment in sustainability and education. By combining our knowledge with The King’s Foundation’s impactful programmes, we hope to make a lasting difference to many communities.” 

The announcement coincides with The King’s Foundation celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2025, a significant milestone in its mission to transform communities and improve lives through education, heritage preservation and environmental stewardship. 

Constantine Innemée, Highgrove Director for The King’s Foundation said, “As we celebrate our 35th anniversary this year, we are thrilled to be working with Hillier to further our mission to protect nature and promote sustainability and introduce Hillier customers to our beautiful heritage sites across the UK.” 

For more information about the partnership, visit Hillier.co.uk or Kings-Foundation.org.

The inaugural RECOUP Summit, sponsored by WRAP and Ecosurety, held on the 30 April in Leeds, was a resounding success. It reconfirmed the need for more innovation and collaboration with industry and government support to ensure we deliver on the promise of a plastic circular economy.

Focused on developments in technology that will help to drive improvements in the plastics recycling and resource efficiency value chain, the event hosted attendees from across the plastics value chain with an exciting line up of speakers based across focused breakout rooms in the morning and a collaborative session in the afternoon.

The morning kicked off with a focused session on advanced recycling technologies, where speakers including Geoff Brighty from Mura Technology,  Emmeline Aves of ReVentas, and Sam Pine from Greyparrot, shared tangible examples of innovation transforming the sector and facilitating the circular economy. Hearing about a variety of available solutions including low carbon dissolution recycling, scalable chemical recycling approaches and AI-based waste intelligence tools the message was clear: technology is available now – but its deployment depends on supportive infrastructure, policy alignment, and commercial investment.

Another breakout session zeroed in on food contact packaging, exploring how innovation is enhancing recycled content in high end applications. Speakers for this session included Jeremy Blake from Amcor, David Bargery from Regis Machinery, and Paul Marshall from Nextek, who highlighted the industry’s regulatory, legislative, and cost hurdles. The session honed in on solutions for producing food grade recycled polypropylene (PP), the removal of contaminants from recycled materials and solutions for converting films back into food-grade material.. This session made it clear that with the right technologies and collaborative effort, we can break down existing barriers taking higher levels of food contact recycled content from aspiration to reality.

In the final breakout session, the conversation turned to the role of data in the circular economy  – its power, its gaps, and its role in delivering a true circular economy. Sophie Walker from Dsposal, Rachel Warren from Re-universe, and Will Addy from Polytag, came together to highlight the need for good data, stressing how upcoming legislation and new targets require data from the sector to benchmark delivery and progress. It was very apparent throughout the session that inefficient data gathering systems and inaccurate data can hamper progress, however, with effective and accurate data we can make better and more informed choices that play a huge role in delivering a circular economy for plastics and packaging materials.

The day culminated in a dynamic collaborative session led by Robbie Staniforth (Ecosurety), where panellists including Liz Wildman (MARS), Steve Walsh (TOMRA), James Donaldson (Sortology), Angela Doyle (Robinson Packaging), and Paul Mayhew (MBA Polymers). The panel tackled some of the sector’s thorniest issues: infrastructure gaps, technical limitations, greenwashing, and the reality of consumer engagement. The panel called for smarter packaging design, investment into system resilience, and the need to make recycled plastics commercially viable. However, it was also noted that real progress requires more than individual action, reinforcing the importance of joined-up action across industry, government, and innovators, backed by clear policy signals, targeted funding, and infrastructure investment. If we come together to bridge gaps and technical challenges across industry we can allow the plastic circular economy to flourish.    

The RECOUP Summit underscored the critical need for aligned innovation, policy, and investment to drive meaningful progress in plastics recycling and the circular economy. By bringing together voices from across the value chain, the event not only highlighted current challenges but also showcased tangible solutions already shaping the future. As collaboration deepens between stakeholders, and with continued support from government and industry alike, we move closer to realising a truly circular and sustainable system for plastics.

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Yorkshire Garden Centres group has appointed Emma Bristow as its full-time finance director.

In her new role, Mrs Bristow will lead the finance team to support the continued growth of the business.  An early priority is to accelerate the use of technology within the finance function to improve the efficiency of all the finance processes. 

Mrs Bristow joins the Yorkshire Garden Centres team from the leisure industry where she has spent the last 12 years working with high growth SMEs. She is looking forward to the opportunities her new role presents: "I'm excited to join a local business in a great sector with so much potential for growth and development. It was important to me to find a role within a company that showed a real passion for its people, with strong values that aligned with my own."

"We are delighted to welcome Emma with the creation of this full time finance director role in our business. Emma will work alongside Charlie Barker, who retains overall financial control across the wider group of companies. Our business has grown quickly over the last three years, and we need to ensure that our systems and processes are truly fit for purpose and fit for the future. Emma has a wealth of experience and a great track record in managing these challenges. We are really looking forward to working with her." said Yorkshire Garden Centres' MD, Mark Farnsworth.

Outside work, Mrs Bristow enjoys spending time with friends and family, fitness, travelling and eating out.

Netflix and Shondaland have unveiled the Bridgerton Garden at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - a permanent, accessible green space that hopes to bring a moment of peace and reflection to NHS patients, staff and the surrounding community.

Designed by Holly Johnston for Netflix and Shondaland to celebrate the release of Bridgerton Season 3, the garden made its debut at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2024, where it won a Silver medal. Now, with its permanent relocation to the surrounding wards at Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH), which includes The Rosie Hospital and Addenbrooke’s, the garden has been carefully reimagined as a lasting gift to the hospital and local community.

Rajiv Nathwani, VP of Marketing UK at Netflix said:  “To see the Bridgerton Garden in its permanent location at Cambridge University Hospitals is a full-circle moment for us. It’s incredibly rewarding to know that the garden will offer a sanctuary to staff, patients and local residents. This garden is more than just a physical space; it stands as a testament to the power of storytelling to inspire connection.”

Nearly every element of the original garden, from its signature moongate and period water feature, to the hand carved stone sculpture and symbolic planting, has been sustainably repurposed, with Johnston again at the helm.

Holly Johnston, Garden Designer said: “It’s an enormous privilege to relocate the Bridgerton Garden to Cambridge University Hospitals and know that this space will have such a positive impact on people's healing. This garden was designed to tell a story of personal growth and now, as it finds its permanent home, it’s hoped that this space will continue to play a part in the diverse stories of patients, visitors and staff, offering moments of calm and connection during both joyful and challenging times.”

The design has been adapted to be fully accessible by eliminating level changes, introducing a secondary access point and widening the garden path to accommodate wheelchair users and for easy maintenance as a public space. Johnston has refined the plant selection to include lower maintenance shrubs, ornamental grasses, and long-season perennials, specifically chosen for their hardiness in a high-traffic environment.

The official opening was marked by a special ribbon-cutting ceremony led by designer Holly Johnston, and Ian Walker, Director of Corporate Affairs at Cambridge University Hospitals, and will be commemorated by a plaque at a later date. Guests were welcomed with a performance from internationally renowned orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, who brought the world of Bridgerton to life with a selection of music from the series.

Lorraine Szeremeta, Chief Nurse at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, added: “Outdoor space is so important for aiding recovery and improving mental health and wellbeing, so we are absolutely delighted to have such a beautiful environment within the heart of the hospital grounds. The Bridgerton Garden will act as a permanent, therapeutic place for our patients, families, staff and the whole hospital community to retreat to and enjoy.” 

The ongoing care of the garden will be led by Stephen Chandler, the CUH Grounds & Gardens Supervisor, who has worked closely with Holly since its initial planting in March. There are plans for community involvement, such as an annual spring bulb display, ensuring the garden evolves with the care of local volunteers.

Garden centres and nurseries across the UK are set to inspire the next generation of young gardeners during National Children’s Gardening Week, running from 24 May to 1 June 2025. This half-term, families are invited to head outdoors andGrow with Peter Rabbit as part of a fun-filled week of gardening-themed activities.

Building on the success of previous years, National Children’s Gardening Week is once again teaming up with The World of Peter Rabbit™ to bring the joy of gardening to children of all ages. Not only will there be free digital Grow with Peter Rabbit activity booklets packed full of mischievous and fun activities available to download, but a range of events will also take place across the UK to encourage children to explore the wonder of gardening.

Events include Swarkestone Nursery in Derby hosting a free bee hunt, Jealotts Hill Community Landshare in Bracknell hosting a spring into summer fete, Plantsplus Garden Centre in Newcastle upon Tyne holding a children’s gardening club - Budding Botanists, and Kershaws Garden Centre in West Yorkshire will host Paint a Pot and free seed planting.

You can see these and more events listed at www.childrensgardeningweek.co.uk/gardening-events

To get involved, visit the webpage where you will find everything you need to celebrate National Children’s Gardening Week with Peter Rabbit! www.childrensgardeningweek.co.uk

National Children’s Gardening Week will help support member garden centres with ideas and inspiration, and supply easy-to-use social media content.  There is an opportunity for HTA members to register their events on the website to encourage more visitors.

Follow the hashtags on social media:

#NCGW #ChildrensGardeningWeek #GardeningIsFun #GrowwithPeterRabbit

Facebook @nationalchildrensgardeningweek @officialpeterrabbit

Instagram @officialpeterrabbit

More than 1.4 million visitors from all over the world enjoyed the colourful spring garden between March 20 and May 11. Visitors rated Keukenhof with an impressive 8.7 – a wonderful compliment for a vibrant experience. 

Most visitors came from the Netherlands (20%), but flower enthusiasts from Germany, the United States, France, and the United Kingdom also found their way to Lisse. In total, Keukenhof welcomed guests from over 100 different countries. Notably, a large proportion of the visitors, over 15%, fell within the 25 to 34 age group.

Thanks to the use of arrival time slots, Keukenhof is able to manage visitor numbers effectively. A notable improvement this year was the consistent use of parking lot P2, which was previously only used during peak times. The new entrance contributed to a smooth and welcoming arrival experience.

20% of visitors arrived by bus. Public transport operator Qbuzz brought visitors to the park from locations including Schiphol, Leiden, Amsterdam RAI, and Haarlem. Keukenhof encourages the use of public transport and therefore offers combination tickets that include both park admission and a bus journey. A new addition this year was the direct hop-on-hop-off connection from The Hague and Rotterdam – an important step toward improved reachability. As a result, more visitors are choosing to travel by bus. In the coming years, Keukenhof will continue to invest in making it more attractive to leave the car at home.

Keukenhof employs 45 permanent staff year-round. During the open season, the team expands to around 1,100, all working together to create a memorable experience for every visitor.

Sandra Bechtholt, Managing Director of Keukenhof: “It’s fantastic to see how many people from all over the world come together to enjoy the flowers here. We’ve had a wonderful spring and are grateful for all the positive feedback. It gives us great motivation to make 2026 another blooming success!”

Keukenhof will be open in 2026 from March 19 until May 10.

The Commercial Horticultural Association (CHA) has confirmed the final line-up of British suppliers who will be taking part in GreenTech Amsterdam this year.

The UK exhibitors are set to meet global growers and breeders, who attend to learn more about how to grow and optimise production in vegetable, floriculture, glass and open field horticulture.

GreenTech is a leading international horticulture technology event, where industry professionals from across the world come to connect, network and share knowledge. In 2024, the event attracted 12,200 visitors to see over 500 exhibitors from 119 countries.

Emma Brazier, Event Manager for the CHA said “GreenTech Amsterdam promises to be an exciting event where the latest in horticultural technology and innovations will be showcased. With its focus on sustainability, technological advancements, and new solutions, the event is an essential platform for professionals looking to stay at the forefront of the horticultural industry.”

Mariska Dreschler, Director Horticulture - GreenTech Global commented on the 2024 event: “The horticulture industry is experiencing a mix of challenges and opportunities. The booths of our 510 exhibitors showcased a wealth of machinery, robots, drones, and more. At GreenTech we are very proud to be the worldwide platform where everything comes together and new insights are born."

The UK companies exhibiting at GreenTech include:

Concert Bio

Hall 1 Stand 611

T: +44 (0) 20 7864 7018

E: james@concert.bio

W: www.concert.bio

Concert Bio will be exhibiting our first microbial bio stimulant product, Overture™. Overture™ has been designed specifically for greenhouse plants and has been validated extensively on lettuce, tomatoes and peppers. Lettuce growers reported an average yield improvement of +9.9% in 2024. The company will also be exhibiting their microbiome monitoring service and the technologies used, enabling growers to understand what is happening in their microbiome.

Delta-T Devices

Hall 1 Stand 610

T: +44 (0) 1638 742 922

E: sales@delta-t.co.uk

W: www.delta-t.co.uk

The WET150 - a game changing digital sensor from Delta-T Devices

The company’s latest digital sensor, the SDI-12 enabled WET150, measures soil moisture, temperature, and pore water EC - and is the product of over 40 years’ in-house development expertise and collaboration with the National Physical Laboratory (NPL).

Through a series of design innovations, it delivers a true research-grade level of quality at a price point not previously thought possible.

These technical breakthroughs mean that growers can now integrate a consistently accurate, reliable (5-year warranty), and rugged sensor into their irrigation control systems at lower cost.

For more information on the event visit: https://www.greentech.nl/amsterdam

John Ravenscroft, the founder of Bridgemere Garden World, joined Blue Diamond MD Alan Roper at the opening of the Chelsea Flower Show Award winning Octavia Hill garden that has become the 16th show garden at Blue Diamonds Bridgemere Garden Centre.

On Friday 9^th May, Alan Roper the Managing Director of Blue Diamond, officially unveiled the newest addition to Bridgemere Show Gardens, ‘The Octavia Hill Garden by Blue Diamond Garden Centres’.

The Garden celebrates Octavia Hill, the pioneering co-founder of the National Trust, who believed green spaces and gardens were vital in everyone’ life. It features 3,600 native and non-native plants working together for biodiversity and beauty with bold, pollinator-attracting planting throughout the garden.

Over 400 visitors joined the team from Blue Diamond throughout the day to celebrate the unveiling, along with special guests including John Ravenscroft, the original owner and founder of Bridgemere Show Gardens, BBC Gardeners’ World presenter, Adam Frost, Clare Armstrong, a cousin of Octavia Hill, children from the local Bridgemere Church of England Primary School, along with members of the press and radio. Visitors were also entertained with live music from the Jake Leg Jug Band, and interactive entertainers.

The Garden had originally been showcased last May at RHS Chelsea Flower Show where it was awarded the augural Children’s Choice Award, People’s Choice Award and a Silver-Gilt medal.

It has then been lovingly, but painstakingly removed and rebuilt over several months, to its now permanent home, at Bridgemere Show Gardens, in Nantwich, Cheshire. Leaf Creative carried out the construction work and then the gardeners from Bridgemere, led by Samanatha Farr, completed the enormous task of planting up the garden.

Longevity of Octavia’s legacy and sustainability are at the heart of the Garden and as such the planting scheme replicates, so far as it is able, the planting scheme at Chelsea. Most of the plants in the garden are those that featured in the original Chelsea Garden, having been carefully looked after by Blue Diamond owned, Bridgemere Nurseries, with only a handful having to be replaced where they had not survived the move.

All the key features in the Garden are those seen at Chelsea except for the metal work birdbath which unfortunately was stolen a few months ago!

The new Garden is the 16^th garden to join those already at Bridgemere, (9 of which are RHS award-winning).

Alan Roper, Managing Director of Blue Diamond Garden Centres said: “ Having visited Bridgemere Show Gardens over the years, both during John Ravenscroft’s time and thereafter when the Gardens went into decline during their ownership under Wyevale Garden Centres, when the opportunity to buy Bridgemere Garden Centre and the Show Gardens came about, I jumped at the chance! Although the Show Gardens make no commercial sense, as they cost much more to maintain than the income they generate, these gardens are a piece of history, and I wanted to not only honour that, but also to add to that history with the addition of new show gardens”.

Jill Kerr, Group Relationship Manager for Blue Diamond Garden Centres added: “I have been incredibly lucky to have been involved in this Garden from its conception. The idea to build a show garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, based upon the life and ethos of Octavia Hill was first voiced by our Managing Director, Alan Roper, at the very first meeting I attended and I was then involved in managing the project on behalf of Blue Diamond, both through to it being showcased at Chelsea and thereafter being rebuilt at its permanent home at Bridgemere Show Gardens. Standing in the Garden at Bridgemere on Friday, I felt quite emotional. The Garden feels to me, like it did at Chelsea; its heart and soul having followed it to its now permanent home.

“We had a tremendous turnout on Friday to celebrate the Garden’s official unveiling, and we would like to thank all who attended and all those involved in the rebuild of this Garden."

Celebrations continued at Bridgemere on the 10^{th of} May, with a visit from best-selling author Joanne Harris who hosted a talk about her new novel “Vianne”, the prequel to Chocolat which was made into an Oscar nominated film in 2000, featuring Jonny Depp.

This talk was the first of Joanne’s book tour which takes place throughout May and Blue Diamond were delighted to secure advance copies of Joanne’s new book, ‘Vianne’ (officially launched the week of 19^th May), which many who attended the talk, eagerly purchased.

Blue Diamond Garden Centres will launch a new and exclusive rose for Joanne at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show to coincide with the launch of ‘Vianne’.

Rosa ‘Vianne’s Chocolat’ bred by Rosen Tantau is a nostalgic style, Hybrid Tea rose which produces deep purple, highly fragrant blooms that repeat flower throughout the season, with a bushy upright growth.

Joanne has synaesthesia that allows her to smell colours and her new rose smells, to Joanne, aptly of chocolate!

See GTN Xtra's photo's from the opening, the show gardens and a tour of Bridgemere Garden Centre below

Belvoir Castle's unique retail village sits at the foot of the impressive Regency Castle in Leicestershire and the site, once the Engine Yard to the Castle, has been sympathetically restored from charming 19th century estate buildings to a centre of excellence for local food, drink and artisan shopping.

We have a ground floor retail unit available which would be very suitable for a garden centre due to the 1,345 sq ft of indoor space which includes a glasshouse and an outdoor courtyard.

At Belvoir Castle we have a passion for perfection in everything we do, promoting the countryside, championing artisan crafts, and fostering a self-care and wellness culture. We are looking for an experienced garden centre operator to complement our Bistro, Farm Shop, Gift Shops and independent artisan crafts shops. The Belvoir Retail Village shops also benefit from an ongoing year-round events programme to drive our footfall.

Belvoir Castle is a popular tourist destination in the beautiful Vale of Belvoir in the heart of the Leicestershire countryside, attracting an array of high-end corporate and private clients.

Rent: E30,OOO PA +VAT and service charge

Service charge is an additional 20% of the base net rent before VAT plus landlord building insurance.

For all enquiries please contact info@belvoircastle.com or call 01234 5678.

Dobbies Garden Centre in Cadnam has relaunched as part of a nationwide store refurbishment programme which is underway. This is the second in Dobbies’ extensive programme of investment across the store estate.

At Dobbies Cadnam, the team has worked closely with new and existing suppliers to increase its plants and gardening ranges while also introducing brand new products across home, gift and spa. Thanks to the success of Regatta, the fashion offering has been extended and Klass Clothing has been added.

Space for 64 additional customers has been created in a new seating area for the restaurant, with indoor and outdoor seating, as well as there being a new seasonal menu now available. This is all in a new store layout with a brand-new entrance.

General Manager, Dean Mumford, said: “We’re really proud of our refurbished store and can’t wait for customers to see the work that’s been done. We have many loyal customers who have visited us every week for years, as well as new customers who are discovering Dobbies – they’ve all been front and centre of our plans. A big thanks to everyone who has supported us on this project.”

The Cadnam refurbishment closely follows on from Brighton, which was the first store involved in the programme. Early indications from the improvements at Brighton are positive, with an increase in footfall and NPS over the spring period to-date.

The refurbishment plans, developed in collaboration with the store teams, are focused on delivering the best possible customer experience for each store. The plans include improving the fabric of the stores, freeing up space for larger and new ranges and making it easier for customers to shop.

David Robinson, CEO of Dobbies, said: “We’re making really good progress with our refurbishment programme and it’s great to share the news that our second store is now complete. This is not a ‘one size fits all’ approach, and through using our data and insights we’re tailoring each store improvement plan to deliver a better store experience for our customers.”

See gallery of pictures from the store opening below:

Castle Gardens in Sherborne and Brimsmore Gardens in Yeovil, which are both part of The Gardens Group, have become the first garden centres in the country to stock a brand new peat free compost called Wonderfuel.

Designed to help gardeners of all ages and abilities grow more sustainably, Wonderfuel has been created by Treasure Gardening, a purpose-driven social enterprise, in partnership with Durstons in Somerset.

Wonderfuel, a nutrient rich alternative to traditional compost, is a blend of green compost, coir, a by-product from the coconut industry, wood fibre from furniture cut offs, and composted bark from the forestry industry. It has been rigorously developed over eight years and comes in two formulations - Stage 1 for seeds, cuttings, young plants, and houseplants, and Stage 2 for pots, baskets, containers, and garden plants.

Mike Burks, managing director of The Gardens Group, explains: “The launch of Wonderfuel is another great example of how gardening is a force for good when it comes to people and planet. We are proud to be the first garden centre to stock this exciting new product and we look forward to helping our customers introduce it to their growing. Growing with peat free compost can pose new challenges, but we have lots of helpful tips and advice, including our free Peat Free Guide, which can be downloaded from our website.”

Wonderfuel Stage 1 and Stage 2 are available at Brimsmore Gardens in Yeovil and Castle Gardens in Sherborne, as well as online atwww.thegardensgroup.co.uk.

After 10 years in the role Dame Mary Berry is stepping down as the President of the National Garden Scheme. She is handing the baton to Alan Titchmarsh, one of Britain’s best-loved gardeners, writers and television presenters. 

Commenting Dame Mary Berry said: “It has been a privilege to serve as President of the National Garden Scheme, and I have enjoyed every minute of it. My husband Paul and I opened our own garden in support of the charity for more than 20 years, so I was very familiar with the charity’s extraordinary offering of enjoyment for visitors and charitable impact. During the ten years of my presidency that impact has expanded massively thanks to the efforts of so many people.

At the same time the charity has championed the remarkable benefits of gardens and gardening to everyone’s health and wellbeing. I am delighted to be handing the baton to my dear friend Alan who I admire with great affection, a proper hands on gardener who will bring warmth and enthusiasm to the role and I am thrilled that the Trustees have kindly asked me to stay involved as President Emeritus.”

Speaking about his appointment, Alan Titchmarsh said: “I am thrilled to have been invited to become President of the National Garden Scheme and honoured to be stepping into the elegant shoes of my dear friend, the peerless Dame Mary Berry. In my opinion there is nothing quite like the National Garden Scheme, either in the world of gardens and horticulture or beyond. Not only does it offer visitors thoroughly affordable enjoyment and education – and at the same time championing the varied gardening skills of the British nation; it also raises and distributes quite extraordinary sums of money. More than £4 million raised and £3.5 million distributed in 2024 alone. Bravo! It has been doing this for nigh on one hundred years and that I will be the charity’s President when it celebrates its centenary in 2027 is something for which I am immensely grateful and to which I will give my all.”  

New Chief Executive

Taking the charity towards its centenary year, Alan will be joined this autumn by a new Chief Executive, Dr Richard Claxton. 

Richard has worked as a GP for 25 years and throughout his career has used time spent in his garden to unwind and manage his own stress, and to maintain his mental and physical wellbeing. He has also been a longstanding advocate of nature-based therapies for his patients, and in 2023 launched an NHS Therapy Garden in Tonbridge.

Convinced that the health of both individuals and society is enhanced by gardening and connecting with the natural world, Richard founded the charity Gardening4health, which operates as both a network for those providing therapeutic horticulture, and as a hub for conferences, education and sharing of best practice.   

As well as his GP work, Richard has written for Gardens Illustrated and Hortus Journal, worked in Garden Design - specialising in gardens for healthcare settings - and been a volunteer guide at Sissinghurst Castle Garden, and a Trustee of Greenfingers Charity, which funds and builds gardens for Children's Hospices. 

Commenting on his appointment Richard said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be appointed as the new Chief Executive of the National Garden Scheme. As a charity it’s the perfect fit for me: combining beautiful gardens and the wonderful generosity of their owners opening their private sanctuaries for us all to enjoy. As garden visitors, we join in with this generosity and together we all make a huge and valuable contribution to a range of brilliant causes across the country, with supporting nurses and improving healthcare at the forefront. The National Garden Scheme is a champion of the impact that gardens and gardening can have directly on people’s health, which is a cause very close to my heart.

“It's a huge challenge and one I am looking forward to. I’m all too aware of the shoes I have to fill; for fifteen years George Plumptre has led the charity from strength to strength, raising its profile and the level of its donations to new heights – and maintaining its impact in spite of garden closures in the pandemic. I look forward to building on this incredible foundation. The National Garden Scheme’s work underpins the vital links between gardens, generosity, health, and community – all of which we need now more than ever. I couldn’t be prouder to contribute to this amazing charity.”

National Garden Scheme Chairman, Rupert Tyler adds: “Filling these two vital roles at the National Garden Scheme was always going to be a huge challenge, but we couldn’t be more delighted to welcome Alan Titchmarsh and Richard Claxton. The Board of Trustees looks forward to them continuing to strengthen and build on the legacy established by their predecessors and, together with our fabulous garden owners, volunteers and staff, taking the charity confidently into its next 100 years.” 

GTN April 2025. In this issue: The war for talent – More People on how to secure the best candidates, Backing the brand – RHS Licensed products maximise sales, Country Forge – RHS-endorsed from Tildenet, Bramblecrest blossoms with the RHS, Stars come out for Blue Diamond, Plan ahead for spoga+gafa 2025, New beginnings for centres part 2, Best foot forward for Greenfingers – Garden Re-Leaf Day 2025, Floral farewell – GTN interview’s Stuart Lowen, Bedding and seasonal bonanza - GTN Planteria, Addressing misconceptions about SOLEX – LOFA Viewpoint, Boosting business development - HTA Viewpoint, Sunshine, sales and supply – GIMA Viewpoint.