The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has underlined its commitment to UK manufacturing and materials in the gardening sector with the successful launch at retail of products resulting from three new partnerships with award-winning companies. They are: Melcourt, with a licensed range of peat-free compost and mulch; Kelkay, with RHS-endorsed horticultural grit, gravel and sand; and Trimetals, with RHS-endorsed metal sheds and storage boxes.

Melcourt, the UK’s leading supplier of mulches, growing media, soil improvers, biofiltration media and more — all based on bark, wood and other natural materials — has brought to retail an RHS-licensed range of professional-quality garden products, supplied in distinctive packaging. The range includes peat-free composts, topsoil and lawn dressing, soil conditioners, premium-quality bark mulches, garden and landscape mulches and natural play surfaces.

An important driver of this agreement is that Melcourt products are 100 per cent peat-free at a time when environmentally aware gardeners and government are both supporting a reduction in the use of peat in UK horticulture. Melcourt has taken many years of research and trials to help formulate and demonstrate quality products that are also peat-free. Its peat-free products have won awards at the GLEE garden and outdoor living trades show and best buy nominations from Which? Gardening magazine.

Launched at GLEE held last September at the NEC, Birmingham, the range is now available at garden centres and retail nurseries across the UK and online through many Melcourt stockists.



Another award-winning RHS partner is Trimetals, which designs and manufactures — in the UK — the highest-specification metal garden storage buildings available. Perfect for the discerning gardener who requires a secure, lockable and robust solution to tool and equipment storage, the products are also completely maintenance-free and are manufactured from a special PVC-coated galvanised steel which is guaranteed against corrosion for 25 years. Trimetals products have met with considerable success abroad. The company has also won a Queen’s Award for Enterprise.

Trimetals RHS-endorsed products are available to view and purchase at more than 40 outlets nationwide, through most major DIY retailers and direct via the company’s own website.

Kelkay is a market leader and trusted brand in the manufacturing and distribution of aggregates, paving and fountains. Its RHS Gardeners Collection of grits and sands was launched at GLEE in September last year and came to market early in 2016.

Kelkay’s RHS Gardeners Collection is the only range of grits and sands endorsed by the Royal Horticulture Society. It can improve drainage and aeration, support aquatic planting and enhance rockery and alpine gardens. It can also be mixed with composts for seed planting. It picked up the first runner-up prize in the Best Landscaping & Construction category of the GLEE New Products Awards 2015. The RHS Gardeners Collection is sold in all garden centres and multiples.

Cathy Snow, RHS Licensing Manager, says: “These RHS licensees and endorsements clearly illustrate both the strength of British manufacturing and materials in the garden sector and the continuing appeal of an RHS partnership to a fast-growing number of the best-known players in this sector.”