Dobbies Garden Centres is delighted to announce the appointment of David Robinson as Chief Executive Officer. David joins the business from Pets at Home where he was Chief Operating Officer, playing a key role in the business’ success story over the last four years. David has previously worked at Home Retail Group as Chief Operating Officer, at Argos leading its digital transformation, and as part of the Homebase Executive team, responsible for its commercial operations.

David replaces Graeme Jenkins who has decided to pursue other opportunities having been with the business for seven years, both as CFO and CEO. David officially starts today and will be in hand-over with Graeme over the course of this week.

The former Chief Executive of Dobbies, Graeme Jenkins said: “After seven transformative years, I am delighted that David has taken over the reins as CEO.  I am confident he will take the business through its next stage of growth and I wish him and the team the very best for the future."

The Board of Dobbies said: “We are pleased to welcome David to Dobbies. With his retail experience and focus on customers and colleagues, he will be a fantastic asset to the business as we continue our growth.

We would like to thank Graeme for his invaluable work, leading the business through its transformation into the UK’s number 1 garden centre operator more than doubling its size, its replatforming and navigating the challenges of the Covid period.

Chief Executive Officer of Dobbies, David Robinson said: “I am thrilled to be joining Dobbies. The UK is passionate about its green spaces and there has been a boom in how we appreciate and enjoy our gardens in the past few years. I have certainly become a keen gardener myself so I am looking forward to being closely involved with the sector.

Dobbies is a special business that enjoys the fact that customers choose to visit garden centres, generating footfall that many retailers can only dream of in these challenging economic times. I am really excited to work with the team through the next stage of growth for the business.”

Zest is working with Pengelly Garden Centre on a project to support five schools local to Pengelly with grow your own initiatives.  And it’s all thanks to a competition run by Glee offering one lucky visitor a £1000 voucher to spend with an exhibitor of their choice.

The winner was Sarah Daniels the owner of Pengelly Garden Centre who decided to spend the voucher with Zest with a view to raising money to support local schools with a range of GYO products and seeds for gardening projects. With the voucher Sarah purchased a Garden Bar and Two Stool set, two Emily 3-seater garden benches, a Veg bed, and Sleeper Cold frames.  The plan is to sell the Zest products at Pengelly to fundraise for school projects and use some of the proceeds to buy more Zest products so Pengelly can go on to sell them and support more schools in the area.

When Zest MD, Steve Morgan heard of Sarah’s idea he organised the donation of further GYO products, donating five Zest Economy Potting Tables and five Zest Deep Root 1M Planters to help get the first five schools off to a great growing start.

Commenting on the Pengelly schools initiative, Steve said, “I was obviously delighted that Sarah chose to spend her prize on Zest products, and when I found out how she planned to use her win to help local schools, I thought it would be a good idea for Zest to boost her brilliant idea with more items to help with a really good cause.”

Sarah added, “It was of course lovely to win, and I knew from the outset that I wanted to put Pengelly’s good fortune towards helping local schoolchildren to get growing.  The Zest GYO range seemed an appropriate way to get the idea off the ground and I’m thrilled that Zest has chosen to top up the prize by donating even more product to the schools in question.”

Zest is well known for contributing to good causes and local communities.  Over the last 13 years, Zest employees have raised more than £145,000 for a variety of charities alongside colleagues in the P&A Group.  These include the British Heart Foundation, Macmillan Cancer Support, Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith Children’s Hospices, Cancer Research UK, Action for Children, Alzheimer’s Society, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and Meningitis Now.

Zest was established in 2005 to bring high quality, sustainable timber garden products to garden centres, online retailers, builders’ merchants, and major purchasing groups across the UK.  For further information about Zest’s GYO, decorative and furniture products, visit www.zestoutdoorliving.co.uk.

British Garden Centres has partnered with Osprey Charging, one of the UK’s largest and leading electric vehicle (EV) charging networks, to increase access to public charging at its stores, supporting residents, businesses and visitors with reliable EV infrastructure.

The UK’s largest family-run garden centre group has recently installed three high-powered EV chargers at both Newton Regis Garden Centre in Tamworth and Wolseley Bridge Garden Centre in Stafford.

The 75kW rapid charge points are compatible with every EV on the market today and can typically add 100 miles of range in just 35 minutes, depending on the model of the vehicle and its battery. Situated in both stores’ car parks, the chargers are an ideal place to charge while browsing the store or using BGC’s Gardener’s Retreat Restaurant.

The chargers are easy to use and designed with simple payment for drivers, accepting contactless bank cards, Apple/Google Pay, the Osprey App and RFID card payments as well as payments through all major third-party payment methods including fleet cards.

Access to charging is one of the biggest barriers to EV adoption and the installation is expected to encourage EV uptake in the area, bolstering the UK’s national charging infrastructure as well as improving local air quality, reducing noise pollution and supporting local decarbonisation efforts.

Ian Johnston, CEO of Osprey Charging, said: “We’re delighted to open this charging facility with British Garden Centres, the UK’s largest family-owned garden centre group. The electric transition is well underway and we’re here to provide a reliable and rapid public charging service for drivers, from Cornwall to Scottish Highlands. Each of our new locations is carefully designed to maximise space, accessibility and availability of chargers, working to the latest and highest standards. These new charging sites at Newton Regis Garden Centre and Wolseley Bridge Garden Centre are a vital part of the re-charging network that will enable the decarbonisation of transport in the UK.”

Amy Stubbs, Project and Development Manager at British Garden Centres, said: “The new rapid EV chargers at our stores will allow our growing number of EV-driving customers to charge their vehicles at a time and location that is convenient for them, whilst shopping or enjoying a meal at our Gardener’s Retreat Restaurant. We’re delighted to be providing this service for our customers whilst helping support the transition to EVs across the UK.”

As EV uptake increases across the country ahead of the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles, more and more of Staffordshire’s visitors will look for EV charging as standard. Osprey has funded this installation, and operation and oversees the maintenance of the chargers which are all supplied with renewable energy. British Garden Centres, the landlord for the site, benefits from a future-proofed car park and being able to attract more EV drivers as customers.

These two sites are the first locations following the announcement last year that Osprey would provide rapid EV charging at an initial 12 British Garden Centres locations which are Carmarthen, Wimborne, Osterley, Harrow, Braintree, Wolseley Bridge, Albrighton, Carr Gate, Newton Regis, Gillberdyke, Towneley and Brigg.

Corby + Fellas has announced a partnership with Bell Plantation and the implementation of our acclaimed WinRetail System to run the Garden Centres Retail, Hospitality, Loyalty and Events operations.

A spokesperson for Corby + Fellas said: "We look forward to a long standing and mutually beneficial partnership with Freddie and his team, such a fabulous family Garden Centre business.

"This implementation is the first of five new Garden Centre businesses installing WinRetail throughout the summer. "

As June 2023 made history as the hottest June ever recorded, with unprecedented temperatures and a mix of heatwaves and heavy rainfall, garden centres experienced a marked surge in sales.

The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has released its monthly market update, revealing the significant growth in garden centre sales, indicating a strong recovery in 2023 following disruptions in the first quarter of the year.

Strong Growth in Garden Centre Sales:

Garden centre sales for June showed a strong increase of 16% compared to the same period last year. This growth can be attributed to favourable weather conditions, attracting more customers and increasing footfall and sales. The sales growth was particularly notable in the garden and gardening categories, which saw an increase of 19% compared to June 2022. Bedding plants were up +31%, followed by hardy plants up +25%, maintaining that stock demand pressure on previous months. Associated gardening products also performed well, with seeds showing an 8% increase and plant care products up by 19% compared to June 2022.

Continued Growth in Average Transaction Values (ATVs):

Average Transaction Values (ATVs) within garden stores sustained growth, reaching £33.25 in June, a notable 4% increase compared to the same period last year. The contribution of price inflation to increased basket value has been a driving factor behind this growth.

Catering Sales and Garden Tools Surge:

June also proved exceptionally fruitful for catering, with a substantial increase of 27% compared to June 2022. Additionally, the garden tools and equipment category experienced a surge, with sales soaring by 35% compared to the previous year. These positive trends reflect the gradual return to pre-pandemic times and the increased demand for gardening-related products.

Consumer Confidence on the Rise:

June brought encouraging news for consumer confidence, with a 3-point improvement compared to the previous month. This upward trend indicates growing optimism when consumers rated their personal finances and the overall economic outlook for the future. However, concerns surrounding inflation and the state of the UK economy remained prevalent among consumers.

Water Scarcity and Responsible Water Use:

With the effects of climate change becoming more pronounced, water scarcity has emerged as a pressing concern. Despite the record-breaking June weather, certain regions, including Devon, Cornwall, and parts of East Anglia, are still grappling with drought conditions and temporary use bans (TUBs) on water usage. In response, the HTA urges its members to continue prioritising responsible water use and supporting customers in their efforts to conserve water while participating in gardening activities. As part of their commitment, the HTA has issued Summer gardening tips to help encourage and care for wildlife in gardens during the summer months.

A Focus on Resilience and Preparation:

The HTA encourages all member businesses to prepare for all possible scenarios and take action to ensure continuity of supply. Key measures include maximising storage capacity, promoting responsible water use, investing in water recapture infrastructure, and proactively addressing abstraction license requirements.

Ongoing Support from the HTA:

The HTA remains dedicated to providing guidance and resources to its members as they navigate the challenges posed by water scarcity and work towards enhancing their resilience. Members can access valuable advice and information on improving water management and increasing resilience through the HTA's website.

Additionally, it’s vital that water companies and the Environment Agency provide or support a funding program for horticultural businesses to enhance rainwater capture, construct reservoirs, recapture run-off, and use grey water. The current Water Management Grants from Defra, which are open to horticultural businesses growing or planning to grow irrigated plants, are currently not accessible to all businesses.  We’re asking that the investment minimum is lowered, as many businesses wanting to implement reservoirs for self-sufficiency don't need them at the current specified scale and cannot afford the initial outlay.

Fran Barnes, Chief Executive of the HTA, emphasised the sector's resilience, highlighting the operating challenges and the importance of support: "The exceptional surge in garden centre sales during this record-breaking June underscores the resilience and determination of both our industry and gardening enthusiasts to quite literally weather the storms. As the Horticultural Trades Association, we are fully committed to supporting our members in fostering responsible water use and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the horticulture sector, which plays a vital role in enhancing the environment, promoting well-being, and enriching the lives of communities across the nation.

"However, we must also acknowledge the present and ongoing challenges. Prolonged hot weather has meant more labour required for irrigation, coupled with inflationary pressures on business costs and customers’ pockets means June’s success cannot be taken for granted. In horticultural retail and the wider industry, we expect new border trade arrangements in the next six months and the risk of expedited peat legislation. We must see the government recognise UK environmental horticulture's economic, environmental and social value. We aim to enable the sector to thrive while ensuring that costs are not unfairly passed onto consumers. By navigating these challenges together, we can build a resilient and prosperous future for the horticulture sector."

The full report is available to HTA members on the association's website.

The Garden Centre Association’s Barometer of Trade figures for June have shown a ‘massive’ boost in sales of outdoor plants, garden sundries and hard landscaping.

GCA member garden centres recorded outdoor plant sales were up by 27.08% last month when compared to June 2022, garden sundries were up by 14.14% and hard landscaping leapt up 9.95%.

Chief Executive of the GCA, Peter Burks, says: “The good weather extended the gardening season very nicely, giving plants a massive increase in sales and garden sundries and hard landscaping a very nice late season boost too.

“The hot weather slowed up members’ restaurants’ growth but catering remains very positive, up by 15.97%. It’s nice to see that furniture & BBQ sales were up at last, at 12.27%.

“Some of this was due to the good weather and people starting to entertain in their gardens again, but also many members had price reductions in this category during June and this helped to bring positive sales. It’s also great to see all areas and turnover bands now in the positive year-to-date. Overall sales for the month, across all members, came in at 15.47% with a year-to-date variance of 0.8%.”

June’s BoT results also revealed sales of seeds & bulbs were up 13.65%, clothing was up 12.79%, food hall & farm shops sales also came in positively for the month at 10.84%.

Pets & aquatics sales were up 1.47% and the only category in the 13, which the GCA records each month from members, that was down for June, was gifts at -0.5%.

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

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

The GCA represents garden centres nationwide.

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

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

Quinton Edwards has announced the sale of Cave Gates Nursery in Ellerker, East Yorkshire.

The well located 10 acre nursery which benefits from circa 6.22 acres of glass with further ancillary buildings, offered a superb opportunity for a new owner.

The sale completed early this week and our clients are delighted to be able to move forward with their own plans.  They commented that offering the nursery though Quinton Edwards provided a purchaser that they would not have found locally, and that working with the team was a pleasure.

Quinton Edwards said: "We would like to take this opportunity to wish both our clients and the purchasers every success for the future."

A host of experts are set to examine the importance of horticulture in sustainable development and the green agenda at the Horticultural Trades Association’s (HTA) annual conference, sponsored by Glee on 5 October 2023 at the ICC in Birmingham. 

One of this year’s keynote speakers is award-winning garden designer Manoj Malde. Highly creative, innovative and not afraid to push the boundaries, he recently got married at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in the garden he designed, the RHS & Eastern Eye Garden of Unity, the first-ever wedding to take place at the event. Manoj is an RHS Judge and their first ambassador for diversity and inclusivity and will share his insights on upcoming gardening trends. 

Manoj said, “I am beyond excited to have been invited as a keynote speaker at the HTA Conference 2023. What an incredible honour.” 

Widely known in the world of horticulture for his high energy and enthusiasm, plant expert, TV presenter and podcaster Michael Perry (better known as Mr Plant Geek) will be a lively and engaging host throughout the conference.  

Michael said, “I’m very honoured to be hosting the upcoming HTA event, which will be packed with knowledge, focussed discussion, and tonnes of inspiration- and we really hope to give attendees some clear take-homes for their work within the industry. It should be an excellent day, I cannot wait!” 

Horticulture, The Conference will explore key areas in which the sector is coming together to grow a greener future, including urban green spaces, sustainability, the value of plants and careers in horticulture. A full programme and guest speakers will be announced during the coming weeks. 

The conference provides a platform for delegates to network with industry peers, discuss key issues and innovations, and look at ways of working together as well as other opportunities. There will be a dinner for additional networking opportunities at which the 2023 Ornamental Grower of the Year Award will be presented. 

Horticulture, The Conference takes place at The International Convention Centre, Birmingham. For more information and to book your place, visit: https://hta.org.uk/conference

Constructing Minds, a garden that aims to raise awareness of suicide rates in construction and promote the restorative power of green spaces, has been awarded Best Show Garden on the opening day of RHS Flower Show Tatton Park.

Designers Carolyn Hardern and Jon Jarvis believe mental health should be taken far more seriously in construction, where an average of two workers take their own lives every day, making it the industry with the highest suicide rate in the UK.

Carolyn and Jon say: “The prejudice or lack of understanding can make it difficult for individuals to seek help. Mental health should be talked about more openly within the construction industry and be much more of a priority.

“We also want people to appreciate the positive benefits that green spaces can provide.

“Research shows that regular access to green spaces can benefit mental health, and we have designed a calming space that we hope may help support those in suicidal crisis.”

The garden, supported by ‘Band of Builders’ and ‘SED Services’, is inspired by the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) and features gentle planting, a reflective pool and provides a tranquil space for contemplation and one-to-one counselling.

The Best Construction Award for a Show Garden has been awarded to J.Parker’s Chained to Tech Garden designed by Rachel Platt. The vibrant and dynamic space highlights the physical and mental effects of screen-based technologies.

The Best Young Designer Garden and Best Construction for a Young Designer Garden has been awarded to Off the Grid, by Nathan Webster, which aims to show how an individual can live within nature, self-sustainably.

Brickyard, by Conal McGuire, has been awarded Best Terrace and Slim Space Garden. The garden, which will be rehomed in a Liverpool community, features recycled and repurposed materials, and offers a template for green urban design.

Helena Pettit, RHS Director of Gardens and Shows said: “Congratulations to all the designers and their fabulous teams for creating such beautiful gardens at RHS Flower Show Tatton Park 2023. Not only are they stunning and packed with inspiration and ideas, many are promoting important messages that will start conversations.”

Tickets to RHS Flower Show Tatton Park can be purchased in person at the ticket office or online at www.rhs.org.uk/tatton.

FELCO, distributed in the UK by Burton McCall Ltd, have formed an exclusive partnership with The Rose Society UK.

Through this partnership, FELCO aims to expand awareness of The Rose Society UK and their commitment to promoting interest in rose cultivation and stimulating education in rose knowledge.

In addition to this, the partnership strengthens FELCO’s presence in the horticulture sector. Already producing Swiss-quality rose budding and cutting tools, specifically designed to cultivate and harvest roses without damage to the flower head, the partnership allows FELCO to further serve the nation’s favourite flower.

“The Rose Society UK are delighted to be embarking on an exciting association with Felco. We are looking forward to promoting their diverse range of excellent products; helping the nation grow beautiful roses.”

All communication regarding The Rose Society UK partnership should be directed to Burton McCall, the UK distributor of FELCO.

Leading furniture brand, LifestyleGarden is delighted to be taking home the Best Sustainable Product Award for its brand-new Onyx chair at SOLEX 2023; securing the sought-after title for the second year in a row. It is the third time LifestyleGarden® has won an award at SOLEX for its game-changing products.

LifestyleGarden® debuted Onyx at SOLEX 2023 last week, giving the industry a first glimpse of this exciting new generation of recycled furniture and the next chapter in the brand’s Social Plastic® journey. As well as winning the title for Best Sustainable Product at the show, The Onyx also came second in the category for Best Furniture Product.

Made from Social Plastic® – a Plastic Bank initiative that recycles waste material collected by those in the most vulnerable coastal communities in exchange for tokens that help lift them out of poverty – the Onyx chair features all the same environmental and social benefits, whilst also providing exciting new sales opportunities for retailers.

Stackable, recyclable (including the aluminium legs), and with each chair utilising the equivalent of 155 plastic bottles, this new collection is perfect for both indoor and outdoor, as well as contract use. An aluminium matching table will also be manufactured to complete the look. The Onyx collection will be available in burnt orange, mint green, cream and sky blue.

The SOLEX judging panel praised the space-saving properties of Onyx, as “a stackable version of LifestyleGarden’s best-selling chairs made from recycled plastic”. They also enjoyed the fact that the legs of the new chairs are made from recyclable aluminium, further supporting the circular economy. 

It is the second year in a row that LifestyleGarden® has bagged the award, with its Nassau collection powered by Social Plastic® named Best Sustainable New Product in 2022. It was the first time LifestyleGarden® showcased this game-changing recycled material. Meanwhile, in 2019, Solex won the Best New Product Award with its DuraOcean® chairs, which form part of the popular Nassau range. The prize for this year’s award included £1,000 marketing in trade title Garden Trade News.

The team from the Eden Project was also by LifestyleGarden®’s side at the show to bring this groundbreaking new launch to market together and celebrate the value of a partnership that makes such environmentally conscious innovations possible. With the added endorsement of the Eden Project, the credentials of this new product are guaranteed.

ScanCom International CEO Stig Maasbol commented: “We are extremely proud to win the Best Sustainable Product at SOLEX for the second year running. The show has been a great platform for us to launch exciting innovations in outdoor furniture and we welcome the judges’ comments about our new Onyx chair”.

He continued: “We are gradually introducing more and more recycled and re-introduced material into our own production, which will become more prevalent in the future. At the very heart of everything we do at LifestyleGarden® are our efforts to improve what we do with materials, so it is rewarding to receive this industry recognition.”

LifestyleGarden® & ScanCom International Commercial Director (UK & Ireland), Paul Cohen said of the win: “We are truly honoured to again receive this accolade in recognition for the work that we all do here at ScanCom and LifestyleGarden® behind the scenes in order to create products that are not only beautiful but are functional and manufactured in the right way! After the runaway success of the Nassau chair, our Designer, Inbal Kahaner, listened to the feedback we have received and has now created an additional chair that also stacks and has full aluminium legs, so it is completely maintenance free.”

Paul concluded: “Feedback from visitors at the show also confirmed that the colour palette we have chosen is spot on and on trend, so we are now looking forward to replicating the success of the Nassau range with our exciting new Onyx chair!”

Find out more

To see more of LifestyleGarden®'s impressive portfolio, visit www.lifestylegarden.co.uk

Launching at Autumn Fair 2023 is Connect @ Autumn Fair, a brand-new way for the retail community to connect and collaborate. Making history, the new connections programme will give exhibitors more visibility than ever before, and buyers the opportunity to plan and pre-schedule double opt-in meetings before the show opens.

Harvey Nichols, John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, Harrods, Fortnum & Mason, Blue Diamond, Hillier Garden Centres, Card Factory, Coney's, Robert Dyas, Walt Disney Co., Holland & Barrett, Wilkies, Artistic Gift Boutique, Avon Cosmetics, Sterling Home, and Moonpig are amongst the thousands of leading retailers who have already registered.

Autumn Fair, the UK’s ultimate shop for shop for wholesale Home, Gift, and Fashion taking place from the 3rd – 6th September at NEC Birmingham, launched Connect @ Autumn Fair to transform the buying experience making it more efficient and effective. For the first time ever, exhibitors can view the profiles of 3,000+ buyers prior to Autumn Fair and see the types of products they’re searching for with the Connect @ Autumn Fair online platform.

Buyers who register by 9th August at https://www.autumnfair.com/connect-autumn-fair-buyers for their complimentary ticket to Autumn Fair receive a host of benefits including being able to easily browse and filter based on their specific criteria over 600 exhibitor profiles from product categories to minimum orders and show offers. They can make pre-show connections and pre-schedule meetings to take place at the show, all of which are double opt-in ensuring both parties want to meet. Connect @ Autumn Fair also gives buyers an opportunity to see special offers, discounts or announcements exhibitors are making ahead of arriving onsite at the show, and exclusive perks include access to the new Connect VIP Buyers Lounge while at the show.

Over 150 new exhibitors will be launching new products and collections alongside leading names such as Gallery Direct, Art Marketing, Besp-oak Furniture, Quirky Barn, CIMC, Hill Interiors, Heathcote & Ivory, Malini, Zen Agencies, Lows of Dundee, Jellycat, Deluxe Homeart, Sass & Belle, Chalk UK, Fizz Creations, Locomocean, Shared Earth, Bomb Cosmetics, The Seed Card Company, Cardology, Paper Salad, Sevin, and Gift Republic .

Nicola Meadows, Divisional Managing Director, Hyve Group plc says, “When we launched Connect @ Autumn Fair we knew it was the obvious and much-needed next step to revolutionise the trade show experience, and we’re delighted to see that so many retailers agree. Save time, skip the queues, plan ahead, and enjoy the convenience of scheduled meetings rather than waiting around for representatives to become available, get the exclusive benefits. It has never been easier to find your next best-seller!”

Connect @ Autumn Fair is completely free for buyers to use and there is no minimum meeting requirement. All meetings take place during the show on the exhibitors stand, so buyers can view, touch, and ask them questions about their products in person, providing the perfect opportunity to launch new products. With valuable time saved by managing their time efficiently and prioritising pre-scheduled meetings, buyers have more time to shop the show for unexpected new product finds, trends, and inspiration.

Register at https://www.autumnfair.com/connect-autumn-fair-buyers

For more information, please visit www.autumnfair.com 

With eco-conscious gardeners looking to garden sustainably and reduce their use of plastics in their everyday activities, the oldest and most trusted lawn seed brand, Johnsons Lawn Seed, is urging retailers to educate consumers on the benefits of real grass vs artificial turf to prevent a negative impact on the environment and the enhance the reputation of the garden industry.

With the Welsh government considering a ban on artificial lawns and the SGD’s “Say No to Plastic Grass” campaign gathering momentum, Johnsons Lawn Seed is keen to reveal the full extent of the environmental damage of fake plastic grass and how retailers be seen as ‘green champions’ by emphasising how real lawns are essential for health and well-being, beneficial to wildlife and mitigating climate change.

Recent data from MyBuilder.com reveals a significant decline of 48% in enquiries for artificial grass installation compared to the previous year. This presents an excellent opportunity for garden retailers to promote natural turf and lawn seed use.  

As the UK enjoys the summer months, Johnsons reminds its stockists about natural lawns’ advantages. Unlike fake turf, which is made of non-recyclable plastic and takes centuries to decompose in landfills, real lawns are a sustainable and eco-friendly option for keeping gardens green.

THE BENEFITS OF A REAL LAWN

Natural Cooling Effect

During hot and humid summers, artificial turf can be uncomfortable to walk or sit on, while real lawns tend to remain cooler, providing a pleasant environment for urban residents to relax and enjoy. Grass, like all plants, also helps regulate temperatures, which can keep urban areas cool during extended heat waves. This is why barefoot walks on a grassy lawn in the summer are so enjoyable while stepping on burning plastic grass is a firm no-no after research from New York's Department of Environmental Conservation indicated that areas of fake grass in direct sun can be up to 15 - 20⁰C hotter than natural grass.

Surface Runoff

In the UK’s towns and cities, flash flooding has become a growing threat after intense heatwaves. Synthetic, plastic lawns and paved gardens are unable to absorb the volume of water.

Rainfall on natural grass can cause water to run off. Real grass plays a crucial role in soil stabilisation and erosion prevention during heavy rainfalls, particularly on steep slopes or embankments, as 80% of a grass plant is made up of roots.

Efficient at oxygen production

Did you know that real lawns are important for the ecosystem? They absorb CO2 and release oxygen, which is especially valuable in heavily populated cities with poor air quality. For instance, a small patch of grass measuring only 235m2 can provide enough oxygen for a family of four every day. Moreover, lawns help to reduce unwanted noise pollution and provide a natural habitat for insects and pollinators.

Carbon Capture

Johnsons’ extensive research estimates that 336kg of carbon per 100m2 is locked up in the soil each year which is the equivalent to 1.23t of CO2. Grass can sequester more CO2 per m2 than trees. So instead of being released into the atmosphere as a greenhouse gas, the CO2 is turned into organic matter and useful fertiliser for the grass itself.

Good for your health

Did you know that standing barefoot on real grass can help reduce stress? Studies have shown that doing so can trigger a decrease in heart rate and blood pressure, which can contribute to a healthier lifestyle. Keeping plastic grass clean and tidy requires regular sweeping and cleaning, and pet mess must be thoroughly scrubbed. Despite the claim of being maintenance-free, fake lawns are still susceptible to moss and weed growth, especially in areas with debris buildup.   

Good Exercise

According to a recent survey conducted by RHS, 80% of gardeners in the UK believe that gardening is beneficial for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and staying fit. Among the top three activities that provide the best workout mowing the lawn was mentioned, which can burn up to 250 calories in an hour. This not only helps you stay fit but also adds to the beauty of your garden, with a well-maintained lawn as your pride and joy.

Johnsons Real Lawn Portfolio

Johnson’s Lawn Seed has dedicated significant time and resources towards researching and developing eco-friendly lawn options. Its top-performing Tuffgrass with Dog Patch Resistance is a naturally durable grass species that maintains its green colour even when dogs use it for their needs. In addition, it offers impressive drought resistance and can withstand harsh weather conditions and active family use.

Looking for a quick and effective way to sow or repair your lawn? Look no further than Quick Lawn with Accelerator®!  With its innovative specially coated seeds, Quick Lawn germinates quickly and requires only a third of the water typically needed for lawn establishment. You’ll see 38% more grass within the first seven days compared to non-coated seeds.

Featuring drought-tolerant fine-leaved dwarf perennial ryegrass and a touch of fescue, this seed mixture reduces the need for extra fertiliser and minimises water usage. Thanks to its Accelerator® technology, Quick Lawn attracts beneficial bacteria to the grassroots, ensuring a successful establishment. Try it out and see the difference for yourself!

Artificial grass manufacturers claim that their products are necessary for shady areas, but Johnsons Lawn Seed has developed Shady Place lawn seed with Seedbooster nutrition as the ideal solution for sites under trees, walls, or other dark corners.

There has been a growing concern among wildlife advocates about the use of artificial grass. Synthetic turf is difficult to maintain and is destructive to the natural grasslands which are crucial for the survival of various plants and insects.

Keen to offer a solution, Johnsons Lawn Seed’s Country Meadow Wildflower Mix is recommended to those who want to seed a real, eco-friendly wildflower meadow A mix of native wildflowers such as Birdsfoot Trefoil, Black Medick, Black Knapweed, Common Vetch, Meadow Buttercup, Oxeye Daisy, Ribwort Plantain, White Campion, White Clover, Self Heal, Yarrow, Musk Mallow, and Red Campion, makes it an excellent choice for creating a beautiful and wildlife-friendly garden and offers garden visitors a plastic free haven to thrive in.

Guy Jenkins, Consumer Manager at Johnsons Lawn Seed, said: “The environmental issues caused by choosing to put down an artificial lawn far outweigh any of these potential benefits. Natural lawns and seeding benefit the environment, your community and your family’s quality of life in ways that artificial grass simply can’t. We are urging retailers to champion real grass with our product portfolio and highlight how urban gardens are increasingly recognised for their potential to maintain or even enhance biodiversity.”

Find out more

If you want to join’s Johnsons Lawn Seed’s mission for real grass and help create eco-lawns across the country, visit the website to see the full range http://www.johnsonslawnseed.com/product-range.aspx    

Five of the Wyevale Nurseries sponsored ‘Sensory Long Border’ designs featured at the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) Flower Show at Tatton Park this week have won top awards including Best Long Border.

The designs were by final year University of Gloucestershire Landscape Architect students who visited the nurseries for a 2022 open day and selected their plants earlier this year. 

Ian Wright, Commercial Sales Director at Wyevale Nurseries, explains: “We’re absolutely delighted to be able to share this wonderful news and to have been part of these amazing wins.

“Five of the six entries sponsored by us, featuring our plants, scooped awards. It’s a tremendous achievement for everyone involved and we couldn’t be more pleased for them all. They’ve worked so hard and their brilliant concepts paid off.

“‘A Pocket of Peace’, designed by Daniel March, Hallie Abbott Trangmar and Adam Rowley, took a Gold and was also named by the judges as winner of Best Long Border.”

Fellow students, Anne Watson, Caitlin Lewis and Úna Nolan also won a Gold for their design – ‘The Garden of Vivacity’.

Anne said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to receive this award. What an amazing collaboration with Caitlin and Úna. Thank you to the University of Gloucestershire for the opportunity and thank you Wyevale Nurseries for sponsoring the garden/supplying the beautiful plants. A dream fulfilled!”

Other Wyevale Nurseries sponsored winners included Sarah Marsh, Shereen Khatoon-Jaan Din and Imogen Reeves. Their design ‘Staying in Touch with the Garden’ scooped a Silver Gilt. It will be donated to the Hospice of the Good Shepherd in Chester after the show.

Ian adds: “We also saw Silver Gilt wins for ‘Coastal Whisper’ – designed by Mia Thompstone, Joseph Parker and Henry Monnington and ‘Forager’s Haven’ by David Cockburn and James Hill. Our sixth sponsored garden at the event was ‘Coral Scape’ – designed by Yunhui Luk, Ethan Fincham, David Dycha.

“More details of the gardens and some of the plants that were included in each can be found on the show’s website page here https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-flower-show-tatton-park/news/2023/sensory-long-borders-tatton.”

Wyevale Nurseries’ product selection is envied across the industry and the talented team regularly introduces new, award-winning plant varieties.

Its main business is to supply garden centres, landscape contractors, local authorities, foresters and landowners with a comprehensive array of trees, shrubs, hedging, herbaceous and specimen plants.

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

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Specialist property adviser, Christie & Co, has launched its Retail & Leisure: 2023 Mid-Year Insight, which reflects on activity, trends and challenges across the UK’s convenience retail, forecourt, garden centre and leisure markets in the first half of 2023 and provides an outlook for the rest of the year.

The publication reveals that the UK’s Retail & Leisure sectors are largely bucking any negative trends in the mainstream property market, as buyers remain active and demand for correctly priced opportunities remains strong. 

This is supported by the latest Christie & Co data unveiled in the report, which indicates that new buyer registrations have more than doubled compared to the same period in 2022 and the average number of offers per instruction is up 5% on this time last year.

Retail deals are based on needs-driven enterprises (such as fuel, food, beverages), meaning trading fundamentals remain robust, whilst garden centre business is driven by leisure and home-based spending, both of which are on the rise. The UK holiday park market also remains in growth off the back of Covid and the staycation boom. Buyers recognise these strong underlying traits and want to invest their resources in opportunities underpinned by these trends.

The key market insights from each of these specialist areas are as follows:

• Convenience: Sites that came to the market attracted an average of 14 offers per store. Values often exceeded seller expectations for all types of assets in H1 as buyers continue to outweigh stock levels.
• Petrol filling stations: Sites that came to the market attracted a healthy level of interest, receiving an average of 11 offers per site. Individual transaction levels were subdued but there was no shortage of buyers for going concern acquisitions in H1.
• Garden centres: buyer interest remains strong, with our latest statical analysis showing that we achieved 97% of our asking prices in recent transactions.
• Leisure: whilst a reduction in consumer spending continued to challenge UK leisure in H1, many businesses with an experiential, outdoor or staycation-led focus continued to fare better than others. Our pick of the markets to watch include Holiday Parks, Marinas and Health & Fitness.

Steve Rodell, Managing Director – Retail & Leisure comments, “It’s very encouraging that despite the recent rise in interest rates, buyers have continued to seek out the opportunities we bring to the market. The deals we are doing further underpin the valuation assignments which continue to come thick and fast. ‘Reading the leaves’ and judging by the deals in legals, we expect the second half of 2023 to be as strong, if not stronger, than H1.”

To read and download the full ‘Retail & Leisure: 2023 Mid-Year Review’, CLICK HERE.

The horticultural world is mourning the death of Alan Frost, managing director of Agralan, who passed away on July 9th after a short battle with cancer.  

His funeral is taking place at midday on 28th July at the North Wiltshire Crematorium, Swindon Road, Royal Wootton Bassett, Swindon SN4 8ET. Tel: 01793 842090.

Mike Wyatt, associate editor of GTN, said: “I was sorry to hear about poor Alan – an ever-present figure over the years at Glee, gafa, grower shows and the Garden Press Event. He was always enthusiastic about bringing the benefits of his proven professional products to the garden market.”

Alan Frost founded Agralan in 1986 and the company has since developed a range of products designed to allow growers to reduce, rationalise or avoid the need for pesticide application for insect pests.

Dobbies has announced its leadership team for its new flagship store at The Junction Retail and Leisure Park, Antrim, Northern Ireland ahead of store opening in October 2023.

Appointed as General Manager, Ken Ferguson will lead a 120-strong team of full and part-time team members at the new 110,000sq ft store – the largest in Dobbies’ estate. Having been with Dobbies for over thirteen years, Ken has worked across both the Aberdeen and Lisburn stores, before making the move to manage Antrim.

Also joining the senior management is Jenny Campbell, who has been appointed Operations Manager of the new store at The Junction. Having worked at Dobbies for more than ten years, Jenny began her Dobbies career as a temporary house plant advisor before moving through the ranks as both a customer advisor and visual merchandiser before reaching her current role of Operations Manager.

Dobbies Antrim General Manager, Ken Ferguson said: “This is a huge opportunity to manage the largest Dobbies store to date, and one I am very much looking forward to. We are excited to welcome our customers through the doors later this year to what will be a new Dobbies shopping experience with a wide retail offering, restaurant and coffee shop onsite.

“It is massively important to us at Dobbies that we are a good neighbour that contributes in a positive way to our local community. I am looking forward to bringing our fantastic range of initiatives such as our Little Seedlings Club to Antrim.”

Dobbies Antrim Operations Manager, Jenny Campbell said: “Having worked at Dobbies for over a decade, I have experienced first-hand the growth and development opportunities available to all team members. If you have a passion for people and an interest in what you are selling, then retail is a great industry to work in. At the new Dobbies Antrim store, we have 120 jobs available which will provide a significant economic boost to the local area.”

This will be Dobbies’ second store in Northern Ireland, and the largest in its estate, showcasing a new store concept with outdoor and indoor plant areas; areas for gardening products, outdoor furniture, pets, gifting and toys, as well as cookshop and home décor; a foodhall, a children’s soft play area and new restaurant and coffee shop. The new Antrim store is expected to attract a footfall of around one million visitors per annum.

To view and apply for job roles at Dobbies, please visit www.careers.dobbies.com

Head of Commercial Development Simon Davison, at Zest Outdoor Living has been elected to the Board of GIMA.

Commenting on his appointment, Simon said, “As the senior manager responsible for commercial development for garden centre stockists and online retail partners at Zest, I am a passionate advocate for GIMA.  Zest has benefitted greatly from being a GIMA member, gathering market intelligence, networking, and gaining positive exposure as a brand.  As part of the Zest team, I am keen to further the relationship and become more deeply involved in all GIMA’s initiatives to support the garden industry in general.  I also know that Zest has much to offer GIMA in return.  My knowledge of dropship, and experience with the Sector Skills Council for Retail, combined with my knowledge of how Zest has benefitted from membership has given me real insight into the needs of fellow members, the opportunities GIMA can provide and how it engages with its membership.”

Meanwhile, Zest Head of Business Support Alwyn Williams was part of the awards judging panel at Solex 2023.  Alwyn is a member of the Governing Council of the Leisure and Outdoor Furniture Association (LOFA).  Alwyn Williams has over thirty years’ experience in the garden trade industry, 28 of them with the P&A Group and the Zest brand. 

Commenting on his 2023 role, Alwyn said, “Zest has always recognised LOFA as a representative for high quality brands in the garden leisure sector; and being a council member provides me with this great opportunity to be involved with Solex.”

Zest was established in 2005 to bring high quality, sustainable timber garden products to garden centres, online retailers, builders’ merchants, and major purchasing groups across the UK. 

Royal FloraHolland will present the Product Environment Footprint Category Rules for floriculture (FloriPEFCR) at the AIPH Horticultural Industry Conference on 19th September 2023 in Suncheon, Republic of Korea.

This Horticultural Industry Conference is part of the International Association of Horticultural Producers’ 75th Annual Congress. Royal FloraHolland is a gold sponsor for the conference, which will focus on footprinting and sustainability.

Representing Royal FloraHolland at the conference is Sustainability Manager Albert Haasnoot. Albert began his career at Royal FloraHolland in 1994, and has been involved in sales and auctions. In recent years he has worked on sector programs at the intersection of sustainability and innovation. Currently, he is the lead commissioner of the EU FloriPEFCR – a project that aims to achieve harmonised rules for calculating the environmental footprint of potted plants and cut flowers within the framework of the European Commission’s Product Environmental Footprint.

“A considerable need has emerged for a uniform calculation method for the sector that is reliable, verifiable and comparable,” Albert said. “The FloriPEFCR methodology will prevent greenwashing by companies and ensure a level playing field. Ultimately, the goal is to gain insight so that we can reduce the environmental impact of floriculture.”

Tim Briercliffe, AIPH Secretary General, commented: “We are delighted to have the support of Royal FloraHolland for our Industry Conference in September. With the introduction of the EU FloriPEFCR standard there will be increased focus on supporting the sector with footprinting and Royal FloraHolland have been playing a key role in this.”

The 75th AIPH Annual Congress will take place from 17th-21st September 2023 in Suncheon, Republic of Korea. For more information and to register your interest, please visit the AIPH Website.

The prestigious Garden Media Guild Awards – also lovingly known as the gardening ‘Oscars’ – are set to return on November 17th, with The Savoy in London providing a stunning backdrop to proceedings. 

Celebrating writers, photographers, broadcasters and social media influencers, these awards bring together the most passionate and skilled from the garden media sphere.

Now, as the awards draw ever closer, there is only a handful of sponsorship opportunities remaining. Interested parties who are keen to show their support for this coveted event are invited to register interest now to avoid missing out.

With 17 awards making up the GMG Awards roster, there are now only four categories without a sponsor. They are:

• The David Hessayon Garden Writer of the Year
• The Gordon Rae Photographer of the Year
• Portfolio Photographer of the Year
• The Roy Lancaster Broadcast of the Year

Any brand joining the sponsors line-up will be in good company, with the likes of Westland, Honda, Miracle-Gro, Thompson & Morgan, STIHL, Johnsons Lawn Seed, Cobra, Gardena and the HTA already confirmed as 2023 sponsors. Every sponsor receives eight tickets to the awards ceremony – perfect for sharing with customers or the wider team – plus branding at the event and across all awards marketing and communication content, including the Garden Media Guild website, advertisement within the Awards brochure, ongoing social media promotion, discounted advertising rates within the GMG News, and also the use of the Garden Media Guild sponsor logo. A representative from each sponsor will also be invited on stage to present an award on the day. 

Garden Media Guild Chair Mike Palmer commented on sponsorship of the event: “Sponsoring a Garden Media Guild Award is an exceptional opportunity to increase brand awareness and to nurture relationships with the writers, photographers and influencers who communicate with your brand’s customers. Additionally, by supporting the garden media through sponsoring an award, you’re showing that you’re interested in opening up a dialogue and building relationships. Sponsors often comment that the connections they make at the Awards result in ongoing relationships and measurable benefits.”

Find out more

Any brand interested in finding out more about sponsoring the 2023 Garden media Guild Awards are invited to register their interest with the organising committee by emailing admin@gardenmediaguild.co.uk.  Tickets to the 2023 Garden Media Guild Awards can also be purchased via www.gardenmediaguild.co.uk/awards

Longacres Garden Centre Ltd has announced their acquisition of Bourne Valley Garden Centre in Addlestone, Surrey.

The site has been in the Elding family for over 70 years. Current owner Paul Elding said "A big thank you to all employees past and present, and of course to all of our customers over the years." After nearly a quarter of a century in charge Paul will enjoy a well-earned retirement!

Managing Director Nigel Long said "Bourne Valley is a natural fit for Longacres, with a solid core gardening offering, a loyal customer base and scope for improvement, new ranges and expansion. The restaurant is obviously already a great success and we will be applying a very light touch here."

The purchase takes the number of sites in the Longacres group to six, alongside existing centres at Bagshot, Bybrook Barn, Chelmsford, Chobham and Shepperton.

The Longacres team has extensive plans to improve the site, which will start immediately with work on a new checkout area and the addition of a brand new cut flower department. Following this will be location moves for houseplants (to the front of the store) and the seasonal department.

Longacres is a family-run business, that began life as a flower and vegetable nursery on land in Bagshot, Surrey in the 1970s. Managing Director Nigel Long introduced the move to retailing in the 1980s, and runs the business with his sisters Carol and Julie.

A Milton Keynes-based garden centre and landscaping materials supplier has acquired its fourth centre with the support of a £1.9m funding package from Lloyds Bank.

Nuyard Group has purchased Flitvale Garden Centre in Flitwick, Bedfordshire, and has completed a revamp of the 35,000 sq ft facility to increase its product offering improve the overall customer shopping experience.

The business was founded 20 years ago out of a garden and landscaping merchants centre in Tring and has since opened sites in Bletchley and Worcester, and now Flitwick. Across the four sites, Nuyard hires 65 staff and is planning to grow its headcount to over 100.

Nuyard has refurbished the entire Flitwick centre, as well as investing in the on-site restaurant. It has added a florist and expanded the houseplants area of the centre by 200% amid blossoming demand from customers. Nursery land has also been brought back into use to serve as the base for its paving and landscaping arm, which supplies to trade customers in the area, and allowing the business to add new machinery and hardware to its range.

As part of the ongoing investment, Nuyard plans to add solar panels across the roof to make the centre sustainable and self-sufficient, and introduce a water-harvesting system to reduce its water use.

Peter Manship, director at Nuyard, said: “The customer is at the heart of everything we do, and we want to make sure the shopping experience is as good as it can be. Acquiring Flitvale Garden Centre was a milestone, and a significant amount of work has gone into redesigning and revamping it so that everyone, from home horticulturalists to professional landscapers, will want to return.

“People no longer see gardens as just a patch of outdoor space, but as an additional room of their homes that’s to be enjoyed as much as any other. With this in mind, a significant part of our growth is down to remaining agile to new trends and changing demand like any other interior provider. By revitalising the nursery areas, we now have the space to launch new designs and displays that will inspire people as they transform the spaces that matter most to them.”

Will Robertson, relationship manager at Lloyds Bank, said: “Gardens have taken on renewed importance in the last few years, as homeowners have realised the value of green space. Nuyard has recognised this change in the market and capitalised on it, and the acquisition and opening of its new garden centre is testament to that.

“Nuyard is a good example of a business investing in order to drive growth, and supporting that ambition is our bread and butter. We want to make sure that businesses across Britain have the platform that they need to invest strategically – whether that’s opening new locations or moving to become more sustainable, and everything in between – and we’ll be right by their side to help them secure that.”

With hundreds of entries and innovation creating new conversations ahead of the 2024 season, this year’s GIMA Awards have once again proved to be a fiercely fought competition. With the judging having now taken place and the winners selected, the garden retail industry now holds its breath as it waits to find out who will be crowned winners this year.

Selecting products from across 13 product and three marketing categories, plus the overall Sustainability Award - were a panel of eager judges with their work cut out for them. Coming from all corners of the industry with a wide range of retail experience were Gary Carvosso, Coolings Garden Centre; Shelley Bou Chrouch, Scarlet Opus; Mairi Devlin, B&Q; Ian Hodgson, Garden News; Trevor Pfeiffer, Garden Trade News; Michelle de Lavis-Trafford, Choice Marketing; Nicola Pugh, Pugh’s Garden Centre; Nicola Seagar, Primrose; and Tristan Sissons, Hillier Garden Centres. 

Two additional Special Achievement awards – the Export Achievement and Supplier of the Year – will be judged by Gardenex and the GCA, respectively.

Speaking following the judging day, GIMA Director, Vicky Nuttall said: “Every year we see more and more new innovation, each time thinking that it can’t be bettered. But then comes our judging day, and we are quickly humbled as it becomes apparent that the last 12 months have seen product design teams working harder than ever. This year we have seen some truly exciting award entries, and thanks to the expertise of our judges, we have a remarkable list of winners.

“Our thanks must go to the judges for kindly donating their time and knowledge. It was a pleasure to watch them at work and to learn more about what makes the cut. Thanks also to all those that entered and to those that continue to support the annual GIMA Awards. I’ve no doubt this year’s event will be another fabulous night of celebrations”.

On October 19th, the GIMA Awards will return to the Celtic Manor Resort for another five-star night of celebrations and networking. The event will be supported by a wealth of sponsors, including Glee, Ebay, Hozelock, Decco, Primeur, EP Barrus, HTA, GCA, Gardenex, Garden Trade News, Garden Radio, Gardenforum, Horticulture Week, CM Ventures, and Hornby Whitefoot PR with a handful of sponsorship opportunities still up for grabs - please contact GIMA to find out more. 

Book your place now!

With just short of 500 people in attendance, the 2022 event was one of the biggest yet and this year’s gala dinner is expected to sell out in record time. As a result GIMA is urging interested parties to secure their tickets now to avoid disappointment.

Prices for GIMA members: £339 + VAT per person, or £3,199 + VAT for a table of 10, whilst non-member costs are: Non-Members:  £409 + VAT per person, or £3,899 + VAT for a table of 10 (all costs include dinner and accommodation).

Find out more

For further information about GIMA and its wide range of member benefits, contact the GIMA Press Office on (01959) 564947 or info@gima.org.uk

Thirty tree and plant growers from across the UK came together at the Horticultural Trades Association’s Nursery Network Peat-Free event this week to exchange views, experience and knowledge on growing peat-free. 

The event was hosted by Hillier Nurseries in Romsey near Southampton and included a tour of their mature tree and container crop production sites.

Guests also heard several presentations, including:

• The politics of peat-free - David Lydiat of the HTA
• The manufacturer’s lot - Keith Nicholson of Sinclair/Westland
• Transition to peat-free at Hillier Nurseries - Charles Carr, Hillier Nurseries
• Supporting the peat-free transition - Dr Raghavendra Prasad and Prof Alistair Griffiths.

The event was organised by Wayne Brough of the HTA, who explained it was immediately oversubscribed by those from across the industry who wanted to join the session showing the HTA’s and its members’ commitment to peat-free. However, there are still significant challenges to overcome, meaning that Defra’s proposed deadline for a ban for professional growers in 2026 comes too soon.

Speaker Keith Nicholson revealed that Westland had invested £80m in peat-free infrastructure. He commented: “It’s all about time. The industry is working hard to go peat-free and needs to work with the government and the whole supply chain to achieve this. If the government insist on moving too quickly, it could cause serious harm.”

Charles Carr said: “Hillier made the decision to go peat-free in 2020 and has this year achieved this across the board. I was pleased to share some of our experiences with the group. It has been challenging, and 10-20% of crops need extra management and resources. We are still finding unexplained losses.”

Alistair Griffiths stated: “It is positive to see the great progress that Hillier’s have made to get to 100% peat-free and to share expertise to help others on the same journey.”

HTA members can find out further information about similar workshops and seminars by visiting:

• HTA Nursery Network events webpage
• HTA Grower Technical Workshop webpage

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 newsletter.

As the year goes on we give sales volume comparisons with 2018 as well as 2019 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 up-to-date gardening sales analysis that has already helped many UK garden centres increase their sales.  To subscribe call 07973 504214, e-mail karen@pottingshedpress.co.uk or buy on-line using this link.

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.

Get the GTN Bestsellers charts in full every week in the GTN Bestsellers newsletters for only £145.00.

GTN Bestsellers is the only industry source of weekly garden centre sales information, collating Epos data from centres with an aggregate turnover in excess of £100m.

Use the weekly Garden Products and Growing Media Top 50 sales volumes charts to plan your hotspot and other promotions and ensure you have the right products in stock to satisfy the needs of your customers.

For further information contact karen@pottingshedpress.co.uk or call 07973504214.

Buy your subscription today and start receiving the GTN Bestsellers charts this week.