Blue Diamond have acquired 4 seasonal bedding plant nursery sites from Glendale Horticulture.

The 4 sites are Fretherne Nursery near Gloucester, Broom Nursery near Alcester, Badsey Nursery and Offenham Nursery in Evesham.

Blue Diamond accounted for 60% of plants grown by Glendale this year and from now on the sites will grow exclusively for Blue Diamond.

Today, Blue Diamond MD Alan Roper met with Glendale's Andrew Bennett, who will continue to run the nursery business, with Blue Diamond Head of Plants Jim Teague and Seasonal Plants Category Manager Sue Feaver. 

The nursery business employs 56 staff across the 4 sites.

"The acquisition is part of our strategy to secure our plants supply chain" explained Alan.  "Glendale have been supplying us with quality bedding and veg plants for years so it makes a perfect fit alongside our hardy plants growing at Bridgemere.  Hopefully a third nursery acquisition will be finalised soon to complete the set."

PP8 Marketing are no stranger to the gardening industry. Now in its 8th year, PP8 celebrate yet another milestone with its newest member of the team, Carrie Burgess celebrating 1 year at the company.  PP8 Marketing have been involved with many industry projects, from running the Retail Lab @ GLEE for Hyve and the HTA, to helping launch new products for Southern Trident, Burgon & Ball and Smart Garden.   

Paula Parker, Director @ PP8 Marketing, said: “I'm really grateful to Carrie for joining my journey at PP8 Marketing. Being a solopreneur is never easy, it can be lonely and challenging. However, the decision to hire was not an easy one, but I can honestly say it is the best thing I could have done to grow our business. Carrie is the perfect fit. In addition to supporting me, her background in buying at Crocus.co.uk, sales at Kerry Foods and marketing at Hygeia bring new commercial skills and experiences for our clients benefit.”

Over the last 8 years, PP8 Marketing have worked with many of the industry's associations and suppliers providing marketing strategy, implementation, and on-going management of marketing plans for many new and established business alike.  As a business PP8 marketing can support clients by offering a totally flexible service which is tailored to their needs. They can be the outsourced marketing team for smaller companies, as well as take on discreet projects and operate as an extension to larger teams.  

Now with Paula and Carrie combined, they boast 21 years in the gardening industry, which means it’s safe to say PP8 marketing are one of the most experienced outsourced marketing teams in the horticultural sector!

What’s it like to work with PP8 Marketing? Here’s what some of their clients had to say:

 "Much more than a Marketing strategist, PP8 Marketing really gets to grips with your business and works to help you grow in the direction you want to go in.  Their top-level strategic understanding is excellent, and equally important, they can develop and implement your marketing plan."

"I am really impressed by the work PP8 Marketing has carried out on a business review, together with a suggested marketing plan.  The capability to help with execution and support is a major strength when working with PP8."

“If your team is already under pressure and you're looking for an experienced and trusted pair of hands for support, then working with PP8 Marketing is a no-brainer.  You can instantly feel the relief that the projects you can't get to now have the attention they need and Paula and Carrie now feel like an extension to our team!”

Whether it’s providing strategic insight, tactical execution or acting as a critical friend or consultant, PP8 is the marketing solution your business needs. Call Paula on 07500 225293 to discuss your marketing challenges.

www.pp8marketing.com

paula@pp8marketing.com

carrie@pp8marketing.com

Plans to build a new Blue Diamond garden centre, which could create more than 150 jobs, have been revealed. It would be built on land east of the A1 near Alnwick, Northumberland.

Development and investment company Northumberland Estates has submitted a pre-planning submission to Northumberland County Council.

Northumberland Estates, owned by theDuke of Northumberland, and Blue Diamond have developed a website for consultation to obtain residents’ opinions on the planned proposal. The website www.newgardencentrealnwick.co.uk will run from for three weeks from July 27 to August 17.

The store is expected to attract a significant footfall, create over 150 new full and part-time jobs and represents an investment of around £13m from Northumberland Estates.

It has been announced by Defra and the Environment Agency, via the latest updates section of guidance on data collection (scroll to latest updates), that there will be a revision to the timeline for fees under Extended Producer Responsibility.

This was apparently issued sooner than intended, but we are told it will be formally published on Friday. The revision says that fees will now be implemented in October 2025 instead of the previously set date of October 2024. However, it's important to note that businesses currently obligated to report packaging data for 2023 must continue to do so in line with the existing timelines.

Jennifer Pheasey, Director of Public Affairs at the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), said: "We welcome the announcement of a delay in implementing fees under Extended Producer Responsibility. The HTA has been one of the voices challenging the ‘too little, too late’ detail on EPR and sought clarity to ensure horticultural businesses can comply. This extension should provide Government with the necessary time to establish comprehensive recycling reform plans, ensuring consistency across the UK. The relief is palpable, especially for many of our small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) members who are already navigating the complexities of various regulations within their operations. Support from the government to improve recycling infrastructure to facilitate the supply of recyclable materials will promote sustainability and, we hope, offer better value for money, benefiting our members and consumers throughout the UK. We trust this additional time will be used effectively, and we remain committed to collaborating with Defra to achieve the most favourable environmental outcomes."

Find all our member resources on EPR at www.hta.org.uk/EPR and speak to ecoveritas for help with compliance. 

The Gardens Group has revealed the results of its annual audit by sustainability certification scheme, Planet Mark, reporting significant carbon reductions across its three garden centres in Sherborne, Yeovil and Poundbury. During its third year as voluntary members of Planet Mark, which is backed by the Eden Project, The Gardens Group has achieved a 29.3% absolute carbon reduction. 

Engaging its 160-strong team at all stages of the process, from idea generation and target setting to measurement and review, The Gardens Group began by establishing key areas for improvement that would need to be measured, including Buildings, Travel, Waste, Water, Procurement and Homeworking. Through hundreds of new initiatives, pushed forward by smaller groups of staff assigned to each task, the independent garden centre group has managed to substantially reduce carbon emissions in nearly all areas during 2022. 

Over the past year, The Gardens Group measured significant reductions in carbon emissions relating to waste, business travel and buildings. Procurement emissions remained steady, while water emissions saw a slight increase following a large reduction during 2021. This came despite considerable investment in rainwater collection initiatives, including the integration of a brand new 50,000-litre rainwater harvesting tank into an underground Victorian brick-lined well and plumbing system, highlighting the challenges posed by The Gardens Group’s weather dependent requirement for watering its stock. 

Having introduced dozens of eco-friendly initiatives across Castle Gardens, Brimsmore Gardens and Poundbury Gardens over recent years, from water collection projects to reducing delivery miles through innovations in route planning and offers, The Gardens Group decided to join the Planet Mark community in order to implement a framework that would facilitate more substantial progress in its efforts to reduce the business’ impact on the environment. Through Planet Mark’s process of engagement, education, measurement and reporting, The Gardens Group has already achieved significant carbon reductions and is now working towards becoming a net zero business. 

Mike Burks, managing director of The Gardens Group, commented: “Looking after the environment has always been central to our ethos, but our work with Planet Mark has allowed us to put structured plans and communications in place to ensure that everyone can play their part. As a result, environmental impact is now at the forefront of our minds in everything we do. On setting out, we were hoping to see steady success across all areas of carbon reduction, but I’m delighted to say that we have surpassed these expectations and are now reducing carbon emissions by big percentages each year. Through our links with the Garden Centre Association, we’re feeding these ideas back into the garden centre industry as a whole and we also encourage the team to help apply these sustainable principles to community projects. By engaging with our customers and supporting their own sustainable initiatives, including at schools, garden clubs and community groups, the benefits of our efforts are felt far beyond the confines of the garden centres.” 

Close to a quarter of people in the UK would be happy to see artificial grass lawns banned, while a further 57 percent state they would never install it in their own gardens.

According to brand new data from MyBuilder.com, a platform that matches reliable tradespeople to homeowners, 24 percent of Brits would like a full ban on fake grass. This is supported by more recent data from MyBuilder.com, which shows that enquiries for artificial grass installation are down 48 percent year on year. 

The new research showed that while a quarter of Brits would support a ban, a third (33 percent) believed that there should be measures put in place to limit the usage of such materials, to help protect the environment. While 57 percent overall stated they would never install artificial grass in their garden, the over 55s were even more anti, with a massive 68 percent saying they would not consider it.

Geographically there were some interesting variations in opinion. The Welsh were the most against artificial grass, with 34 percent suggesting that a full ban should be put in place, while in Northern Ireland only 18 percent felt the same.

Across cities, there was also a wide variation, including:

• Bristol was the most in support of a ban, with 38 percent stating they would welcome it
• Cardiff was right behind with 36 percent in support
• In Edinburgh, 29 percent were in support, and traditionally “green” Brighton saw a 27 percent vote for a ban
• Newcastle was the least in support of a ban, with just 9 percent stating they would support one

For a more details list of geographical results and full report, visit https://www.mybuilder.com/blog/artificial-grass-ban. 

This research supports data released by MyBuilder.com in June that showed that:

• Year on year demand for artificial grass is 48% lower
• Demand for artificial grass in 2023 is 66% lower than in the same time period in 2021
• Demand for garden maintenance is higher than ever, with an increase of 15% YoY in May and 87% increase for 2023 compared to 2021

Expert landscaper James Lewis, who works with MyBuilder.com, said recent negativity about artificial grass in the media - plus the Welsh Government’s attempt to introduce a ban - have caused the public to start to turn against it.

“I’m not surprised to see these results, and it certainly seems that more people are deciding against installing artificial grass in their garden.

“While it’s not for everyone, and there are some obvious concerns for its “green” credentials, there are still benefits to having an artificial lawn. 

“If you are thinking about it, we’d advise you to carefully weigh up the pros and cons before investing in it.”

The ever-popular GIMA trend report is set to return this September with three webinars confirmed, each providing delegates informative and interactive insight into those trends that are set to shape consumer desires, attitudes and aesthetics in 2025.

Created in partnership with trend expert, Scarlet Opus – GIMA’s long-term trend partners, the report will explore what’s driving change and the fundamental shifts impacting consumer behaviour.  With a keen focus on gardening and outdoor living, this is the only content of its kind available in the UK and will address everything from colour and materials to shapes, patterns and textures. 

Taking place on September 12th, 13th and 14th, the team from Scarlet Opus will use the webinars to delve deeper into those trends that will shape garden retail in 2025.  Not only this but they will walk delegates through how this exclusive content can help future proof new product development, visual merchandising, packaging and marketing plans.

Every webinar delegate will receive direct access to the online event, where Scarlet Opus will present the report. A copy of the webinar recording, plus an exclusive e-book, will also be made available to delegates post-event, unveiling even more of the research and consumer marketing content that was gathered whilst identifying the trends.

GIMA Director, Vicky Nuttall said: “We’re excited to have Scarlet Opus onboard once again to guide us through this trend forecast. The level of detail and insight that they have provided previously has been lauded for its incredible value by previous delegates and I have no doubt that those in attendance this September will echo these sentiments. Having the ability to plan ahead is vital for futureproofing, and for standing out in a crowded marketplace, and I know that our 2023 delegates will be demonstrative come the 2025 season – watch this space!”  

To find out more, or to book your place for the webinar, please visit www.gima.org.uk or call 01959 564947.

To find out more about the forthcoming Scarlet Opus – 2025 Insights and Trends Report please visit www.gima.org.uk/events/scarlet-opus-2025-insights-and-trends-report/

A group of horticultural social media influencers, led by radio stars The Bearded Growers, have rallied in support of Greenfingers charity with a series of sponsored walks this month.

On Saturday 1st July, The Bearded Growers organised for two simultaneous hikes to take place, gathering a top team of fellow gardener Instagrammers to take on the challenges with them.

Coming together as strangers in aid of the gardening industry’s most cherished charitable cause were: Marc (@thegardenriddler), Nat (@home_at_springcottage) and Chris (groovygardeninguk) - who all hiked 15 miles from Fledbrough along the old railway all the way to Lincoln, finishing up at Lincoln Cathedral.

Whilst at the same time, Bearded Grower, Chris Bishop (Bish) and Benjamin Shutler (@Plot_27b) took on the Malvern ‘End-to-End Hike’. This was meant to be a 9-mile course but ended up being more than twice that distance on account of them getting a bit lost!  Showing true dedication in the face of blustery winds and torrential downpours was Bish who even walked part of the route in his underwear! (Other Bearded Grower JJ took on the role of support crew).

United in their common goal, the social media stars not only forged great new friendships along the way but together raised more than £2,800 for Greenfingers charity - an incredible achievement.

Documenting their efforts across social media also meant that thousands of followers and fellow gardeners were able to learn more about the amazing work done by Greenfingers, which provides beautiful gardens for children’s hospices around the UK.

Commenting on their activities, Bearded Grower, Bish said: “Hiking the Malverns was a mental and physical challenge, but nothing compared to the challenges these kids face every single day - and so to be able to support the amazing work Greenfingers does is truly humbling. If anyone else would like to donate to the cause, there is still time to do so via our JustGiving page at: www.justgiving.com/team/beardedgrowers - thank you!”

Linda Petrons, Director of Fundraising & Communications at Greenfingers, said: “We are truly over the moon by the support we’ve had from The Bearded Growers and their amazing #HikeSquad, and it never ceases to amaze me what people will do on behalf of Greenfingers charity. It’s an incredible achievement, not only because of the much-needed funds that have been raised, but because they’ve done so much to raise awareness for our cause amongst their thousands of followers.”

Find out more

Further information regarding Greenfingers Charity can be found at www.greenfingerscharity.org.uk.

You can also join in the conversation with Greenfingers via social media - @Greenfingerscharity on Instagram,https://www.facebook.com/Greenfingerscharity/, @GreenfingersCha on Twitter and LinkedIn.

With Perennial’s impact on people’s lives revealed as greater than ever, the charity helping people in horticulture is calling for the industry to help sustain its community.

The charity’s 2022 Impact Report and recent figures show the pressing need for its services across the industry. 24,000 preventative services and activities were delivered last year, with 1,895 people and their families receiving direct personal support to improve their lives.

During the first half of 2023, Perennial provided services to 1,184 people, compared to 897 in the first half of 2022. This steep increase of 31% highlights the urgent need for increased support for Perennial’s work from the industry.

Perennial’s vision is for all those who work with plants, trees, flowers or grass to know about Perennial and how it can help. The charity relies on and is grateful to those demonstrating a commitment to support the horticultural community and invest in its future. In 2022:

• 123 businesses were part of Perennial’s Partner Scheme contributing £93k worth of funding.
• Four major wholesale nurseries collaborated to form Plants for Perennial. The joint initiative is an example of how businesses can work together to raise funds and awareness through plant sales.
• 45 businesses supported employees through Perennial’s mental health first aiders’ pilot scheme that was launched to create a culture of mental wellbeing in the workplace.
• 700 trade show visitors monitored their health using Perennial's health kiosk, blood pressure checks and grip strength tests.

Perennial’s Chief Executive Peter Newman says: “This report highlights our impact on thousands of lives in 2022 thanks in large measure to our generous supporters and volunteers. We help those facing challenging times as well as providing advice and guidance to prevent small issues from becoming big problems. We enable people to be more in control of their health, financial and social wellbeing. With dedicated online resources, tools and apps alongside our one-on-one support services, we aim to offer something of benefit to everyone within the UK’s horticultural community and ask the industry to show its support and help us spread the word.”

“We recognise the important role that Perennial plays in providing essential support to horticulture and we want to keep being a part of that,” says Steve Walley, Managing Director, London Stone – Diamond Perennial Partner.

A better quality of life is within reach for everyone in horticulture. Through its services surrounding health and wellbeing, networks and financial wellbeing Perennial will continue to improve lives. The horticulture industry can help by spreading the word about Perennial and by raising funds to support its work.

Read more about Perennial’s impact on the lives and futures of people in horticulture at perennial.org.uk/impactreport2022.

Free services for people in horticulture that the industry can promote are:

• Nudge, the free personalised money management tool introduced to help improve people’s financial wellbeing with relevant financial information that can have a positive impact on their money management. 115 people took control of their money and financial wellbeing within the first few weeks of its launch.
• A Health & Wellbeing platform and app offered to support the body, mind and life, with people regularly engaging with recipe ideas, fitness plans, meditations, articles, podcasts and videos. 420 users were guided by the health and wellbeing app last year.
• Help with training - Upskilling and training support trebled in 2022 compared to 2021, enabling 76 people to enhance their careers.
• Helpline: For advice, information and support use the online Services Contact Form at perennial.org.uk/services-contact-form or call 0800 093 8543.

Pictured (left to right): Paul Gooding – Vitax’s chairman; Claire Buck and Andy Gurney – Vitax directors; with Stuart Wiles – regional director for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity in the East Midlands

Vitax has renewed its horticultural partnership with ABF The Soldiers’ Charity through donating £10,000 to help the organisation continue its vital work with soldiers, veterans and their immediate families.

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity (ABF) is the Army’s official national charity and supports the army family through life’s challenges, including helping wounded soldiers to adapt to life after service, to assisting elderly veterans to keep their independence.

Vitax announced its initial partnership with the charity in 2017 and the company’s most recent donation adds to the £26,000 it has previously raised to assist ABF’s work.

Paul Gooding, Vitax’s chairman, says: “Vitax initially started working with with ABF in 2017 through the sale of promotional packs of Q4, with the partnership being as much about raising funds as it was about raising awareness and visibility of the charity.

“Since then, we have raised £26,000, mainly through the sale of Q4, and have been looking at additional opportunities of how we could continue to help make a difference.

“Vitax has a natural alignment with ABF as many beneficiaries have taken up gardening to improve their health and wellbeing or pursued a career in horticulture, and we’re thrilled to be able to support the charity once again in its life-changing work.”

The funds previously raised have helped ABF continue to award individual grants that address immediate needs, such as providing mobility equipment to help injured veterans stay active and independent, and funding training to help service leavers find rewarding civilian careers.

Receiving the donation following a visit to Vitax’s head-quarters in Coalville, Stuart Wiles, regional director for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity in the East Midlands, says: “It’s fantastic to renew our partnership with Vitax who have been invaluable advocates of the charity for several years.

“This year’s generous donation will not only go towards our continued support of beneficiaries, but also grants to partner charities, including those delivering specialist horticultural therapy to soldiers, veterans and their families.

“We, like many other charities, rely on partnerships like the one we have with Vitax, to be able to deliver complex treatments to some of our Army family in times of need, especially with the current cost of living crisis and its ongoing impact.

“During the past 12 months, ABF have provided funds to support over 70,000 people in 45 countries, which is why organisations such as Vitax play such a pivotal role.”

To find out more about Vitax, visit: www.vitax.co.uk.

To find out more about ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, visit: www.soldierscharity.org

Employees of garden furniture, grow your own and decorative garden structure specialist, Zest have raised £9,021 for Dementia UK by tacking the Three Peaks Challenge. The team smashed its £6,000 target.  

The specialist dementia nurse charity was voted the company’s charity of the year for 2023. 

Working with colleagues from other divisions in the P&A Group, a team of ten employees travelled from Zest’s distribution centre in Saltney, North Wales, to Ben Nevis in Scotland on Friday 30^th June travelling onto to Scafell Pike in the Lake District before completing the challenge at Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) on Saturday 1^st July.  The venture meant a 23-mile hike with a total ascent of 3,064 metres, despite dismal weather and injuries which led to four team members completing the challenge at Snowdon one week later than originally planned. 

Andrew Baker, Zest’s Finance Director who was one of the team commented, “Given the travel issues and very poor weather, it’s been an extraordinary achievement by all involved.  And a great team effort which has raised a huge amount for Dementia UK – I am so proud of everyone who took part!”

Over the last 13 years, Zest employees have raised over £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.

Dementia UK has specialist dementia nurses – known as Admiral Nurses - who provide support and develop life-changing care for families affected by all forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. Admiral Nurses help families manage complex needs – considering the person living with dementia and the people around them – and they can advise other healthcare professionals. They also help people living with dementia to stay independent for longer.

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.

Anyone wishing to sponsor the team and donate to Dementia UK, can do so here

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.

with all the news direct to your e-mail inbox.  The best news service every weekend and all the breaking news as it happens.

Subscribe for free using this link

The 2023 annual IPPS (International Plant Propagators Society) European conference is drawing closer, with a number of exciting visits and lectures lined up. 

This year’s conference, titled ‘It’s all about the Roots’, runs from Wednesday 11th to Friday 13th October 2023, and will be based in Comwell Koge, Denmark, and will include visits to both Sweden and Denmark.  

Speakers throughout the three-day conference will cover a range of subjects such as Vertical Farming, Naturalistic Planting and Biodiversity, with an excellent itinerary of nursery visits including Spendor Plant, Jonstorp – Scandianavia’s largest nursery, and Gennar Christensens Planteskole, where delegates will be able to see excellent horticultural practices and new technology in action.  

The main purpose of the IPPS, which is a global organisation, is to seek and share information about plant propagation, plant production and plant promotion. The three-day conference allows plenty of opportunities for networking with other delegates.

The conference is open to both members and non-members, from across the sectors, and students are most welcome to attend.  More information and a booking form can be found on www.ipps.org

Only one more month to go until the second autumn edition of PLANTARIUM|GROEN-Direkt – the greenest, largest garden plant fair in the Netherlands.

On 23 and 24 August 2023 visitors arriving at the fair’s entrance will be welcomed by six outdoor exhibitors, hot coffee and the scanning team.

A few steps on and you’ll find yourself surrounded on all sides by the fair, filled to the very last square metre with stands, presentations of the products submitted for the Green Retail Awards, and GROEN-Direkt’s Autumn Fair featuring 5,000 sample batches, a concepts plaza and the presale of Christmas trees.

A visit to PLANTARIUM|GROEN-Direkt will bring you right up-to-date on everything going on in the field of garden plants. Leading growers from within and outside the Netherlands will be represented, but also smaller relevant growers with their surprising products. The fair will offer you a tremendously wide range of products - from aquatic plants, shrubs and perennials of many different species and sizes to avenue trees. “With our exhibitors, outdoor presentations, novelties and plenty of inspiration for ways of showing all the plants to their best advantage at the outlets, the fair will offer something to suit everyone’s wishes. Garden centre and wholesale buyers will be delighted! Also good to know is that this edition will boast more than 50 new Dutch and foreign exhibitors, making our range larger and more complete than ever,“ says fair manager Marjolein Wieckardt.

Green Retail Awards

The international retailers Jardiland, Plantagen and Dobbies Garden Centres will be represented at the fair. They will evaluate the plants submitted for the Best Market Innovation, one of the categories of the Green Retail Awards contests. The other categories are Best Novelty (inspected by the KVBC (Royal Boskoop Horticultural Society) jury) and the Visitors’ Favourite (chosen by the visitors).

Fair director Linda Hoogendoorn: “Our aim as the organisers of this fair is to promote developments in the field of innovation and expansion of the range. This is why we offer a platform for novelties and new market concepts, and why we introduced the Best Market Innovation inspection last year. This year, the winning product will be included in the range of the Intratuin chain of garden centres. This is a new development: every year we are going to ask a different retailer to include the winner in their range”. Plants are already being submitted for the Green Retail Awards. The closing date for registration for the contest via the website is 7 August 2023.

Start of the new season

The autumn edition of PLANTARIUM|GROEN-Direkt will mark the start of the new season. The exhibitors will be introducing their new ranges, growers and breeders will present their new varieties for inspection, and concept growers will show their new shop presentations. A visit to the fair on 23 or 24 August will be an absolute must for any garden plant buyer who wants to be well prepared for the new season. Many buyers from within and outside the Netherlands have already registered their visit via the website.

About PLANTARIUM|GROEN-Direkt

PLANTARIUM|GROEN-Direkt will take place in and around GROEN-Direkt’s hall at the International Trade Centre in Hazerswoude/Boskoop, the Netherlands, on 23 and 24 August 2023, from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. (4 p.m. on the Thursday). More information can be found at the website. The fair is exclusively accessible to professional visitors after prior registration via the website. Prior registration will guarantee quick access to the fair!

BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine has achieved a major milestone with its May 2023 issue, which has become the highest revenue generating monthly in the UK in 15 years.

The issue's success is testament to its engaging editorial content and the inclusion of the annual 2-for-1 Gardens Entry Card and Guide.

The May issue of BBC Gardeners’ World magazine sold 164,576 copies on the newsstand, generating £1.4m in Retail Sales Value (RSV), an increase of 6.3% YoY. The magazine's success was supported by an extensive trade marketing and promotional campaign, as well as a PR campaign that generated national television and print coverage.

One of the standout features of the May issue is the reusable 2-for-1 gardens entry card and guide, which offers readers 2-for-1 entry to 416 gardens nationwide.

Catriona Bolger, Managing Director of BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine adds: "We were thrilled to see such a positive response from gardeners and garden visitors alike to our May 2023 issue. Once again, the appeal of the 2-for-1 Gardens scheme has been confirmed with readers recognising the great savings the card delivers at many of the country’s most beautiful gardens.”

BBC Gardeners’ World has been a trusted source of gardening advice and inspiration for over 30 years, and its success reflects the dedication and hard work of its team. The magazine has continued to evolve and adapt to the changing needs of its readers, and this achievement is a testament to its ongoing success. For more information about BBC Gardeners’ World and its latest issue, please visit the magazine’s website at www.gardenersworld.com.

The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) announces the International Expo Conference programme. On Monday 18 September, the International Horticultural Expo Conference will take place as part of the AIPH 75th Annual Congress (17-21 September 2023) in South Korea, alongside the 2023 Suncheonman International Garden Expo.

The conference allows the organisers of forthcoming AIPH-approved Expos to share updates on their progress. These Expos are famous for their breath-taking displays of flowers and plants and for bringing people closer to nature. They also leave a positive environmental impact on the host city for up to six months, prioritising the creation of green spaces and inspiring citizens with the beauty of plants and flowers.

AIPH has been regulating and approving these International Horticultural Expos for more than six decades, and every Expo is carefully monitored to ensure it meets the highest standards.

Delegates attending the International Expo Conference will have the chance to take a tour of the 2023 Suncheonman International Garden Expo. This AIPH-approved category B International Horticultural Expo is proving to be a resounding success since its inauguration by South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-Yeol, with over 150,000 visitors attending on the opening day alone and more than five million visitors within three months.

With the theme ‘We Live In The Garden’ the park site spans an impressive 193 hectares and encompasses three locations: the Suncheon Bay Wetlands, Suncheon Bay National Garden, and downtown Suncheon.

The National Garden is the legacy of the AIPH-approved International Suncheon Bay Garden Expo 2013, Korea’s first international horticultural Expo to showcase stunningly landscaped gardens, lakes, hills, and thousands of flowers and trees. Its aim was to preserve Suncheon Bay by creating a park garden between the wetlands and the city, and it has since become a popular tourist attraction.

The Expo Conference is an excellent opportunity to learn about future International Horticultural Expos and how to host or participate in future World and International Horticultural Expos, and there are plenty of opportunities to network with Expo organisers, city representatives, urban developers, landscape designers, NGOs, international city and environmental organisations, and suppliers to major events.

AIPH thanks AIPH 75th Congress Headline Sponsor Biblo and Expo Conference Partners AGES – Association of Global Event Suppliers and the International Garden Tourism Conference. There will also be representatives attending from the AIPH Expo Preferred Partner programme.

For more information, visit the AIPH Website.

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.”

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."

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.

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. "

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