In This Issue
25% more gardening sets new April record
Phenomenal year of sales for Natural Grower
Ergrownomics - The future of raised planters and beds
Plant sales continue to flourish
Catering Design Group strengthens team with key appointments
Garden Re-Leaf Day 2021 raises over £75,000
ecofective launches ‘greener’ packaging solutions
Team from RHS Garden Wisley pick-up more donated Mangaves from Wyevale Nurseries
Ignite sales this summer with Honey & Wild garden décor
Unprecedented Demand - Record Easter garden centre sales lead to stock shortages - Read GTN's April issue on-line now
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
Dobbies teams up with Butterfly Conservation in latest podcast episode
Lights, action, lets get growing
Grow Your Own matches April high
Growing media sales are 43% above average for April
The best of last week's
Dobbies No 71 opens in Boston, Lincolnshire
Tong’s new garden centre plans deferred
RocketGro introduces a new range of 100% peat free, organic soil improver and chemical free fertilisers
spoga+gafa cancelled for 2021
Webbs wins UK Best Workplace™ 2021 award
Perrywood get growing for Hampton Court Garden Festival
Barton Grange Christmas 2020 - Exclusive GTN Xtra Photo Tour
Squires Badshot Lea - Christmas 2020
Perrywood at Christmas 2020 - with correct photo gallery now...
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
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All the latest news from the world of pet products
Monkton Elm Pet Centre stops the sale of rabbits
New Wildlife Barley Straw Bugs offer alternative to unsightly bales
CSJ’s new bags pay tribute to popular dog sports
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25% more gardening sets new April record
Exclusive GTN Bestsellers analysis

April 2021 garden centre trading was an all-time record for volume sales, even topping the previous high for the month set back in 2011...


 

April 2021 garden centre trading was an all-time record for volume sales, even topping the previous high for the month set back in 2011.

 

The GTN Bestsellers All Products Index for April 2021 is 25% ahead of April 2019 and 23% ahead of the average for April trading between 2011 and 2019. It's now fair to say there's about a quarter more gardening going on in the UK as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

More cold, windy weather caused overall sales to dip slightly last week but they were still 18% ahead of sales in the same week of 2019.

 

 

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week in 2019: week 18.

  • Garden Products Top 50 – up 11%
  • Growing Media Top 50 – up 32%
  • Veg 2 Gro Top 50 – down 6%
  • Wild Bird & Wildlife Care Top 50 – down 1%

GTN Bestsellers All Sales volumes compared to the same week in 2019: week 18.

  • All Plants with Barcode index – up 14%
  • All Items with Barcode index – up 18%

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

Phenomenal year of sales for Natural Grower
GTN Xtra Promotion

Natural Grower are having another phenomenal year of sales in 2021 with their organic and vegan approved natural fertiliser products. When shutdown happened in 2020 their online sales went through the roof.


 

Natural Grower are having another phenomenal year of sales in 2021 with their organic and vegan approved natural fertiliser products. When shutdown happened in 2020 their online sales went through the roof.

 

Director of Natural Grower ,Charlotte Beaty, said: "Overnight it went bonkers with online sales and we were fulfilling orders from 8am in the morning to 10pm at night.

 

"The demand for approved organic, eco-friendly and pet-safe products has risen exponentially over the last 18 months as people appreciate more and more that we all need to reduce the use of chemicals in our gardens.

 

"We are delighted that garden centres are recognising this and moving towards stocking more eco-friendly, chemical free products. Burstons have our products in their Eco Garden section and our eco-friendly products are also championed by Burford as they move to stock more chemical free products.

 

"The number of garden centres stocking our products has also increased considerably for 2021, with Blue Diamond, British Garden Centres, Longacres and Squires all on board.

 

"Our list of online retailers has also increased with Crocus, Hayloft, Waitrose and Abel & Cole all stocking and replenishing their stock on a very regular basis."

 

The Natural Grower range of products includes their Natural Liquid Fertiliser in 2 litre bottles and 10 litre jerry cans, and their Natural Plant Feed and Soil Conditioner in 1 litre pouches, 16 Litre Tubs and 50 litre bags.

 

Approved by the Soil Association, Organic Farmers and Growers, the BioDynamic Association and the Vegan Society, their range of products provide the traceable guarantee that gardeners are now looking for.

 

With plenty of stock available for new accounts, contact Charlotte via sales@naturalgrower.co.uk to discuss stocking Natural Grower through 2021. 

Ergrownomics - The future of raised planters and beds
GTN Xtra Promotion

 

Ergrownomics was begun by a father-and son team in rural Herefordshire, with one goal in mind: to break the mould, and manufacture a sustainable, high-quality raised planter, in the UK.

 

"We’re on a mission to do things differently, and to offer consumers a real opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint and plastic waste..."


Ergrownomics was begun by a father-and son team in rural Herefordshire, with one goal in mind: to break the mould, and manufacture a sustainable, high-quality raised planter, in the UK.

 

"We’re on a mission to do things differently, and to offer consumers a real opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint and plastic waste, learn about food provenance, and eat nutritious, organically grown fresh-produce - without the air miles or chemical residues.

 

"With Ergrownomics, we’ve set out to modernise vegetable gardening – making it comfortable, simple, clean and efficient – through a mixture of excellent functionality and dedicated guidance. We want everyone to be able to grow their own, and don’t believe that experience or available space should be a barrier!

 

"We’ve spent over seven years on crop-variety research and product-design – meticulously growing together, testing and trialling in our own planters at home – and we’ve revolutionised container-growing in the process."

 

Jamie Bending graduated from Durham University in 2019 and and returned home, wanting to take “Ergrownomics” from a prototype set-up that his father and had developed for their own needs, into a system that could provide repeatable, quality results for everyone. 

 

"With this in mind, I set out to condense the research we’d undertaken together, channelling our own insights of real-world container-growing to offer a planter that could meet the challenges of the modern gardener, and make “no-dig” vegetable gardening as easy as possible!

 

"Our planters have been designed from the ground-up to take small-space gardening beyond a recreation - with sustainability at the heart of our beliefs. We never want to sell the same planter, twice; with that in mind, we offer a class-leading 10-year warranty, made our range fully recyclable at end-of-life, offer containers made from recycled materials, and use compostable packaging wherever possible.

 

"We’ve made our planters to be passed on, not thrown out, and because of their fully modular and portable design – they can expand from a single container fitting a small balcony, to large garden kits filling the interiors of greenhouses – growing as the confidence grows, and letting the growing experience expand, rather than replace!

 

"Our planters provide ‘real-world’ functionality for home-growing in compact spaces, including a drip-irrigation system (and two part filter drainage – to keep everything clean!), patented plant training system (allowing crops to be grown at high densities), and a customisable leg length, to ensure a comfortable working height (as well as preventing back-strain)!

 

"And finally – because we’re serious about building things that last – our planters are manufactured using rotationally moulded (food-safe) MDPE, galvanised steel, brass and aluminium. It’s a no compromise approach, but it means that all our planters have a design-life of 50 years, outdoors!"

 

 

 

 

Why work with us?

• We’re a family run business, designing & manufacturing all our products in the United Kingdom.
• We offer high levels of customisation across our range, allowing your customers to spec without compromise, and still offer quick and direct fulfilment on your behalf.
• Our planters open gardening to a growing market, including Renters, Beginners & Small Garden Owners. Our planters can strengthen the sale of seeds, sundries and accessories to these groups – by making gardening simpler and more accessible.
• We’re a small, on-trend & creative company with strong sustainability values, a compelling brand image, and available exclusively from only high-quality retailers, like yourself! Working with us offers something new and exciting to your customers, and demonstrates your commitment to sourcing creative & quality products from within the UK.
• We’re an enthusiastic team, and are keen to work productively with suppliers to showcase both our Planters and their products in the best possible light. We’re very happy to visit and offer exhibitions and demonstrations on homegrowing.

 

Also available

  • Greenhouse kits (Imperial)
    Polytunnels kits (Metric)
    Irrigation Packs
    Automated Irrigation Systems with timers
    Individual Plant Dripper Packs
    Pipe Extension Kits
    Plant Training
    Sample Plant Training Packs
    Plant Training Packs
    Plant Protection
    Container Cloche
    Copper Protection Bars


Contact
Info@ergrownomics.co.uk
Jamie@ergrownomics.co.uk
www.ergrownomics.co.uk

 

Ergrownomics
Spring Cottage,
Walterstone Common,
Herefordshire,
HR2 0DT
Tel: 07568 521648

 

 
Plant sales continue to flourish

April 2021 plant sales set a new record for the month, not far behind the all-time high recorded in GTN Bestsellers of May 2018. When this cold weaher breaks and it warms up, who knows we could be looking to break that record too!


 

April 2021 plant sales set a new record for the month, not far behind the all-time high recorded in GTN Bestsellers of May 2018.

 

When this cold weaher breaks and it warms up, who knows we could be looking to break that record too!

 

All Plants volume sales change: Week on week DOWN 12.2%. Year to date vs 2020 UP 226.0%, vs  2019 UP 21.0%.

 

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

Catering Design Group strengthens team with key appointments

Daventry based Catering Design Group has strengthened its team with a number of key appointments following 2020’s acquisition of the business by Interefurb Ltd...


 

Daventry based Catering Design Group has strengthened its team with a number of key appointments following 2020’s acquisition of the business by Interefurb Ltd. 

 

Following a review of the business and a strong pipeline of opportunities for 2021 and beyond Gary Crosbie MD of the well renowned business, who celebrate their 30th year this year, said “Building on the legacy of Phil and Gill Howard the businesses founders, it is absolutely the right time to breath some new life into CDG and these key appointments will ensure the business is in great shape to take on a growing ‘post-pandemic’ order book. This strategic move will also allow us to push forward into new markets and territories to the benefit of both CDG and Interefurb to offer a true ‘turnkey solution’ to clients in the foodservice, hotel, leisure and retail markets. I’m so proud that not only have we attracted significant new talent to the business to provide fresh thinking and a new approach to what we do, but we have also welcomed back a number of team members who understand our business implicitly and have excellent relationships and partnerships within our industry”.

 

Russ Scanlon joins as Business Director to drive the CDG business forward from a sales, marketing, operations and commercial perspective. Having spent a number of years in senior leadership positions within foodservice / contract catering with Compass Group, Lexington and most recently Bartlett Mitchell his consultancy, business development and operational experience will be a huge asset in driving forward a new business strategy and 5-year plan. Russ explains “CDG have an excellent reputation to build upon within our industry, and I’m delighted to be joining the business at such a critical time to support Gary with his future aspirations for the CDG business and partnership with Interefurb. As many people will know I relish coupling exciting design, food concepts and new ideas with a total understanding of the operational practicalities to make things work. The fact we have such a massively talented design team, led by Mike Sinclair, will make this part of the job a total pleasure”.

 

 

In the design team Karl Oldham returns to the business after a 10-year hiatus as Senior Design Consultant. Supporting Mike, Karl will help lead a growing team of Design and Interiors consultants working across the businesses. Karl is joined in the team by Alisha Mistry as Concept Visualiser bringing further great resource ‘in house’. Alisha also returns to CDG having spent a year on placement from her BA in Interior Architecture and Design from Nottingham Trent University in 2016/17.

 

To support the delivery and execution of a growing number of projects Ben Pitcher joins the business as Project Manager following 10 successful years at Western Blueprint. His energy, enthusiasm and experience will be a great addition to the team and his recent CFSP Accreditation shows a great commitment and dedication to his craft.

 

To ensure the business is firing on all cylinders, after 16 years with CDG Laura Harries is deservedly promoted from Office Manager to Operations Manager to support the business administration and operational function. A great asset to the business what Laura doesn’t know about CDG isn’t worth knowing, and she is joined by final new recruit for this month Rosie Neary as Project Administrator. Rosie started her working carer in hospitality, covering all sectors within the hotel industry. Since then, she’s has worked as part of a team for a small local company managing the days to day administrational duties.

 
Garden Re-Leaf Day 2021 raises over £75,000

Despite being apart, this year’s Garden Re-Leaf Day saw the charity’s supporters come together like never before as it has been confirmed that the 2021 event has now raised in excess of £75,000...


Despite being apart, this year’s Garden Re-Leaf Day saw the charity’s supporters come together like never before as it has been confirmed that the 2021 event has now raised in excess of £75,000!

 

From acts of endurance including mammoth walking, cycling, running and even skipping challenges, to virtual quizzes, head shaving, product donations, free design consultancy and mowing contests, this year’s event was full of incredible FUNdraising efforts from across the garden retail sector. Suppliers and retailers pulled together teams, that despite the challenges faced by the pandemic, managed to clock up thousands of miles, millions of steps, shaved heads, endless memories and a lifetime of smiles for this much-loved annual fundraising event, which also celebrated its 10th anniversary this March.

 

Special thanks goes to so many of this year’s Garden Re-Leaf Day supporters, including AMES, Ann-Marie Powell, Boyd Douglas-Davies and the teams at British Garden Centres, Capi Europe, Deco-Pak, Evergreen Garden Care, Garden Trade News, Gardenforum, GIMA, Glee, Growing Solutions, Hayloft Plants, Hornby Whitefoot PR, Hozelock, HTA, Kew Green Hotels, Klondyke, Millbrook Garden Centres, P de Jager, Perrywood Garden Centre, Plants 2 Gardens, Poplars Garden Centre, Primeur, Primrose Hill Nurseries, QVC, Richard Jacksons Garden, Scotscape, Sims Garden Machinery, Stihl, The Garden Design Consultancy, the Greenfingers team, and Thompson and Morgan.

 

Boyd Douglas-Davies, founder of Garden Re-Leaf Day said: “When the idea for Garden Re-Leaf Day formed 10 years ago, I had no idea that the event would become a much-loved event on the industry’s calendar. To date the effort of all those that have supported Garden Re-Leaf Day over the years has helped to raise in excess of £775,000 which is a such a fantastic number. From myself, the Greenfingers Charity team and all those children, families and carers that have benefited from a Greenfingers garden, thank you. We are so grateful for your ongoing support and enthusiasm to support the Greenfingers Charity’s flagship fundraiser.”

 

Talking about the 2021 event, Greenfingers Chairman, Sue Allen said: “On Garden Re-Leaf Day I along with my daughter Tammy and two other crazy ladies from Millbrook Garden Centres decided to Brave the Shave!  In bright sunshine, but with a brisk breeze around the ears, members of our families took secret delight in shaving our heads to raise money to support the work of the charity. We are thrilled that losing our lockdown locks raised an incredible £20,000. 

 

“I personally, as Chairman, am even more thrilled that so many of you contributed to such an amazing Garden Re-leaf fund-raising total when our normal income streams are hampered. What a great lot you are, coming up with so many daft and ambitious ways to raise those precious pounds. 

 

“Thank you to everyone who contributed, but a particular mention for the generosity of Barton Grange that really spurred Tammy and I to greater heights (or shorter lengths!) and inspired us both to increase our personal FUNdraising target of £10k to £20k. When you consider a garden can cost anything from £60,000, that puts it into perspective.”

 

Sue’s sentiments were echoed by Deco-Pak’s Craig Hall, who is also a Greenfingers ambassador and long-term supporter of Garden Re-Leaf Day. He said: “Garden Re-Leaf Day has always been a key date in our diary, but we knew this year was going to be a little different due to the ongoing pandemic. Couple this with the fact that 2021 marks Garden Re-Leaf’s 10th anniversary and we knew we had to do something big, and something that brought the team together despite like never before.

 

“I am incredibly proud of the Deco-Pak team and what we have achieved together and are so grateful to everyone that has already donated to our fundraising efforts. Thank you to each and every one of you. It really does make all the difference when the tiredness is kicking in!”

 

Paul North, Managing Director of AMES, added: “We at AMES were humbled by the effort put forth by the team to support Garden Re-Leaf Day; a great event raising money for a worthwhile cause.”

 

Also speaking about the event, Mark Portman, Evergreen Garden Care’s Managing Director said: “Evergreen Garden Care really enjoyed Garden Re-Leaf Day from walking to cycling, horse riding to running and, of course, the quiz! We recognise the importance and more so this year to step away from our usual place of work and step into nature. As always, it's a real pleasure to support Greenfingers through Garden Re-Leaf Day and for all the colleagues across Evergreen we recorded an incredible 1,410,580 steps, as well as meeting our fundraising goal."

 

Linda Petrons, Director of Fundraising and Communications at Greenfingers echoed Boyd’s sentiments, saying; “We can’t thank the industry enough for pulling out all the stops to get involved, especially in a year that has really challenged many of us.  The funds raised from this year’s event will be put to very good use as we work towards giving the gift of a garden to more children’s hospices across the UK, including:  Ty Hafan in Wales, Haven House in Essex, The Nook in East Anglia, Jigsaw Children’s Hospice in Carlisleand Derian House in Chorley.”

 

The date for next year’s Garden Re-Leaf Day is Friday 18th March!

 

Find out more

To find out more about the wonderful work the Greenfingers Charity undertakes please join in the conversation by joining Greenfingers on social media https://www.facebook.com/Greenfingerscharity/,@GreenfingersCha on Twitter, and @Greenfingerscharity on Instagram and LinkedIn.

ecofective launches ‘greener’ packaging solutions

Sipcam Home & Garden has further enhanced its ecofective range of products by offering eco-friendly packaging solutions across the full range. The positive move will help eco-conscious gardeners make better choices regarding the products they use by embracing safer chemical alternatives and reducing waste...


Sipcam Home & Garden has further enhanced its ecofective range of products by offering eco-friendly packaging solutions across the full range. The positive move will help eco-conscious gardeners make better choices regarding the products they use by embracing safer chemical alternatives and reducing waste.

 

As experts in pioneering biotechnology, Sipcam created its ecofective brand to provide environmentally sensitive garden care products that, not only provide effective solutions to common gardening problems, but do so without negatively impacting the environment. Sipcam Home & Garden has now taken that commitment one step further with new ‘greener’ packaging across its entire ecofective® range of garden care products.

 

All bottles are made from 100%-recycled materials and are fully recyclable at end of life. To help reduce plastic waste even further, ecofective now offers a selection of refill options to fill large ready-to-use bottles. A brand-new concept to the range, the 200ml refills contain a concentrated formula that, when mixed with water, can be used to create a new ready-to-use product in an existing ecofective bottle. This means gardeners can continue using their larger bottle and simply recycle the smaller refill, which is better news for the planet! What’s more, the refill bottles occupy a smaller footprint on shelf, freeing up more space for retailers.  Refills are currently available for ecofective‘s Bug & Mildew Control, Bug Control, Plant Disease Defence, Rose Defender, Slug Defence Spray, and Organic Pour & Feed.

 

All of ecofective’s products are made in the UK - meaning they already boast a low carbon footprint - but these latest steps should give gardeners even greater peace of mind, helping them to play a part in the war against single-use plastic.

 

Nigel Thompson, Head of Sales at Sipcam Home & Garden said: “Our latest market research has shown that consumers want to create a thriving garden that is kinder to the planet, whilst keeping their loved ones and animals from harm. To meet this demand, we have developed a range of products that create a safer environment for children, pets and wildlife; meaning everyone can roam free and enjoy the outdoor space. What’s more, our new packaging solutions add an additional ‘reason to buy’ at the point of purchase and help consumers to engage with a brand which takes environmental protection incredibly seriously.”

 

The ecofective brand primarily strives to arm gardeners with very effective alternatives to conventional chemical garden care products and, as testament to its performance, is also used by professional growers. All ecofective formulas are pesticide-free, with eye-catching packaging clearly highlighting all products as ‘child and pet safe’, helping consumers make informed decisions at point of purchase.

 

New additions to the range in 2021 are: Plant Disease Defence, Slug Defence Plant Spray, Anti-Bacterial Multi-Purpose Outdoor Sanitiser, Natural Path, Patio & Decking Cleaner Concentrate, Houseplant Pour & Feed, and Houseplant Bug Control.

 

Find out more

To find out more about the leading product range from Sipcam Home & Garden, visit www.ecofective.uk.com.

 

 

Sipcam Home & Garden’s new product introductions

Plant Disease Defence is a ready-to-use spray that contains natural extracts, specifically derived from fungi. When sprayed onto leaves it elicits the plants natural immune response, building the plant’s resistance to common garden diseases.

 

Another ready-to-use spray, Slug Defence Plant Spray gives plants an ability to withstand slugs or snails, whilst ensuring the slimy pests are all unharmed and that natural predators, such as hedgehogs, amphibians and birds are safe to feed in your garden. The product also contains nutrients to enhance and promote plant growth.

 

The demand for sanitising products skyrocketed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and many consumers were left wanting in their hunt for ‘safer’ cleaning products. Anti-Bacterial Multi-Purpose Outdoor Sanitiser from ecofective® is a natural sanitiser, which helps prevent the spread of harmful bacteria. It is non-hazardous and kills 99.999% of bacteria, helping to clean and sanitise outdoor surfaces, including furniture, door handles, children’s play equipment and BBQ’s.

 

Meanwhile, Natural Path, Patio & Decking Cleaner Concentrate is a natural anti-bacterial cleaner that cleans and disinfects outdoor hard surfaces, including paths, patios, decking, and artificial grass areas. When diluted, the product will clean away dirt, grime and algae, and will also sanitise areas, killing 99.999% of bacteria.

 

As the nation’s love affair with houseplants is still going strong, Sipcam has also launched Houseplant Pour & Feed for 2021. The ready-to-use organic feed requires no mixing, providing added convenience for gardeners. Produced from a blend of natural ingredients, sugars, amino proteins and phosphate, this brand-new feed helps houseplants grow stronger and healthier, giving great results sooner. Suitable for most potted plants grown indoors.

 

Houseplant Bug Control is a ready-to-use pesticide-free spray for safe use on edible and ornamental indoor plants. Designed to control a wide range of pest species, including Whitefly, Aphid, Red Spider Mites, Mealybug, Scale and Psyllid. Due to the physical mode of action, these pests will not become resistant to the application. Houseplant Bug Control also protects against powdery mildew.

Team from RHS Garden Wisley pick-up more donated Mangaves from Wyevale Nurseries

A Royal Horticultural Society team from RHS Garden Wisley has this month picked-up a new collection of Mangave succulents from Wyevale Nurseries in Herefordshire donated in partnership with Plantipp B.V.


 

A Royal Horticultural Society team from RHS Garden Wisley has this month picked-up a new collection of Mangave succulents from Wyevale Nurseries in Herefordshire donated in partnership with Plantipp B.V.

 

Wyevale Nurseries’ Production Manager Kyle Ross recently welcomed Mark Tuson and Toni Brown from RHS Garden Wisley to the company’s Container Division to collect more of the massive Mangaves.

 

Kyle explains: “After a brief, Covid-safe, socially-distanced, tour of our propagation and glasshouses, these impressive, monstrous Mangaves in 10 litre pots were loaded into the Wisley van and on their way down to Woking, where they will be potted up, planted and assessed.”

 

The aim of the donation is to help extend plant research.

 

Wyevale Nurseries has already been evaluating the ‘Mad About Mangave’ collection, managed by Plantipp B.V, for the past four years.

 

 

 Above left, Whale Tale; above right, Bad Hair Day.

 

“In cooperation with Plantipp, we agreed to donate a selection of these new succulents to RHS Garden Wisley at the end of last year and it’s wonderful to now see them off to their new home. The plants will be displayed for the public to see and will undergo further hardiness evaluation.

 

“I’m delighted we have been able to find an excellent home for these beauties. I’ve had them on trial for four years and can’t think of a better place for their final destination. I will keep in touch with Mark and Toni to follow the progress and evaluation of the collection. In the summer, I hope to visit them in person.”

 

Mark Tuson, Team Leader Welcome & Riverside at RHS Garden Wisley, is thrilled with the Mangaves he collected.

 

 

 Above left, Lavender Lady; above right, Inkblot.

 

He says: “We’ll be checking on their hardiness, using winter protection, in the sandy, free draining soil around the sun trap of the Stone Pine Café at RHS Garden Wisley. We’d like lots of people to come along and see these wonderful Mangave in person this and next year!”

 

Peter van Rijssen from Plantipp B.V. hopes that by having the succulents on show in the garden the visiting general public will also have a chance to learn about them and the trial.

 

He says: “I’m delighted our revolutionary collection of Mad about Mangaves is now on show at RHS Garden Wisley. It’s been a wonderful collective effort with Wyevale Nurseries, RHS Garden Wisley and us. These are truly amazing plants and I’m sure they will get lots of attention from staff and visitors alike.”

 

 
Ignite sales this summer with Honey & Wild garden décor

With the garden décor category booming and consumers decorating their gardens with the same care as their interior rooms, Woodlodge’s Honey & Wild range is set to take outdoor decoration to the next level with its inspirational portfolio of products, designed to refresh exterior living this summer...


 

 

With the garden décor category booming and consumers decorating their gardens with the same care as their interior rooms, Woodlodge’s Honey & Wild range is set to take outdoor decoration to the next level with its inspirational portfolio of products, designed to refresh exterior living this summer.   

 

Following the company’s acquisition of The Garden Foundry and Adobe Wholesale in July 2020, and led by Product Development Managers, Martin Kingston and Tara Truman, Woodlodge has curated a new brand and an innovative collection of giftable, decorative garden ornaments and accessories, aimed at gardeners that have an outdoor space which calls out for something a little bit different.

 

Retailers can expect incremental spends as the trend for taking the ‘inside out’ continues with Honey & Wild offering affordable, cool, quirky art and sculptures which inject a flash of character into even the tiniest garden.   Featuring statement pieces that include a stunning range of garden mobiles, windchimes and rain chains, contemporary and traditional outdoor lanterns, elaborate garden arches and plant supports, wall art and in demand garden mirrors, the Honey & Wild brand aims to capture the imagination of a new gardeners who are keen to make bold and colourful statements in their outdoor space.

 

 

With consumers finding comfort from nature during the past year, Honey & Wild’s range of bird feeders will provide the perfect addition to those that want to attract avian visitors to their back yards.  Injecting the fun into wildlife are the Owl and Jay Bird character feeders, resin animal baths and bowls, as well as the award-winning Perched Bird Feeder Stake which scooped a New Product Award at Glee in 2020.

 

Offering year-round appeal with something for every demographic, the Honey & Wild range also includes cast iron figurines, attractive steel wall pot planters, swaying garden balancers, whimsical wooden signs, cute doorstops and garden globes. These have all been designed to have high potential for key gifting periods - such as Easter, Mother’s Day and Christmas.

 

The Honey & Wild range will ignite sales with its in store display concepts which will make this category both commercial and profitable. Make a big impression and attract more customers with our bespoke display stands which include wooden A-frames, tiered stands, floor standing displays and hanging trees.  These are complimented by branded point of sale graphics that will draw the customers eye, promote key products and benefits to shoppers whilst educating on other products they can purchase from your store in future.

 

Managing Director, Michael Wooldridge said: “The Honey & Wild expansion into garden decor marks an incredibly exciting new chapter for Woodlodge.  If lockdown has taught us anything, it’s the importance of our gardens with younger people embracing their green-thumb and engaging with their outdoor spaces in a whole new way.

 

“We’ve continued to source, develop and grow this product category with a passion to deliver exceptional quality products for the garden and gift retail market.  Woodlodge has seen fantastic growth over the last year and we’re looking to follow that success into 2021 with the Honey & Wild collection.”

 

The Honey & Wild range is available now and can be viewed by appointment at the company’s Tetbury showroom.

 

Bespoke display solutions and merchandising support are available for each product range.

 

For more information or a Honey & Wild catalogue, please contact your local sales representative or visit www.woodlodge.co.uk

Unprecedented Demand - Record Easter garden centre sales lead to stock shortages - Read GTN's April issue on-line now

In GTN's April issue of news and information for garden centre professionals:

  • Back to the NEC for Glee!
  • Life – Norfolk Leisure Style
  • 1000 years and growing at Coolings
  • Investment is back on the agenda for garden centres
  • Pictures of a Record Easter from Aylett Nurseries, Burston Garden Centre and Scotsdales
  • Unprecedented demand leads to stock shortages
  • Enhancing our understanding of New Gardeners
  • GIMA Charity Golf Day returns this summer
  • B-bag takes Extreme Lounging to new places
    LOFA Update – Are we over the worst of the shortages?
  • HTA Column – Success Brings Stress

 


Unprecedented Demand - Record Easter garden centre sales lead to stock shortages.  

 

In GTN's April issue of news and information for garden centre professionals:

  • Back to the NEC for Glee!
  • Life – Norfolk Leisure Style
  • 1000 years and growing at Coolings
  • Investment is back on the agenda for garden centres
  • Pictures of a Record Easter from Aylett Nurseries, Burston Garden Centre and Scotsdales
  • Unprecedented demand leads to stock shortages
  • Enhancing our understanding of New Gardeners
  • GIMA Charity Golf Day returns this summer
  • B-bag takes Extreme Lounging to new places
    LOFA Update – Are we over the worst of the shortages?
  • HTA Column – Success Brings Stress

 
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Dobbies teams up with Butterfly Conservation in latest podcast episode

Dobbies has launched the latest episode of its popular podcast, this time in collaboration with Butterfly Conservation to hear more about its ‘Nurture for Nature’ campaign...


 

Dobbies has launched the latest episode of its popular podcast, this time in collaboration with Butterfly Conservation to hear more about its ‘Nurture for Nature’ campaign.

 

In the latest episode, podcast host and gardening writer Louise Midgley is joined by resident BC gardening expert, RHS-trained Anthony McCluskey, who is also the Helping Hands Project Officer at Butterfly Conservation, the UK’s only organisation dedicated to the conservation of butterflies, moths and their environments.

 

In an engaging and enlightening conversation, the pair discuss everything the amateur butterfly enthusiast needs to know about conserving and encouraging butterflies and moths this spring, including which plants, herbs and flowers are a must for building a butterfly-friendly garden. Alongside this, Anthony shares his expert advice on identifying butterflies this season, and provides top tips for those in urban areas or with limited outdoor space who want to play their part in supporting the conservation of butterflies and moths.

 

The episode comes after Dobbies announced its partnership with Butterfly Conservation, supporting its new ‘Nurture for Nature’ campaign, which encourages people to look after themselves by looking after the natural world this spring. The campaign is centred around building a natural world which supports butterflies and moths, which are not only important pollinators, but vital elements of the complex ecosystem that supports the birds and mammals who populate the British countryside. With their continuing decline a serious worry for local wildlife, the campaign encourages ways in which people can help boost their numbers, with the podcast providing an abundance of helpful tips and expert advice.

 

Dr Kate Dent, Director of Engagement at Butterfly Conservation, says: “During spring we can all do our little bit towards helping butterflies, wherever we live. Whether it’s caring for herb seedlings in a window box or planting wildflowers in your garden, we can all join in the drive to Nurture for Nature.”

 

The campaign is also aligned with #sustainabledobbies, as the retailer is committed to educating about the importance of soil health and delivering environmentally-friendly practices and products, and sustainable solutions.

 

Marcus Eyles, Horticultural Director for Dobbies, said: “There has been really great engagement with our #sustainabledobbies campaign so far and we look forward to sharing news of new products, practices and services as we build on this over the year.

 

“We are committed to sharing top tips and advice on the best products that will encourage beneficial wildlife into gardens across the UK – it has been excellent to collaborate with Butterfly Conservation on their spring campaign and this latest podcast.”

 

As well as the episode with Butterfly Conservation, the Dobbies’ podcast is full of handy tips and advice for all, whether you’re a passionate gardener or an enthusiastic novice. From gardening for beginners, and growing your own produce at home, to caring for houseplants and tips on how to more sustainable in the garden, the podcast is home to a wealth of information and interviews with some of Dobbies’ in-house experts and special guests.

 

Listen to the latest episode, and catch up on the whole podcast series via iTunes and Spotify

https://www.dobbies.com/podcasts

 
Lights, action, lets get growing

Core gardening activity pushed April’s garden products volume sales up by 27% vs 2019, but Top 50 volumes didn’t get near the high of April 2017 when enormous volumes of solar lights were purchased...


 

Core gardening activity pushed April’s garden products volume sales up by 27% vs 2019, but Top 50 volumes didn’t get near the high of April 2017 when enormous volumes of solar lights were purchased.

 

Last week, although sales dropped slightly due to the cold weather, there was continued growth in sales for pots and pot feet.

 

Highlights of the week were:

  • Woodlodge 5-inch Standard Spang Pot was the highest re-entry at No 13.
  • Artevesi’s Madagascar Grow Pot Terracotta 11cm was a new entry at No 43.
  • Kaemingk’s Warm White Stainless Steel Solar Stake Light was the highest new entry of the week at No 12. Perhaps a return to high volume solar light sales is on the way…

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

 
Grow Your Own matches April high

Veg-2-Gro sales in April 2021 matched sales volumes set in April 2015 when we had the last Grow Your Own boost...


 

Veg-2-Gro sales in April 2021 matched sales volumes set in April 2015 when we had the last Grow Your Own boost.

 

Highlights of the week were:

  • Quantil Tomato Moneymaker 8cm was the clear bestselling veg plant last week, moving up one place to No 1.
  • Quantil Cucumber Ridge 8cm moved furthest up the chart, from No 35 to No 6. 
  • Suttons Grafted Cucumber F1 Mini Stars is the first of the Suttons Grafted Veg plants to re-enter the chart this year at No 45.

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

 
Growing media sales are 43% above average for April

Growing media sales of the Top 50 Bestselling lines in the GTN Bestsellers Epos data in April 2021 were 43% above the average for the month between 2014 and 2019. Phew!


 

Growing media sales of the Top 50 Bestselling lines in the GTN Bestsellers Epos data in April 2021 were 43% above the average for the month between 2014 and 2019. Phew!

 

And that’s in a month when the weather has been distinctly cold. In a ‘normal cold start to the year’, like in April 2018, we’d have been writing about slow sales of growing media, not such enormous growth as we see right now.

 

Highlights of thew week were:

  • Westland Multipurpose Compost with John Innes 50 litres spends a second week back at No 1.
  • Evergreen Garden Care Miracle-Gro All Purpose Compost 56 litres is the highest chart climber at No 31.
  • Melcourt SylvaGrow Peat Free Multipurpose 50 litres is a re-entry at No 41.

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

 
The best of last week's

If you missed last week's GTN Xtra, below are the most-read stories...


 
Dobbies No 71 opens in Boston, Lincolnshire

Dobbies opened its 71st store, located in Boston Lincolnshire, on Friday 30th April 2021...


See GTN Xtra's exclusive photo tour of the new centre

Dobbies opened its 71st store, located in Boston Lincolnshire, on Friday 30th April 2021.

 

Previously Johnsons Garden Centre, the store has undergone a refurbishment in under two weeks and now offers a full Dobbies garden centre experience for customers, with plants and gardening products; pet department; home and cookshop; books, toys and gifts; as well as seasonal items. Customers are welcomed by the houseplant department as they enter the store.

 

A new look Sainsbury’s foodhall was also unveiled, with a range of high-quality food and grocery products to store. Shoppers at Boston have the opportunity to enjoy a range which includes a variety of ambient, chilled and frozen produce as well as other grocery and household products.

 

The restaurant, which will reopen in line with Government guidelines, has been given a refresh, with the Dobbies’ menu featuring seasonal dishes, customer favourites, dedicated kids’ menu and afternoon tea as well as table service for diners. For opening, a coffee shop menu will be available in an outdoor seating area.

 

Graeme Jenkins, CEO of Dobbies, said: “We had an excellent base to build from with Johnsons Garden Centre – thank you to David Isaac and his team for such a smooth transition.

 

“Our team has worked incredibly hard to enable us open at what is an important season for gardeners – well done to everyone who has contributed to this project. We look forward to welcoming customers to the refreshed Dobbies’ store.”

 

Within the first two hours of opening the team had signed up 2,000 new members to the Dobbies loyalty scheme.

 

Marcus Eyles, Horticultural Director for Dobbies, said: “There has been really great engagement with our #sustainabledobbies campaign so far and we look forward to sharing news of new sustainable products, practices and services that will be available in our Boston store. Our team is committed to helping people across Boston have success with their gardens.”

 

For more information visit www.dobbies.com/sustainability-policy

 
Tong’s new garden centre plans deferred

A decision on whether to allow Tong Garden Centre to build a new £14m store on a former golf course has been postponed...


 

A decision on whether to allow Tong Garden Centre to build a new £14m store on a former golf course has been postponed.

 

Tong’s owners are seeking planning permission to build the new garden centre and soft play area at the old Acanthus Golf Club off Thorpe Lane in Tingley, a development that would create up to 250 jobs.

 

During a Leeds City Council South and West Plans Panel meeting this week, councillors said they were uneasy about building on the site, which technically sits in the green belt, and expressed concerns that the site appeared to only be accessible by car.

 

Coun Barry Anderson said: “I can see the jobs growth benefit, and with the number of housing allocations close to the locality, people will need access to a garden centre. However, I am concerned that this is in the green belt and it could have a negative effect on climate change.”

 

Coun Robert Finnigan supported the application, saying: “I know this site well. It is an eyesore site. Colleagues would have benefited from seeing how grotty and run down this is. It doesn’t enhance green belt, it detracts significantly from it.”

 

The application was deferred for a decision at later date.

 
RocketGro introduces a new range of 100% peat free, organic soil improver and chemical free fertilisers

Launched in March 2021 from their farm in Somerset, RocketGro are excited to be able to introduce their two lead products ‘Magic Mulch’ and ‘Plant Fuel’...


 

Launched in March 2021 from their farm in Somerset, RocketGro are excited to be able to introduce their two lead products ‘Magic Mulch’ and ‘Plant Fuel’.

 

The farm is a specialist AD plant, and the by-product of the anaerobic digestion process is split into a liquid and a fibre (mulch) that are then packaged as RocketGro products. Both Magic Mulch and Plant Fuel are Soil Association Approved.

 

The liquid and mulch have been spread over surrounding farms fields for years as a bio nutrient rich source of NPK and fibre. They are so good at raising yields that no chemical fertilisers are needed on these farms.

 

The crops grown on the farm are then fed back into the AD plant in the form of Maize, Rye, Beet and Grass and so a complete virtuous circle is formed.

 

A 100% eco sustainable product is derived post the production of gas and electricity that is fed into the national grid. The RocketGro product range are 100% Peat Free, Organic and Vegan.

 

A British product, RocketGro believe that the product sells itself, but have added eye catching high spec packaging and design to appeal to a cross generation gardening market.

 

The growing drive for Peat alternatives leaves RocketGro well positioned to take market share as orders come in for the 2022 season.

 

Current production enables the farm to bag 42,000 of the 50 litre bags per week. 

 

The all natural RocketGro ‘Magic Mulch’ is a perfect addition to boost tired compost and poor soil that needs an input of structure and water retaining fibre, particularly good for heavy clay soils. 

 

The chemical free natural ‘Plant Fuel’ is a concentrated liquid plant food for indoor and outdoor plants.

 

10% of profits from the sale of RocketGro products go to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, a charity close to the hearts of the RocketGro family.

 

RocketGro are looking to expand their list of clients to retail their products and have stock available and ready to ship right now with competitive pricing.

 

Please contact the company for further details:

Website: www.rocketgro.co.uk
Email: hello@rocketgro.co.uk

Tel: 07936 928 981

spoga+gafa cancelled for 2021

spoga+gafa, due to take place on 8-10 August, is not going to be staged this year due to the ongoing insecure COVID-19 situation and the related restrictions. The next trade fair will take place at the Cologne fair grounds from 19 to 21 June 2022...


 

The world's largest garden lifestyle trade fair, spoga+gafa, is not going to be staged this year due to the ongoing insecure COVID-19 situation and the related restrictions. It was due to take place on August 8-10.

 

The next trade fair will take place at the Cologne fair grounds from 19 to 21 June 2022.

Even if a survey that was carried out among international visitors and exhibitors at the end of February indicated that postponing the trade fair to August 2021 was an option, ultimately all parties involved have agreed that it will not be possible to conduct a trade fair that would do justice to the spoga+gafa brand at the beginning of August. The new date in June 2022 fits in perfectly with the ordering phase of all participating industries and correspondingly went down well with the exhibitors.

Together with its partners, spoga+gafa is now looking optimistically ahead and looks forward to being able to offer those framework conditions in June 2022 again, which the top international decision-makers, buyers and industry experts from all over the globe await in Cologne.

spoga+gafa will take place as a hybrid trade fair next year at the Cologne fair grounds as well as in digital space in the form of spoga+gafa @home. Once again in 2022, the trade fair will be the place for innovations, new products and trends - for exhibitors, buyers and decision-makers.

 

Gardenex is urging UK companies to contact the Federation for more details on exhibiting in the British pavilion at spoga+gala in 2022. Companies wishing to find out more should email katie-mai@gardenex.com.   

 
Webbs wins UK Best Workplace™ 2021 award

Webbs has been recognised as one of the Top 25 Best Workplaces™ in the UK for 2021 as part of the Great Place To Work™ programme...


Webbs has been recognised as one of the Top 25 Best Workplaces™ in the UK for 2021 as part of the Great Place To Work™ programme.

 

Webbs Garden Centres, with over 350 employees, has been recognised as one of the Top 25 Best Workplaces in the UK for 2021. This award is part of the Great Places To Work programme. This is a fantastic achievement for every individual who works at Webbs and testament to how well the team have pulled together and supported each other particularly through the recent challenging period.

 

To achieve recognition for this award, Webbs took part in a detailed and anonymous survey administered by Great Place® to Work in September 2020. A Trust Index survey® was given to Webbs colleagues and the results represent 3/4 of the final score. The remaining quarter of the score comes from the Culture Audit®, a business-driven questionnaire which uncovers and evaluates the organisation's HR and leadership practices, policies and culture.

 

The programme recognises those organisations with a high-trust and highly engaged workforce. Evidence shows that engaged team members ‘go the extra mile’ and go ‘above and beyond’ for customers as well as colleagues. Teams at Webbs feel supported by management and peers and have confidence in the leadership and direction of the senior team. As one Webbs colleague said “Webbs is a great place to work with a unique family feel. There is a focus on wellbeing and fun as well as getting the job done.”

 

Only 51 large organisations achieved the benchmark to be recognised as a Best UK Workplace 2021 with Webbs achieving the number 25 spot in the rankings.

 

“We are delighted to win this award for the second year running, moving into the large category and progressing up the ranks to number 25.  Not only does it recognise all the hard work and dedication from everyone at Webbs, but we are also the only garden centre to be recognised as one of the UK’s Best Workplaces. This is a fantastic achievement for us and our sector. Promoting a healthy workplace culture through trust, pride and camaraderie is at the heart of how we work” said Edward Webb, Chairman and owner of Webbs Garden Centres. 

 

To find out more about Webbs Garden Centres, please click here

 
Perrywood get growing for Hampton Court Garden Festival

Perrywood Garden Centre is supporting Suffolk based designer and author Lucy Hutchings with her edible allotment garden. It’s an exciting design that will be brought to life at the RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival in July...


Perrywood Garden Centre is supporting Suffolk based designer and author Lucy Hutchings with her edible allotment garden. It’s an exciting design that will be brought to life at the RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival in July.

 

The plants, including chillies, heirloom tomatoes and edible flowers like nasturtium, are being grown and nurtured in the production nursery at Perrywood Tiptree. After the show, the garden will be carefully moved and rebuilt at Perrywood Sudbury, allowing visitors to the garden centre a unique opportunity to view and enjoy Lucy’s inspiring space.

 

Lucy is well known as Instagram gardening sensation She Grows Veg. Her new book ‘Get up and Grow’ has just been published and inspires the allotment garden design. Her aim was to display how a small space can supply a surprising amount of edible produce and be a beautiful place to spend time in.

 

The Plans for Plants illustrations show Lucy’s innovative and unusual means of growing fruit, vegetable and edible flowers. For example, on arches and in glass cupboards! The ‘Get up and Grow’ garden will be in the RHS Community Allotment category, which will celebrate the best of community gardening. It will feature many allotment-style plots full of delicious vegetables, herbs, fruits and flowers.

 

Perrywood Communication Manager Louise Smith says, “Our theme this year is ‘Get Growing’. We want to help all those new lockdown gardeners to keep planting and enjoying their outdoor spaces. We love showing our customers how to create something a little bit different. Bringing the whole garden back to display at Perrywood Sudbury will allow a greater number of people to get up close and reconsider their own gardens and growing spaces.”

 
Barton Grange Christmas 2020 - Exclusive GTN Xtra Photo Tour

In advance of the launch of GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards 2020, GTN's Northern Correspondent, Steve Myatt, paid a visit to Barton Grange to bring you this first GTN Xtra Christmas photo tour.


In advance of the launch of GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards 2020, GTN's Northern Correspondent, Steve Myatt, paid a visit to Barton Grange to bring you this first GTN Xtra Christmas photo tour.

 

To add your garden centre Christmas photo tour to GTN Xtra simply get snapping and enter The Greatest Christmas Awards.  See the categories here.  Send an e-mail to trevor@pottingshedpress.co.uk for more details

 

 
Squires Badshot Lea - Christmas 2020
Sneak preview of Squires Badshot Lea Greatest Christmas Awards entry
See Squires Bashot Lea's Christmas Awards entry photo tour here

 

Here's a sneak preview of the photo tour submitted by Squires at Badshot Lea as part of their entry in GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards 2020.

 

There's over £7,000 worth of prizes to be won in GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards 2020 so get snapping and enter your garden centre team today!

 

Full details are here.

 

 
Perrywood at Christmas 2020 - with correct photo gallery now...
Sneak preview of Perrywoods Greatest Christmas Awards entry
See Perrywoods Christmas Awards Entry Photo Tour here

 

Here's a sneak preview of Perrywoods photo tour entry in GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards for 2020, including the vital ingredient for all entries, team photos. See the gallery of photos below.  Apologies for the wrong photos being included in yesterdays edition.

 

There's over £7,000 worth of prizes to be won in GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards so get snapping and enter today.  Full details can be found here.

 

 
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week

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


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.

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

Highlights of the GTN Garden Plants Bestsellers chart for last week are here

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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.

All the latest news from the world of pet products


Monkton Elm Pet Centre stops the sale of rabbits

A pet centre has urged other retailers to follow its lead in banning the sale of rabbits in a bid to cut the number of animals ending up in rescue centres. Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre in Taunton, Somerset, hopes its stance will help to raise awareness of rabbit welfare.


 

A pet centre has urged other retailers to follow its lead in banning the sale of rabbits in a bid to cut the number of animals ending up in rescue centres.

 

Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre in Taunton, Somerset, hopes its stance will help to raise awareness of rabbit welfare.

 

“As animal lovers and a family run business, we felt we needed to take a stand,” said pet centre supervisor Leah Jones.

 

“We have decided the responsible thing to do is to stop selling rabbits, full stop. We will continue to provide expert advice, high quality foods and foraging treats which we are well known for, but we do not wish to contribute to this rising issue.

 

“We pride ourselves in finding the perfect homes and always putting the animals first. It is not about the sales for us. We are continuously educating ourselves on the latest up-to-date care especially when it comes to rabbits.”

 

And in a message to fellow pet shops, Leah added: “We believe that if you truly care about animals, it is your responsibility to at least educate properly, or even better, you will do the same and join us in taking a stand.”

 

The covid-19 pandemic has seen an increase in pet ownership in the UK with rabbits being popular choices because they are inexpensive to buy. But, according to Leah, many new owners are unaware of the welfare needs of rabbits.

 

“Rescue centres across the UK have seen a massive spike in animals being neglected or re-homed,” she said. “The RSPCA is concerned that the increase of people purchasing ‘starter pets’ like rabbits has become a severe problem.

 

“Cases of abandoned rabbits are on the rise. There were 107 cases in the UK in 2019 and this figure rose to 248 last year – a 69.9% increase.

 

“Also, rabbits need a lot of space, yet we still insist on putting them in hutches that are too small.

 

“We believe in putting the welfare of rabbits first. Those are not just marketing words – we really mean it. The pet team are genuine animal lovers with expert knowledge and to them the most important factor with people keeping pets is the welfare of those animals.”

 
New Wildlife Barley Straw Bugs offer alternative to unsightly bales

A leading UK pond specialist has created a new barley straw formula for treating ponds with green water, algae and blanketweed problems, that provides an alternative to unsightly bales...


A leading UK pond specialist has created a new barley straw formula for treating ponds with green water, algae and blanketweed problems, that provides an alternative to unsightly bales. 

 

Harmless to filters and all species of pond fish and plants, Blagdon’s Wildlife Barley Straw Bugs fall outside the biocides’ regulation that other liquid Barley Straw products previously came under.

 

New Product Development and Regulatory Manager at Blagdon, Glen Wright, says: “Our new Wildlife Barley Straw Bugs, which we have just launched, are easy and quick to use, and deliver natural results. They work like barley straw without the unsightly bales and the formula is pet and wildlife safe, harmless to filters and all species of pond fish, plants, and water-using wildlife.

 

“This product offers the perfect solution for anyone with an algae issue in their wildlife pond, who wishes to clear it up and clean it out using a natural pond treatment.”

  • Wildlife Barley Straw Bugs are available in three sizes: 250ml, 500ml and 1,000ml.
  • Wildlife Barley Straw Bugs 250ml SSP £13.99
  • Wildlife Barley Straw Bugs 500ml SSP £23.99
  • Wildlife Barley Straw Bugs 1,000ml SSP £42.99

Wildlife Barley Straw Bugs are available for members of the trade to order now. Stockists should contact their Area Sales Manager, call/email Blagdon’s sales office or sign-up to its new online ordering system here: https://trade.interpet.co.uk

 

Blagdon is part of Interpet Ltd’s group of brands. Interpet offers one of the largest pet and aquatic ranges in the UK, including products from the Interpet, Blagdon, Kent Marine, Mikki, Nylabone, PetLove, Kaytee, Four Paws and Interpet Publishing brands. 

 

For further details, please visit www.blagdonwatergardening.co.uk.

CSJ’s new bags pay tribute to popular dog sports

 

The innovative new bag design for CSJ Specialist Canine Feeds illustrates the masses of dog sports whose competitors use their products...


The innovative new bag design for CSJ Specialist Canine Feeds illustrates the masses of dog sports whose competitors use their products.

 

Ranging from sled dogs to working gundogs CSJ feeds the most Champions in the most fields and designed their new bags to pay tribute to the countless dogs and owners who have benefitted from CSJ products over the last 20+ years.

 

Kath Hardman, Team Manager of Heelwork to Music Team GB, emailed to say: “Just to say I love the Heelwork To Music logo on the bags of food! The other disciplines are good but WOW!  The HTM is perfect!”

 

Formulated by dog people for dog people and chosen by Champions in every field – CSJ never forgets its roots … 

 

When founder Ceri Rundle and her father H. Glyn Jones couldn’t find great food at a sensible price for their own working and competing Border Collies they enlisted the help of leading nutritionists and herbal experts to devise their own winning recipes.

 

Made in the UK with an ongoing commitment to develop natural feeds, supplements and treats together with sustainability plus support for canine activities, CSJ is rightly renowned for being ‘the whole package’. 

 

 

For more on CSJ products visit www.csjk9.com or call 01745710470