Author Joanne Harris was on hand to launch Rose ‘Vianne’s Chocolat’ grown by Fryer’s Roses and sold exclusively through Blue Diamond Garden Centres. A hybrid tea with richly fragranced deep purple blooms, it is perfect for beds and borders. 

The rose is named after the heroine of Joanne’s latest novel called Vianne, a prequel to Chocolat published in 1999. 

Meanwhile, Andy Flynn, a founder of POTR, was delighted to win the inaugural RHS Sustainable Business of the Year Award. Sustainability is at the core of the business which has created houseplant pot covers and vases based on origami and made from industrial waste. 

New this year is a collaboration with Waterhaul which recovers and recycles marine waste. The resulting Self Watering Ocean Pot in three sizes, have QR codes on the pack which show customers which beaches has been cleared to make the products. Additionally 4% of profits are directed back into beach cleaning projects.

Designer Cath Kidston was on the Alitex greenhouse stand to promote Geranium No.3, a new fragrance in her C. Atherley range of body and bath products. The range of lotions, creams, oils and candles, are increasingly being sold through garden centres.