From the epos data supplied to us by garden centres, we can see that  it was the New Year sales that got the momentum going and since then, footfall has remained higher than usual, resulting in increased restaurant transactions and early bird garden product sales. The only area yet to really get going is wild bird care. We’re guessing that we’ll need a spell of frost and snow to persuade customers that feeding their birds should be taken seriously once again.

With January sales accounting for 5% of a year’s sales volume, this increase may not have a huge impact on the rest of the year. However, as we found at the Garden Centre Association conference earlier this week, it has certainly put everyone – retailers and suppliers – in a great frame of mind. Could a record January be leading to a record year? Whatever you did to beat the weather in January, bottle it for use throughout the year and keep an eye on those forecasts…

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year

• Garden Products – up 45%
• Veg-2-Gro – up 10%
• Growing Media – up 69%
• All items index – up 35%

ASDA, Co-op, Dune, Furniture Village, Greggs, Homebase, Hotel Chocolat, John Lewis, M&M Direct, Mothercare and The Otto Group are among the names scheduled to appear on the conference stage.

Simon Russell, director, retail operations development, at John Lewis will discus how to ‘Unlock the Secret to Successful Retailing in an Omnichannel World’, while Graham Benson, CIO of M&M Direct will share his experiences on ‘Driving a Successful IT-enabled Change Programme’.

Robert Willett, previously Best Buy International CEO will explore how retailers can ‘Become Authentically Customer Curious  by Following the Customer Curiosity Cycle to Unearth & Maintain Retail Innovation’. Graham Cove, Director of WiFi at EE will reveal ‘What Retailers can get out of Public WiFi’.

And that’s not all – this is only a small selection of the education programme at RBTE, with more details to follow on the Retailers Payments Theatre, sponsored by Amazon Payments, the RBTE eCommerce Bootcamps, and the Retail Innovation Theatre, sponsored by Epson.

Matt Bradley, Event Director, RBTE, said: “In addition to our extensive education programme we also have 300 exhibitors who will be showcasing solutions and ideas that will help visitors tackle the challenges they are currently facing.”

The highest new entry in the GTN Bestsellers Veg 2 Gro chart this week is Tomato ‘Sweet 100’ F1 from Mr Fothergill’s – a venerable old tom but none the worse for that. It makes you wonder, though, how more gardeners could be persuaded to explore some of the great new varieties on offer. How about twin deals offering a new and an old variety so people can compare?

The appearance of tomatoes in the chart is a clear signal that the propagation season will soon be under way, with all its opportunities for sales of linked sundries, growing media and fertilisers. A flying start waiting to happen?

Onions, shallots and seed potatoes continue to dominate the upper reaches of the chart, with Taylors taster pack of second early potato  'Charlotte' making strong  gains.

GIMA director Neil Gow has written to 100 businesses in Worcestershire and surrounding counties to promote a talk by James Wong at Pershore College.

"There has been a lot in the horticultural trade press over the past few years about the lack of skills in the industry and thanks to the likes of Alan Titchmarsh, the RHS and James Wong, this has spilled over into the consumer media too. It is a skills shortage I am all too aware of with my involvement in the industry both personally and through GIMA.

"James Wong and Pershore are doing their bit to try and address this and the talk by James on Tuesday (February 4) at the college is part of that. Many of you in the trade will have heard James speak. Others will recall his TV series ‘Grow Your Own Drugs’. He is an inspiring speaker and very entertaining.

 "While this talk is aimed at towards people who are thinking about a career in horticulture, which may not be you, you perhaps have a son or daughter, niece or nephew, next door neighbour or work colleague who might be. 

"Please share this poster and email with them. Put it by your coffee machine or on the staffroom notice board this morning and see if you can interest one or two into coming along – who knows it could be the beginning of a great career in a great industry."

Meanwhile, New Horizon Multi-Purpose 50L and Westland Multipurpose 75L both enjoyed sales lifts of at least 500%.

Note how John Innes still holds sway with early-season buyers; 13 of this week’s Top 50 include a John Innes element. (Of course the original John Innes formula specifies peat as an ingredient. What will happen, come 2020, if peat does finally become a proscribed substance for growing media?).

Westland’s peat-based ‘Jack’s Magic’ all-purpose continued to outsell all others in this week’s chart.

Hosted by Naktuinbouw, the Dutch horticultural inspection service centre in Roelofarendsveen, the group shared their current thinking and experiences on plant health, plant reproductive material, crop protection, plant breeders’ rights, research and innovation, careers and growing media.

UK delegates included Richard Harris and Andy Mitchell, team leaders at the Defra; Martin Emmett, board member of the Horticultural Development Company; Bill Parker, director of horticulture at the HDC; Raoul Curtis-Machin, head of horticulture at the HTA; John David, chief scientist at the RHS; Tim Edwards from the NFU and James Bean from the British Growers Association.

Raoul Curtis-Machin said the aim of the meeting was to build relationships and improve communications by finding “common ground”. “We found many areas where we could collaborate, for example with the upcoming Plant Reproductive Material and Plant Health legislation from the European Union, it is important to work together to achieve the best solution.”

Soils are filled with micro organisms and bacteria, some of which enjoy eating those bugs that strike fear into the heart of all vegetable growers, whether they have a small bed in the back garden or hundreds of commercial hectares. The project aims to identify and increase the number of organisms in the soil that will target the cabbage root fly, which causes widespread damage throughout the UK and Ireland.

With the implementation of the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive from January 1, development of strategies such as these will become more important as growers implement Integrated Pest Management strategies in field vegetable crops. Growers who try to avoid chemicals often find their crops decimated by insects.

However this new research – funded by Teagasc and the Horticultural Development Council – could make that a less common experience. The team will study how to enhance the properties of soils, looking specifically at those used to grow vegetables like broccoli and cabbage.

SRUC’s Professor Bryan Griffiths, says: “While commercial growers can use chemical methods to help control cabbage root fly, they still face significant losses each year. Many growers would prefer not to have to use chemical pesticides and are also very interested in maintaining and increasing soil health and are continually searching for alternative pest control options. Improving soil quality is crucial for all growers of crops as a way of preventing crop damage or even death. This research will hopefully give both commercial growers and the public options to improve their soils which will in turn mean healthier plants.”

For commercial growers, it is estimated that without adequate insecticidal control about 24% of field brassica crops would be rendered unmarketable by the cabbage root fly. Even if cultural methods – such as the use of crop covers – could be relied on to lower overall damage to 15-20%, the industry is still facing losses of about £40m per annum from the area of crop that needs protecting against attacks by the cabbage root fly.

The research team is currently growing broccoli on two sites, one in Ireland (North Dublin) and the other near Newcastle. They are comparing conventional management of soils (tillage and chemical fertilisers and pesticides) with organic management.

Initial analysis of the Irish site indicates that organic soil management, which involves adding pelleted chicken manure and calcified seaweed increases the number of microscopic fungi and worms (nematodes) which feed on the larvae of cabbage root flies. Suitable natural fertilisers like those easily found in garden centres and on the web should be dug into the soil in autumn or spring before crops are planted.

As well as increasing the volume of ‘good’ bugs in the soil the organic treatment should also improve the structure of the soil which helps root growth and drainage and should result in more vigorous plants better able to fight off attacks.

Although the project will run until 2017, the team hopes to have some interim results later this year.

ENDS

Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), Leading the way in Agriculture and Rural Research, Education and Consultancy.

Scotland’s Rural College supports innovation and sustainable development in agriculture and the rural sector in Britain and internationally. We are one of the UK’s leading agriculturally-focused higher education institutions, offering a unique blend of research, education and consultancy.

SRUC’s research and education activities operate from six campuses and eight farms and research centres across Scotland. Our consultancy arm, SAC Consulting, supports more than 12,000 farms and rural businesses across the UK from 26 consultancy offices and eight veterinary disease surveillance centres.

SRUC was established in 2012 through the merger of Barony, Elmwood, Oatridge Colleges and the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC).

Issued by:
Sarah Hunter-Argyle
SRUC Communications
West Mains Road
Edinburgh EH9 3JG
Scotland | UK

Customers donated cash across the group’s branches throughout the Christmas period. Donations were optional in return for a free visit to the Grotto and a present. Most centres raised well over £1,000.

“The grottos were incredibly popular and it was great to see our customers show their appreciation, by donating to our worthy causes” said deputy chairman Sarah Squire. “Our staff make their own choice when it comes to which charity to support each year and we certainly agree they all very much deserved the wonderful support shown by their local communities.”

Three Squire’s centres held a brand new 4D Christmas experience for 2013 to which they donated an exclusive preview to friends and families of their chosen local charities. The exclusive preview evening included a welcome drink, a first-look at the 4D experience and a visit to Santa in his toy workshop (with a present)

Squire’s centres also aim to supporting their chosen charities in other ways, often offering their skills and expertise to benefit the charities’ ongoing work.

Below: The Squire's Team, including Sarah Squire (second from right) announce the total raised for charity.

THE Garden Centre Association’s annual conference has this week been declared a huge success. “The event was not only inspiring, but it was also thought provoking," said Will Armitage (above right), who took over the chairman's chain of office from Peter Burks.

The organisers have confirmed they received excellent feedback from the delegates who attended the conference from Sunday, January 26 until Wednesday, January 29 at the Hilton Blackpool Hotel.

Will Armitage added: “This year’s conference has been another resounding success and it is great to hear all of the brilliant feedback from those who went along.

" really enjoyed listening to all of the guest speakers. They gave us all some great advice to take away. Of course it was a wonderful social occasion too with members able to share their experiences with other like-minded business people.”

The line-up of speakers included Dr Steve Peters, the psychiatrist behind the GB Olympic cycling team, Dave Fishwick, star of Channel 4’s Bank of Dave, Mark Berrisford-Smith, who is Head of Economics for HSBC’s commercial banking business in the UK, David Oliver, a partner in PwC’s Retail Consulting team and Alex Hunter, who was the Global Head of Online Marketing for the Virgin Group.

Will added: “Not only was the event a formal conference but it was also a great opportunity to meet new faces from other member garden centres and suppliers and reconnect with familiar ones. The networking opportunities for attendees are really important.”

Delegates also had the chance to visit supplier stands, attend a champagne reception and a black tie dinner.

Mike Lind, Managing Director at Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre, which is based in Somerset, said: “I really enjoyed this year’s conference and found the guest speakers particularly interesting. Dr Steve Peters’ talk was a real eye-opener and gave me food for thought. Dave Fishwick was particularly inspirational as he articulated his fight against the bullies of the banking world and what you can achieve if you really want to.

“One of the best aspects of the GCA conference, in addition to the excellent speakers, is what you are able to learn from other garden centre owners and operators. We all want to provide the best experience and service to our customers and there is a great willingness to share experiences with the aim to give our customers at our respective centres the very best experience and service possible.

“The GCA also provides all garden centre members with an insight into the future and how the latest thinking in IT, marketing, branding and macroeconomic trends will impact on our businesses over the next few years. There is so much to share and learn. I will definitely be going again next year.”

The conference, which is supported by headline sponsors Davidson Richards and Westland Horticulture, provided delegates with pertinent information on key aspects of the garden centre industry to assist members in achieving their business goals.

The information shared focused on a wide range of topics, including merchandising, marketing and management.

Michael Burks, Managing Director of The Gardens Group, said: “The GCA conference was another resounding success and I really enjoyed it. It was also great to walk away with an award for our restaurant at Poundbury Gardens.

“The conference offers an excellent selection of guest speakers and it’s always extremely interesting to hear what they have to say. I was particularly interested in what Mark Berrisford-Smith had to say about the economy and the way it has affected member garden centres. It’s good to hear things are on the up.”

The Gardens Group includes Castle Gardens in Sherborne, Dorset, Brimsmore Gardens in Yeovil, Somerset and Poundbury Gardens in Poundbury in Dorset.

Tammy Woodhouse, Managing Director of The Millbrook Garden Company Limited, said: “I really enjoyed this year’s conference. A particular highlight for me was being a part of the winning team in the Greenfingers Challenge Cup and helping to raise a huge amount of money for charity.”

The Millbrook Garden Company Limited is a family-run, independent company and serves the South East of England.

Will continued: “The annual conference is definitely not one to be missed and everyone is already looking forward to next year’s event, which will take place at De Vere Carden Park, Chester from January 25 until 28, 2015.”

Martin Cowell, who was almost in tears after winning the award, thanked his mother and father, and said he'd wished they'd been there to take the prize.

Later he told GTN Xtra: "I would like you to mention the strong foundation built by my parents Alan and Mavis since 1978 – without that our success wouldn't be achievable – and also my sister Jane who is often overlooked.

"It is a truly family business as the third generation of Cowell's will undoubtedly take over the business. There are nine grandchildren...and counting." 

"Our platinum team is also deserving of mention, who again we can't do without."

"I want to thank the GCA, who we regard as being part of our family."

Earlier in the conference Cowell's had won the Ruxley Rose for the best planteria in the country.

Pictured: Martin Cowell (centre) with comedian Ian Moore and Will Armitage.

She will offer advice on ‘Veg Growing Made Easy’ and how to grow ‘Pest Free Veg and Fruit’, as well as tips on growiong her own favourites.

Pippa has been growing fruit and veg since she was four years old and who was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Science by The University of Durham, where she trained as a botanist.\

Fellow experts at the show (Alexandra Palace, 28-30 March) include ‘Homegrown Revolution’ author and TV presenter James Wong, BBC The One Show gardening expert Christine Walkden and wild food expert Mark Lloyd.

Tickets cost £16 on the door (£12 in advance).

Information: www.theediblegardenshow.co.uk

• The Real Poppy Campaign
• Cultivation Street
• Home Ground – a proposed lifestyle magazines to be sold in garden centres
• It Starts With a Pot campaign

Peter Burks, who handed over the GCA chairman's role to Will Armitage at the winter conference in Blackpool, has been appointed as the General Manager for Trelawney Garden Leisure in the West Country... 

The ex-Garden Centre Group Regional Manager takes on the role to help give support to the award-winning garden centre chain’s owners, David Danning and David Symons.

Director David Danning said: “We’re delighted to welcome Peter on board. He has a wealth of industry experience and we’re really looking forward to working with him.

“He will oversee the running of Trelawney@Wadebridge in Cornwall and Trelawney@Ashford in North Devon, while David and I focus on building and launching what will become our new centre at Probus in Cornwall.”

Peter has run garden centres at directorial and managerial level for more than 30 years and launched and ran the multi award-winning Sanders Garden World in Somerset for more than 10 years.

The garden centre was named as ‘Garden Centre of Year’ for several consecutive years during this period.

He has a degree in horticulture from the University of Bath and comes from a well-known family of garden centre owners and horticulturalists.

Peter said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for me to get back to my West Country roots and to be able to do the job I love.”

The Hillview Group have entered into a strategic alliance with The Garden Store and Burford House Garden Store, with the intention of acquiring the businesses.

“This is a very exciting step for Hillview Garden Centres. I'm looking forward to working with the team at The Garden Store and developing the well established business over the next few years," said Boyd J Douglas-Davies, CEO, Hillview Garden Centres.

“The Garden Store team are very enthusiastic to be working with Boyd and the team at Hillview to maximise each of the store's potential," added Marcus Eyles and Neil Stevens, Directors of Garden Store. 

Nadav Livni, Managing Director of The Hillview Group, said: “This is a significant step for both parties, which will give Boyd the opportunity to collaborate with Marcus, Neil and the team at Garden Store and Burford House on exciting new plans.

"This transaction is part of our long-term growth strategy for Hillview Garden Centres – to establish a portfolio of 'local champion' centres, which offer customers a retail destination experience, with an appealing product mix and friendly knowledgeable staff.” 

Hillview Garden Centres was established in 2011 and owns Studley Garden Centre, Warwickshire and Hilltop Garden Centre, Oxfordshire.

The Garden Store has 6 centres at:

• Billing, Northampton
• Charlecote, nr Stratford on Avon
• Newton Regis, Tamworth, Staffs
• Pavillion, Wolverhampton 
• Studley Green, High Wycombe
• Burford House, Tenbury Wells

Work is set to start on the first phase of a destination garden centre, restaurant and display gardens at Probus near Truro in Cornwall this spring.

Trelawney Garden Leisure owners, Danning & Symons Ltd., which already runs the award-winning Trelawney@Wadebridge in Cornwall and Trelawney@Ashford in North Devon, will start work on the 11-acre site in March.

Director, David Danning explained: “We’re delighted to be getting the project finally underway and  aim  to have it  open in the autumn. The garden centre at Probus is an amazing project and we’re very excited about it.”

The site is anticipated to create 80 full and part-time jobs and will have a major impact on the area’s economy.

David continued: “Trelawney@Probus will be a gardening-related leisure destination and a centre of excellence for Cornwall. With the development of demonstration gardens it will offer the visitor so much more to see and do than a traditional garden centre might. It will attract people from all over the UK.”

The environment has been given a great deal of thought and the site will use the latest technology to manage internal conditions in the buildings.

The impact of the buildings has been reduced by nestling the site into the hillside working with the gradient.

For more information, please call Trelawney@Wadebridge on 01208 893030 or visit www.trelawney.co.uk.



David Symons (left) and David Danning.

Hollywood star Jude Law and Dr Who actor David Tennant have joined the growing list of household-name celebrities to support Garden Re-Leaf Day’s popular Gardening Quiz, by recording a round of questions.  The brain-teasing audio quiz is available as a customer event opportunity to any garden centre taking part in the annual fund-raising day in March.

The two stars join Skyfall’s ‘Miss Moneypenny’, actress Naomie Harris – currently on cinema screens as Winnie Mandela in Long Walk to Freedom – in presenting a section of the questions.  EastEnders cast members Danny Dyer (new Queen Vic landlord Mick Carter) and Patsy Palmer (fiery market trader Bianca Butcher) have also lent their familiar voices to the quiz, in addition to a round recorded by impressionist Alistair McGowan – in the vocal style of celebrities John Humphrys, David Mitchell, Matt Baker, Dara Ó Briain and Stephen Fry.

David Tennant, Naomie Harris and Alistair McGowan have agreed to support Garden Re-Leaf Day’s popular Gardening Quiz.

The quiz – which includes both general knowledge and gardening rounds – can be ordered by all retailers, suppliers and other organisations participating in Garden Re-Leaf Day; with funds raised going towards its chosen charity, Greenfingers. The production of the quiz and accompanying CDs are being provided by Garden Radio, as part of its support for Garden Re-Leaf Day.

The quiz is also a ready-made opportunity to boost customer footfall, as Garden Re-Leaf Day’s founder and Hillview Garden Centre CEO Boyd Douglas-Davies explains: “We’re enormously grateful that so many mainstream stars have supported this year’s Garden Re-Leaf Day quiz – it will be more popular than ever!  It’s a simple way for retailers both to take part in Garden Re-Leaf, and attract scores of customers in-store at the start of the spring gardening season.  You can make the event even more effective by running other sales promotions, refreshments and fund-raisers alongside. The organiser’s pack costs just £100 and is available by calling 01993 871456 or emailing pat@gca.org.uk”

Garden centres and suppliers across the UK are expected to take part in the third annual Garden Re-Leaf Day, held on Friday 14 March 2014 and across the weekend. Participants – who can run any number of nationally-coordinated or local fund-raising initiatives – are being urged to register their involvement as soon as possible by emailing the organising team at info@gardenreleaf.co.uk with an overview of your planned activities.  Your location and events will then be added to the Garden Re-Leaf Day website: www.gardenreleaf.co.uk.

As in its first two years, Garden Re-Leaf Day’s nominated charity in 2014 is Greenfingers; the nationwide charity dedicated to building gardens in children’s hospices around the UK. Since 2012 Garden Re-Leaf Day participants have raised more than £116,000 for the cause; enabling several life-enhancing hospice gardens to be created.    

In December it was announced that garden centres taking part in Garden Re-Leaf Day can also win a ‘money-can’t buy’, footfall-boosting visit to their garden centre by popular ITV gardener David Domoney on Sunday 16 March 2014 (the Sunday immediately after Garden Re-Leaf Day). David is offering a series of 30-minute expert talks on that date to the garden centre that wins Garden Re-Leaf Day’s new, free to enter ‘Gardening Date with David’ competition – which has a closing date of Friday 7 February 2014.

Any garden retailer registering their participation in Garden Re-Leaf Day by 7 February is eligible to enter. To register for Garden Re-Leaf Day and enter the ‘Gardening Date with David’ competition, email info@gardenreleaf.co.uk by 7 February with your garden centre details, also stating in 200 words or less, how you would make the most of David’s visit on 16 March as part of Garden Re-Leaf Day.  The best idea wins him.

TV presenter and gardening journalist Richard Jackson, an active supporter of both Greenfingers and Garden Re-Leaf Day, confirmed: “The quiz and David Domoney competition are both fantastic, easy ways of taking part in Garden Re-Leaf Day this year; benefiting both your business and the Greenfingers charity. Everyone wins, so let’s make this a record-breaking year!”