The total sales volume of the Top 50 bestselling Christmas Products in the GTN Bestsellers weekly Epos data now sits at 7% up on 2021 levels despite overall garden centre sales volumes being 3% down for the year as at the end of Week 48, ending 4^th December.

It has been a roller coaster ride over the past six weeks for the Christmas Top 50 Bestsellers sales volume, with weeks alternating between up and down year on year.  Week 43 saw the biggest variance, up by 42% and week 45 the biggest year on year deficit at minus 8%. 

Compared to 2019 Top 50 Christmas sales volumes, all but one of the last 6 weeks has been up, with only week 44 being down, by 6%.  So far the Top 50 Christmas Bestsellers are running at 9% up in volume sales compared to 2019.

When we look at overall garden centre sales volumes the past 6 weeks show a different story with only Weeks 43 and 48 exceeding last years volume sales figures.  The last 6 weeks total sales all products are 4% down on last year but 12% up on 2019 figures.

The GTN Bestsellers six-year trend analysis of garden centre sales activity shows that while sales this autumn and winter have been behind 2021 and 2020 levels trading volumes have been ahead of 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Plant sales over the past six weeks have not only been lower than 2022 volumes but apart from Week 47 have also been behind 2021 and 2019 volumes too.

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week in 2021: week 48.

• Garden Products Top 50 – down 3%
• Growing Media Top 50 – down 23%
• Wild Bird & Wildlife Care Top 50 – down 8%
• Christmas – down 13%

GTN Bestsellers All Sales volumes compared to the same week in 2021: week 48

• All Plants with Barcode index – down 6%
• All Items with Barcode index – up 1%

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week in 2019: week 48.

• Garden Products Top 50 – down 35%
• Growing Media Top 50 – up 16%
• Wild Bird & Wildlife Care Top 50 – down 34%
• Christmas Top 50 – up 6%

GTN Bestsellers All Sales volumes compared to the same week in 2019: week 48

• All Plants with Barcode index – down 4%
• All Items with Barcode index – up 11%

Hogewoning is known for many years for his wide variety for products made of natural materials like wreaths and garlands made with cones in different styles and colours.

Daan Hogewoning said: “We have evergreen natural looking Christmas product which we renew every year.  Customers know that and the market is still looking out for this natural-country looking trend, which never disappeared from the market.

“Hogewoning has the ability to present this kind of products every year in a good balance for price and quality.

“This year we will surprise our customers with new articles in this field, which we are showing at the next trade fair Harrogate Christmas & Gifts on 15-18 January.

“Hogewoning has a good webshop where you will find a wide choice of products which we pre-sell.

“Because we have now our own company in the UK we are able to give good service to the garden centre trade in the UK.  

“Transport and duty are included in our prices.’

Browse the webshop by clicking here or the button (above left).

For further enquiries email daan@hogewoning.com

Alton Garden Centre had to close its Digby’s Restaurant after firefighters battled a blaze at the store on the night of Wednesday, December 7. The restaurant has since re-opened, serving a menu of hot drinks and light snacks, and the rest of the centre continued to be fully operational.

Essex Fire and Rescue Service were called to Altons Garden Centre in Wickford, Essex, at 9.29pm on Wednesday. The fire took hold in the roof of the building and some of the store was left smoke-damaged.

The fire had been extinguished by midnight thanks to the 15 fire engines and approximately 40 fire fighters who attended. One firefighter remained at the scene into the morning to dampen down and check for hotspots.

Garden centre managing director Derek Bunker told BBC news: "It could have been a lot worse.

"Fifty per cent of the shop is completely untouched but there is smoke damage elsewhere."

He said the restaurant had to be shut for a while as there was a lot of damage there.

"It hurts but in business these things happen."

An investigation into the cause of the fire is underway with one possible line of inquiry being that it may have started in a dishwasher in the kitchen area.

Andy Bunker told GTN Xtra: "Thank goodness for the steel fire dorrs and shutters, they did their job.  Huge thanks to the fire brigade and the 15 fire engines that came to the site after our security guard raised the alarm.  Even more thanks to all of our staff and our local suppliers for turning things around so quickly, we had the centre back open by 11:00am on the 8th December."

Brimsmore Gardens (GC - above)) and Garsons Garden Centre Esher (DGC - below) have been announced as the national winners of the 2022 Garden Association’s annual Christmas competition.

The garden centres were judged to have the best festive displays in the country by the organisation and will receive their awards at its annual conference in January 2023.

Phil McCann, who judged the displays, said: “I’d like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to all of the members who entered the Christmas display competition and ‘congratulations’ to Brimsmore Gardens, who were winners in the Garden Centre Category and Garsons Garden Centre, Esher, who took the top spot in the Destination Garden Centre category.

“The standard was incredible with superb displays, exquisite detailing and fantastic retail practices.

“I am very much looking forward to presenting the ideas and images from my visits at the annual conference in Blackburn in January.”

Second place in the GC category was Perrywood, Sudbury and third place was Parkers Garden World.

In the DGC category, Barton Grange Garden Centre and Bents Garden & Home came joint second and in third place was Gates Garden Centre.

Tammy Woodhouse, GCA Chairman, said: “I’d like to say an additional thank you to everyone who created some truly joyous and memorable displays.

“The entrants were judged on general ambience, creativity, stock range, flow and tidiness, and customer service was also taken into consideration.”

Adam Wallis, Manager of Brimsmore Gardens, said: “We are over the moon to have won first prize in the GCA’s annual Christmas Competition, having come so close in previous years.

“As with everything we do at Brimsmore Gardens, we are always looking to innovate and improve, so this award is a reflection of the team’s unwavering commitment to these principles.

“Sustainability has been central to our thoughts year-on-year and we’re very proud to have made such huge strides in making Christmas as kind on the planet as possible. We’ll take a moment to toast the team’s efforts, creativity, and resourcefulness, then it’s back to work as we look forward to welcoming many more visitors into the displays before Christmas.”

The winners will be given their awards during the GCA’s annual conference on Monday, January 23 at the Mercure Blackburn Dunkenhalgh Hotel and Spa in Blackburn, Lancashire. The conference runs from January 22 until 25, 2023. Places can be booked via www.gca.org.uk.

Ian Richardson, Garsons Chairman, said: “What a wonderful achievement and acknowledgement of our team’s time and effort put into preparing and building our famous Garsons Christmas displays and range of products. Our talented staff work throughout the year preparing for the festive season, offering a unique and inspiring Christmas experience to our loyal customers.”

Notcutts has been celebrating the official opening of its new-look Brampton Garden Centre at a community event. Since acquiring the garden centre from Frosts in August 2022, Notcutts has refreshed the look, introduced new gardening, homeware and gift ranges, and is ready for customers to enjoy their first Notcutts Christmas experience.

The open event was hosted by Caroline Notcutt, Vice-Chairman and Great-Granddaughter of Notcutts’ founder Roger Crompton Notcutt. Notcutts reached their 125th anniversary this year and welcomed the local community to this celebratory event.

Notcutts Brampton Garden Centre, on Buckden Road in Brampton village, offers a wide leisure and shopping experience including homeware, furniture and garden accessories alongside a variety of plants and gardening supplies. In the restaurant, customers can enjoy seasonal hot and cold lunches, snacks and afternoon teas, including a special menu of festive dishes for Christmas time.

Caroline Notcutt said: “We are proud to have acquired Brampton Garden Centre in our 125th anniversary year.  Since the summer, we have been working hard to bring the best of Notcutts, our family values and our passion for home and gardening to the local community. We hope customers have been enjoying their new-look garden centre and experiencing their first Notcutts Christmas with us.”

Joanne Hawkins-McDowell, General Manager, Notcutts Brampton, said: “Thank you to all our guests who joined our special opening event. We are delighted to be part of the long-established Notcutts family business.”

Notcutts Brampton Garden Centre, on Buckden Road near Huntingdon, is one of 19 Notcutts Garden Centres nationwide. For more information, call 01480 453048 or visit www.notcutts.co.uk.

Pictured: Caroline Notcutt (centre) cuts the ribbon to the new Notcutts Brampton Garden Centre alongside General Manager Joanne Hawkins-McDowell (centre left), CEO Nick Burrows (centre right) and the local Brampton community. (Credit: Gregg Brown Photography / Copyright: Notcutts Ltd).

Counter to overwhelming inflationary trends, STV is continuing to hold 2021 prices on more than 250 core products. But there is limited time for retailers to get their order in at these great prices with a new price list set to be published on 1st March 2023. Retailers are being urged to waste no time in placing their orders to make sure they beat the February deadline.

STV report rising business costs in line with other UK manufacturers, but made the bold decision to invest in a 6-month price freeze to protect retail sales.  

Edwin Allingham, Managing Director, explained: “We have guaranteed to hold 2021 prices until the end of February, as well as introducing more than 20 price drops on lines where we know promotions can drive volume. We see this is a short-term investment in our future and that of our customers."

The announcement follows a successful year for the business, with several key categories showing significant growth. Their investment in a trade price freeze is just one of a series of new initiatives being launched for 2023, including a new retail distribution centre and showroom, new production facilities and their unique mobile showroom which is currently touring the UK promoting the full range of DIY pest control.

STV International Ltd
Forge House,
Little Cressingham,
Thetford,
Norfolk, IP25 6ND

Phone 01953 881580                             
Email info@stvuk.co.uk

Commercial nursery, Johnsons of Whixley, has seen three key staff members graduate from its Rising Stars programme, which aims to provide development opportunities to boost the teams’ skillset and progression within the Yorkshire firm. 

The scheme, now in its fifth year, was created to fill a gap for local horticulture training and to develop the skills of existing staff members, enabling them to take on a more senior role within the business in the future. 

Ned Antonov, Tom Chilton and Kieron Pattison received their awards after completing training experiences, technical modules, horticultural sessions, operational nursery activities, as well as a formal qualification in team leading which began in November 2020.  

The programme is open to staff from all departments of the business and was delivered with a significant financial investment in external training providers, on-site training and external activities, including learning from supply and technology partners. 

Graham Richardson, group managing director at Johnsons, said the future of the business was intrinsically linked with the abilities of the workforce: “Geographically we are isolated from the main hubs of horticultural activity and consequently the vast majority of relevant training programmes. It made perfect sense therefore for us to draw on our considerable experience to create our own bespoke training scheme that will help us nurture the next generation of managers and supervisors. 

“We are confident that within our own pool of employees, there is the talent to lead us towards the future.” 

2018 scheme graduate, Terry Cooper started out in the plant production team at Johnsons, but after progressing through the programme he now works in the IT department as systems support assistant. 

He added: “I found the programme a great help and have it partly to thank for ending up working where I am today. After finishing the course, I had a better understanding of horticulture as an industry and acquired some really helpful practical skills and theoretical knowledge.” 

Johnsons of Whixley is a successful commercial nursery based in North Yorkshire, having supplied projects such as the Grantley Hall grounds in Ripon, the National Trust Studley Royal Water Garden, and the Arium in Leeds. The business has over 100 years of experience in growing and supplying trees, shrubs and plants to UK-wide planting schemes. 

The Garden Centre Association has announced that leading economist Roger Martin-Fagg will be speaking at its 56th annual conference in Blackburn in 2023 (22-25 January).

Roger, who specialises in making economics accessible for everyone, will be presenting to GCA members on Tuesday, January 24 to help delegates think through their strategy with his expertise.

Tammy Woodhouse, GCA Chairman, said: “It’s wonderful to announce Roger as a returning speaker to our annual conference in Blackburn. He’s back by popular demand! He previously attended our conferences in 2014 and 2018 and it’s a huge pleasure that he is available to return once again in January. He specialises in making economics accessible for non-economists, so is an ideal contributor to topical discussions currently being had in businesses countrywide and will be an inspiring speaker for our members’ business management teams to hear.

“Roger began his career as an Economist with the New Zealand Treasury in 1972, then went on to work for the Air Transport and Travel Industry Training Board. In 1975, he was asked to design and run a postgraduate programme in Airline Management for British Airways, which ran very successfully at Thames Valley University for 12 years.

“In 1987, he joined Henley Management College to design, deliver and teach bespoke strategic management programmes. He did this for 21 years, covering all sectors, but mostly with FTSE 100 companies.”

For the past 10 years, Roger has worked as an Independent Behavioural Economist. He has a visiting faculty place at Warwick, Ashridge, Henley and Duke Business Schools and has been External Examiner at the University of Bath. He is also a visiting faculty expert at the Bank of England and the Institute of Marketing.

Roger leads workshops, seminars and delivers keynote sessions and has worked in the USA, Middle East, Russia and South East Asia.

In his spare time, he is a Veteran Oarsman at Marlow Rowing Club and plays the keyboard in a rock band.

He will be speaking at the GCA’s annual conference in the morning on Tuesday, January 24.

Tammy adds: “Tuesday is traditionally our day for strategy and there’s no change this year. This is one of our highly anticipated parts of the programme, especially after the impact of the pandemic.

“We’ll be hearing about subjects such as the economy, the challenges faced by businesses and the direction of future market trends, with an emphasis on maintaining and enhancing profitability.

“Roger’s input will be very much appreciated, he has a reputation for making the complex simple, producing accurate forecasts and is one of a few economists with a keen sense of humour which always helps! At the end of the session, I have no doubt that our participants will feel enlightened and ready to translate their new knowledge to the year ahead.”

The GCA represents nearly 200 garden centres nationwide.

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

The GCA’s annual conference will be held at the Mercure Blackburn Dunkenhalgh Hotel and Spa in Blackburn, Lancashire from January 22 until 25, 2023 and places can be booked via www.gca.org.uk.

The conference pages on the website will be updated with speaker announcements and full listings as the programme develops and exact timings are confirmed. There is also a dedicated email for any queries members, and those wishing to book for the event, may have: conference@gca.org.uk.

Economist Roger Martin-Fagg will be speaking to attendees on Tuesday, January 24.

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

Described by the judges as “a joy to visit and experience, with bags of character, atmosphere and terrific staff”, Brimsmore Gardens’ Christmas displays have scooped first prize in the Garden Centre Association’s national Christmas Competition.

Landing this highly coveted accolade for the very first time, the Yeovil-based garden centre received higher scores than any other competitor in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland during the judges’ unannounced visits earlier this month. 

Having been in the planning since January and consciously constructed behind closed doors during a single week in October, the immersive Christmas displays were devised and managed by The Gardens Group director, Louise Burks, and created using repurposed and recycled materials, all now adorned with hundreds of glass baubles, twinkly LED lights, recycled candles and soft toys made from recycled plastic. 

With the garden centre’s annual themes hotly anticipated by the local community, this year saw displays inspired by Aladdin’s Cave, Fairy Tales, an Enchanted Woodland and a Gingerbread Kitchen. Each of these areas and many more are full of decorations and sustainable gifts that have been sourced from small scale makers and fair-trade businesses, with the hope that they last a lifetime and are passed down through generations. 

Adam Wallis, manager of Brimsmore Gardens, commented: “We are over the moon to have won first prize in the Garden Centre Association’s annual Christmas Competition, having come so close in previous years. As with everything we do at Brimsmore Gardens, we are always looking to innovate and improve, so this award is a reflection of the team’s unwavering commitment to these principles. Sustainability has been central to our thoughts year-on-year and we’re very proud to have made such huge strides in making Christmas as kind on the planet as possible. We’ll take a moment to toast the team’s efforts, creativity and resourcefulness, then it’s back to work as we look forward to welcoming many more visitors into the displays before Christmas.” 

The Gardens Group’s Christmas displays are open to the public seven days a week until Christmas Eve, at Brimsmore Gardens in Yeovil, Castle Gardens in Sherborne and Poundbury Gardens near Dorchester. 

A new show garden is bringing creative planting ideas and inspiration to gardeners in Peterborough. Horticultural experts at Notcutts Garden Centre, on Ham Lane in Orton Waterville, have unveiled the garden at a community ribbon cutting event.

Caroline Notcutt, Vice-Chairman and Great-Granddaughter of Notcutts Garden Centres founder Roger Crompton Notcutt, cut the ribbon alongside local guests, customers and the Notcutts Peterborough team.

The Notcutts Garden is a permanent display at the garden centre, offering inspiration for gardeners for their own outdoor spaces at home. Notcutts are passionate about the environment and wildlife and have selected plants that are loved by bees and are perfect for pollinators.  In addition, plants that produce vibrant berries that birds and other wildlife can enjoy have been introduced.  The garden was designed and built by Notcutts’ Visual Merchandising Manager Pam Garside, Tony Jones Plant Buyer and members of the local team. 

Caroline Notcutt, Vice-Chairman of Notcutts, said: “We are proudly celebrating our 125th anniversary this year and our new Notcutts Garden truly illustrates the best of what we do at Notcutts. We have a longstanding heritage at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, winning 50 Gold medals over the years, so we’re pleased to bring our expertise in planting and garden design to the local Peterborough community.”

Mark Washington, General Manager at Notcutts Peterborough, said: “Thank you to all who joined us for the special opening event. We are thrilled to unveil our new garden which showcases our horticultural skills and offers planting inspiration for customers all year round, it is a wonderful addition to our garden centre.”

The Notcutts Garden at Peterborough is free to visit and is one of many show gardens on display at Notcutts’ 19 garden centres nationwide, each with different themes and designs.

For more information about Notcutts Peterborough, call 01733 234 600 or visit notcutts.co.uk.

Whether you’re one to put your tree up in November or like to wait for the month of December to roll around, there is no doubt that the festive season is best known for the joy of giving gifts. But did you know that whilst buying for friends, family and colleagues you can also help raise much needed funds for the Greenfingers Charity?

Find out more below……

AmazonSmile

Love it or hate it, Amazon is an unlimited source of gifting ideas. But have you ever heard of AmazonSmile? It looks exactly the same as the Amazon you will recognise but by shopping through AmazonSmile, and selecting Greenfingers as your charity of choice, the folks at Amazon will donate a percentage of all eligible products to the charity too. It couldn’t be easier!

EasyFundraising

EasyFundraising has partnered with over 7,000 retailers to provide a simple and effective way to raise money for charities and good causes. Simply visit easyfundraising.org.uk and add the online extension to your browser, then shop online as normal. Every time you visit a retailer that has partnered with EasyFundraising you will receive a ‘Donation Reminder’ and with one click you can raise funds for the Greenfingers Charity.

Gifts for greenfingered loved ones

The team at The Rose Garden Press, who have recently donated £10k to support the work of the charity are continuing their support by donating £1 from every sale of its Garden Flower Seed Advent Calendar this festive season.  Featuring 24 packets of high-quality flower seeds with accompanying notecards, a mystery envelope for the 25th day, and a pop-up mini cardboard greenhouse to store your seeds, this is a truly unique gift ideas for new and experienced gardeners alike.  Although we’re halfway through the month, it's not too late to make a purchase!

Fryers Roses has also pledged £1 from the sale of every ‘Friends’ rose sale to the Greenfingers Charity. A beautiful buttercup yellow with a sweet fragrance and reaching a height of up to 90cm, this is a rose that will provide sunshine in any garden.

Don’t forget the pets!

The lovely people at pet loving PetFace – long-term supporters of Greenfingers – have created garden themed pet toys with a percentage of each sale going directly to help the Greenfingers Charity to build even more therapeutic gardens at children’s hospices across the country.  Featuring an aubergine, corn on the cob, asparagus, and a cauliflower design, these fun additions to a till top or pet ranges are a great way for PetFace and their retail customers to support Greenfingers this Christmas.

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 mediahttps://www.facebook.com/Greenfingerscharity/, @GreenfingersCha on Twitter, and @Greenfingerscharity on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Plantsmith, the multiple award winning Houseplant care range, has received another accolade, being featured in the John Lewis Oxford Street Christmas window displays.

John Lewis chose two of the range – the Houseplant Care gift set and the Orchid care gift set – to include in the windows.

Founder Nick Jackson said: "We suspect this might be the first ever time that plant care products have been featured in such a prestigious Christmas display and we think our stand out branding appealed to the John Lewis team.

"The Plantsmith brand received another big boost this week when its gift crackers, winner of the Glee new products award gift category, were featured at number one in the Sunday Times pick of the Garden Gifts guide."

The Colegrave Seabrook Foundation has received support from The Worshipful Company of Gardeners for their HortTech Award. This scholarship, worth up to £5,000, is designed to support work in developing cutting edge technologies in the field of horticulture. 

Technology is becoming increasingly important in horticulture. A number of colleges and universities now have specialist technical programmes working on projects to respond to some of our industry’s biggest challenges. These might be looking at ways to reduce labour inputs, improve growing conditions and post-harvest ‘shelf-life’ or other high-tech applications in the growing, harvesting or dispatch of a wide range of horticultural products. 

Applications are invited from students or academics who can display a keen interest in HortTech. This interest is likely to be demonstrated by students through specific practical work in this area or by academics who are actively engaged in the teaching and/or development of horticultural technologies and who are looking for funding to develop or further their existing work on new technology.

Speaking on behalf of The Worshipful Company of Gardeners, John Gilbert, Master of the Worshipful Company of Gardeners, said: “The Worshipful Company of Gardeners of London Charity Trustees are delighted to support this award and to be working with the Colegrave Seabrook Foundation to further the use of technology within the horticultural industry.”

Jeff Colegrave, chair of the Trustees of The Colegrave Seabrook Foundation, added: “The development of new technologies within our industry is hugely important and this backing from The Worshipful Company of Gardeners will enable us to support new research and drive this exciting sector of horticulture forward. We are delighted that our work in this field has been recognised by The Worshipful Company of Gardeners and look forward to developing a close relationship to promote this award.”

Students, academics or other eligible individuals who are interested in applying for this scholarship should visit HortTech Award - Colegrave Seabrook Foundation where they can find more details about this scholarship and apply online. Application deadline is 31 January 2023.

The attached photograph shows John Gilbert, Master of the Worshipful Company of Gardeners (on the left) with Jeff Colegrave, Chair of Trustees (on the right) of The Colegrave Seabrook Foundation. 

Full details are on the Foundation website along with important information relating to the other scholarships available to students. Colegrave Seabrook Foundation website www.colegraveseabroofoundation.org.uk Applications can be submitted between now and the 31 January 2023 for awards which will be made in March 2023.                              

Members of the Garden Centre Association are being asked to vote for their Associate Member of the Year for 2022 – with the winner announced at the GCA’s annual conference in Blackburn in January.

The award recognises companies or individuals that have contributed to the success of the sector and is highly regarded and valued by garden centres.

GCA Chairman, Tammy Woodhouse, explains: “We love to hear from our members and want to get their thoughts on who should be our Associate Member of the Year for 2022.

“There are no strict criteria for the selection of the winning supplier, members can simply vote for the company that has helped their centre the most, with service, new products or marketing, for example.

“The deadline for voting is 5pm on Monday, January 16, 2023 and all votes should be submitted by email to laura@gca.org.uk. We will be presenting the Haskins Stewarts Cup to the winners at our annual conference this January.”

The GCA’s annual conference will be held at the Mercure Blackburn Dunkenhalgh Hotel and Spa in Blackburn, Lancashire from January 22 until 25, 2023 and places can be booked via www.gca.org.uk.

The conference pages on the website will be updated with speaker announcements and full listings as the programme develops and exact timings are confirmed. There is also a dedicated email for any queries members, and those wishing to book for the event, may have: conference@gca.org.uk.

Tammy added: “Many garden centre suppliers don’t realise that they can join us. We welcome applications from any supplier offering products or services relevant to our garden centre members. We offer the opportunity to communicate and network with almost 200 of the UK’s leading garden centres. Anyone interested in joining and potentially becoming one of our Associate Members of the Year in the future, can find out more at https://gca.org.uk/suppliers/.”

Pictured: The team at Farplants, who were voted Associate Member of the Year for 2019, with their trophy presented during the 2020 GCA conference, when members were last able to meet for an in person awards ceremony.

The Garden Press Event is a unique one-day boutique exhibition taking place on Tuesday 21 February 2023 at the Business Design Centre in London. This event provides an unrivalled opportunity for suppliers and garden industry companies to exhibit and showcase new products, themes, and stories to the garden media at the start of the gardening season. 

If your company has a new product for 2023, a new theme to showcase, or you are just looking to catch up with the media, this is a key show to be at. The event is designed to be accessible to all companies whatever their size, with stand space available at special introductory rates for first-time exhibitors. Discounts are available to GIMA and HTA members. 

With so many great stories to tell, exhibiting at the Garden Press Event provides an opportunity to make new contacts and get your messages across to a range of journalists, broadcasters, bloggers, influencers and press in the horticulture industry. The show has been the launch pad for several companies and product lines in previous years. 

All exhibitors can enter the New Product Awards, which are voted for by the media attending the show and raise funds for Greenfingers. In 2022, Wildlife World won the award for ‘Best New Product’ for their Natural Rubber Cell Trays and The Little Hanging Garden Company took home the prize for ‘Best Stand.’ 

The Garden Press Event is a strictly press and media only event. Visitor entry is restricted to bona fide editorial press, writers, journalists, influencers, bloggers, and vloggers.  

Why not join the growing list of exhibitors already signed up including:  

Responsible Sourcing Scheme Ltd, Plant Healthy Certification Scheme, GMG, Burgon & Ball, Melcourt Industries Ltd, Barrus, RocketGro, AutoPot Watering Systems, Hygeia Ltd, Vitax, Kress, Hozelock Ltd, Mr Fothergill's Seeds, Niwaki, Darlac Ltd, HOTBIN Composting, ARS - Sorbus International Ltd, Dalefoot Composts, Johnsons Lawn seed & Neudorff, Envii, Husqvarna, GARDENA & Flymo, STIGA, Stihl, Evergreen Garden   Care, Newby Hall & Gardens and the Harrogate Autumn Flower Show, Urban Farm It, Hortiwool, BBC Gardeners' World Events, Foggy Bottom - A garden to share, Azpects Ltd, Geb & Green, PlantGrow, HEMPE®, 1Up Natural Products Ltd, Taylors Bulbs, EDEN HORTICULTURE, Andermatt UK, Blue Diamond Group of Garden Centres, Mayhem UK ltd, Blue Diamond Group of Garden Centres, Bulldog Tools, Grazers, Henchman Ltd, Henton & Chattell, Makita, David Austin Roses, Southern Trident Ltd, Qwickhose, Woodlodge Products, Fiskars UK, Crocus.co.uk Ltd, Vitavia Greenhouse, Bronte Heritage Collection, Pictorial Meadows, Spear & Jackson, British Garden Centres, Greenfingers Charity. 

For further information about booking a stand or sponsorship opportunities please email events@hta.org.uk and Jo Gildea jo.gildea@hta.org.uk or visit www.gardenpressevent.co.uk 

A group of pupils from Cheadle Catholic Infant & Junior School were crowned winners of Manchester Airport’s eco-garden competition at an event under the Concorde’s wings.

The pupils’ presentation captured the imagination of a panel of judges, including trustees from the airport’s Community Trust Fund and a representative from event partners Gardena. They have secured a £25,000 grant for a new eco-friendly outdoor learning space in a disused area of their school campus.

The Stockport-based school will use the funding to create a sustainable community allotment, growing produce that will then be used in cooking classes, a ‘forest school’ designed to attract native plants and wildlife, and an open-air classroom complete with a weather station that will be used in science and geography sessions.

Of the five other finalist schools, Newall Green Primary School, in Wythenshawe, and Brooklands Primary School, in Trafford, claimed the 2nd and 3rd place prizes of £10,000 and £5,000 respectively.

The competition was announced back in September to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the airport’s Community Trust Fund. It was conceived as a way of promoting environmental awareness among today’s pupils whilst also creating a lasting legacy for generations to come.

Primary schools within a 10-mile radius of the airport – an area which covers parts of Trafford, Manchester, Stockport, Tameside and Cheshire – were invited to submit a proposal for outlining how they would spend the funds on an ‘eco-garden’, designed to act as a learning aid and to promote environmental awareness among pupils.

A total of 22 schools applied, with pupils producing a video explaining their plans. These were whittled down to six finalists, who were invited to pitch their proposals earlier today at a grand final in the Runway Visitor Park’s Concorde hangar.

The other three finalists to present - Peover Superior Endowed Primary School and Bexton Primary School, both in Cheshire, and Lum Head Primary School in Stockport – did not go away empty-handed; GARDENA provided them each with a bundle of gardening tools and equipment to help them bring their green spaces to life.

Pupils also had the opportunity to explore the popular Runway Visitor Park, where the event was being held, including a tour of the Concorde and a visit to the viewing platform to see planes taking off and landing at close quarters.

Chris Woodroofe, Managing Director at Manchester Airport, said: “I’d like to congratulate Cheadle Catholic Infant & Junior School on their magnificent achievement in winning this competition. Their design was brilliant, innovative and will have a real legacy for generations of pupils to come. The overall standard of the entries was very high and our judges had a really tough time choosing between them.

“It is fantastic that we’ve been able to engage so many pupils in 22 different schools across our catchment area and encouraged them to think about the importance of sustainability and protecting the environment. It is a fitting way to mark 25 years of the Community Trust Fund, which has made, and continues to make, a hugely positive difference in our neighbouring communities.”

Sarah Bentham, UK Marketing Manager at Gardena, said: “We are thrilled to be supporting Manchester Airport’s Community Trust Fund as an event partner for its eco-garden competition.

“At Gardena, we understand the importance of getting children into the great outdoors and learning about the benefits of gardening and creating green spaces, so it made perfect sense for us to team up with the airport group.

“Through this, we have been able to enable the school pupils at Cheadle Catholic Infant & Junior School to secure their new eco-friendly outdoor learning space, as well as offering the finalists bundles of our gardening tools. We are confident that these prizes will be invaluable in their outdoor education, and we are really proud to have been part of this initiative.”

Rachel Fender, Headteacher at Cheadle Catholic Infant & Junior School, said: “We are so proud of the children. They spoke passionately about their plans and winning this competition will open up so many opportunities for them. They really hooked onto the concept of legacy and what this would mean for future generations of pupils.”

All finalists were offered a visit from a mentor to help pupils rehearse their pitch, and Manchester City Councillor Tracey Rawlins, Executive Member for Environment and Transport, visited Newall Green Primary School. She added: “Congratulations to Newall Green Primary School on winning £10,000 in the Manchester Airport Eco Garden competition.

“It was great to meet the pupils and teachers last week and help the school prepare for their pitch. Manchester Airport’s Community Trust Fund is a great way to raise the awareness to young people on the importance of protecting the environment and encouraging biodiversity. I cannot wait to see their project come to life.”

The Community Trust Fund is overseen by the airport and managed by a committee of independent trustees, including airport colleagues and local councillors. It was established as part of the terms for the construction of the airport’s second runway in 1997, under a Section 106 agreement with local authorities.

Would you like to showcase your garden design talent and horticultural skills to thousands and thousands of gardeners, horticultural experts, media and influencers? Applications for the BBC Gardeners’ World Events 2023 Beautiful Borders competition are open until January 2023.  

Beautiful Borders are an annual visitor favourite at the flagship BBC Gardeners’ World Live and the boutique BBC Gardeners’ World Spring and Autumn Fairs. These compact 9m2  spaces are packed with imaginative design features, planting and materials, and provide inspiration for small gardens and challenging spaces. Whether you’re a seasoned garden designer, a budding first-time creator, horticulture student, gardening club or charity, the Beautiful Borders competition is the perfect oppportunity to gain experience of building a small show garden and to make your mark.  

The theme for the 2023 Beautiful Borders competition at all three events is ‘My Garden Escape’, lending itself perfectly to interpretations of oasis and refuge, peace and mindfulness, health and wellbeing. Alternatively, the ‘Garden Escape’ could be a place of vibrant joy, sensory stimulation and social gatherings with friends or family, perhaps a place to enjoy delicious fresh produce grown from the soil. Entrants should be motivated to use the theme to inspire others to transform an area of their garden into an escape of their own.   

Rachel Poletti-Gadd, Portfolio Director - Gardening Division at Immediate Live, organisers of BBC Gardeners’ World events, said: “Visitors flock to see the Beautiful Borders each year because they are literally bursting with creative, inspiring ideas than can be achieved at home. The Borders show that gardens don’t have to be large, costly or complicated to be full of colour and character, and that even the most challenging spaces, like a shady spot or a tricky corner, can be transformed with some imaginative design. We’re really looking forward to next year’s entries and can’t wait see the finished Borders in situ at BBC Gardeners’ World Live and at our Spring and Autumn Fairs.”  

Jordan Weston, a Beautiful Border Gold award winner at BBC Gardeners’ World Live in 2022, said: “I have taken part in the competition twice now and both times were equally an incredible experience from beginning to end. Not only is it a great opportunity to promote your business, showcasing your skills and talent to tens of thousands of visitors and potentially millions on TV, you’re surrounded by likeminded, passionate horticulturalists who become your family during your time at the event and thereafter. Taking part has opened up so many opportunities for me and my business which would not have crossed my path if I hadn’t taken part. Who knows what being part of this may hold for you, but I say go for it, you won’t regret it. It’s a little addictive, so maybe see you there!” 

Winners of the 2022 Beautiful Borders competition were: 

BBC Gardeners’ World Live, NEC Birmingham: The Crinkle-Crankle Dead Hedge Border by Cathy Perry, a student at Winterbourne Centre for Horticulture, inspired by the kitchen garden hedge at Winterbourne House, Birmingham which offers a bountiful habitat for a wide variety of organisms.  

BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair, Beaulieu, Hampshire: Ogwen Valley by Aaron Marubbi, a landscape designer from North Wales. Aaron’s Platinum Award winning Border was inspired by the Ogwen Valley in Snowdonia. 

BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair, Audley End, Essex: We’re All Cuckoo Here by Shona Lockheart, inspired by an old farm near the designer’s hometown of Colchester. The Platinum award-winning Beautiful Border was Shona’s debut design for a show. 

At each event, the Beautiful Borders are assessed by a panel of esteemed horticultural experts and  awards are presented to winning designers. 

As well as the prestigious Platinum, Gold, Silver Merit, Silver and Bronze Awards to acknowledge excellence within the competition, the Beautiful Border Assessment Panel awards the Best Beautiful Border and Best Interpretation of the Theme which recognise the most outstanding entries. A Best Subscriber Border is also awarded to the best design by a subscriber to BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine. 

For full information about how to apply to bring a Beautiful Border to BBC Gardeners’ World Live (NEC Birmingham, 15-18 June 2023), the Spring Fair at Beaulieu (28-30 April) or the Autumn Fair at Audley End (1-3 Septenber), visit the BBC Gardeners’ World Live website at www.bbcgardenersworldlive.com or contact Horticultural Manager, Lucy Tremlett, at: lucy.tremlett@immediate.co.uk, tel: 020 7150 5130. Applications for BBC Gardener’s World Live and the BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair close on 23 January 2023. Applications for the BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair close on 2nd May 2023. 

Tickets for BBC Gardeners’ World Live and the Spring and Autumn Fairs are on sale now. Event highlights include inspiring gardens and Beautiful Borders, plant and garden shopping, gardening advice from experts including Gardeners’ World Magazine editors and TV presenters, live entertainment, shopping, and food and drink features. 

www.bbcgardenersworldlive.com

Dobbies Garden Centres is currently donating 300 Christmas trees to charities, schools and community groups across the UK, as part of its Not Your Average Community campaign.

Groups across the UK were invited to nominate themselves to receive a real Christmas tree donation, as the garden centre aimed to bring some festive cheer to important community groups. The campaign was delivered in partnership with Needlefresh, who grow Dobbies’ sustainable Christmas trees.  

Examples from across the UK include Kiwi House Care Home in Derby; My WiSH Charity in Bury St Edmonds; Ukraine Welcome in Moreton Park; Calmer Therapy in Morpeth; New Rannoch Day Centre in Perth; Swansea Community Fridge; Brighton Woman’s Refuge; Kings Lynn Night Shelter; Rehaghy Rural Community Group in Lisburn.

The winners are now invited along to collect their very own Nordmann Fir tree, Dobbies’ most popular tree due to its needle retention and shape, to help brighten their schools, community centres, churches and charity centres. 

Dobbies’ Horticultural Director, Marcus Eyles, said; “We were really moved by all the nominations and can’t thank our communities enough for putting forward their suggestions. It’s great to see the positive work that many of these local causes are carrying out.

“It’s our pleasure to do what we can to bring some festive cheer to local communities this year. We wouldn’t have been able to get this campaign off the ground without the generous support from Needlefresh and we extend our thanks to their team.”

Dobbies is committed to sustainability and all the real Christmas trees sold are grown from specially selected seeds, taken from hand-picked cones which have been left to dry and nurtured into seedlings. The growing team at Needlefresh use specialist pruning techniques to create a bushy and uniform shape by hand, reducing any impact on the surrounding environment and protecting the animals and plants in and around the tree base.

Dobbies has also recorded a podcast all about real Christmas trees, and their sustainable growing process, with Needlefresh, which is available to listen to now at dobbies.com/podcasts

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Plastic resource efficiency and recycling charity RECOUP estimates that a staggering 750,000 tonnes of post-consumer plastic packaging is not currently collected for recycling, in its new UK Household Plastic Packaging Collection Survey report.  

This allows a huge opportunity for upcoming legislative changes, to help bridge the gap between the UK’s current capture rate and what plastic packaging is placed on the market each year.

The newly launched report has found that over 600,000 tonnes of household plastic packaging was collected for recycling in 2021, an increase of 4% on the previous year. This is an overall collection rate of 43% for all household plastic packaging in the UK that is captured at kerbside.

With recycling targets set to increase year-on-year, up to 62% in 2030 proposed in upcoming Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation, greater volumes of currently uncollected material will need to be captured. The report found that in 2021 over 200,000 tonnes of plastic bottles, 250,000 tonnes of plastic pots, tubs and trays, and over 300,000 tonnes of plastic films and flexibles were not collected, offering huge potential for increasing capture rates with the correct legislative drivers.

The report also found that local authorities experience material reject rates of up to 35%, with an average of 13%, highlighting the need for clear and consistent communications to citizens to help reduce contamination and improve material quality.

Tom McBeth, Policy & Infrastructure Projects Manager comments: “It’s reassuring to see that, despite the significant challenges seen over the last few years, collection volumes continue to increase, albeit gradually.”  

Tom continues: “What is now important, is it is not allowed to stagnate. With the current flurry of information and activity from Defra, particularly relating to the introduction of EPR, and the funding mechanisms and mandated collection of plastic films for recycling at kerbside, hopefully local authorities and waste management providers will have the confidence and assurance to adapt and invest in their collection schemes, to see the capture of more of these currently lost resources.”

As the UK looks to navigate its way through the many changing environmental policies, RECOUP continues to provide expertise and guidance for its members across the plastics recycling value chain and policy makers. 

The RECOUP UK Household Plastic Packaging Collection Survey 2022 is available for RECOUP members to download from its website.

Tim Fawbert, whose previous role was with the French cosmetics giant L’Oréal, has joined one of the UK’s leading commercial nurseries as Group Finance Director.

In his new position at Wyevale Nurseries, which is based in Hereford, Tim is managing the finance section and supporting the management team in the development of company strategy.

The 54-year-old, who lives in Lugwardine in Herefordshire, says: “I have come into the horticultural industry having held various finance roles, mainly in operations, but also business and retail. My main roles in L’Oréal were as Operations Finance Director; most recently I was Deputy Chief Financial Officer for L’Oréal UK and Ireland. I have worked all over the world including in Germany, France and the USA, as well as closer to home in Wales.

“I’m very excited to have joined a new team, in a new environment and I’m really look forward to meeting everybody properly. I hope to be able to bring some different experience and knowledge to help Wyevale Nurseries grow and exploit the opportunities available out there.”

Tim’s new role includes ensuring all the company’s teams have the right information to do their jobs properly and partnering with his colleagues to help them be as efficient as they can, and to make the best decisions.

Andy Johnson, Managing Director of Wyevale Nurseries, says: “We’re delighted to welcome Tim to Wyevale Nurseries’ leadership team. He has a wealth of complimentary experience in finance and operations that are sure to give us fresh perspectives and increased energy in pursuing development plans across our business. We look forward to him getting stuck in. He joins our industry in challenging but exciting times.”

Tim, who is married with two grown-up children, was bought up in Worcester and Malvern and studied languages at Loughborough University before gaining CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) qualifications. He also speaks four languages.

Prior to joining L’Oréal, Tim worked in various industries, from microchips to ocean going super yachts, and has spent the last 19 years abroad.

He adds: “I’m really enjoying my new position, getting involved in the day-to-day running of the company and working with a dynamic hands-on team here at Wyevale Nurseries. It’s exciting discovering, learning about and exploring a completely new business.”

In his spare time, he enjoys playing cricket and running, and watching most sports. He also likes travelling and is looking forward to rediscovering the UK after so many years overseas.

DJ Turfcare is proud to exclusively offer the UK’s most comprehensive range of RHS-endorsed organic and organic-based lawn and garden fertilisers, including the ever-popular MO Bacter, Lawn Boost and Recovery products. To support its garden centre customers and to provide a top-class service, DJ Turfcare has announced that it has expanded its UK sales force ahead of the 2023 season.

Following the retirement of Sales Manager, Stephen Parry, DJ Turfcare has invested in adding seven new sales agents to support garden centre customers the length and breadth of the country. Supporting DJ Turfcare’s sales growth in 2023 will be:

• Miles Cleall, covering the South Downs, Kent, Reading, South London and the Channel Islands
• Graham Hurren, covering Norfolk, Sussex and Essex
• Tom Stolworthy, covering the North West and East Midlands
• Jill Thomas, covering the West Country including Avon & Somerset, Wiltshire and Hampshire
• Jon Davis, covering the West Midlands, plus Herefordshire, South Wales, Wiltshire and Isle of Man
• Steve Wilkie, covering Scotland and Northern England including Middlesborough, plus Northern Ireland
• Gary Martin, covering Scotland and Northern England including the Lake District

Talking about these new appointments, DJ Turfcare’s Managing Director, David Jenkins said: “At DJ Turfcare we have an incredible success story to tell, with our entire portfolio 100% organic and organic-based, which provide excellent results time after time. With our new sales force we are able to hold face to face discussions, assisting the retailer to understand the unique benefits of our products. Additionally, our sales agents can bring innovative ideas to the stores. It’s an exciting prospect and we’re looking forward to supporting our customers more than ever throughout the 2023 season and beyond.”

The DJ Turfcare portfolio

MO BACTER – MO Bacter Organic Lawn Fertiliser is a perfect start to the lawncare calendar. Slow releasing, MO Bacter rids your lawn of moss and improves soil condition over a period of 12 week, making it the ideal feed for your lawn in the spring. MO Bacter is packed full of healthy bacteria that will convert thatch into nourishing plant feed which lasts for up to 100 days.  RRP starting from £16.99

LAWN BOOST - This organic-based feed solution is perfect for moss-free lawns.  Suitable for use throughout spring and summer, Lawn Boost kickstarts the lawn following winter and will encourage healthy growth and is highly drought resistant. RRP £31.99

RECOVERY - This granular fertiliser helps repair and nourish your lawn using a blend of effective ingredients including Humifirst, which creates biological activity that stimulates plant growth and delivers a strengthened, long-lasting green lawn. Recovery can be applied prior to reseeding, laying new turf, post- drought or flooding, or following a period of extensive wear and tear. RRP starting from £18.99

BIO-LIME – Exclusively designed for lawns with a low pH, Bio-Lime combats moss-loving acidic soil by sweetening the soil and raising its pH to encourage healthy strong grass to grow. A key ingredient of Bio-Lime is magnesium, which helps the lawn to maintain its colour throughout the cold winter months, making it the ideal year-round lawn treatment. RRP £32.99

AUTUMN LAWN TREATMENT - A unique organic-based fertiliser, Autumn Lawn Treatment has been created for use during August to November to destroy moss whilst also stimulating strong roots and providing grass with 100 days of food to encourage a greener, thicker, stronger and disease-resistant sward throughout winter and long into spring. RRP £31.99

Find out more

To find out more about DJ Turfcare’s organic-based fertiliser offering or to make contact with your new sales agent please visit  www.djturfcare.co.uk or call 01483 200976.

Contacting your local DJ Turfcare sales agent

• Miles Cleall - 07785 275978 / milescleall@msn.com
• Graham Hurren - 07776 255975 / hurrengraham@gmail.com
• Tom Stolworthy - 07494 756781 / stolworthytom@gmail.com
• Jill Thomas - 07899 950403 / jill@jillthomasagencies.co.uk
• Jon Davis - 07581 006143 /jon@summit-sales.co.uk
• Steve Wilkie - 07956 351859 / steve@simplysales.biz
• Gary Martin - 0779 5598910 / gary@simplysales.biz

A new Youth Award for the 2024 edition of the AIPH World Green City Awards has been announced by the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) and the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN).

As world leaders gather in Montréal for COP 15, GYBN and partners organised and hosted a Youth Summit to drive momentum and build solidarity towards what will undoubtedly be a critical moment in the history of our planet. At this auspicious event, AIPH and GYBN are proud to have announced the launch of a new Youth Award which is set to be jointly brought to life as part of the 2024 edition of the AIPH World Green City Awards.

Making the announcement at the Youth Summit on behalf of AIPH, Mr Anthony O’Neill, President of the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association, said “The global youth constituency is central to our collective future. Building greener cities is core to the legacy we hope to leave behind for future generations.”

Mr. Tim Briercliffe, Secretary General of AIPH, said “AIPH welcomes this partnership with the GYBN which will firmly unite youth aspirations with the inspiring action cities are taking to shape a greener, healthier, and more sustainable urban future. We are so pleased to be collaborating to ensure that the voice of young people is heard in the 2024 edition of the AIPH World Green City Awards, and we look forward to strengthening our engagement with the youth to inspire a lasting legacy for future editions.”

This new Youth Award will be decided by a new Youth Jury, whose compilation will be led by GYBN, and who will select from the 18 finalists the top entry most likely to inspire the youth and fulfil their needs for a secure, healthy future. The Youth Award will be presented at the 2024 Awards ceremony alongside the Category Winners and is envisaged to be an integral part of each future edition going forward.

The Youth Summit, under the theme of “Driving transformation for our future with nature,“ brought together over 300 young people from around the world alongside Ministers, Mayors and other dignitaries. Taking place as a two-day side event of the COP from 5th-6th December 2022, it provided a global platform for the youth to organise, network, learn new skills, exchange knowledge, and share their hopes and ambitions for COP15 and the Post 2020 GBF. At COP 15 from 7-19 December 2022, leaders from around the world will negotiate and adopt the Post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)- a new global agenda to guide biodiversity action through 2030. The Youth Summit was made possible in collaboration with the Government of Quebec, the Government of Canada and the Secretariat of the UN CBD, as well with the generous support of various donors.

The Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN) is an international network of youth organizations and individuals from every global region who have united together with a common goal: preventing the loss of biodiversity and preserving Earth's natural resources. Since 2010, GYBN has served as a platform where young people can participate and collaborate in the decision-making process. GYBN is officially recognized as the international coordination platform for youth participation in the CBD.

As the world’s champion for the power of plants, AIPH leads global thinking on the successful integration of plants and nature- the living green- into the built environment. The AIPH World Green City Awards recognise and celebrate bold and innovative action that harnesses the power of plants and nature to create liveable, inclusive, and resilient cities. The inaugural 2022 edition of the AIPH World Green City Awards, which has recently been concluded, attracted entries from close to 60 top cities, and proved the immense success of this unique flagship initiative- the world’s first global awards where plants and nature are the core focus.

"The loss of nature is one of the greatest challenges of our time. How we act now to halt this loss will determine what future today's youth will enjoy tomorrow. We are proud to be initiating the Youth Award with AIPH in demonstration of how the youth are critical to shaping the global movement for greener cities. It is, after all, these cities which the youth will inherit and continue to transform in the future,” said Swetha Stotra Bhashyam, Global South Focal Point, GYBN.

The AIPH World Green City Awards 2024 edition was recently launched at the 2022 Awards Ceremony , held as a gala dinner at the IUCN Leaders Forum in the Special Self-Governing Province of Jeju, Republic of Korea in October 2022.

AIPH and GYBN, and their growing network of partners invite all cities, large and small, to enter the 2024 edition of the AIPH World Green City Awards. In doing so, cities will demonstrate their ambitious commitments to nature by showcasing the action they are taking to protect, conserve, and restore the ecosystems which not only underpin our current livelihoods, but which are also essential in safeguarding a just, clean, and healthy environment within which the youth can live and thrive well into the future.

The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow. Thus, this timely announcement in the margins of COP15 is welcomed by both AIPH and GYBN. These organisations, both with global influence, are pleased to be collaborating to exhibit first-hand how city-led action for nature has the potential to inspire youth-led action, and vice versa. This partnership will stand as a leading example of the power of coming together to advance the global imperative to embrace nature-based solutions in the coming Post 2020 decade.

The trade association CHA is representing UK suppliers with an industry information stand alongside an exhibitor group at Fruit Logistica 2023. 

The show, which covers fresh fruit and vegetables, dried fruit and nuts, packaging and labelling plus transport and logistical systems, is being held in Berlin from Wednesday 8 to Friday 10 February 2023.

International buyers and UK suppliers are encouraged to visit the information stand, where the CHA team and representatives from the DIT Agri Tech department will be on hand to answer queries and direct sales enquiries to appropriate UK suppliers. 

UK suppliers taking advantage of the CHA Base Space area on the CHA information stand can display product brochures, have a place to sit and work or hold meetings and access light refreshments.

If you’d like to access this valuable facility, please find out more from the CHA team by contacting:

Lydia Stubbs on lydia@cha-hort.com or 01959 587445 

Pat Flynn on pat@cha-hort.com or 01959 587449

Dobbies, the UK’s largest garden centre group, has increased its total sales by 36% to £304m, its best trading performance.

The figures were announced in the group’s annual report and financial statements.

Chairman Andrew Bracey said: “Dobbies has continued to demonstrate resilience and progress throughout a challenging period. We remain confident in the underlying strength of the business.” 

And Chief Executive Officer, Graeme Jenkins, added: “During FY22, Dobbies delivered excellent performance through a period of significant change and I would like to thank all of our team members for their continued support and commitment.

“As we navigate challenging and unpredictable trading conditions throughout FY23, we remain focused on delivering great value to our customers.” 

The accounts are for the 52 weeks to 27 February 2022.  Key highlights include:  

• Total sales increased by 36% to £304m, Dobbies’ best trading performance 
• Dobbies’ underlying EBITDA increased to £45.6m, with a strong retail sales being offset by restaurant trading (affected by Covid-19 restrictions) 
• Acquisition of Johnsons Garden Centre, Boston 
• Continued roll-out of little dobbies - three new stores in Chiswick, Richmond and Westbourne Grove 
• Sector-leading digital platform launched, allowing for integration throughout the customer journey  
• Continued progress on maintaining our market-leading sustainability position 

Glee, the international ‘festival’ for the garden, leisure and pet sector, has had a makeover with new branding revealed ahead of the 2023 event (27-29 June, NEC Birmingham).

Having undergone a renaissance in a post-pandemic world, Glee continues to bring together the global garden industry under one roof, with the most diverse portfolio of suppliers and manufacturers represented. The new-look branding – set to officially roll out in December 2022 – is reflective of this new chapter. A bright colour palette, together with icons representative of Glee’s product categories makes for a rich visual tapestry that paints a fun and fresh picture of the show.

Discussing the new branding, Glee Director, Matthew Mein said: “As Glee’s relevancy stretched across the international gardening sector, it became more important than ever that we created a look and feel for the show that could be easily translated. Iconography is an important component of this, as it not only speaks volumes with the use of a single image but, together, the branding can build a visual story that truly showcases the breadth of Glee’s offering and the products represented. We’re excited to roll out our new branding and to further build Glee’s market-leading position.”

The festival of garden, leisure and pet

Looking ahead, the 2023 edition of Glee will be an event not to be missed. With 70% of the extended floorplan already reserved by leading brands, emerging talents, and innovators, the show is on track to deliver the strongest platform for growth anywhere within the exhibition calendar.

With the new June date firmly shaping the show’s content, this year’s edition will be a celebratory event that showcases the best of the garden, leisure and pet sectors. Joining the line-up will be a new dedicated DIY sector, as well as International Sourcing, which will be an important destination for major wholesale buyers and procurement experts in the years to come. 

After an exceptionally strong 2022 showing, which saw buyers turning up in droves to place orders ahead of Christmas, Glee’s Home, Gift & Clothing sector will be transformed into a dedicated village for trend-driven garden home and giftware suppliers and buyers. Elsewhere, Outdoor Entertainment will see its representation increased significantly; reflective of the predicted growth for this area, as the country continues to view their home as sanctuaries during a time of economic turbulence. Glee’s dedicated outdoor demonstration area – Fire, Grill & Chill – will provide the beating heart and mouthwatering centrepiece to this thriving show sector.

Hundreds of brands, thousands of new products

Recognising that standing still is not an option for retailers, Glee 2023 is designed to facilitate important conversations, such as how we can futureproof our industry or how we can better service ethical consumers. Additionally, Glee provides three days of uninterrupted access to hundreds, if not thousands, of new products, alongside hundreds of brands, all ready and willing to fulfill orders to extend their retail network. A rich calendar of added-value content, from retailer insight to breaking down future trends, will complete Glee 2023’s offering.

Matthew Mein added: “Whether you own one store or 100, Glee must be viewed as an essential part of any retailer’s annual planning. Whether it’s accessing new products, strengthening relationships with suppliers, joining in the conversation regarding future growth, or more sustainable practices, more can be achieved within three days at Glee than weeks spent on the road. Furthermore, now is a pivotal time of growth and change for the gardening industry. Through the support of innovation and by driving newness in every market sector, inspiring buyers and helping to inform their purchasing decisions in a rapidly-changing environment, Glee has a vital role to play. We are more than ready to meet the challenges and help our customers to make the most of the opportunities, facilitated by our new June date, which opens Glee up to the most important buying cycle for trade.”

Find out more

Glee is the UK’s leading garden retail show, focusing on building year-round profits for buyers and suppliers within the core gardening and outdoor leisure product categories.  To keep up to date on the latest Glee news visit www.gleebirmingham.com.  To enquire about exhibiting at Glee 2023, which will take place 27-29 June, call +44 (0)203 3545 9752.

The team at British Garden Centres has welcomed Scott McCabe as their Group Buying Director. Scott, with a wealth of industry experience, joined BGC on Thursday (December 1). 

BGC, with 62 garden centres, is the UKs largest family-owned group. The appointment of Scott fits with the company's aims to build long lasting partnerships with its current and future suppliers. The new role will see Scott supporting the existing buying team - many have been with the family for many years and helped deliver the rapid growth the company has enjoyed since it purchased a number of the Wyevale and Hillview centres. 

Welcoming Scott, joint MD Charles Stubbs said, "I have known Scott for many years and know that his skills and experience will complement the team we have developed in recent years. Building stronger relationships with suppliers is Scott's number one priority as we aim to be the industry's very best customer."

Scott, well-known to the industry from his roles as both a retailer and supplier, took the opportunity to reflect on his career to date "The garden industry has been a wonderful place to grow my career. Customers, many who have become friends, have been fantastic and I thank each and every one of them for their support through the years. The team at Ames have been brilliant over the last few years, particularly during the post-lockdown boom in all garden related activity, their support has been immense." Commenting on his return to retail, "I, along with the rest of the trade, have enjoyed watching the team at BGC take the business from a regional business to national player in the last few years. Joining, as they embark on the next stage of their journey, is very exciting and I'm looking forward to working with the award-winning Buying Team"

The BGC Buying Team has been declared GLEE Group Buying Team of the Year for the last 2 years - a fitting recognition of the work the team undertook to take the business from a turnover of £30m+ in 2018 to over £160m in 2021.

Friends and supporters of Greenfingers Charity came together to enjoy the return of the charity’s annual fundraising dinner, where an incredible £31,000 was raised.

Taking place at its new location at the Pendley Manor Hotel in Tring, Hertfordshire, this year’s Greenfingers Charity dinner saw over 100 friends and supporters of Greenfingers come together for a superb night of celebrating the work Greenfingers undertakes at children’s hospices across the country.

Attendees were reminded by host for the night, Bob Marley, why we continue to do what we do to support the charity by saying: “The hospices Greenfingers support provide a home, love and life for over 350 children every year. With each garden lasting on average 10 years (before a revamp) this means that over 5 million children, as well as their families, friends and carers have spent time in one of our garden spaces. That’s an incredible number and hopefully helps our supporters to understand the impact our work can have.”

Joining the evening was Shaun Evans, star of ITV’s Endeavour and Kate Saxon, producer of the show. Together Sean and Kate brought some star quality to proceedings, as well as kindly donating product to this year’s auction, which saw some people’s competitive edge come to the fore! Tables were also adorned with a bottle of gin from the Endeavour gin brand to further celebrate these celebrity guests.

In addition to enjoying a delicious three-course dinner and networking with colleagues and friends, the evening also included fun table raffles and silent auction to further bolster the fundraising total before the end of the yea, with prizes including a seven-night stay in Dartmouth, a day with a Lord at Westminster, a walking tour of London, a garden blitz, a wake boarding day on lake Windermere and a selection of Endeavour memorabilia. 10 brave individuals also pledged to take part in the 2023 Greenfingers Wing Walk, taking the total number to 12.

A key highlight of the 2022 Greenfingers Charity Fundraising dinner was the award ceremony where seven of Greenfingers biggest supporters throughout 2022 were celebrated.  Woodmansterne, The Horticultural Golfing Society, GIMA, Smart Garden Products, Evergreen Garden Care, British Garden Centres, and Clarins, who together had raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for the charity, were each presented with a specially engraved award by Greenfingers Chairman, Sue Allen. Patron, and the charity’s Patron, David Domoney.

The Horticultural Golfing Society also presented a cheque for £8,000, money they raised at this year’s golf day which was held at Moor Park GC.  This brings the total of monies raised by this event to over £32k over the last six year.

Talking about the dinner, Greenfingers Chairman, Sue Allen, said: “I would like to extend my endless gratitude to all those that joined us at this year’s Charity Fundraising dinner. The dinner isn’t just about raising money, but it is also an opportunity to celebrate and recognise the amazing work that our wonderful supporters undertake to help Greenfingers create stunning garden spaces at hospices throughout the UK. Every penny raised by our supporters is so gratefully received.  We cannot thank our friends enough for choosing Greenfingers as the horticultural industry’s favourite charity”

Linda Petrons, Greenfingers’ Director of Fundraising & Communications added: “I’d like to echo Sue’s sentiments. We never get over the fact that so many individuals and brands take the time to support Greenfingers, whether by giving their time, digging deep into their pockets or taking on massive personal challenges. Every penny we receive is put to very good use, and I can assure you that the life-limited children that call a hospice ‘home’, as well as their families and friends, appreciate every precious moment these gardens help to create.” 

Find out more

To find out more about Greenfingers Charity, and how to get involved in a range of fundraising events please email Linda@greenfingerscharity.org.uk.

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

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