Dobbies Garden Centres has opened a new store in Bar Hill, Cambridge, to take its number of centres to 35, and follows the completion of a major revamp of the neighbouring Tesco store.

Cutting the flower-decked crimson ribbon to officially declare it open for business were pupils from Bar Hill Primary School – Charlotte Dyson, Jasmine Murphey, Star Dalston, Jada Fiatls, Chloe Proudfoot and AJ Debono.

The children were joint-winners of a competition run by Dobbies to design their own dream garden and have also secured their school a £500 shopping spree of plants and gardening goodies. They also took part in a Little Seedlings workshop and got stuck into some digging and planting.

Also on hand was Dobbies General Manager Chris Swales, enjoying a double celebration as the store-opening coincided with his birthday.

He said: “I’m thrilled our new store is open and the feedback today from our first customers has been fantastic.

"We’re proud to be offering a huge range of beautiful garden products, gifts and home ware – as well as a small pets and aquatics store.

"We’re already looking forward to opening Santa’s grotto next month. It’s also been great to create a total of  fourteen new jobs for people who truly love plants, pets and shopping.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Tesco Bar Hill Store Manager Owen Davies added: “The new Dobbies shop is really exciting. Customers have been coming up to me for weeks asking when it’s going to open and what it will stock.

"We just finished a major revamp of our store a few weeks ago, adding some new departments and refurbishing areas like the counters and fresh food. I think customers are going to really love the combination of our refreshed Tesco store and the new Dobbies.”

Dobbies has today grown to become one of the UK’s leading garden centre groups with over 16 million customers every year at 35 stores across the UK and online at www.dobbies.com.

In 2007, Dobbies became part of the Tesco Group although its HQ remains in Edinburgh as a separate company with a unique brand and identity.

Redwood Stone has decided to offer its unique range of Kingfisher Ornamental Stone, for sale in its entirety.

All moulds and masters have been prepared to a very high standard, and everything is available to enable for the starting of a new business or adding it on an existing business. The sale Includes full artwork material for brochures and web design.

Redwood Stone is totally focused on its Gothic folly and design business, which means that the ornament side of the business is no longer part of the company's strategy.

"It is a wonderful opportunity for a current manufacturer or a new start up to re-launch to the market of a very special range of ornaments," said Martin Redwood.
 
Kingfisher was a very successful mid-market range of cast stone ornaments.  

For more details visit http://www.redwoodstone.com/Kingfisher/kfindex.html

If you would like to follow this opportunity up contact 01749 677777 or email sales@redwoodstone.com

After that great start to 2014, the past few months have not been as good as last year and there has been a sense of: “if only it had been a really bumper year and sales had stayed up on last year all summer long.”

Well, when you compare this year’s GTN Bestsellers Total Volume sales data to the monthly averages for the previous five years, the year really does take on bumper proportions, with only two months – May and June – dipping slightly below the “average”.

Year to date, the garden centre sales volume total is running 5.8% above the previous five-year average.

The rest of the year now rests on Christmas, which has got off to a flying start with personalisation and LED wall pictures leading the way. 

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

• Garden Products – down 10%
• Xmas Products  – down 12%
• Growing Media – up  40%
• All items index – down 7%

To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

Family-run Staunton Garden Centre near Tewkesbury has had 108 solar panels installed tree of charge under a solar power purchase scheme.

Owners Brian and Lynn Lewis will purchase zero carbon electricity at a heavily discounted rate from specialists Renewable Energy Investments (REI), who installed the panels. The centre, which is known for its giant geraniums, will then take ownership of the system in 20 years.

The roof-mounted solar 27-kilowatt peak (kWp) system will generate 24,5000 kWh of clean green energy per annum - nearly half of the centre's annual usage. It will cut an estimated £63,000 from the business's electricity bills over the next 20 years - as well as save about 9.8 tonnes of carbon from entering the atmosphere every year.

The centre would have had to pay £33,000 to fund the capital costs of the installing the system without REI's innovative funding model.

Brian Lewis, who started the two-acre garden centre near Gloucester 35 years ago, said: "Although well established as a business, we have always moved with the times. We started from scratch and over the years we've made many changes.

"It's a win-win situation as our investment was absolutely nothing and there was no risk as far as I am concerned."

Staunton Garden Centre, which has a gift shop, English wine centre and fully licensed restaurant on its site, employs 10 staff.

Zara Thorn, a business development manager at REI, which is based in Ferndown, Dorset, said: "We are finding increasing numbers of garden centres taking advantage of their large roof spaces.

"Because they don't incur any costs under our Solar Power Purchase Scheme, they can preserve their capital to spend on their core business.

"Brian and Lynn at Staunton Garden Centre have also already started to making significant savings from their energy costs, also reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to battle against climate change."

Caption: GOING GREEN: Staunton Garden Centre owner Brian Lewis and REI business development manager Zara Thorn.

Signs of outdoor activity were in evidence in the GTN Bestsellers Garden Products chart with lighting and lawncare products selling well.

• Smart Solar had the highest re-entry in Golden Pearl Mosaic Stake Light, going straight to No 1, and the highest new entry in Twist Stake Light at No 7.
• Scotts held the 3rd and 4th spots with Evergreen Autumn, 360sqm and 100 sqm bags.
• Westland Lawn & Turf Dressing returned to the chart at No 17.
• Scotts Miracle-Gro Rose & Shrub Plant Food was the highest climber, moving up nine places.

To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

LED canvas prints have taken the first GTN Bestsellers Christmas Products chart of the year by storm. 

• Premier Decorations 40x30cm LED Canvas Winter Cottage Scene is a newcomer to the Top 50 this year, jumping straight in to No 4. It is one of many entering the chart for the first time, and shows they’ll be bestsellers in the run up to Christmas.
• History & Heraldry Spinning Tree Decoration is the highest new entry, taking the No 1 spot.
• The same company’s Christmas Carousel Charms is the highest re-entry at No 2.

To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

It’s that time of the year again. As you complete your Christmas Displays and start selling your Christmas events (or sell out if you’ve had them on-line already) now is the moment to nominate your teams in The Greatest Christmas Awards.

The Greatest Awards team of experts will be out on the road twice this Christmas season, once at the start of November to visit Christmas Display teams and then again in December to meet the teams behind The Greatest Santa events of the year.

Here are the categories you need to nominate your teams for:

• The Greatest Christmas Display Team – awards for small centre, mid sized centre, destination centre and a centre that is part of a group.
• The Greatest Grotto Team – regional and national awards for small and large centre teams.
• The Greatest Christmas Sizzle Team – for exceptional BBQ sales in the run up to Christmas.
• The Greatest Miniature Christmas Display Team – for teams excelling at displays and sales of miniature Christmas scenes and even the new craze of Fairy Gardening.
• The Greatest Catering with Santa Team – for teams that create those truly memorable meals with Santa.
• The Greatest Festive Plant Sales Team – for plant teams who enter into the festive spirit and maximise sales of plants and trees while centre footfall is at it’s highest.

There will also be the chance for your customers to vote for your total garden centre team as The Greatest Garden Centre at Christmas 2014.  Just send your nominations and register for the public voting by e-mail to trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk.

The Greatest Christmas Awards will be presented at The Greatest Christmas Party, sponsored by Premier Decorations, on Sunday 11th January in The Majestic Hotel, Harrogate.  Watch this space for ticket details.

Borge Leth (above right), managing director of outdoor furniture manufacturers Alexander Rose, and Alan Morley, the company's head of design, have been elected Fellows of the Royal Society of Arts.

The RSA's mission, '21st century enlightenment', pays tribute to its 18th century founders and to the pioneering spirit that inspired them to build "a better society for all through innovation and enlightened ideas".

Borge and Alan earned the accolade for their contribution to design education and manufacture following the success of the company's UK Student Design Competition.  Now in its second year, the initiative was seen by the RSA as promoting sustainable and innovative forms of design and manufacture and fostering the next generation of socially responsible designers.

Working closely with universities across the UK, Alexander Rose's aim is to encourage young designers to engage with industry-based projects. The competition will provide students with substantial real work experience, the opportunity to win substantial prize money and a chance to develop a long term professional design career in a major UK industry worth £960 million.

The work of the RSA  is supported by 27,000 Fellows globally.

After falling in value terms in 2012, the UK garden leisure market started to recover last year, reaching more than £500 million, says a new report from AMA Research.

 This equated to growth of 12% compared to 2012.

This estimate covers furniture and barbecues but excludes the commercial garden furniture market.

AMA say spending on garden leisure products has been volatile in recent years thanks to the combined influence of  factors such as consumer confidence, the economic climate, and the weather.

Garden furniture, the largest sector, accounted for more than 60% in 2013. Metal and plastic garden furniture gained share at the expense of wood as consumers moved away from traditional towards more contemporary styles. Plastic has been boosted in recent years by the popularity of rattan weave style furniture made from all-weather materials.

The barbeque sector has benefited from the trend to trade up from charcoal to gas, the increasing interest in dining outside and added value from product development, with 2014 a good year for the sector. Own brands dominate this sector, accounting for an estimated 45-55% share.

DIY multiples dominate the market overall with a market share of more than 40%. However, garden centres are losing share as the more recent trend towards greater internet sales continues – both from specialists and general retailers.

AMA say that although allowan ces should be made for the weather, estimates for the domestic garden leisure market for 2014 and beyond are for good underlying growth, given continued improvement in the economy. The trend for outdoor dining and use of the garden for socialising has benefited the garden leisure market and is likely to continue. 

Other factors driving growth in the medium to long term include a general interest in environmentally friendly products creating added value, continued media interest in the garden as an aspirational living space, continued product development and a trend towards higher quality/value products in both furniture and barbecues, though average prices for better quality products have fallen in real terms.

“Overall, the garden leisure sector is likely to remain a vibrant market, with plenty of suppliers and a wide range of products on offer.” said Andrew Hartley, director of AMA Research. “Future product developments are likely to be driven by fashion, demographics and housing/garden styles and sizes, and the ageing population will result in more people having time to spend in the garden – with older age groups also more inclined to use barbecues than 15-20 years ago.”

GIMA and BHETA have joined forces for a ‘Meet the Buyer’ day with Wyevale Garden Centres on Wednesday 12th November.

Venue will be The Holiday Inn at Brentford Lock, Middlesex.

The event gives potential new suppliers to Wyevale an opportunity to present their strongest and most relevant product for consideration. It is is not open to existing suppliers

The associations say small "niche" supplier should not be put off. “If you have what you consider to be a ‘winning product’ then Wyevale will be happy to consider it”.

Wyevale buyers from all the main categories will be participating - horticulture, gardening and home. A maximum of two people from each supplier will be allowed to attend and will be allocated a 20-minute appointment. Wyevale will select the suppliers they wish to see from a list of applicants.,

Selected suppliers will be charged £145 + VAT to offset the costs of the day.

Kernock Park Plants are encouraging garden centres to plan their 2015 collections in line with colour trend predicitons for the coming year.

As Pantone release their top 10 tones for Spriong 2015, they have offered a run-down  on matching plant varieties to keep retailers’ ranges ahead of the game.

“As proven this year with the worldwide popularity of ‘Radiant Orchid’, Pantone predictions are incredibly accurate, “ the nursery says.

Pantone's researchers travel the globe to spot colour trends, taking inspiration from pop culture and major events like the World Cup. Research begins well in advance (the process of choosing this year’s ‘Radiant Orchid’ started at least five years ago!) so that as much influence can be taken in as possible.

“As we anticipate the release of Pantones colour for 2015 in December, the design consultancy has released its predictions for 10 tones that are set to be stand out choices for spring 2015. Staying ahead of these trends, and selecting plants for 2015 that match these tones, is a sure-fire way to catch the eye of any discerning gardener,” they add.

Their plant matches for this week’s top 10 colour – Marsala, a dusky red – for spring 2015 is:

Dierama reynoldsii (see cover page)  – Dark wine-red bell flowers on beautiful arching stems.

Helianthemum ‘Razzle Dazzle’' – Variegated yellow and green foliage with wonderful red papery flowers.

Heuchera Little Cutie ‘Ginger Snap’ – A silvery metallic veil covers the leaf surface. Ginger flowers with a hint of pink emerge in spring and summer.

Lupin Russell ‘The Chatelaine’ {above) – Seductive pink and white bicoloured flowers, sometimes more purple in colour.

Information 01579 350561

Kernock.co.uk

A study group of Dutch perennial growers has been visiting some of the leading UK growers, including Hawkesmill Nurseries, to find out how growing and marketing techniques vary across differing sectors of the market.

The group, led by Ard Mulder of CNB-Newplants, are pictured at the Kenilworth HQ of Hawkesmill Nurseries.

Meanwhile, Hawkesmill Nurseries Sales Director Richard Evans says he was pleased with the overall response to their presence at the recent SWG event, a regional trade show for the South West.

“We met several larger garden centre buyers from the region plus several 'smaller' ones and other nurseries.

"There was an air of confidence and our plants were well received. Our early bird offer runs until October 31 and we are looking forward to new business allied to this.” 

 For more information call 01675 532334 or visit www.hawkesmillnurseries.co.uk

Leading horticultural researcher Dr Richard Gianfrancesco has been appointed growing media product manager by William Sinclair Horticulture.

Previously a UK and global business manager for environmental consultancy Thomson Ecology, Dr Gianfrancesco is best known for his earlier work for Which?, the consumer champion, where he spent 12 years (2001-2013) in senior positions including a five-year stint as head of research for Which? Gardening and most recently as head of science, statistics and social research across the entire Which? organisation

An ecology graduate from the University of Sheffield, he went on to obtain a PhD in plant and soil science.

In his new role, he has responsibility for ensuring that the company's range of growing media is aligned with the needs of consumers through constant product innovation and enhancement. He will also work closely with Sinclair's two technical managers, Paul Smith and Andrea Marshall, using the company’s new trial grounds.

Welcoming him to the company’s advanced new Ellesmere Port growing media production facility, Sinclair marketing director, Simon McArdle said: “Richard uniquely combines scientific knowledge with many years of research into consumer gardening needs. He will be instrumental in ensuring that we achieve our twin goals of being the most consumer-focused gardening supplier and the supplier of choice for high quality peat-free compost. This market will go peat-free and Sinclair will be its leader.” 

Bayer Garden Fungus Fighter Plus and Fungus Fighter Concentrate offer hope to victims of box blight...

The fungal disease is on the increase across the country this year, causing leaves to brown and fall, resulting in bare patches and serious disfiguration. The spores spread quickly and easily and a plant can be destroyed in just a few days, with the worst damage often appearing in the summer and early autumn.

Alison Mulvaney, product manager at Bayer Garden, says the active ingredients in the new formulations have proved  highly effective againmst the disease and have a broad spectrum of control.

ready-to-use Fungus Fighter Plus controls all major diseases of roses and ornamental plants, including blackspot, mildew, rust and leaf spot. Fast acting, with protection of up to three weeks, it can be used indoors and out. Fungus Fighter Concentrate is an advanced contact and systemic fungicide in a super concentrated form that also controls the major leaf diseases of roses and ornamental plants, such as asters, hollyhocks and box blight. It’s available in Bayer Garden’s bespoke touch-free easy-dose bottle.

Fungus Fighter Plus (SRP £6.50) is the new formulation designed to replace Fungus Fighter, and Fungus Fighter Concentrate (SRP £7.99) is designed to replace Systhane Fungus Fighter. Both previous products will be withdrawn from store shelves in the autumn of 2015.

Garden industry charity Greenfingers, which is dedicated to creating gardens in children’s hospices across the UK, has opened its 44th garden last week – at Little Havens in Essex.

A fully accessible and interactive ‘Grow your own’ garden has been created where the children and their families can enjoy growing and harvesting their own food.

The project saw a previously vacant area transformed into an abundant fruit and vegetable garden with many engaging features.

The garden was designed and built by Chelmsford-based Eden Horticultural Ltd, with Matthew Eden working alongside Greenfingers’ garden projects manager Emma Hanford.

Greenfingers chairman Matthew Wilson said: “To have this area where children can enjoy growing and harvesting crops whilst having fun and relaxing, is a fantastic addition to the wonderful services already on offer at Little Havens.”

Kat Clark from Little Havens, who manages the hospice’s Garden Club, said: “Our gardens are an extension of the hospice services we provide and this garden is another great space that families staying here can escape to and enjoy all year round.” She added, “We would like to thank all of those at Greenfingers and Eden Horticultural as well as all of the local businesses who donated resources and equipment.”

A significant contribution toi the project came from funds raised through Garden Re-Leaf Day 2014. The garden also received major support from the GCA, LOFA and a number of businesses and suppliers who gave time, resources and products free of charge or at reduced prices.



Above: Greenfingers chairman Matthew Wilson with Havens Hospices chief executive Andy Smith, christen the new garden.

Thompson & Morgan have developed new potato growing bags that promise better and easier yields than their 40-litre grow sacks.

The new grow bags work with just one tuber per 8-litre bag – and the method was discovered during technical trials at T&M’s Ipswich HQ.

The small but durable bags, ideal for those without gardens, can be positioned on wide window ledges or in porches – or simply used anywhere as an easier way of growing potatoes.

T&M noted a 186% increase in yield from the bags, with a single one producing more than 80 tubers.

Amateur growers tested the bags this summer, when T & M horticultural director Paul Hansford challenged his local gardening club to a grow-off with three tubers of Maris Peer and three 8-litre bags. Gwynneth Hogger (pictured left) took the winner’s cup for her harvest of 17.5lbs of potatoes from three bags.

Paul said: “The club results were hard to believe. If I hadn’t cut the top growth from the winning entry and emptied out the crop myself, I wouldn’t have believed it. It was like the tubers were trying to burst out of the bags!” 

A new osteospermum, ‘Serenity Blue-Eyed Beauty’, has earned Ball Colegrave the Best New Plant Introduction award at the South West Growers Show.

Stuart Lowen, marketing manager at Ball Colegrave, said the plant’s unique colour would help to maximise retail patio pot sales.  “It has the same early flower timing and compact dwarf habit as its partner colours in the Serenity series, making production and marketing quick, easy and reliable.  Naturally free-branching, it can be grown under low temperatures, making it particularly suitable for pot tight production.  We are really pleased it has been recognised as a ‘best in class’ and hope the award will play a part in its success.”

The award for Best Nursery Stand went to Woodbeare Nurseries, with Rainbow Plants the runner up and special commendations for Albion Plants and Hawkesmill Nurseries.

SylvaGrow multi-purpose growing medium from Melcourt Indiustries was judged the Best New Non-Plant Product or Service.

Neil Gray, technical sales manager at Melcourt said the propduct had already proved itself  since its launch in March of this year, offering profitable opportunities for retail nurseries and garden centres whose customers were looking for a sustainable growing medium that works well every time.

The 2015 show will take place on Wednesday 7 October.

www.swgs.co.uk.

Major Mayhew (97), who played an important role in the liberation of the Dutch cities of Venray and Weert and in the battle of Overloon, baptised the tulip on behalf of all Allied Forces who were involved in the liberation of the Netherlands.

Representatives of British, Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, Polish and US forces were also present, as was  Major-General Hoitink, Director of Operational Readiness, on behalf of the Dutch Chief of Defence Staff.

The bulb planting ceremony was the latest milestone in a flower-themed commemoration project that will run until May 2015, when 70 years of freedom will be celebrated in the Netherlands. The Tulips for Liberators project is a collaboration of the Liberation Route Europe, Keukenhof Holland, JUB Holland and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the UK.

GTN Xtra looks forward to re-visiting Kew Gardens in April/May when the mosaic will be in full bloom.

Idea for Garden Centres:  Could you plant a mosaic of bulbs to greet your customers next spring?  We'd love to see pictures of your bulb planting ceremonies - and the results.  They would both make great local press coverage.

An opportunity for an experienced Plantarea Manager to join our business has arisen. You will be responsible for the overall sales and success of the outside plants department. This position requires excellent plant knowledge, along with good plant purchasing skills and the ability to maintain stock to high standards of retailing.

You will be a manager who is confident to lead and inspire a team of staff to achieve high standards. Good horticultural knowledge and excellent management qualities are essential. Excellent package available to the successful candidate. The role involves weekend work.

CV’s can be submitted in the strictest confidence to aileen@brechincastlecentre.co.uk

My client is a large independent garden centre with an award winning pedigree.

This vacancy will be working alongside the centre management team and will have direct responsibility for the product range of this department. I am looking for an ambitious individual who wants to have a sense of ownership over the retail area. 

Retail experience is a must and garden centre retail experience is preferred.

Applicants must have experience of staff management, with a minimum of 1-2 years experience, and be able to lead and inspire a team of up to 13 staff.

They must also have proven buying experience and an ability to successfully negotiate with suppliers.

They must operate with good standards of merchandising and presentation, coupled with an element of creativity. 

Please call 01780 480530 and speak to Gillian Muir or apply with your CV, quoting reference #6609 to info@morepeople.co.uk

The ideal candidate will have 3 years experience at management level, able to manage, motivate and develop a team of staff. 

Excellent cross department experience would be beneficial as there will be multiple areas covered by this role. 

Man management skills along with proven retail skills are key and experience of managing people must be evidenced in your experience. Delivery of training and staff appraisals will be required.

Although not essential, it is desirable that the appointed person will have a good understanding of garden centre retailing, will be a good team leader who is able to prioritise tasks in line with seasonal changes and deliver excellent customer sales and service.

Excellent package available to the successful candidate. The role involves weekend work.

CV’s can be submitted in the strictest confidence to aileen@brechincastlecentre.co.uk

Our Client is grower of quality Nursery Stock destined for the major multiples and garden centre chains. They are currently seeking a driven and experienced Nursery Site Manager who can assist in the culture of quality stock. 

The ideal person will possess:

Knowledge and training within a horticultural discipline preferably from a commercial production background 

Excellent record of managing and supervising staff

Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including good IT skills

A strong team builder and player with initiative, drive and enthusiasm who can progress within the company. 

Please call 01780 480530 and speak to Gillian Muir or apply with your CV quoting reference #6666 to info@morepeople.co.uk

I am currently looking for an experienced garden centre management candidate to join the team of a large independent garden centre. 

This position will sit underneath the centre manager alongside another assistant manager and will be part of the senior leadership team of the site. 

Excellent cross department experience would be beneficial as there will be multiple areas covered by this role. IT and Horticultural experience would be ideal. 

Man management skills are key and experience managing teams must be evidenced in your experience.

Please call 01780 480530 and speak to Gillian Muir or apply with your CV, quoting reference #6658 to info@morepeople.co.uk

Our client is an exciting e-commerce business who source and supply a range wonderful garden products and plants to a discerning mail-order audience across the UK.

They wish to appoint a dynamic E-commerce Manager- Ideally a person with some plant knowledge and good e-commerce experience to run their e-mail marketing, social media and to provide horticultural content to our website.

Someone with fabulous communication skills, real entrepreneurial characteristics, creative flare, drive and with plenty of get up and go!  

Please call Dianne Saunders on 07929 013910 or apply with your CV quoting reference 6653 to info@morepeople.co.uk

Although growing media sales volumes are down on the previous week, they’re still higher than the same week in both 2013 (+40%) and 2012 (+64%).

• Westland Multipurpose (50 litres) is the best performer with the highest sales increase, and jumps 15 places in the chart.
• Arthur Bowers New Horizon Multi-Purpose Compost (50 litres) has also performed well.
• And the company’s Top Soil (30 litres) is the highest re-entry.

To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

Police have arrested a man on suspicion of burgling a Leicestershire garden centre whose owner was later found dead.

The 34-year-old man has been questioned about the break-in at Hill View Nurseries in Croft Road, Thurlaston, near Narborough between the night of Tuesday September 23 and 7am the next day.

The contents of the pick and mix sweets stand and a freezer load of ice cream were among the items stolen.

The centre’s owner, John Watkinson, became ill and died when he arrived to open the centre the next day and discovered it had been burgled.

His wife found him a short time later and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said the death was not being treated as suspicious.

It was the second break-in at the centre in the space of just a few weeks.

It had previously been targeted on Friday, August 8, when cash, sweets and garden ornaments were taken. Police have confirmed they believe the break-ins may be linked.

Pc Nev Walker said: “I would urge anyone who thinks they may know who is responsible for this burglary to get in touch as soon as possible.

“Even if you’re not 100 per cent sure but have heard rumours locally, please contact us.

“We would also like to speak to anyone who has been approached by someone selling sweets in suspicious circumstances or has come across ice-cream containers discarded in the area.”

The 34-year-old suspect has been released on police bail while officers continue their inquiries.

Contact Pc Walker on 101 or Crimestoppers, which is anonymous, on 0800 555 111.

Bosmere have revealed details of their next-generation greenhouse heaters for the 2014/15 gardening season. The range features two models, each designed to meet the needs of the most discerning gardeners.

The heaters are designed to encourage even heat distribution with a constant flow of warm air, providing protection against frost in the winter months. By eliminating cold spots in greenhouses, the risk of disease is also reduced.

The 3kW model, SRP £99.99, has an adjustable thermostat feature with three fan settings. The 2kW model (£39.99), features cool or warm air settings.

Both models are CE approved, waterproof class IPX4 with overheat protection. and feature a frost protection thermostat, which ensures temperatures never drop below 5C.

The heaters are being portable, freestanding and of robust design. They come with a 12-month guarantee.

Garden tools and accessories company Darlac has reported another record-breaking start to its financial year, with trade sales up by 49% in the first five months of trading.

They now supplying garden tools and accessories to an increasing number of independent garden centres and dealers, the latest including Haynes of Challow, Millhill Tools and Burgess & Randall.

 “Although Darlac has been trading for 50 years, its only in the last few years that the trade side of business has really started to come into its own,” says managing director Peter Darban (left). “Glee this year was an excellent show once again and testament to that success, with a whole host of new products and customers added.”

New products include an ergo pruner, ergo snips, telescopic bypass lopper and the limited edition gold ratchet pruner launched to celebrate the company’s 50th anniversary.

Raoul Curtis-Machin (below, right), Head of Horticulture at the HTA, has taken over the chairmanship of the GROW Careers initiative from Leigh Morris (below left), who has held the post for eight years.

Leigh Morris says the initiative, launched in 2006, was designed to create an industry wide movement to promote horticulture and the many varied careers within it. “This could truly only ever be achieved by the industry working together and I'm delighted that during my almost eight years as the chair of Grow Careers, I have seen an increase in support for the initiative and a great expansion in the service it provides through schools packs,  Grow Careers Days around the UK and Ireland,  traffic to the web portal, use of social media and now adoption of Grow Careers by the Chartered Institute of Horticulture,” he said.

He added: “We are now entering the next exciting phase, with the dynamic #YoungHort initiative and the industry-wide Horticulture Matters Campaign again raising the profile of horticulture.”

The GROW Careers initiative is the umbrella body for promoting careers in the industry and is backed by many horticultural organisations.

www.growcareers.info 

Natural gardening brand Neudorff has been shortlisted for a prestigious European sustainability award.

The German producer of natural feed and weed control products, which is enjoying groewing UK distribution, is one of only three companies to make the shortlist out of 550 entries for the German Sustainability Award 2014 (GSA).

Endorsed by the German Federal Government, the award is regarded as one of the most prestigious prizes of its kind in Europe. It is given to businesses that prove success is compatible with social responsibility and environmental stewardship.

Jude Beherall (left,on the stand at Glee), sales director for Neurdorff UK, said: “To be shortlisted for this award is a huge achievement and a great boost for the entire company. We are very proud of our sustainable credentials.”

The company work to reduce their carbon footprint by using local raw materials and generating their own renewable electricity using sun, water and wind energy. The company cars are all low emission, and Neudorff supports the protection of rainforests in Costa Rica.

The winners will be announced on 28 November.

Trelawney@Wadebridge, which is located in Sladesbridge near Wadebridge, is hosting a Halloween party in its Carriages Restaurant on Friday, October 31 from 4pm.

Helen Symons, who runs the restaurant at the garden centre, explained: “We’re giving all the family a chance to celebrate Halloween with us this year.

“Children and adults are invited to don their scariest outfits for the party and take part in our contest and there will be prizes for the best dressed adult and child.

“In addition to this, there will be a selection of fun Halloween-themed games such as, apple bobbing and pin the wart on the witch.”

Entry to the Halloween party at Trelawney@Wadebridge costs £6

Helen added: “During the party we will also be offering a selection of Halloween horrors in the restaurant, which are included in the entry price.

“Children will get a spooky tea box and adults can tuck in to a Halloween-themed high tea.”

One of Cornwall’s largest and leading independent garden centres, Trelawney@Wadebridge was originally launched in 1970 as a nursery by Frank and Marion Danning. The garden centre is now run by their son David and David Symons, who started working for the family at the age of 11.

The garden centre provides customers with a wide range of quality gardening products including plants, furniture, barbecues, gifts and food items. Its friendly and knowledgeable staff are on-hand to give visitors help and advice on all gardening matters. There is also a garden building and Elite Spa concession on-site. 

Carriages Restaurant, which seats up to 240 customers, is situated next to the lake at Trelawney@Wadebridge. It serves hot and cold drinks, snacks, cakes, breakfasts, lunches, a daily carvery and children’s meals.

The award-winning, family-run business includes two generations of the Danning and Symons families. More than eight years ago the company launched a sister garden centre in North Devon, Trelawney@Ashford and is opening its third garden centre Trelawney@Probus on a green-field site in Cornwall next year (2015).

Trelawney@Probus looks set to offer visitors a chance to see plants and products in action with garden areas on-site showing how things grow and work.

For more information call Trelawney@Wadebridge, which is located just off the A389 in Sladesbridge near Wadebridge, on 01208 893030 or visit www.trelawney.co.uk.

Wyevale Nurseries has reported a bumper crop of transplants this year, thanks to a new field irrigation system.

The company invested £25,000 in the system and has seen sales in its transplants division up 10% compared to the 2012/13 season.

Ray Jenkins, production director of the transplants division at Wyevale Nurseries, explained: “The transplants division has been a major part of the nursery for 27 years and it has been particularly successful in recent history.

“We recognised that to remain an industry leader we needed to invest. I’ve worked in the transplants division for more than 25 years, and some of the crops we have produced this year are undoubtedly the best I’ve seen.”

Some 3,500 metres of pipe were laid for the new system across 15 acres of seed-raised hedging and forestry. Wyevale Nurseries also recently invested in a cold store with full humidity control for care of its crops and to extend the availability of bare root transplants.

The nursery is also buying another field lifter, the first of its kind in the UK, to speed up stock lifting.

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

The full charts which provide useful insight into product sales peaks, new trends and new link sales opportunities are published in the weekly GTN Xtra printed newsletter.

As the year goes on we give sales volume comparisons with 2012 as well as 2013 to allow your teams to see variations over a three year period.

Access is by subscription only.  For £145.00 per year you and your team can have access to the most upto date gardening sales analysis that has already helped many UK garden centres increase their sales.  To subscribe call 01733 775700, e-mail karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or buy on-line using this link.

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

Highlights of the GTN Christmas Products Bestsellers chart for this week are here

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

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