The GTN team had the pleasure of attending the Chelsea Flower Show last week to spot trends that may drive retail sales as the season gets going with warmer, sunnier weather at last.

Purple plants starred across the gardens this year and won the plant of the year: Agapanthus Black Jack

Blue Diamond made their Chelsea debut with Newton's Apple Tree and a Soil Association display

Taylors Bulbs won yet another gold medal for their Grand Pavilion display.

Mr Fothergills had record sales of seeds from their new floral exhibition stand.

Burgon and Ball's new hand tools sold very well at Chelsea 2023.

The Patio Black Spot Company were finalists in the Sustainability Product of the year for Go Ferrous

Amy Stubbs and Eve Kerrigan from British Garden Centres were checking out new ideas for their centres

Bramblecrest further enhanced their market leading position with their exhibit which was always busy.

There were also opportunities to influence key politicians at Chelsea.

And as you'll have seen on the TV coverage there was plenty of re-wilding, wild flowers and even weeds.  Lindum won the Sustainability product of the Year award for their wildflower turf which is plastic free.

See GTN's gallery of photos from Chelsea 2023 below

World champion pit-master and female BBQ legend, Diva Q, is coming from the US to host a series of evening BBQ masterclasses at 7 garden centres in the UK and Ireland through June.

'Diva Q', is an American World Champion BBQ Pitmaster, BBQ Author & Traeger ambassador with a huge wealth of knowledge and skill, with over 400 BBQ awards to her name.

The ticketed classes will run from 6pm – 10pm and will see Diva Q showcase the versatility and simplicity of getting great results from your Traeger BBQ, top tips, anecdotes, and stories.  And of course, there will be plenty of delicious samples to try throughout the evening.

Here are the dates and locations:

• Thursday lst June - Socal, Southampton
• Friday 2nd June - Alton's BBQ World, Wickford, Essex
• Saturday 3rd June - Cambridge Home and Garden
• Sunday 4th June - Webbs of Wychbold, Droitwich
• Tuesday 6th June - Hayes Garden World, Ambleside
• Friday 9th June - The Orchard Garden Centre, Co. Kildare, Ireland
• Monday 12th June - A Room Outside, Limerick, Ireland

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The Garden Centre Association’s Barometer of Trade figures for last month (April) have revealed food hall/farm shop and catering continued to perform well while other categories also saw encouraging increases too.

Across GCA member garden centres, the BoT recorded that catering sales were up 21.63% when compared to April 2022 and food hall/farm shop sales remained good at 9.08%.

GCA CEO, Peter Burks, says: “Also doing well in April were seed & bulb sales, which were up by 19.99%. While outdoor plants showed a 10.39% uplift. Houseplants were up at 7.68% and clothing at 8.18%.

“In fact, 10 of our 13 categories recorded improvements with just three showing negative results. Understandably, given the weather, the furniture & BBQ category took the biggest hit and was down by -33.28%.

“It was great though to see a small increase in sales for the middle month of our peak season. This is very encouraging and all the members I have spoken to recently remain very positive and upbeat. However, considering retail price inflation, it means volumes are still a bit below last year.

“Generally, the trends are as they have been all year, with catering and food doing well, which is good news. It means we’re still seeing plenty of visitors who want to support their local, independent garden centre. However, the unsettled start to our spring, thanks to the poor weather, has meant gardening has suffered.

“As a gardener myself, I know it’s been hard to find days when the weather has been good enough to get outside and get the essential jobs done. The chillier, unsettled weather has also meant furniture sales are still to get going. No one really had the option of sitting or entertaining outside much during April, even over the long Easter weekend.”

The April BoT figures also revealed garden sundries were down at -3.05%. However, pet and aquatic sales were up 3.08% and gifts also saw an uplift of 2.46%.

Overall sales for the month were up 0.79% with a year-to-date variance of -6.67%.

The GCA BoT reports are compiled using actual sales figures and provide an up-to-date trading position statement. They are made available mid-month following the end of the prior month after all member garden centres have submitted their results.

The BoT reports allow members to compare their trading positions with other centres.

Thompson & Morgan is celebrating after its Agapanthus 'Black Jack' was crowned the RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year 2023. 

The company said: "When four of our entries were shortlisted, we hardly dared to hope that one of these would take the winning spot. We are immensely proud to have scooped a hat trick of winners, with Hydrangea ‘Euphoria Pink’ in second, followed by Weigela 'Camouflage' in third. With some strong contenders in this year’s competition, this stunning achievement has been made all the more special."

'Black Jack' offers bigger flowers and more blooms through the season. This amazing Agapanthus produces 10 times as many florets per flowerhead for a flowering season twice as long as its competitors.

Easy to grow and heat tolerant, 'Black Jack' boasts strong vigour and a striking presence in borders and containers. Large flowerheads are filled with black buds that open to deep black-purple striped blooms – these fade to deep purple and take on a dazzling metallic sheen with age.

De Wet Plant Breeders, South Africa, set out to produce disease resistant, vigorous, heat-tolerant and multi-flowering cultivars and a black cultivar was always high on the wish list. 17 years into the program, they finally got "the one"! 'Black Jack' is a unique Agapanthus that’s the result of years of dedicated hybridised breeding.

The Horticultural Trades Association showcased the growth of a greener future at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Representing and supporting 1,400 UK garden businesses, including retailers, growers, manufacturers, and landscapers, the HTA demonstrated its members’ contributions to the economy as well as the environment and wellbeing through its trade stand, member gardens, events, and communications.

Horticulture and gardening are vital in creating beautiful green spaces and aligning with the UK government’s 25-year Environment Plan sector. The industry also plays a crucial role in mitigating climate change and offering benefits such as improved air quality and productivity gains.

The HTA worked hard to ensure garden centres were deemed essential during the pandemic, highlighting the importance of gardens and horticulture in the UK. The Chelsea Flower Show reflects this significance. 75% of British adults having access to a private garden, and 88% recognise the value of gardens and public green spaces. These statistics underscore the industry's vital role in enhancing the UK population's quality of life and wellbeing.

The horticulture industry supports 674,000 jobs, contributes £28.8 billion to the UK GDP, and generates tax revenues of £6.3 billion. However, it faces numerous challenges, including cross-border trade delays, summer heatwaves, labour and skills shortages, and rising costs. The HTA anticipates even tougher times ahead, making the Chelsea Flower Show an ideal platform to celebrate the industry, highlight its numerous benefits, and meet with key stakeholders and policy makers.

A knowledgeable and friendly team will be available on the HTA trade stand to discuss some of these issues, engage visitors in conversations about horticulture, encourage more people into gardening with National Garden Gift Vouchers and highlight the benefits of membership.

Fran Barnes, Chief Executive Officer at the HTA, said: “The Horticultural Trades Association is proud to showcase the original green industry at RHS Chelsea. Our members are at the forefront of growing a greener future, working tirelessly to cultivate beautiful gardens and green spaces that enhance the quality of life for everyone. The Chelsea Flower Show provides an excellent opportunity to celebrate our wonderful industry and demonstrate its value to key stakeholders and policymakers. Together, we can embrace sustainability, promote the exceptional work of our members, and inspire more people to discover the joys of gardening."

In Sandringham Gardens, three show gardens will be planted by local charities - The Norfolk Hospice, Bee Happy Gardens (supporting Dementia) and Family Action raising awareness for their respective charities. Based around a common theme, these gardens will provide a space for visitors to reflect and reconnect with nature using herbs, shrubs and plants to evoke emotions through the senses such as Rosemary, thyme and fennel.

For more information and the full programme of events please visit www.sandringhamestate.co.uk

Glee will once again be celebrating the best buyers of garden, leisure, and pet products in the Glee Buyers Power List at the NEC in June.

To acknowledge the high levels of professionalism across the wide range of products which feature in garden, leisure, and pet retailing there are twelve Glee Buyers Power List categories this year and nominations can be made in any of the categories for buyers from independent garden centres and retailers, buyers of high street and DIY retailers and buyers from on-line retailers.

Nominations are now being sought from growers, suppliers, agents, wholesalers, and retailers for the following categories of buyers and buying teams:

1. Plants buyer/buying team of the Year
2. Garden Care buyer/buying team of the Year
3. Outdoor Leisure buyer/buying team of the Year
4. Landscape buyer/buying team of the Year
5. Home & Gifts buyer/buying team of the Year
6. Pet buyer/buying team of the Year
7. Retail Food & Drinks buyer/buying team of the Year
8. Christmas buyer/buying team of the Year
9. Online buyer/ buying team of the year
10. Overall Multiple Retailer Buying Team of the Year – (hardware, DIY, high street)
11. Overall Multiple Garden Retailer Buying Team of the Year – 6 stores or more
12. Overall Independent Garden Centre Buying Team of the Year – up 5 stores

Nominations close on Tuesday 6^th June 2023 after which voting will commence to decide the winners of the Glee Buyers Power List for 2023.  Nominations can be made using this form or by e-mail to: trevor@pottingshedpress.co.uk.  All nominations will be handled in strictest confidence.

The Glee Buyers Power List has celebrated the excellence of buying in the Garden, Leisure and Pet markets annually since 2015.  Last year’s winners included:

The Bourne family @ Perrywood - Matt Shorter @ Longacres - Nigel Gates @ Gates Garden Centre - Andy Wrightson @ Webbs - Kati Taylor @ Fron Goch - The Old Railway Line - St Peters Worcester - Squires Badshot Lea – Crocus - Dani Loftus @ Marie Curie - British Garden Centres - The Mercer family @ Hillmount

The winners of the Glee Buyers Power List 2023 will be announced live at Glee 2023 on Tuesday 27^th June 2023 at 5:00pm, just before the Glee party!

Nomination Form:

I nominate the following buyers/buying teams for the Glee Buyers Power List 2023:

Plants buyer/buying team of the Year

Buyer/Team Name……………………………………… Retailer Name……………………………………………………….

Why nominated:…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Garden Care buyer/buying team of the Year

Buyer/Team Name……………………………………… Retailer Name……………………………………………………….

Why nominated:…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Outdoor Leisure buyer/buying team of the Year

Buyer/Team Name……………………………………… Retailer Name……………………………………………………….

Why nominated:…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Landscape buyer/buying team of the Year

Buyer/Team Name……………………………………… Retailer Name……………………………………………………….

Why nominated:…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Home & Gifts buyer/buying team of the Year

Buyer/Team Name……………………………………… Retailer Name……………………………………………………….

Why nominated:…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Pet buyer/buying team of the Year

Buyer/Team Name……………………………………… Retailer Name……………………………………………………….

Why nominated:…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Retail Food & Drinks buyer/buying team of the Year

Buyer/Team Name……………………………………… Retailer Name……………………………………………………….

Why nominated:…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Christmas buyer/buying team of the Year

Buyer/Team Name……………………………………… Retailer Name……………………………………………………….

Why nominated:…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

On-Line buyer/buying team of the Year

Buyer/Team Name……………………………………… Retailer Name……………………………………………………….

Why nominated:…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Overall Multiple Retailer Buying Team of the Year – (hardware, DIY, high street)

Buyer/Team Name……………………………………… Retailer Name……………………………………………………….

Why nominated:…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Overall Multiple Garden Retailer Buying Team of the Year – 6 stores or more

Buyer/Team Name……………………………………… Retailer Name……………………………………………………….

Why nominated:…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Overall Independent Garden Centre Buying Team of the Year – up 5 stores

Buyer/Team Name……………………………………… Retailer Name……………………………………………………….

Why nominated:…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Nominated by:…………………………………………………….of:………………………………………………………………

e-mail address:………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

All nominations will be handled in strictest confidence

Send your completed nomination form to Glee Buyers Power List c/o GTN, Potting Shed Press, Dairy Drove, Thorney, Peterborough PE6 0TX or e-mail your nominations to: trevor@pottingshedpress.co.uk by 6^th June 2022.

All nominations will be handled in strictest confidence.

Taylors Bulbs have won Gold with their ‘daffies’ at Chelsea – that’s their 30^th Gold, and 28^th in a row.

“Special thanks must go to all those involved with the display - Beth, Charlotte, Hayley, Jack, Paul, Rebecca, Sam,” said Adam Taylor. “And, to everyone who gets involved in planting, roguing, etc. and all the support along the way.

“Well done Team Taylors!”

Haskins Garden Centres is celebrating its partnership with Costa Coffee, after Michaela Wilson, 28 years old from its West End centre in Southampton, was named one of the best baristas in the world, taking third place in the Global Barista of the Year competition.

Costa Coffee has partnered with Haskins Garden Centres for over 14-years, with Haskins being the only garden centre brand in the United Kingdom to serve Costa Coffee within its centre restaurants.

The popular coffee brand has been running a Barista of the Year competition for 15-years, with local, regional and national heats taking place to curate a list of finalists from across the world. Once the finalists have been decided, they progress to take part in a final competition to name the brand’s Global Barista of the Year.

The international competition final was a two-day event at the end of April, comprised of a behind-closed-doors technical coffee making challenge, with the second day open to a live audience, focusing on creativity and customer service skills.

Michaela impressed the judging panel of coffee experts with her technical prowess and uniquely curated speciality drink, ‘Autumn Walks’, a delightful pumpkin-spiced coffee drink forged from fond memories of her childhood.  After a UK final featuring 20 of the top baristas nationally, three progressed to a world final of 6 international entrants. After the two-day event, Michaela was named Costa Coffee’s No.3 barista globally, in a competition featuring entries from Qatar, China, the Middle East and Europe. Michaela was the highest-ranking finalist from the United Kingdom.

Speaking about the experience, Michaela said: “The final was massively nerve-wracking but went well. The speciality drink element of the competition is one area where I don’t think I could have done anything differently.

“Being able to represent Haskins at such a prestigious event was a brilliant opportunity, and I am grateful for the support from my West End centre team, which has enabled me to develop as a coffee expert in my time with the company. Overall, it was a fantastic experience to have and one that I will be proud of and remember for many years to come. I cannot wait to bring my learnings and experiences from this event back to my role at Haskins’ West End centre.”

Sandy Gourlay, Senior Account Manager at Costa Coffee, added: “Michaela wowed the judges with her technical ability in handcrafting perfect drinks whilst demonstrating exceptional skills, performed under a huge amount of added pressure from lights, cameras, and a live audience! Michaela’s speciality drink ‘Autumn Walks,’ was based around her childhood Thanksgiving celebrations, featuring a homemade family pumpkin spice mix combined with Costa Coffee’s Mocha Italia coffee. The judges commented on the balance of spice, chilled coffee and hot oat milk creating an imaginative and unique experience.” 

Jason Froggatt, Group Catering Manager for Haskins, said “The Haskins group aims to promote personal development and growth of its colleagues as often as possible, and we have been running in-house ‘Barista of the Year’ competitions for several years. Our relationship with Costa Coffee allows our restaurant offering to stand out from other garden centres, and we are proud that this partnership has now enabled one of our very talented team members to achieve the recognition they so richly deserve.”

Haskins has five garden centres across the south of England and owns Birdworld in Farnham. The business is celebrating 140 years in the horticultural industry this year. The business is proud to have been a Costa Coffee partner business for over 14-years and is the only garden centre brand in the United Kingdom to serve Costa Coffee within its centre restaurants.

To find out more about Haskins Garden Centres please visit the https://www.haskins.co.uk/

The Royal Horticultural Society has announced the extremely successful launch at retail of RHS Crops in Pots, an innovative new collection of pots from valued licensee Woodlodge Products, the UK’s leading supplier of garden pots and gardenware. This follows the enormous success at retail in 2022 of the partners’ first collaboration.

There are two types of pots in the RHS Crops in Pots range: pots for growing herbs (in three sizes), and pots for growing vegetables, fruit and edible flowers (in six sizes), all of which are handcrafted in terracotta and feature relevant designs, inspired by artwork from the RHS Lindley Collections, the world’s finest collection of botanical art.

A major selling point of these beautiful pots is the hand-applied patterns. This process involves applying the design with a roller around the rim of the pot, using a stamp to deboss the letters ‘RHS’ and finally applying a ‘Handmade’ mark. This makes each pot truly unique as no two pots will be decorated identically.

Of course, the pots are highly practical too; they are specially designed to link with the RHS’s best recommendations for specific crops – notably by ensuring extra drainage. There is also a thoughtfully designed swing tag offering planting hints and tips – and even the chance for purchasers to win an RHS Grow Your Own Crops in Pots book. All the pots are embossed or debossed with the letters ‘RHS’, creating consumer confidence at point of purchase.

Woodlodge has over 1,500 garden centre accounts located throughout the UK and Ireland, all of which are the primary focus for the new range.

The range has already enjoyed a strong consumer and retail response, with British Garden Centres and Hillier Nurseries among the big names that have displayed one or both types of pots. In fact, only a short time after launch, the first delivery of the herb pots has been a sell-out and demand for the vegetables, fruit and edible flowers pots is not far behind.

These superb new pots can also be seen in all RHS garden centres, as part of strong displays both indoors and outdoors, again including POS material that supports the range’s message of encouraging people to grow crops in pots – even if they only have modest outdoor space.

The pots are now on show at RHS Garden Wisley, the flagship RHS garden in Surrey, where the allotment garden team has planted a number of the pots and will be growing a range of fruit, veg, herbs and more in them, as well as providing photos and content over the spring and summer months to showcase the products. These efforts will support an ongoing RHS digital campaign to encourage sales and get people growing – no matter the size of their indoor or outdoor space or their gardening ability.

It was in early 2021 that the RHS announced Woodlodge Products as a new licensee for outdoor pots, one of its key gardening categories. The first range – also very popular – included both classic and modern designs and a full selection of sizes to accommodate any outdoor space.

Michael Wooldridge – Managing Director, Woodlodge Products, says: “This is another very rewarding partnership, one that brings together our own design expertise with inspiring artwork from the RHS and the know-how that makes the RHS the UK’s favourite gardening charity. We’re thrilled to develop a product that helps to get people growing their own fruit and veg.”

Cathy Snow, Licensing Manager, RHS, says: “This collection looks wonderful, is highly practical and is ideal for all growers, wherever they are and whatever their experience – as the highly enthusiastic customer response has already indicated. This is a hugely important licensing partnership that not only involves close and effective collaboration but that brilliantly supports the RHS aim of inspiring everyone to grow.”

The Horticultural Trades Association release their monthly market update indicating that the sector is still showing incredible resilience, despite variable weather and market challenges.

Garden centre sales grew by 1% from April 2022, driven by plant and catering sales, compensating for lower garden furniture sales, and it is hoped that with the better weather kicking in this month and the inspiration of Chelsea, more people will be flocking back to garden centres in the coming months.

Consumer confidence improved for the third consecutive month, despite cost-of-living pressures. Any impact of the recent interest rate increase by the Bank of England remains to be seen, and rising wage bills and the cost of goods sold continue to pressure the industry. Still, businesses are cautiously optimistic with some relief from falling vehicle fuel and fertiliser prices.

Despite a 2% decrease in gardening category sales compared to the considerably drier April of the previous year, sales of plants, seeds (up 30%), and bulbs (up 11%) stood out as showcasing consumers' continued passion for gardening even in unpredictable weather conditions and perhaps demonstrates that grow-your-own ranges tend to pick up during tougher economic times, not because it’s necessarily cheaper to grow from seed or bulb, but because of the sense of control, feeling of resilience amongst uncertainty that it provides.

Non-garden categories experienced a 12% growth, driven by a 29% increase in catering sales and a 12% increase in food and farm shop sales. While sales of wild bird care were slightly hampered by poor weather and supply challenges stemming from the Russia-Ukraine conflict, they still outperformed April 2021 with an 18% increase.

Comparisons with 2021 sales reflect the unique circumstances of that year, with heightened gardening interest during lockdown but restricted catering trade.

Amidst these market fluctuations, the HTA continues to play a crucial role in representing the horticulture sector on the Environment Agency's National Drought Group, focusing on water preservation and resilience. The importance of water conservation became evident after a dry February, a wet March, and an unsettled April. While some areas of England saw improvements in their water supply compared to last year, parts of East Anglia and Devon and Cornwall still face temporary use bans due to drought conditions. The HTA is actively working to ensure responsible water use messaging in gardening does not hinder participation in this beloved activity.

Fran Barnes, Chief Executive of the HTA, said: “Overall, the HTA's market update highlights the unwavering passion of consumers for plants and gardening, and this is being perfectly demonstrated at this week’s Chelsea Flower Show. Despite challenges posed by weather variations and market conditions, HTA member businesses remain positive about their prospects, with a third consecutive quarter of improvement in Q1. The industry's ability to navigate various challenges demonstrates its strength and determination to thrive in the months and years ahead but with caution. Given the increase in Growing Media costs, we urge the Government to review its drastic shift on the professional peat ban, returning to the sector-supported 2030 date, and provide the sector with the urgent clarity needed for business planning and investment.”

The report is available to members on the HTA website.

The Horticultural Trades Association has welcomed a cross-party group of parliamentarians at a breakfast briefing held on Thursday at the renowned RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Among the attendees were Shadow Business Minister Seema Malhotra MP and Heather Wheeler MP, highlighting the growing importance and recognition of the horticultural sector in Westminster.

The briefing discussion covered a range of pressing topics, including the immense value and pivotal role of the horticultural sector, the transition from peat, and the need to champion the importance of green spaces within the UK government and policy-making circles.

As the leading trade association representing and supporting 1,400 businesses comprising retailers, growers, manufacturers, and landscapers in the UK garden industry, the HTA highlighted its members’ incredible impact on communities nationwide. By generating employment opportunities, fostering health and wellbeing, actively enhancing the environment, and driving sustainability goals, the horticultural sector serves as a driving force for positive change.

With 674,000 jobs supported, contributing £28.8 billion to the UK economy, and generating tax revenues of £6.3 billion, the horticultural sector is an indispensable pillar of the nation's prosperity. Furthermore, the industry plays a pivotal role in realising the UK's 25-year Environment Plan, providing natural cooling, insulation, flood control, improved air quality, and energy cost savings of approximately £250 million in urban areas through the presence of plants and trees. Protecting and nurturing this sector is essential for the benefit of all.

One of the issues on the agenda was the transition to peat-free. The HTA was proud to explain that the sector is at a historic low for horticultural use of peat and is making significant progress to a 2030 peat-free transition. However, the HTA expressed concern regarding Defra's recent announcement to bring forward the deadline to 2026, a decision that poses challenges rather than providing the necessary support. This accelerated timeline does not allow adequate time and resources to develop and implement sustainable practices required for long-term success. Such a premature deadline risks reducing the nation's capacity to produce plants and trees, leading to potential business failures, a diminished choice for British gardeners, a loss of biodiversity for pollinators and wildlife, and the potential degradation of our cherished green spaces. The repercussions could fundamentally alter the essence of the iconic Chelsea Flower Show in the years to come.

Jennifer Pheasey, Director of Public Affairs at the HTA, commented: “We were delighted to welcome parliamentarians at Chelsea to brief them on the sector and let them see first-hand the spectacular gardens, products and plants on display at Chelsea. The support and awareness of our sector in Westminster is vital – we have members in almost every UK parliamentary constituency, 30 million gardeners and want to see green space grow and be invested in. Collaboration and support from all parties is vital to enable the sector to navigate the challenges, such as a successful transition from peat-use, and to ensure a sustainable and thriving future for horticulture.”

Barrus, leading garden tools & accessories supplier and RocketGro, UK manufacturer of peat-free sustainable compost & plant feeds have joined forces to sell & distribute RocketGro’s growing range.

Under the terms of the partnership, RocketGro will continue to develop, produce and market the products, with Barrus adding the range to its extensive portfolio of well-known and respected brands. The exciting move will extend RocketGro’s reach further, as the company will now be able to offer its incredible range of composts and brand-new plant food range through Barrus’ UK-wide sales force.

RocketGro Managing Director, Toby Thomas said: ‘’We are delighted to be working with Barrus in promoting and selling our fantastic range of RocketGro organic peat-free composts and growing media. The Barrus team has been extremely professional and enjoyable to work with throughout our negotiations and we can clearly see that Barrus is a well-run and respected business with some great brands in its portfolio. Adding RocketGro to the Barrus offering is a good fit for us and will ensure RocketGro achieves a much greater nationwide reach.”

Toby adds: “For our existing clients, and for future clients, we will now be able to provide much greater ongoing face-to-face support which, until now, has been hard to achieve with a smaller team. This is a win/win for RocketGro, our customers, and for the garden centre industry. Bringing quality peat-free compost to the market at scale is the RocketGro mission and, with the power of the Barrus team behind us, this is a big step forward for us on our exciting journey.”

Barrus Divisional Sales Manager, Garden Tools & Accessories, Mark Hewett said: “We are thrilled to announce our exclusive partnership with RocketGro, as we continue to develop our product offering in line with evolving market conditions. The partnership with RocketGro further expands the categories offered and support we offer our retailers with exciting new revenue opportunities through Barrus.”

The addition of RocketGro products adds to the extensive range of leading gardening and household brands available from Barrus, including WOLF-Garten, Wilkinson Sword, Town & Country, Energizer and Velcro.

It has been a busy month for RocketGro, as news of the distribution deal with Barrus comes hot on the heels of a recent partnership with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall to exclusively supply compost to his famous smallholding and culinary experience, River Cottage. RocketGro is extremely proud of the endorsement by River Cottage and, just this week, supported Gardena and eco-designer Lynne Lambourne in the creation of a sustainable ‘Greenest Garden’ stand at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show by supplying compost for all planting in the garden.

RocketGro boasts a stellar portfolio of 100% peat-free growing media products with a compelling and truly un-matched eco-story. Composts are packaged and produced using the RocketGro farm’s own green renewable energy production, with a large percentage of the substrates used in the compost blends grown on the RocketGro farm in Somerset. Ranges are organic, Soil Association Approved, all natural and chemical-free, whilst delivering impressive results across the board. 

Retailers interested in stocking RocketGro can currently take their pick of a 12-strong peat-free portfolio, including RocketGro’s flagship Magic Mulch, best-selling Fruit & Veg Compost, Multi-Purpose with added John Innes, a host of other composts for targeted applications, a 60litre Tomato & Veg Planter, and the amazing bio-active natural concentrate liquid plant food, Plant Fuel.

Barrus and RocketGro are unveiling a brand-new collection of plant feeds plus six more bagged products at Glee 2023 (June 27-29th, NEC Birmingham). Come and meet the teams and find out about these game-changing new launches on the RocketGro stand 6B50-C51 and the Barrus stand 20D40-E41.

Find out more

If you want to learn more about RocketGro or are keen to discuss adding its product portfolio into your 2023 offering, please contact Toby Thomas (hello@rocketgro.co.uk /07936 928 981) or Andy Abraham (andy@rocketgro.co.uk / 07446 937902). Discover more about the RocketGro story at www.rocketgro.co.uk

A North Yorkshire turf grower has won a top award at the world’s most prestigious gardening event. 

Lindum Turf, which is based at Thorganby near York, won the Sustainable Garden Product of the Year category at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, for its plastic-free wildflower turf. 

The results were announced on May 22, the first day of the world leading event. 

Professor Chris Harrop OBE, chair of the panel of judges at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, said this year’s shortlist included an impressive range of entrants, covering all aspects of sustainability and gardening. 

However, he added that the judges were pleased to announce Lindum Wildflower Turf as this year’s winner. 

Prof Harrop said: “The judges reflected on the sad reality that the UK is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world and that the nation’s biodiversity is under serious threat. Lindum’s Wildflower Turf goes some way to help address this.

“The Lindum Wildflower Turf is the first to be grown without plastic matting. Its compost is peat free and recycled but most importantly it supports a huge range of pollinators and insects with its 27 species of wild flowers, perennials and herbs, all native to the UK.

“The judges fully support Lindum’s mantra that wild flower turf should be grown plastic-free, ‘The way nature intended’, and are delighted announce them as this year’s winner.”

Lindum Turf has had invested heavily over several years to create the plastic-free wildflower turf. 

Some turf grown in the UK, including other wildflower turfs, contains single-use plastic mesh which gets buried in the ground when the turf is laid. 

Over time, the mesh decays into harmful microplastics that pollute the soil and can leach off into nearby watercourses. The mesh can also have an extremely damaging impact on wildlife, with hedgehogs and other small animals becoming trapped in it and suffocating or starving to death. 

Lindum Turf owner, Stephen Fell, said everyone who worked at the company was absolutely thrilled by the win. 

He said: “The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is the pinnacle of the gardening events and by far the most prestigious. Everyone wants to win at Chelsea. 

“To achieve that with a product we have innovated ourselves is incredible. It adds tremendous credibility to what we’ve created, and what we’re trying to achieve – making turf sustainable and something that enhances the environment rather than potentially damaging it. 

“I’m extremely proud of everyone at Lindum Turf.” 

Earlier this year, Stephen launched a campaign calling on the turf industry at large to remove single use plastics from its products by 2030, to prevent the damage it causes. 

The campaign has been supported by Juliet Sargeant, who won a Gold Medal at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2016, and a Silver Gilt Medal for her popular Blue Peter Garden in 2022, as well as industry body the Turf Growers Association (TGA). 

The Burpee Europe team are over the moon to have just won gold at the Chelsea Flower Show.

The 'Learning to Grow, Gather and Show Garden' is a collaboration between South West in Bloom and Burpee Europe and includes many brand new Burpee varieties, including the four plants which were shortlisted for the RHS Plant Of The Year, Sunflower ‘Desire Red’, Tomato ‘Bliss’, Salvia ‘Purple Spring’ and Echinacea ‘Pink Shimmer’.

Southern Trident has been honoured with the highly esteemed Best Garden Care Product award for its new Coco & Coir Houseplant Compost range at the prestigious DIY Week Awards ceremony. 

This recognition showcases Southern Trident's commitment to excellence in creating top-quality garden care products and highlights its dedication to empowering garden enthusiasts whether they have large or small gardens or a flat or apartment.

The Garden Care Product of the Year is a highly regarded accolade that recognizes outstanding contributions to the gardening industry. Chosen by a panel of industry experts, this award signifies consistent efforts in developing cutting-edge and environmentally friendly solutions that revolutionize the way we care for our gardens.

With a deep understanding of the needs and challenges faced by houseplant enthusiasts, the new compost pushes the boundaries of innovation. Southern Trident’s commitment to research and development has resulted in the creation of a diverse range of houseplant composts including Houseplant, Cactus, Citrus and Orchid that address the unique requirements of plants. All of this while ensuring sustainability and environmental responsibility in a way that is easy for the supply chain to handle, merchandise well, is easy to carry home and simple to expand and use in its own re-sealable expanding bag.

Kaz Edwards, National Account Manager who collected the award said "We are extremely honoured to receive the Best Garden Care Product award. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team, who are passionate about creating products that make gardening a delightful and fulfilling experience for everyone. We are grateful for the trust and support of our customers, which has driven us to continuously innovate and improve."

The Coco & Coir Houseplant Compost stood out from the competition due to its exceptional performance, ease of use, and its positive impact on plant health and growth. Designed with a keen focus on the retailer and user experience, the product offers a seamless gardening experience for beginners and seasoned gardeners alike. Its intuitive features, advanced technology, and eco-friendly formulation make it a truly remarkable garden care solution.

For more information about the award-winning garden care product, visit https://southerntrident.com/

Timber garden furniture, grow your own and decorative garden structure specialist, Zest has launched a selection of new products ahead of Glee 2023, reinforcing its position as a leading player in sustainable outdoor living.  

Highlights of Zest’s new range for 2024 can now be previewed on the Glee portal https://rb.gy/x6y5h ahead of the opportunity to see live on Zest’s stand 20D30-E31 at Glee itself.

Continuing to place strong emphasis on the garden as the perfect place to relax, entertain and feel closer to nature, the latest Zest range draws on consumer trends and builds on the success of the 2023 season’s collection with complementary concepts and themes.  The company’s commitment to sustainability is also reflected in the design and build of the new products as well as in the refinement of existing best sellers to enable greener packaging and transportation solutions which assist in achieving Zest’s environmental goals.

Zest’s new 2024 range includes the Terraza Outdoor Kitchen, which complements the hugely popular, award winning, Zest Garden Bar and Two Stool Set and the Zest Pizza Oven Table, both launched to consumers this spring.  The Zest Terraza Outdoor Kitchen is absolutely on trend for outdoor entertaining, and comprises a stunning collection of products which provide a sustainable, natural route to alfresco cooking - at a very affordable price!  

Made of slow grown softwood sourced from responsibly managed PEFC forests, all products in the Terraza range can be purchased individually or as a set comprising two double units and a corner display unit.  There is also an optional side table to extend the serving area. The double kitchen unit has two large doors to access the deep internal shelves which allow the user to store tools and cooking equipment. An additional third open sided shelf is ideal for plates, cutlery and serving utensils.  The double kitchen units come with a stainless-steel top which is perfect for food preparation. 

Zest is also launching the Compact Botanical Greenhouse, a high quality glazed Perspex small space greenhouse, ideal for nurturing young plants.  It has a sturdy wooden frame made from slow grown softwood sourced from responsibly managed PEFC forests. It has hinged doors and an opening roof with dual height stays for optimum ventilation.  It comes complete with door catches and strategically placed drainage holes in the roof frame. It is ideal for those with a balcony, patio or small city garden. 

There is more in terms of stylish grow your own from Zest this year with the Tall Botanical Greenhouse.  Also space-saving, this delightful product combines stunning looks with all the functionality of a greenhouse.  It is made from sustainable slow grown softwood sourced from responsibly managed PEFC forests and styled to blend perfectly with the natural world.  Most suited for positioning against the wall of the house or outbuilding. Fully glazed with Perspex to allow light through both roof and sides, the Zest Tall Botancial Greenhouse boasts two fully adjustable roof panels allowing for optimal temperature control for all types of plants with securing latches for confidence and safety.  It has removable shelves which can also be reconfigured to a half width to allow for taller plants as required and its classic greenhouse look combined with its superb practicality makes it an outstanding winner for a GYO enthusiast.

The Zest Eco Hive Composter is also perfect for today’s environmentally conscious gardener.  Producing your own compost is now a massive and environmentally beneficial garden trend, but compost bins can be unattractive even if useful and desirable.  Zest’s new Eco Hive Composter not only has some super functional advantages, but it is also an attractive addition to any garden.  Shaped like a traditional beehive and made from sustainable slow grown softwood sourced from responsibly managed PEFC forests, it has a large 405 litre capacity and an open base which helps to produce internal heat and make quality compost faster.  The lid opens both sides and folds back on itself for ease of removal in order to churn the compost. The lower hatch allows gardeners to harvest the compost with ease.  Narrow gaps in the side panels allows air to circulate in the composter whilst keeping the rain out.  The angled ‘cant cut’ timber boards keeps the waste inside hidden and out of sight as well as having a more modern aesthetic and aids ventilation.  The timber lid and side panels retain heat, and helps manage moisture content, and the open base allows micro-organisms, worms, and slugs from the ground to get into the waste heap and help to break it down to make top quality compost. 

For consumers who just want to relax in their gardens, the new Zest Stirling Arbour is perfect.  A sanctuary in which to enjoy being close to nature, this covered seating arbour offers ample space for four people to sit and enjoy dining, relaxation, or coffee and conversation. Including a spacious fitted table, delightful trellis panels and comfortable angled seats, the Zest Stirling Arbour is suitable for any social event.  Designed to be lighter and smaller, it fits into any garden and enables more sustainable transportation – as well as a very competitive price point.

Zest is also showing some clever and innovative new seating products as well as new and redesigned versions of existing best sellers such as the Zest 1 and 2 metre Veg Beds, collectively adding up to the widest range of eco-friendly outdoor living products on the market.  A one stop shop for innovation, style, comfort and sustainability which covers garden entertaining, grow your own, relaxation and mindfulness.

Head of Commercial Development, Simon Davison commented, “We’re thrilled to be returning to Glee with innovative new products to show our garden centre stockists and online retailers – and it’s great to give everyone a preview.  We’ve made a huge commitment to understanding what todays’ consumers want and have designed products accordingly.  The Zest design and innovation centre, the design.shed, and our focus on customer satisfaction, is helping to drive a whole new level of innovation in this market.”

Garden centres buyers and online stockists can view the new 2024 Zest range on the Glee portal https://rb.gy/x6y5h now and see the new opportunities and existing best sellers in person at Zest’s Glee stand 20D30-E31.

For further information about Zest’s wooden GYO, decorative and furniture products, visit https://zestoutdoorliving.co.uk/trade/ or email sales@zestoutdoorliving.co.uk

The Bransford Webbs Plant Company considers water security key to producing quality crops sustainably. Through collections off the warehouse and glasshouse roofs, over 10 million litres of rainwater is harvested annually across the site.

They store 63 million litres of water in our two reservoirs, which allows them to harvest and store water from the River Teme in the winter months, for use when water is less available in the warmer, drier summer months.

The company recycle and reuse all irrigation run off to reduce water usage and are in the process of updating our irrigation systems across the nursery to improve overall efficiency. All future developments will have rainwater harvesting and irrigation run off collection facilities as an integral part of their design. The need to capture water during times of plenty for use throughout the year has become more and more apparent.

Bransford Webbs have always been proactive about our water storage and usage, and formulated a water strategy around five years ago, which includes improving filtration systems and water storage.

“Water security is of the utmost importance and over the past few years we have worked hard to ensure we don’t waste a dro,", commented Adrian Marskell, Managing Director. “We recycle all that we can and have developed our irrigation systems to make the best use of all we have."

The Ornamental Horticulture Roundtable Group (OHRG) has welcomed a record number of parliamentarians at its annual breakfast briefing (Tuesday, 23 May) at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2023.

The meeting, facilitated by The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), gave members from both Houses the opportunity to hear from core OHRG partner organisations – the Arboricultural Association, the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI), the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), and the RHS itself.

This special briefing, from all corners of horticulture, was opened by Clare Matterson, the Director-General of the RHS, and Boyd Douglas-Davies, the Chair of OHRG, followed by briefings from OHRG sub-groups:

• James Barnes, HTA Chairman and chair of the Commercial sub-group, outlined the industry’s key commercial challenges – from rising costs to water resilience, challenges with cross-border trade and the need for a sustainable and supported transition from peat use.
• Martin Emmett, NFU Horticulture and Potatoes Board chair and chair of the Education & Employment sub-group covered the need for investment in training, to set seasonal workers schemes on a firm footing, the need to attract more talent and entrants to the sector and ambitions for the industry from the Migration Advisory Committee’s recent Shortage Occupation List review.
• Wayne Grills, BALI’s Chief Executive and chair of the Planning & Infrastructure sub-group, outlined the need to incorporate green spaces into our future urban planning and a better planning permission strategy to support the growth of the horticultural sector.
• Professor Alistair Griffiths, the Director of Science & Collections for the RHS and Research & Development sub-group chair, outlined how the ‘original green economy’ industry plays a vital role in the fight against climate change.

Parliamentarians attending included the Gardening All-Party Parliamentary Group Chair, Baroness Fookes, MPs from all parties, and House of Lords Horticulture Inquiry Committee representatives.

Discussions covered all aspects of the sector's opportunities and challenges – including the weather and expectations for Summer, having had a late Spring. A clear commitment and passion to the industry was heard – including the need to ensure gardening, horticulture and landscaping sectors can be as inclusive and accessible as possible, given the huge economic, environmental and health & well-being benefits it gives. Many of these were themes from the OHRG’s ‘Unlocking green growth: A plan from the ornamental horticulture & landscaping industry’, much of which remains relevant and key asks for today.

Boyd Douglas-Davies, Chair of the OHRG, commented:

“The OHRG members are delighted to be able to use the spectacular setting of RHS Chelsea to deliver to Parliamentarians a briefing on the short, medium and long-term challenges and opportunities for UK horticulture. The environment we live in is made so much better by horticulture; without it, the world really would be just black and white!

What better way is there to explain this than to walk and talk our way around the world’s greatest flower show with the policy and decision-makers? The OHRG is committed to ensuring that our wonderful industry is far better understood so that it can continue leading Britain’s green growth strategy.”

Tong Garden Centre has been shortlisted in the Sustainability category in the Bradford Means Business Awards.

Tong Garden Centre's Head of People, Culture & Sustainability, Neil Barwise-Carr, said: "We're committed to reducing our impact on the planet and have pledged to be Carbon Neutral by 2026. The roadmap to carbon neutrality started with our Year of Waste initiative which includes converting food waste into renewable energy, harvesting rainwater from the lake to water plants and recycling waste oil for biodiesel.

"We continue to work hard to make Tong and the other garden centres in the Yorkshire Garden Centres group as sustainable as possible and it's great that our initiatives have been acknowledged and rewarded with a place in the final."

Sponsored by Solensis, the Sustainability award recognises businesses that have done the most to improve overall environmental performance and enhance sustainability. It rewards businesses that are making strides to become more sustainable year on year.

The team will learn whether they have been successful at an awards ceremony organised in partnership with Bradford Councilon Thursday 20th July at the Walton View Hotel in Bradford.

GTN May 2023 A Summer of Shows. In this issue:

• Primeur – Sustainability in an evolving world
• 20 Smart years – Interview with Jonathan Stobart
• Vitavia Greenhouses are a win win for retailers and consumers
• Haven House Greenfingers Garden Opening
• A Summer of Shows – GTNs guide to June and July’s events
  • Spoga + Gafa - Social Gardens
  • HTA National Plant Show – UK in the spotlight
  • Glee – Get set to see 400 suppliers under one roof
  • Celebrate Summer at Solex
• April Recovery – GTN Bestsellers Analysis
• John Stanley and Sid Raisch look into the future
• Little dobbies No 6 opens in Cheltenham
• Barking up the right tree – Behind the scenes at Melcourt
• Lessons in rebranding – New look for Webbs Garden Centres
• Buying Power – Nominate for the Glee Buyers Power List 2023
• Stand up and be counted – OHRG Column
• Opportunities knock – HTA Column
• Growing grassroots – GIMA Column.

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After over 37 years in the gardening and leisure industry (over 23 years of which have been at Gardenex), Charlie Parker will be retiring on 25th May. 

Charlie has stepped back from attending trade shows over the past year and has been working part-time for the past few months and although he will miss the camaraderie of the member companies and buyers, he is looking forward to relaxing and enjoying his hobbies of birdwatching, country walks and caring for his family’s rescue dogs and five cats!

Over the past couple of months, Charlie has been working with the Director General and Research Manager Eleanor Wigram to introduce a new service exclusive to member companies, a technical export email ‘helpline’.

As part of their annual subscription, Gardenex, PetQuip and CHA member companies will now have access to a dedicated email service which will provide exporters with valuable technical advice and information from a range of experts in exporting worldwide.

“Charlie has always shown real enthusiasm for the gardening and pet sectors and for exporting and his commercial experience from working previously at Hozelock and then Halls has been used to great effect in his support for member companies,” says Director General Amanda Sizer Barrett. “On behalf of myself and everyone within the Federation and its member companies, we would like to thank Charlie for everything he has done to help and support UK suppliers during his many years’ service to exporters.”

The Better Trends Company and Clarion Retail have announced their collaboration for the upcoming Home & Gift show.

For more than 60 years Home & Gift has been a meeting place for the retail community to connect, and at a time when their audience is facing challenging conditions, the team wanted to recognise this legacy of weathering storms together with a campaign that captured optimism, hope and unity. The Better Trends Company are a trend and design agency who endeavour to empower small and medium businesses through their accessible and targeted trend reports, consultancy services, and design strategies. Having previously worked with Home & Gift’s sister shows Top Drawer and the January Furniture Show on their trends installations, Better Trends’ are at the forefront of trend forecasting and their trend reports are meticulously crafted to provide valuable insights, enabling businesses to stay ahead of the curve.

Show Director David Westbrooke says “This year Home & Gift is really excited to collaborate with The Better Trends Co. to infuse Home & Gift’s classic festival vibes with their Modern Psychedelic design trend. The campaign's nostalgic essence encapsulates the welcoming ambience of Home & Gift, where the retail community have gathered for over 60 years to celebrate the industry in a relaxed environment that allows for both networking and product sourcing. The show is gearing up to be another huge success in 2023, giving buyers the opportunity to discover 1000s of new product launches courtesy of over 500 brands from across the UK and beyond.”

This year’s Home & Gift campaign was inspired by the 2023 Modern Psychedelic trend which The Better Trends Co. predicted for this year. As co-creators of the campaign concept for the show, The Better Trends Co. drew inspiration from this trend, which embodies a unique visual style that blends old-school trippy motifs with cutting-edge sophistication. Reflective of customers' increasing desire to see thoughtfully-designed products with a handmade edge, the folk-inspired application of floral designs perfectly set the scene to launch the show's brand new Craft sector. Louise Healy-Adonis, Co-Founder of The Better Trends Co., shared the inspiration behind the trend and how it all came together: 'We knew that we had to create something truly distinctive yet tailored to the show's elegant and heritage branding.

Our 2023 Modern Psychedelic design trend was the perfect starting point for the creative direction of the show. This trend is part of a huge cultural shift, where we are all becoming increasingly concerned about the state of our planet and current political situations, social justice… the list goes on. The modern psychedelic trend represents a resurgence of interest in psychedelic art, music, and culture that emerged in the 1960s and 1970s and is often associated with a counter-cultural ethos that embraces alternative lifestyles, environmentalism, and social justice causes, feeling very relevant today."

In creating the campaign, The Better Trends Co. spent a long time pouring over bold and retro fonts, balancing colour palettes with the overall aesthetics, and finally presented their visual options to the Clarion Retail team. Keeping the iconic H&G royal blue as the hero colour, they paired it with an illustrated floral pattern that can be utilised in various ways, along with a swirl pattern as a secondary graphic. With striking graphics, bold colours, and a unique visual style, the Modern Psychedelic trend is the perfect pairing for the Home & Gift Show.

The Better Trends Co. carefully selected six key trend colours for each of the various sectors, along with a complementary colour to be used alongside for clear and impactful wayfinding and design identity. Bright colours like hot pinks, oranges, and zingy blues contrast with muted earthy tones like browns, dusty peach, and forest greens for a contemporary feel. "We managed to strike a balance between retro and modern design that feels exciting and fresh," said Louise. "We can't wait to see how our design comes to life at the show!"

 Come and immerse yourself in the world of Modern Psychedelic this summer at the Harrogate Convention Centre from the 16-19 July, get your badge to the buyers’ festival of the summer now!

Susan Fairley has been appointed to the new role of Trade Federation Manager across Gardenex, PetQuip and the Commercial Horticultural Association (CHA) as we say goodbye to Pat Flynn at PetQuip and CHA, who is retiring at the end of this month.

Many in our industry sectors will already know Susan: she has worked in the garden and horticulture, pet, home and gift sectors for over 20 years, having been part of the team responsible for the marketing of Glee, Spring Fair and Autumn Fair through a large part of her career. She has additional experience in the automotive, transport and energy sectors, as well as understanding supplying and importing / exporting during her time at White Pebble, a distributor for North American companies launching into the UK and other European markets.

Susan has good contacts within the gardening, horticulture and pet sectors and has excellent experience of multi-channel campaign creation, programme planning, organisation and execution, as well as team leadership and stakeholder engagement, bringing to her new role multi-faceted skills alongside her creative marketing background.

She has a long-held enthusiasm for both the people and products in the garden and pet sectors, which continues in the rest of her life, as a keen garden, vegetable patch and dog owner.

“I’m looking forward to making new contacts and renewing connections with suppliers at gafa+spoga, Glee and at Four Oaks and to taking an active role in organising the prestigious PetQuip Awards and Dinner at the PATS exhibition in Telford this Autumn,” says Susan. Adds Amanda Sizer Barrett, Director General of the Federation: “Susan has always been a pleasure to work alongside and our team is looking forward to her bringing her industry knowledge, business experience and marketing skills to her role."

Susan joins us as Pat Flynn, Trade Association Manager at PetQuip and CHA, has decided to take her retirement. We are very grateful for Pat’s enthusiasm and valuable contribution to the Federation over many years. Pat will be much missed by us all but the lure of foreign travel and exploring different countries with her retired husband, Paul, was too strong a pull for her!

Susan will be having a handover with Pat and other team members this month. Member companies and other industry contacts will be able to contact Susan on susan@gardenex.com, susan@petquip.com or susan@cha-hort.com from 30th May.

Sunshine, Showcase Gardens and springtime shopping were just some of the highlights enjoyed by a record 23,000 green-fingered visitors at the BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair at Beaulieu.

Exhibitors returned in their droves for the Spring Fair’s third year, with more than 150 exhibitors on site to provide a unique shopping experience.  

As headline sponsor, Hillier certainly brought the wow factor with its stunning Secret Garden. Visitors entered the garden via high hedges to find raised beds packed with swathes of colour from hundreds of beautiful plants and trees. The stars of the Hillier Experience were the four new plants that Hillier launched exclusively at the Fair, which proved popular with shoppers who were the first in the country to see them.

Following the success of the partnership with Hillier, the organisers are proud and delighted to announce that Hillier will continue its support as headline sponsor for the BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair at Beaulieu for the next three years.  

Chris Francis, Garden Centre Director at Hillier Nurseries, said: “It’s been a fantastic experience to be part of the BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair since its launched in 2021, particularly as the show is in an area of the country that is so close to our roots. We are delighted to announce that we will be an integral part of the event for the next three years, and we look forward to more gardens, more plants and more inspiration that Hillier, and the Spring Fair, will bring its visitors in the years to come.”

There was inspiration for every kind of garden, outdoor space and window box imaginable at Beaulieu, with a stylish and tranquil Nordic Retreat by The Landscape Service, a Theatre of Greens by award-winning designer Paul Stone (a celebration of veg, with delicious specimens to admire and a stage for talks about all things ‘grow your own’), Beautiful Borders by local garden designers, charities and groups, College Gardens by local horticultural students, and floral displays by specialist nurseries and growers, not to mention Beaulieu’s own gardens, grounds and attractions – all of which were included in the ticket price.

Plot to plate and thrifty gardening were key themes for this year’s Spring Fair, and there were more experts, workshops and opportunities to learn on site than ever. Over the show weekend, BBC TV presenters Frances Tophill, Arit Anderson and Adam Frost, and the editors of BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine were joined by well-known gardening personalities, plant experts and influencers, all sharing practical tips and advice for successful home growing.

In a new and exciting collaboration for 2023, chefs and kitchen gardeners from the New Forest’s The Pig and Lime Wood Hotel hosted live food and drink demonstrations in the restored Victorian Kitchen of Beaulieu’s Palace House and ‘alfresco’ at the Theatre of Greens.

BBC Gardeners’ World presenter, Frances Tophill, presented awards to the best of the Spring Fair’s showcase gardens, floral features and displays, which were assessed by a panel of horticultural and garden design experts. Winners were: Best Showcase Garden(Platinum Award) - Nordic Retreat by Southampton-based The Landscape Service; Best Beautiful Border (Platinum Award) - Not all those who wander are lost by Furzey Gardens and Minstead Trust; Best College Garden (Platinum Award) – Alison Firth and horticulture students from Kingston Maurward College, Dorset; Best BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Subscriber Border (Gold Award) - A Sensory Soak by Bridget Lloyd and Tiffany Passmore from Go Botanical in the New Forest; and Best Floral Display (1stplace) - New Forest Hostas & Hemerocallis.

A tempting range of street food outlets kept visitors fed and watered in style throughout the Spring Fair weekend, with bandstand entertainment to get the toes tapping, and the BBC Good Food Market offered tasty eats and treats to sample and take home.

Rachel Poletti-Gadd, Portfolio Director - Gardening Division at Immediate Live, organisers of BBC Gardeners’ World Events, said: “What a fantastic weekend of spring gardening fun we had at Beaulieu! We are delighted to continue working with Hillier. Being able to develop the Fair together for another three years really is the icing on the cake. It was wonderful to see so many people enjoying themselves, getting inspiration from the gardens and displays, wearing the floral crowns they’d made at one of the workshops, learning more about growing their own food, and taking home some gorgeous new plants and great ideas for their gardens. We can’t wait to do it all again next year!”

Registration for FlowerTrials, the ornamentals breeding event of the year, has been open for several weeks now and many dedicated visitors from all over the world have been quick to register for their annual opportunity to view all that is new and inspirational in pot and bedding plants! 
 

Regular FlowerTrials visitors know that the assortment shown by 60 breeding companies at over 30 locations is absolutely second to none. Growers and young plant producers, traders and retailers all know that FlowerTrials is the place where People Meet Plants, where industry partners meet, connections are made, and inspiration is everywhere. They also know that with such a wealth and abundance of ornamental beauty on offer, planning is absolutely essential. Without a doubt, the FlowerTrials website is a visitor’s best friend! One-stop registration for all locations, news and highlights from the participants, route planning, hotel suggestions and much more can all be found with one convenient click: www.flowertrials.com

Aalsmeer, Westland and Rheinland Westfalen become Middle, South and Germany

FlowerTrials is the consolidated presentation of a dynamic industry, one that is constantly adapting and improving to bring cutting edge genetics to the market. The FlowerTrials organization reflects this and works to optimize the FlowerTrials experience for both visitors and participants.  Return visitors to the FlowerTrials website will have already noticed one significant change in the categorization of the FlowerTrials regions. As FlowerTrials has gained in popularity over the years, more and more breeding companies have joined to present their novelties in Week 24 under the FlowerTrials banner. Gradually, the three regions of Aalsmeer and Westland in the Netherlands and Noordrein Westfalen in Germany have broadened and spilled over their virtual boundaries due to the diversity of the locations. For the convenience of visitors planning their optimal route over the four days, the regions have been redefined into three broad geographical bands – Middle and South in the Netherlands, and Germany.

The FlowerTrials map, your passport and guide to all that’s new in Ornamentals!

This year again, the FlowerTrials organization will produce the handy and compact FlowerTrials map, showing all locations, their addresses and proximity to each other, divided into the three regions. A handy planning tool to guide you around the Netherlands and Germany in Week 24! The map will be distributed in selected Dutch and German trade press in May and is also available on request from all FlowerTrials participants or the FlowerTrials secretariat. If you attach the badge with barcode that will be provided to you at your first FlowerTrials visit on presentation of your registration confirmation, your map becomes a convenient personal FlowerTrials passport, your ticket to a world of ornamental beauty! 

Register in advance and be ready to go

Due to the overwhelming popularity of FlowerTrials, advance registration is essential. It’s quick, easy and free! Visit www.flowertrials.com/registration and fill in a few details to receive your confirmation and personal barcode. Bring this – printed or on your phone or tablet – to the first location you wish to visit, to receive a badge/sticker that you can use at all FlowerTrials locations. 
 

The 2023 FlowerTrials are open from Tuesday, June 13th to Friday, June 16th. Tuesday-Thursday from 08.00 – 18.00, and Friday from 08.00 to 15.00. Make sure you take full advantage of the event where Plants meet People! 

Gardenex, PetQuip and CHA member companies will be able to utilise a valuable new service on renewal of their annual membership subscriptions.

In order to support companies with information about the numerous technical challenges involved in exporting round the world, the Federation has teamed up with a company that specialises in providing information, advice and practical answers on the wide range of export challenges and hurdles facing UK suppliers of gardening, horticultural supplies and pet products as well as growers and pet food suppliers.

As part of their annual subscription, Gardenex, PetQuip and CHA member companies will have access to a dedicated email ‘helpline’ which will provide valuable technical advice and information from a range of experts in exporting worldwide.

“We are aware that exporting rules and regulations have become more onerous for UK suppliers since Brexit and we are pleased to be introducing a new service that gives every member company practical support and information to help ease the process of export sales,” says Amanda Sizer Barrett, Director General of the Federation.

Further information on accessing this new service will be sent out to all member companies on renewal of their annual subscription.

For details of all the business advantages of Gardenex membership, please email info@gardenex.com or visit www.gardenex.com

Blue Diamond have re-launched Van Hage Great Amwell this weekend, an event that centred around the restoration of the famous Van Hage windmill.

For over 65 years the Windmill has been part of the Van Hage family, becoming a greatly loved icon. First built in 1958, the windmill has stood the test of time, including the journey in 1972 from its original location at Broxbourne to its current home on the front lawn at Great Amwell garden centre. 

Alan Roper, Managing Director of Blue Diamond Garden Centres said: "I have long admired the inspiration and achievement of Van Hage and never imaged that one day, Blue Diamond would be the proud owner. One of my fondest memories of Van Hage is the windmill, which had fallen into disrepair, preserving this landmark of the history and brand is important to us, where we can all enjoy for years to come."

The windmill was unveiled by local Mayor Cllr Thomas Day along with Jacqueline, John and William Van Hage and started again for the first time in 2 years at the Grand Re-Opening on Saturday 20th May 2023.

Watch a video of the opening and the starting of the windmill at: https://www.facebook.com/vanhagegardencentre/videos/120239687730152/

See photos from the event in the gallery below.

The popular Rosebourne garden centres at Aldermaston, Weyhill and Hampton-in-Arden have undergone some exciting changes following their merge into the Hillier Garden Centre group, bringing a vast array of high-quality and expertly grown plants, seasonal events, and tasty food offerings to the people of Reading, Hampshire and Solihull.

Last year Hillier expanded its garden centre portfolio with the acquisition of Rosebourne Garden Centres. Since then, the company has been working hard to introduce exciting changes throughout the three centres, bringing them in line with the Hillier family and providing visitors with an enhanced offering and exclusive perks.

Visitors to the centres will now find an offering of top-quality seasonal plants, many grown at Hillier Nurseries. The nurseries, in Hampshire, grow over one million plants a year in peat-free compost, which are sold exclusively at Hillier Garden Centres, ensuring an elite range of products for visitors to purchase.

One of the most notable changes across the three new centres is that the highly regarded restaurants have been further enhanced with the transformation into the much-loved Hillier Mulberry and Thyme restaurant brand. The welcoming restaurants will include some old favourites, as well as some exciting new additions to the menu as well which are already proving popular.

Locals have been pleased to hear that the Rosebourne food halls are here to stay. Packed full of seasonal produce, the food hall provides shoppers with a range of fresh and delicious food such as fruit and vegetables, cakes, condiments and much more from local suppliers.

This transition to Hillier also brings with it a whole range of additional perks for shoppers via the incredibly popular, and free-to-join, Hillier Gardening Club. The Hillier Gardening Club provides members with exclusive member offers, a reward scheme where shoppers can earn points every time they shop, gardening advice, offers, competitions, priority booking for events such as the popular seasonal workshops, among many other things.

For more information about Hillier and the Rosebourne centres visit www.hillier.co.uk

As we start to consider who might be crowned a GIMA award winner this year, the judging panel with the hard job of choosing the deserving brands has now been confirmed.

Once again, GIMA has secured an impressive line-up of judges, with garden centre and multiple retailer representatives, trend experts, leading buyers, plus trade and consumer editors bringing their experience to the role. Confirmed judges are Gary Carvosso, Coolings Garden Centre; Shelley Bou Chrouch, Scarlet Opus; Mairi Devlin, B&Q; Ian Hodgson, Garden News; Trevor Pfeiffer, Garden Trade News; Michelle de Lavis-Trafford, Choice Marketing; Nicola Pugh, Pugh’s Garden Centre; Nicola Seagar, Primrose; and Tristan Sissons, Hillier Garden Centres.

This year’s judging will take place on July 12th at Warwick Racecourse, with entrants invited to set-up their products on July 11th. The event itself – set to be another sell-out evening – will take place on Thursday 19th October at the five-star Celtic Manor Resort.

Time is running out to enter!

Of course, judges need things to judge! This year the deadline for entry into the GIMA Awards is June 2nd. With 13 product and marketing categories, plus an HTA sponsored Sustainability Award (including a Sustainability Champion for each product category), the Gardenex Export Achievement Award, plus the GCA sponsored Supplier of the Year and, the one that all entrants hope to win, the GIMA Sword of Excellence, there is plenty of opportunities for suppliers to get involved in the event that has helped put a lot of brands on the map.

To enter this year’s GIMA Awards, please visit www.gima.org.uk/events/gima-awards-gala-evening/

Book your place now

Following on from two sell out events, GIMA is urging interested parties to secure their tickets for the 2023 event now to avoid disappointment.

Prices for GIMA members: £339 + VAT per person, or £3,199 + VAT for a table of 10, whilst non-member costs are: Non-Members:  £409 + VAT per person, or £3,899 + VAT for a table of 10 (all costs include dinner and accommodation).

There are also several sponsorship opportunities available, including category sponsorship, table and drinks sponsors, table centres plus many more. To find out more, please contact the GIMA team directly for more information.

Find out more

For further information about GIMA and its wide range of member benefits, please contact the GIMA Press Office on (01959) 564947 or info@gima.org.uk

HTA National Plant Show is back at the NAEC Stoneleigh on 20 and 21 June 2023 and visitors are encouraged to register now at nationalplantshow.co.uk to enjoy free, quick and easy access to the show and make the most of everything on offer.

This year’s show provides an unrivalled opportunity to view the best plants from UK nurseries, along with everything the trade needs to sell plants under one roof. 

Top 5 things to do at the show:

1. Meet a full spectrum of suppliers with a wealth of innovation and expertise from seeds, bulbs, house plants and a wide range of garden plants to labelling and product information, growing media, display benching, and machinery.

2. Explore the New Plant Awards at the heart of the show, where the new plants will take centre stage, bursting with colour and inspiration. Take look around the exciting new varieties on display for 2023.

3. Vote in the New Plant Awards visitor vote. With over 100 plants to vote for, you'll be spoilt for choice deciding which is your favourite plant. 

4. Head over to the Seminar area and watch the first ever Hort Talk Live! discussing the importance of apprenticeships and education within the horticultural industry. Listen to insightful, expert-led discussions to keep on top of the latest market trends, political updates and sustainability.

5. Visit the HTA Village to meet the HTA team. The village provides an opportunity to find out about the latest initiatives from the HTA and showcases everything the HTA has to offer including Membership, the latest updates in Policy, Market Information, Sustainability as well as National Garden Gift Vouchers. 

Registration to attend the National Plant Show, which includes free access is now open, so don’t miss your opportunity to attend. Book your place today!

For more than 25 years, the Fountasia ™ name has been synonymous with ‘First to Market’ creative and innovative design, fine quality, and good value that appeals to the Garden Centre and gift market. A Company recognised for ‘going that extra mile’ with outstanding POS displays that build business.  

In addition to the constantly evolving ranges of Home & Garden and Christmas décor, which has always been the hallmark of the Fountasia business, the company has inspired and created ‘The World of Make Believe’, where imagination is all you need to meet fairies, elves, and pixies, in their magical world.  

ROBOTIME, presented by Fountasia with enormous success, has become one of the most exciting brands, inspiring enquiring minds and satisfying ardent model makers of all ages. The New UDEAS range provides safe and stimulating toys and games for young children, which encourages, and nurtures natural imagination, creativity, social development, and self-confidence will be launched officially on our stand at Glee.

The new Fountasia PlushTime brand will make its debut at Glee creating a spirit of fun with ‘Yakety Chat’ comedians and snuggly ‘Plushimals’ bringing comfort and good humour.

Fountasia Regional Sales Managers provide national coverage for service and support and look forward to seeing you at Glee. 

Find Fountasia at Glee to view NEW ranges and exciting new products, 

• Fountasia Home & Garden Décor… Colourful year-round garden enhancing décor.
• Christmas Décor… Magical decorative ideas from around the world.
• World of Make Believe….Imagination is all you need to enter the magical world……
• Robotime… Products to inspire enquiring minds and satisfy ardent model makers.
• UDEAS….Unique toys that help children develop creative skills and build self-confidence
• PlushTime…Innovative, humorous, novelty ranges and original, comforting, plush décor.

Come and visit us at Glee (Stand 6J20-20A21)

For more information please email info@fountasia.com or call 01303 873311

Bathgate are pleased to announce that they’re back exhibiting at Four Oaks this year in September after their Covid hiatus.

Colin Sanders, Commercial Director, enthused: “We’re looking forward to showing at Four Oaks again this year, and will have a few new things to get potential customers excited about. It’s a time of big change in the compost world and we are already making waves with the quality of our peat free products, so we felt Four Oaks would be the ideal forum to put our stake in the ground with regards to our peat free credentials for 2024.” 

With lots to shout about in addition to their peat free compost, they’re hoping to create a real buzz about the company’s direction and can’t wait for customer feedback. 

If you’re keen to see the current peat free All Purpose or Champions Blend composts and don’t want to wait for the show, just get in touch with the sales team and they’ll be happy to send a sample over. 

Call: 01270 762828

Email: sales@bathgatesilica.co.uk

Web: https://www.bathgatesilica.co.uk/ 

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

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

As the year goes on we give sales volume comparisons with 2018 as well as 2019 to allow your teams to see variations over a three year period.

Access is by subscription only.  For £145.00 per year you and your team can have access to the most up-to-date gardening sales analysis that has already helped many UK garden centres increase their sales.  To subscribe call 07973 504214, e-mail karen@pottingshedpress.co.uk or buy on-line using this link.

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

Get the GTN Bestsellers charts in full every week in the GTN Bestsellers newsletters for only £145.00.

GTN Bestsellers is the only industry source of weekly garden centre sales information, collating Epos data from centres with an aggregate turnover in excess of £100m.

Use the weekly Garden Products and Growing Media Top 50 sales volumes charts to plan your hotspot and other promotions and ensure you have the right products in stock to satisfy the needs of your customers.

For further information contact karen@pottingshedpress.co.uk or call 07973504214.

Buy your subscription today and start receiving the GTN Bestsellers charts this week.