The Garden Centre Association has recently revealed its area award winners during presentations held at member garden centres.

Awards were presented to garden centres in the North Thames, North West, South Thames, Wales & West, Midlands and North East regions with the winners in Scotland and Northern Ireland to be announced on August 31.

Iain Wylie, Chief Executive of the GCA, said: “During each presentation evening inspectors for each area announced their findings after carrying out their inspections earlier in the year, highlighting best practice and new ideas as well as revealing the area winners in the two categories: Destination Garden Centre (DGC) and Garden Centre (GC).

"We would like to say a huge congratulations to all of the winners and a big 'thank you' to The Old Railway Line Garden Centre, Tong Garden Centre, RHS Wisley, Thurrock Garden Centre and Pennells Garden Centre - Lincoln for playing hosts for the various events.

“The results from the inspections form the basis for many of the national GCA awards, which will be presented at next year's conference, which is in St. Andrews from January 22 until 25.”

The final area awards evening for Scotland and Northern Ireland will take place on Wednesday, August 31 at Creative Gardens Galgorm Castle.

The GCA represents nearly 200 garden centres nationwide.

Photograph caption one: Burston Garden Centre, winner of Garden Centre of the Year (DGC) in the North Thames.

Photograph caption two: Garden Centre of the Year (GC) in the North East, Cowell's Garden Centre.

Photograph caption three: Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre, which was awarded Garden Centre of the Year (DGC) in the Wales & West region.

The full list of winners in the area awards are:

North Thames:

• Garden Centre of the Year - Burston Garden Centre (DGC) (pictured above) and Sunshine Garden Centre (GC)
• Best Creativity and Innovation - Burston Garden Centre (DGC) and Squires Garden Centre - Twickenham (GC)
• Most Improved Centre - Frosts at Millets Farm
• Best Customer Service - Aylett Nurseries
• Best Garden Products Retailer - Burston Garden Centre (DGC) and Squires Garden Centre - Shepperton (GC)
• Best Garden Centre Restaurant - Poplars Garden Centre (DGC), Frosts at Woburn Sands (DGC), Frosts at Willington (DGC), Thurrock Garden Centre (GC), Squires Garden Centre - Shepperton (GC)
• Best Outdoor Living Retailer - Van Hage Garden Company - Great Amwell (DGC) and Sunshine Garden Centre (GC)
• Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer - Burford Garden Company (DGC) and Squires Garden Centre - Shepperton (GC)
• Best Environmental Practice - Burston Garden Centre.

North West:

• Garden Centre of the Year - Bents Garden and Home (DGC) and Fron Goch Garden Centre (GC)
• Best Creativity and Innovation - Bents Garden and Home
• Most Improved Centre - Gordale Garden Centre
• Best Customer Service - Barton Grange Garden Centre
• Best Garden Products Retailer - Barton Grange Garden Centre (DGC) and Klondyke Daleside Garden Centre (GC)
• Best Garden Centre Restaurant - Bents Garden and Home (DGC) and Fron Goch Garden Centre (GC)
• Best Outdoor Living Retailer - Bents Garden and Home (DGC) and Fron Goch Garden Centre (GC)
• Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer - Barton Grange Garden Centre (DGC) and Fairways Garden Centre Macclesfield (GC) and Burleydam Garden Centre (GC)
• Best Environmental Practice - Gordale Garden Centre.

South Thames:

• Garden Centre of the Year - Stewarts Christchurch (DGC) and Squires Garden Centre - Milford (GC)
• Best Creativity and Innovation - Haskins Garden Centre - Southampton
• Most Improved Centre - The Wisley Plant Centre
• Best Customer Service - Stewarts Christchurch
• Best Garden Products Retailer - Haskins Roundstone Garden Centre (DGC) and Squires Garden Centre - Milford (GC)
• Best Garden Centre Restaurant - Haskins Garden Centre - Ferndown (DGC) and Knights Plant and Life - Godstone (GC)
• Best Outdoor Living Retailer - Stewarts Christchurch (DGC) and Squires Garden Centre - Milford (GC)
• Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer - Haskins Roundstone Garden Centre (DGC), Squires Garden Centre - Badshot Lea (DGC), Squires Garden Centre - Milford (GC) and Blackbrooks Garden Centre (GC)
• Best Environmental Practice - The Wisley Plant Centre.

Wales & West:

• Garden Centre of the Year - Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre (DGC) and The Old Railway Line Nursery and Garden Centre (GC)
• Best Creativity and Innovation - Whitehall Garden Centre - Lacock
• Most Improved Centre - Hillier Garden Centre - Bath
• Best Customer Service - The Old Railway Line Nursery and Garden Centre
• Best Garden Products Retailer - Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre (DGC) and The Old Railway Line Nursery and Garden Centre (GC)
• Best Garden Centre Restaurant - Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre (DGC) and RHS Rosemoor Plant Centre and Shop (GC)
• Best Outdoor Living Retailer - Bernaville Nurseries (DGC) and Hillier Garden Centre - Bath (GC)
• Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer - Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre (DGC) and Hillier Garden Centre - Bath
• Best Environmental Practice - Whitehall Garden Centre - Lacock.

Midlands:

• Garden Centre of the Year - Pennells Garden Centre - Lincoln (DGC) and Fairways Garden Centre - Ashbourne (GC)
• Best Creativity and Innovation - Planters Garden Centre - Tamworth
• Most Improved Centre - Langlands Garden Centre - Loxley
• Best Customer Service - Fairways Garden Centre - Ashbourne
• Best Garden Products Retailer - Van Hage - Peterborough (DGC) and Fairways Garden Centre - Ashbourne (GC)
• Best Garden Centre Restaurant - Planters Garden Centre - Tamworth (DGC) and Blue Diamond Chatsworth Garden Centre (GC)
• Best Outdoor Living Retailer - Brigg Garden Centre (DGC) and Fairways Garden Centre - Ashbourne (GC)
• Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer - Blue Diamond Evesham Garden Centre (DGC) and Fairways Garden Centre - Ashbourne (GC)
• Best Environmental Practice - Planters at Bretby.

North East:

• Garden Centre of the Year - Langlands Garden Centre - Shiptonthorpe (DGC) and Cowell's Garden Centre (GC) (pictured above)
• Best Creativity and Innovation - Cowell's Garden Centre
• Most Improved Centre - Klondyke Stokesley Garden Centre
• Best Customer Service - Cowell's Garden Centre
• Best Garden Products Retailer - Langlands Garden Centre - Shiptonthorpe (DGC) and Cowell's Garden Centre
• Best Garden Centre Restaurant - Langlands Garden Centre - Shiptonthorpe (DGC) and Klondyke Stokesley Garden Centre (GC)
• Best Outdoor Living Retailer - Langlands Garden Centre - Shiptonthorpe (DGC) and Klondyke Beverley Garden Centre (GC)
• Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer - Langlands Garden Centre - Shiptonthorpe (DGC) and Klondyke Northallerton Garden Centre (GC)
• Best Environmental Practice - Cowell's Garden Centre and Langlands Garden Centre - Shiptonthorpe.

1. Garden Care (growing accessories)
2. Garden Care (chemicals, fertilisers and compost)
3. Garden Decoration
4. Landscaping
5. Outdoor Entertaining
6. Machinery and Tools
7. Home, Gift & Clothing
8. Pet and Wildlife Products
9. Plant Seeds and Bulbs
10. Retail Experiences and Services

• Garden Products - up 6%
• Veg-2-Gro - down 1%
• Growing Media - down 2%
• All Items Index - down 7%

With British summertime in full swing and the hibernation period nothing but a distant memory for many animals, now is the time to take to your garden and listen to the sounds of summer.

From birdsong and buzzing bees to the rustling of tall grasses, if you close your eyes, there's plenty to hear in the garden and with a bit of clever planting you can create your very own percussion section.

Wyevale Garden Centres and Radio and TV presenter, Jo Whiley, have put together some quick tips which will turn an ordinary garden into a welcoming habitat for the wonders of nature and the sounds they bring with them.

Jo says: “Music and gardening are my two big passions. In the evenings I'm on air between 8 and 10 playing music to the nation as it winds down at the end of the day but during the afternoons, at home, I'm straight out into my garden to enjoy it's many delights and get on with the various jobs there are always to do.

"When I’m gardening, I consciously switch off the radio and completely immerse myself in the sounds of the garden. Sound can have such a huge effect on people’s emotions. In the same way that someone may blast out a feel good tune to lift their mood, the tranquil sounds of a garden can make you completely relaxed.

"Sound plays a big part of my life and my garden can provide a completely different musical backdrop compared to the studio.”

If you want to create a buzz with bug life, think all things bright and beautiful. When choosing flowers, mix up herbaceous perennials, annuals and biennials. They all flower at different times – herbaceous perennials such as lavender, geranium and salvia come back year after year; annuals like daisies and begonias flower once a year, usually in spring and summer; and biennials like hollyhocks and foxgloves, every two years. Planting these will create a constant source of nectar for bees, butterflies and other insects all year round.

If you have the extra space, then a herb patch is always a great addition. Bumble bees and solitary bees are attracted to rosemary in particular, whilst other herb garden favourites like lavender, sage, oregano and thyme all attract bees, butterflies and a host of other insects. If you leave some of your herbs to flower you’ll also be providing a rich food source for these little critters, leaving your garden buzzing with life and the hum of activity on warm days.

If you’ve got room for trellis, try some trailing plants like clematis or sweet peas. Hanging baskets are another great choice – the african daisy, fuschsia or busy lizzie are great for this and bees love them. Vegetables grow well in window boxes and, if you want to see a cabbage butterfly up close, go for broccoli, cabbage or flowering kale.

Tune into the birdsong

Any avid gardener will understand the beauty of birdsong. The important thing to bear in mind is that birds need four things – something to eat/drink, somewhere to shelter, somewhere to wash and somewhere to breed. So grass, trees, shrubs and water are essential.

Hedges, bushes and shrubs are perfect hiding and perching places for birds and provide food like berries, fruit and insects for them to eat. Thoughtfully placed bird boxes make crucial spots for nesting. Birds of all kinds are reliant on trees for food and shelter, and hanging a few bird feeders from the more sturdy branches creates additional resting places. Additionally, bird baths provide a watering hole and bathing point for smaller birds. Your lawn also has lots of different seeds that birds like, such as meadow grass, buttercup and dandelion.

Having a splash

Garden ponds create ideal breeding conditions for frogs, newts, and toads; and they attract all sorts of fascinating insects like the skater, water boatman and dragonflies. Whilst you can enjoy the gentle croak of the amphibians, you can also listen to birds, insects and other animals, like headgehogs, having a splash as they flock to it for a drink, a feast or to freshen up.

The morning hush

Whether you’re an early riser or want to create a peaceful haven to relax in after a busy day, the rustling of leaves can send you into complete tranquillity. Swish, tall grasses like miscanthus and greater quaking grass make a lovely rustling sound, even in gentle breezes; as do fine-leaved trees like birch and robinia, although these trees must be watered everyday if planted during the summer season. clunk-bamboo makes a lovely hollow knocking sound when it bumps together and bigger canes can be turned into wind chimes.

All creatures great and SMALL

If you’re starting from scratch, beds and borders with wavy edges can look much more attractive and informal. Plant your larger shrubs and fruit trees towards the back of borders and then lower-growing shrubs such as lavender at the front. Use the spaces in between for different types of flowers. This will create a varied habitat, full of light, shade and hiding places for birds and smaller mammals like mice and voles. You could also add in an insect hotel or butterfly feeder; nestle these in amongst the foliage to supply shelter and food for the smaller insects.

Planting climbers against fences, on a trellis or against the side of a shed, will create a tangle of branches – great for insects and secretive birds like the wren. honeysuckle or ivy trailing over a fence also acts as a ‘ladder’ that lets small mammals and insects travel between one garden and another.

Top 10 items for a musical garden:

• Lavendar, from £4.99
• Honeysuckle, £9.99
• Salvia, £3.99 - £9.99
• Daisies, £8.99 - £9.99
• Foxgloves, from £3.99
• Urban Insect Hotel,  £24.99
• Urban bird nestbox, £24.99
• Peckish bird table, £89.99
• Butterfly Feeder, £7.99
• Peckish 3 port bird feeder, £5.99

• Mid August Preview        - 17th August
• Late August Preview        - 31^st August
• Full Show Preview           - 7^th September
• Build up preview - Live from the Show - 11th September 
• Live from the Show Day 1 - 12^th September
• Live from the Show Day 2  - 13^th September
• Live from the Show Day3   - 14^th September
• Omnibus Issue                 - 27th September

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For advertorial and advertisng opportunties please contact Ben Greenwood, Alan Burdon or Mandy Davies at The Garden Communication & Media Co Ltd, 01733 775700, owners and publishers of Garden Trade News, Garden Radio and The Greatest Awards.

A spokesman for the garden centre is reported as saying: “They kicked the front door down to get in. I was surprised the robbers were able to move the safe but there isn’t really too much else I can say. We were back up and running by Sunday afternoon.”

Police are carrying out door-to-door enquiries nearby and CCTV footage is being reviewed from the surrounding streets and are keen tohear from anyone who saw or heard anything.

Readthe full story at: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/brazen-thieves-steal-safe-containing-8607768

Katie Blake and Glencrest Seatex are expanding rapidly and looking for an experienced Sales Manager. Ideally the applicant will be living in the South of England near to our Leigh on Sea offices or be able to attend the office without difficulty. The person we are looking for needs to be well connected and have been involved for some time in the Garden Business ideally with outdoor leisure products dealing with both Garden Centres and large multiple retailers. He or she will have a proven track record and be able to demonstrate their knowledge and ability. This is a Management Position and is key to our continued expansion. The package we are offering the right person will include an Executive Vehicle, good basic salary and together with on target earnings a very generous income indeed.

This position would suit someone with plenty of energy and enthusiasm who has been dealing with top buyers and decision makers in our industry. This will be an executive appointment reporting directly to the Sales and Managing Directors. Smart in appearance and well-spoken you will be working with our team of Sales Agents and directly with House Accounts. You will be expected to develop further our Katie Blake brand of Rattan Garden Furniture which has seen amazing progression since it was brought to market 4 years ago.

Please apply by email together with your CV to jack@glencrestseatex.co.uk .

• You will have experience of working in Garden Centres, ideally within a high volume, large format centre or retail store, although we are open to talking to candidates from any horticultural background.
• You will be able to recognise sales trends in detail from reports and use this information to improve sales performance and the profitability of the department through replenishment and merchandising.
• You will be meticulous to the detail in terms of product placement, standards, presentation, visual elevation and overall look and feel.
• You will have good numeracy, literacy and computer skills.
• You will be organised, methodical and pay excellent attention to detail.
• You will have a proven track record in managing and developing a team.

To apply for this role click here

• Horticultural training or a passion for horticulture and good plant knowledge.
• Be computer literate with experience of administration and experience of using webmaster.
• Be well organised and capable of paying great attention to detail and accuracy.
• Have a natural sales and marketing ability with good commercial acumen.
• Great communication skills, drive and with plenty of get up and go!

• Smart Solar Flutterby Butterfly is the highest climber, jumping 26 places to No 9.
• Gardman Rattan Battery Operated Floor Column Lantern is the highest new entry.
• Bayer Path & Drive Weedkiller Ready To Use and Woodlodge 38cm Feather Pot were other newcomers.

• The highest climber was Arthur Bowers Multipurpose Compost (50 litres), which jumped 19 places to No 16.
• The highest re-entry was Vital Earth Organic Garden Compost (50 litres) at No 6.
• Other re-entries were Scotts Levington Organic Blend Topsoil (25 litres) and Kelkay RHS Horticultural Potting Grit.

• 8-page special on the GIMA Awards - all the winners and pictures.
• Smart Garden Products' Eureka! moment.
• Generation Game spotlight on Squire's Garden Centres.
• Reviews of SOLEX and the HTA National Plant Show.
• Insight into what makes a great plant retailing team.
• Preview of PATS Telford - the UK's No.1 pet trade exhibition.

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 2014 as well as 2015 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 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 Garden Plants 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.