Alford Nurseries and Garden Centre in Grimsby has been granted approval to extend its business. The store in Grimsby Road, Laceby, received unanimous support for the proposals after all 11 members of North East Lincolnshire Council's Planning Committee voted to approve them.

The application will see a refurbishment of the existing garden centre site, including extensions, relocation of accesses, new parking and landscaping.

Despite concerns lodged by a number of residents, the plans have been given the green light.

Phillip Jackson, deputy chairman of the Planning Committee, said: "I am disappointed that more members of the committee could not be there on the site visit after allegations were made about the attendance of some councillors.

"It was one of the most beautiful site visits I have been on in a long time and I was very impressed with the place and the amount of work that has gone into the site.

"The improvement would be quite significant and residents who live nearby will be better off as access has been improved."

The refurbishment will see an extension to the cafe, an external patio, a children's play area and outdoor sales area.

In total, 1,865 square metres of new floor area would be created.

The application will also see the car park increase its capacity from 54 spaces to 67 spaces.

An existing property in Grimsby Road will be demolished to make way for the new build.

• Survey in 2013 found more than 70% of horticultural businesses cannot fill skilled vacancies, nearly 20% are forced to recruit overseas and almost 70% say career entrants are inadequately prepared for work.*
• As part of the on-going industry-wide campaign, Horticulture Matters, to close the green skills gap, the RHS will invest £3.2 million to increase its horticultural apprentice and training positions from 46 to 76 by 2025.
• The RHS also commits to invest a further £4.1 million in horticultural salaries by 2025.  The pay increases will be permanent, continuing beyond 2025, to better reflect the skills and knowledge of horticulturally trained employees.

The dwindling number of people in the UK with horticultural skills represents a major challenge to the horticultural industry in trying to meet the growing demands placed on it.  As part of the industry-wide ‘Horticulture Matters’ campaign to raise the profile of careers in horticulture, the RHS has committed to invest £7.3 million by 2025 into horticultural talent to help support the future of British Horticulture.

RHS Director General, Sue Biggs, says: “We’re in the fourth year of the industry’s Horticulture Matters campaign, to raise the profile of careers in horticulture and close the critical green skills gap, which threatens the future of British Horticulture. 

“We have just completed a horticultural salary review to ensure we recognise the specialist skills and knowledge that professional horticulturists and horticultural scientists need to do their jobs, at the same time as making sure we’re building horticultural salaries in a sustainable way, both for ourselves and for the wider industry. 

“The key issue that we, as an industry, need to resolve is that people still aren’t aware of the breadth of exciting and fulfilling career opportunities that the wonderful world of horticulture has to offer.  We also need to continue getting better at going out into secondary schools and reaching wider audiences to raise the profile of careers in horticulture and to highlight career progression opportunities.”

The gardening charity has committed to increase the number of its horticultural apprentice and training positions from 46 to 76 over the next 10 years to encourage and support more people to enter the horticultural industry and to provide more opportunities for them within it.  This will see the charity investing a further £3.2 million into these new horticultural roles to help kick-start people’s employment in horticulture, a career to be proud of.

The RHS conducted its review** into horticultural salaries across the industry to help the charity determine how it might advance its horticultural salaries at a sustainable rate. The RHS has now committed to ensuring that all professionally qualified RHS horticulturists and horticultural scientists are paid at the upper end of the horticultural industry pay scale, and has committed to invest an additional £4.1 million by 2025 to achieve this.

In conducting this review, the RHS focused on areas where there is a skills gap and where the industry struggles to recruit trained horticulturists.  Curatorial and horticultural employees, including apprentices and trainees, and horticultural scientists will be the main beneficiaries of the increase with the pay progression ranges for each role increasing by between 5% and 10%, which is in addition to the Society’s standard 2% pay increase for 2015.  All pay increases will be permanent.

Sue Biggs, continues:  “This pay review reflects the value we place on our professional horticulturists and will take our pay levels from the average industry rate to the upper end of the horticultural pay scale.  A Level 1 horticulturist’s starting salary will now be about £19,000 and a Garden Manager will be able to earn up to £40,000. 

“As part of this initiative, we have also been able to increase our starting salaries for apprentices and trainees to £14,000 and £15,456 respectively, and will be creating 30 more of these positions too. We have introduced new pay progression scales into our Science division so that our horticultural scientists can follow a career path from entry level at £18,360 up to £45,900 and beyond for senior management positions.

“We’ll now be increasing our work to promote and raise the profile of the breadth of fantastic career opportunities in this industry to teachers, business, industry, career changers and the wider public to continue our efforts to help close the skills gap.”

Alan Titchmarsh, who has supported and helped drive Horticulture Matters from the start, says: “While it’s not just the salary that attracts a person to a job, nor makes them stay, this acknowledgement of the importance of adequately rewarding horticultural skills demonstrates that the RHS is committed to playing its part in recognising the often underestimated value of horticulturists.  I look forward to more initiatives coming from the RHS and the wider industry to continue the work of Horticulture Matters and raise the profile of careers that are currently undervalued for the skills they require and for the immense positive difference they make.”

*A survey of 200 horticultural businesses confirmed an alarming shortage of skilled professionals in UK horticulture for The Horticulture Matters 2013 report, which was presented to Government on 14 May 2013 at the House of Commons.  The survey also found that 10% of vacancies take at least one year to fill. More than 80% of the survey respondents cited a poor perception of horticulture in schools and colleges as the issue, and 90% said it was because horticulture lacks career appeal.

** During 2014 the RHS undertook a review of horticultural salaries throughout the industry by using salary information from 23 individual organisations and analysing nearly 150 horticultural job advertisements and over 200 responses from a Professional Gardeners Guild Survey.  The RHS benchmarked these findings against its own roles that require a horticultural qualification in order to carry out the work.

Members of the garden centre industry turned out in force for the funeral of All-In-One Garden Centre founder Dave Stafford on Tuesday. The former Chairman of the GCA died at the age of 71 following a 15-month battle against kidney cancer...

Rochdale Crematorium overflowed with mourners eager to pay their last respects to a man described as a 'pioneer' in the garden trade.

Dave opened the All-In-One Garden Centre in 1971, and with his then wife Beryl, it quickly grew and developed into thriving business.

In 1988 Dave used his earlier building trade experience in a significant £2 million rebuild of the centre. 

Coming from outside the industry was never seen by him as a disadvantage – quite the opposite, as he pioneered the store into new categories such as Christmas, leisure and gift products.

A former Chairman of the Garden Centre Association, Dave was a passionate supporter of the trade body and his colleagues in the trade. Dave regularly supported the association at the regional, national and international level. Indeed the opportunity to join his colleagues from around the world at their annual congress was a highlight in his year.

Dave retired from daily duties in the business in 2008 but remained as chairman of the board. Together with his wife Sue, they chose North Wales as his final home where he loved spending time with family and his two loyal dogs. Although his time retired was relatively brief, David lived life to the full and lead what he described as a 'privileged life'.

The £140m shopping and leisure complex at Rushden Lakes in Northants, which will feature a new garden centre, is closer to becoming a reality after a property developer agreed to fund the scheme.

The Crown Estate has bought the Rushden Lakes site from existing owner, LXB Retail Properties.

The two companies will now work together on the development.

The complex will feature a home and garden centre, shops, eight restaurants, lakeside visitor centre and a boathouse.

The site will be based around a lake and site of special scientific interest, where people can take walks and cycle rides.

Work will start in autumn 2015 and it is due to be completed by summer 2016.

The developers say the scheme should create a total of 2,500 jobs, initially during construction and then in retail and catering once the park is built.

Regional portfolio manager at The Crown Estate, Hannah Milne, said Rushden Lakes would provide "hundreds of million of pounds of investment and hundreds of jobs".

Jon McCarthy, from LXB, said The Crown Estate would be "perfect partners", but that LXB will "remain responsible for delivering the scheme".

Rushden Lakes had been approved by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles following a public inquiry after concerns about its impact on nearby town centres.

The matter had been referred to Mr Pickles, who called in the application for further scrutiny.

Developer LXB Retail Properties submitted the original application for the brownfield site in 2011 and oversaw the planning application process with East Northamptonshire Council.

Good Friday and Easter Saturday once again failed to make up for being closed on Easter Sunday as cold weather saw sales down on the previous week when most garden centres would have been hoping for big increases.  

Back in 2010 – the last time Easter fell on the same weeks – the Met Office reported “March ended with gales along the English Channel and heavy showers in most places, these falling as snow over the high ground of the west and north.”

This year’s summary for the end of March reads: “The final week was rather unsettled with rain or showers generally and some very strong winds.”  Sound familiar?  We would add that the wind has been cold, which must have kept many potential customers indoors.

Five years ago GTN Bestsellers reported week-on-week sales to be down for the first week of Easter across all of the Top 50 and All Products indexes. 

This year the exception is Veg-2-Gro where an explosion of young veg plant sales has bucked the trend, sending sales soaring.  Five years ago 12 young plant lines made the Top 50 and they were all from Kinglea.  

This week 45 of the Top 50 are young veg plants from Quantil. That must be creating a host of new sales opportunities as trolley loads of plants go through your tills.

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

• Garden Products – down 25%
• Veg-2-Gro Products – down 1%
• Growing Media – down 29%
• All items index – down 14%

Pupils at Sherborne Primary School in Dorset have been invited by Castle Gardens to take part in The Gardens Group’s new Young Grower of the Year competition. Each class from the school has received pre-potted bell pepper plants to grow in their classroom.

Tony Das, houseplants manager at Castle Gardens (pictured above, top right) said: “We have been inundated with young growers flocking to Castle Gardens to collect their free pepper growing kit. We are delighted to see that so many children and their families want to get involved in this competition.”

The judging will take place at Sherborne Primary School just before Castle Gardens’ Chilli Pepper Festival, which takes place on July 20-26.

A spokeswoman for the Derwen Garden Centre in Guilsfield, near Welshpool, said: “It’s certainly been one of our busiest days of the year so far. The sunshine brings people out, which is great for us.”

Let us know how you fared over Easter. Email trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

For eighties pop star Kim Wilde, the roller-coaster of a career in the music industry career had started to take its toll on her mental health. She credits gardening with helping her find balance in her life and regain confidence.

 Kim now wants more people to realise the powerful benefits gardening can have and will be hosting April’s BBC Lifeline Appeal on behalf of the charity Thrive, which uses gardening to bring about positive changes in the lives of people who are living with disabilities or ill health, or those who are isolated, disadvantaged or vulnerable.

“I really believe in the benefits of being outdoors in a living, breathing garden. That’s why I think the work of Thrive is so important,” said Kim.

“When I was 30 I was enjoying a successful music career, with platinum records and a European tour with Michael Jackson under my belt. I decided the time was right to lay down some roots and I moved into a 16^th century barn that I renovated and treasured. To the outside world all seemed wonderful, but I was always plagued with anxiety and it badly affected my mental health.

“One in four of us will experience issues with our mental health. Gardening really can help. It has been great therapy for me and can help people get back on top of things and restore balance when it feels like life is veering out of control.”

Improving good health and wellbeing is at the heart of the work of Thrive, a national charity with gardens in Reading, London, Birmingham and Gateshead, and the breadth of their work is incredible.

Using gardening to help people in this way is known as social and therapeutic horticulture, and there are many benefits….for example, the chance for people to learn and develop new skills in gardening and growing food. This knowledge leads to an increase in confidence and self-esteem and for some, the chance, like Trevor who features in the BBC appeal, to take a qualification in horticulture.

Gardening can also make you fitter and healthier – Thrive’s Patron Sir Richard Thompson, former President of the Royal College of Physicians, advocates this.  

Thrive works with a wide range of people. People who have injuries from accidents; people with a learning impairment; people with a mental illness; people with a physical impairment such as sight or hearing loss; people with age-related conditions such as dementia, heart problems, diabetes or stroke; young people who have social, emotional or behavioural difficulties and people who have ill health after leaving the armed forces.

Thrive also carries out research in social and therapeutic horticulture and has bought together a lot of evidence to show how gardening brings about great changes. To spread this knowledge, Thrive runs training courses for anyone interested in using horticulture to help themselves, and others, improve health and wellbeing.

Kim, who is Patron of a horticultural social enterprise called Waste Not Want Not, near her home in Hertfordshire, added: “I am so impressed by the work of Thrive and hope you can support this Lifeline Appeal so they can continue to use gardening and horticulture to help vulnerable people feel better and gain valuable life skills.”

Thrive’s BBC Lifeline Appeal also features the stories of Mel Porter and Trevor Burke and will air on Sunday April 19 at 2pm on BBC 1. It will be repeated on Wednesday April 22 at 11.50amon BBC 2.

The programme is available to watch on the BBC website shortly after broadcast on April 19 www.bbc.co.uk/lifeline

Peter Beales Roses and Whartons Nurseries have announced a joint project to promote roses to garden centres.

Whartons MD Robert Wharton has been working closely with Beales for the past seven years to grow a range of Peter Beales-branded classic climbing and shrub roses suitable for high-end garden centre customers.

Seven varieties of each category, all in 4-litre pots, are now available for garden centres to purchase. With every order placed, free branded point of sale material will be included to assist in the promotion of this new range. The roses are available to order for delivery just ahead of this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

With more than 40 appearances already behind them, Peter Beales Roses will be exhibiting again at this year’s show. Many of the roses now available to purchase from Whartons will be used in the display they hope will earn them a 22nd Gold medal.

Ian Limmer, nursery manager at Attleborough-based Peter Beales Roses, said the project would help to get the Peter Beales’ name out to more consumers. “We regularly have customers ask whether our roses are available to purchase in their local garden centres and until now this hasn’t really been something that we have been able to offer. However, with this joint venture, we are hoping to be able to connect with gardeners searching for Peter Beales branded roses and with over 200 garden centres already expressing a keen interest in supplying the range, it confirms demand is already sizable.”

At 150, Hillier have major anniversaries to celebrate in 2015. They are chasing a record 70th consecutive RHS Chelsea Gold Medal; Ricky Dorlay is preparing Hillier’s 4,000 Chelsea trees and shrubs for a 50th year; and Andrew McIndoe is designing the Hillier Exhibit for a 25th year. But on Chelsea Friday, Hillier will notch up an exciting Chelsea First with the inaugural Young Hillier Day.

For one day only and for the first time every, a show manning team of 14 Hillier staff, trainees and apprentices, Writtle College students and RHS Wisley student, Jamie Butterworth, will take over the running of the largest exhibit in the Chelsea Great Pavilion.

From 8am to 8pm on Chelsea Friday, the younger generation will be managing the exhibit, fielding gardening queries from show visitors, maintaining the plant material and sharing information and advice to gardeners.

Three members of the Young Hillier team are Hillier Garden Centres Management trainees, five are Hillier nursery or garden centre employees – including production horticulture apprentice, 16 year-old Lewis Young - five are horticultural students from Writtle College and one is a RHS Wisley Diploma student.

The three Hillier trainees – Zoe Page, Craig Fields and Tam Blake - are the very first intake to the new Hillier Garden Centres programme to develop, train and inspire the company’s future garden centre managers and trainees. The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is so central to the Hillier Legacy that show experience is seen as an essential part of their training.

The Young Hillier team will also form part of the larger Hillier Chelsea Staging team, which will transform the 24m x 24m Monument site from park to a series of interlinking gardens on the theme of ‘Crossing Continents’ over the course of just 10 days.

www.hillier.co.uk

Eighteen UK suppliers of garden and leisure products will be exhibiting their latest products in the British pavilion at the National Hardware Show being held in Las Vegas between May 5-7...

New products will be the themes of most of the British booths with latest innovations such as wild bird feeders, wildflower seeds, garden tools and garden tool trucks, insect traps, bumblebee hives, outdoor electrical connection boxes and pest control products on show. 

The firms form part of a group organised by the Gardenex export federation which has taken a British contingent to the show for the past 19 years. 

The UK garden and leisure industry will also be represented on a British information stand, organised and manned by the Gardenex team, who will be on hand to assist the British exhibitors on site and to provide a free-of-charge UK garden and leisure product sourcing service to overseas buyers. 

The majority of the exhibitors have received cash grants which were secured for the companies by Gardenex under UK Trade & Investment’s Tradeshow Access Programme. 

The British exhibitors are as follows:

ashortwalk (South Hall – Level 1-15067) is exhibiting a range of award-winning, patented products made in the UK from recycled materials for the home and garden.  ashortwalk specialize in recycling problematic waste streams and turning them into new and useful products.  For example, the company is demonstrating how a redundant plant pot can be turned into a bird feeder or house sign.  

Dragonfli (South Hall-Level 1-15063) will be exhibiting its natural gardening range of products including live bumblebee hives, mycorrhiza based bio stimulants and garden insect traps.  New products include live Beepol bumblebee hives for gardeners.  The hives aid pollination and provide the enjoyment of having bees in the garden without the need to be a honeybee keeper.  Also new are eco-friendly insect traps to catch garden pests naturally.  These include a long-life codling moth trap and new eco sticky cardboard traps for the greenhouse.  There is also a new beneficial fungi-based bio stimulant for improved plant health and increased root growth.  It comprises Roots Boost Mycorrhizal fungi and is suitable for many different plant types.

Easy Innovations (South Hall - Level 1-15066) will be showing its award-winning Hedgehog Gutter Brush that is designed to keep gutters and drains clear of leaves, twigs, sticks, birds etc.  The brush is simple to fit and when placed into clean gutters and pathway drains it eliminates problems with blocked rain systems.  Available in standard 4m x 100mm sizes, the brush is suitable for 95 per cent of domestic gutters.  The Hedgehog is also available in diameters from 50mm to 200mm.

G Plants Ltd (South Hall - Level 1-16064) is a major specialist in wildflower seeds.  The company produces retail packages of seeds, flower bulbs and garden products both under the company’s brand name of G Plants but also focuses on the supply of own label to local, regional and national multiple retailers. G Plants currently produce garden products for the UK market, other European countries and North America.  The company also imports garden products, ornaments and outdoor products directly from China and the Far East to the UK, Europe, USA and other markets.

Gardenex (South Hall –Level 1-16066)is the export federation for the British garden and leisure industry.  It has extensive experience of dealing with the North American market, which is rated within the top three export markets for member companies of the Gardenex federation.  Since its formation over 50 years ago, Gardenex has built up close contacts within the North American lawn and garden industry.  Through the services of the federation, UK firms can be helped to expand export sales, and overseas buyers can source thousands of British-made garden, leisure and petcare items.

Greenman Garden Tools (South Hall – Level 1-15067) will be launching the ‘Haws by Greenman’ Garden Tool Range.  The range combines the finest Greenman hand tool designs with the exceptional heritage and quality of Haws Watering Cans.  Trusted by gardeners for countless generations, the traditional design of each tool draws on the pedigree of two of the finest garden tool manufacturers in England.  The beautifully crafted ash handles of the hand tools are tougher and more sustainable than tropical wood, resulting in less vibration than fibreglass or metal.  Longer handles on the digging and cultivating tools are attached in the traditional way to the extra-long lipped sockets with multiple rivets to provide superior strength, and the tool heads are in mirror-polished stainless steel.  

Jamm (Central Hall – 5330)will be displaying its design of doorstop that has a curved top surface.  The doorstop is effective on all floor surfaces, and when positioned under the free end of a door prevents the door from moving in either direction.  The safety features of the doorstop’s design ensure that it prevents life-changing finger injuries caused by slamming doors; it is ideal when carrying out repairs, maintenance or decoration of doors; it allows access for pets; and it is tough and hard wearing.  The doorstop is available in five colours and two sizes.  New for 2015 is The Jumbo doorstop that is designed for the larger gaps that are common in homes with air vent heating.

La Hacienda (South Hall - Level 1-16061) will be showing its ranges of outdoor heating products and pizza cooking ovens that are both traditional and contemporary in design.  Materials used in the manufacture of the ovens include clay, cast iron and/or steel.  La Hacienda is a family business, established for over 25 years, and is now a market leader in Europe.  The company exports to 36 countries, including the USA, New Zealand, Australia and Russia.  A new warehouse in Troy, Ohio has also been opened together with new factories in Europe.  With its own design team, the company is able to design and manufacture bespoke products to suit local markets and individual needs from its factories in Europe, Mexico and Asia.

Haws Watering Cans (South Hall – Level 1-15067) is renowned in the UK and overseas markets for its quality metal and plastic indoor and outdoor watering cans, and is showing its latest products on the booth of its USA distributors, Bosmere Inc.  Items include antique-coloured watering cans in bronze and pewter finishes.  Also showing is a hand painted Union Jack design traditional 4.5 litre can.  Other products on show include items from the Haws’ professional and Slimline range, as well as indoor handmade copper 1 litre cans.  Completing the display are traditional favourites such as the plastic range of deluxe and blow-moulded indoor and outdoor cans.

Lock Alarm (South Hall – Level 2-42049) is launching its new Lock Alarm Padlock at this year’s National Hardware Show. This compact sized padlock with integrated alarm is ideal for securing doors, gates, tool boxes etc. from entry.  Utilising award winning patented technology the Lock Alarm Padlock detects when the shackle is being cut or the lock is being violently attacked, and responds with a 110 decibel siren.  The Lock Alarm Padlock is weatherproof and is designed to be ice spray and anti-drill resistant.

The Nuttery (South Hall -Level 1-15068) will be exhibiting its complete range of contemporary and classic squirrel resistant wild bird feeders.  The company is a pioneer in the design and manufacture of the squirrel-proof bird feeder.  Established in 1989, the company is launching of a new range of products designed specifically for the US market. Made from the highest quality materials, the iconic designs of the eLipse and Hotel are easy to fill and clean and will look stunning in any environment.  The Nuttery is also releasing a new range of thistle feeders.

Oakthrift Corp (South Hall -Level 1-16062) will be showing bird feeders and growing systems.  The squirrel-proof bird feeders combine three variants of feeders to accommodate nyger, mixed seed and peanuts.  The feeders are easy to fill and clean, and have individually sprung loaded ports, which allow each bird to feed in peace without any closing down of the port they are using.  Also on show is the Growbag Tower that is an easy-to-use growing system, specifically for use with grow-bags.  Its three raised shelf tiered system reduces the need for bending and kneeling and allows the user to grow three times the crop on the same amount of floor space.  This makes it ideal for locating on decks, patios and balconies.

Rowlinson Garden Products Ltd (South Hall -Level 1-15069) will be showing items from its range of over 100 products including arbours, canopies and gazebos, cabins, summerhouses, playhouses, mini greenhouses, potting stores, planters, composters, together with garden sheds, storage and log stores.  The NHS has been chosen for the launch of the Garden Tool-Truk, which enables the amateur and professional gardener to have all their tools on hand anywhere in the garden/backyard.  It fits in a normal garden shed or garage and eliminates the need to re-hang tools.  The Truk will accommodate small hand tools and accessories as well as a large waste bag, hedge cutters or chainsaws.  Other features of the Rowlinson booth are a freestanding Latina Sun Canopy with a retractable polyester canopy; a Winchester arbour that is designed in the shape of a boat; a Double Wheelie Bin Store; a Little Lodge wooden playhouse; a Hampton Companion Seat; a Bisley Bird Table; a Patio Planter; and a Wrenbury Metal Arch that would be suitable as an entrance to a garden/backyard.

SOCKiTBOX (South Hall -Level 1-15065) will be adding weatherproof connection boxes to its outdoor electrical connections range.  Evolving from the hugely successful DRiBOX range, the three size boxes provide a safe and secure solution to outdoor electrical connections.  Ranging from small, medium to large sizes, the range provides the perfect size of box for any connection.  The boxes utilize a new locking facility which keeps connections safe from prying hands, together with a cable guide grip to ensure that cables stay securely in place.  The boxes are ideal for use with holiday lighting, lawn and fountains, home and hardware etc.  

Strata Products (South-Level 1-15061) is a leading European manufacturer of decorative plastic planters and garden sundry items.  The company’s exhibits at the NHS comprise a large range of planter designs including imitation wood, metal and stone effect planters.  Strata also offers a wide range of high quality plastic garden sundry, watering and storage items.

STV International Ltd (South Hall -Level 1-16063) will be bringing a host of new pest control products from its innovative range to the USA for the first time.  The family-owned British company is seeking to enter the American market having already achieved export success throughout Europe, Africa, Australia and South America.  The products include an Easy Set Mole Claw Trap, which is a simple self-setting trap with a matt black finish for rust free durability in all weathers.  There is also a Mega-Sonic Solar-Powered Snake Repeller that is suitable for all weathers and safe to use around wildlife, pets and livestock.  The repeller works by emitting vibration pulses through the ground.  Other exhibits are Fresh Baited Mouse Traps with sleeved traps for indoor and outdoor use that are supplied with fresh bait; an Ultra Power Electronic Mouse Trap that kills mice in seconds in a quick, effective and humane way and is safe to use around children and pets; insect-control products from STV’s poison-free brand that include a Snap Shut Door Curtain, a new and improved Honeypot Wasp Trap Bait Refill and a novelty Clap-A-Fly Swat.

VegTrug Ltd (South Hall -Level 1-16067) is the designer and manufacturer of the original, self contained, raised, innovative vegetable planter.  The company is now entering the bird care market with the launch of the Tweetie Pad bird box and the Tweetie Feeder bird table.  Combining all the eco and style positioning of the original iconic VegTrug range, the products come in a choice of natural wood or funky colours ideal for any style of garden.  Each product offers a choice of four shades– natural, red, yellow and white for the Tweetie Feeder and natural, pale pink / grey, orange and lime for the Tweetie Pad. Made from 100% sustainable FSC plantation grown cedar, the products combine fun and style, as well as providing an attractive focal point for encouraging wild birds to share the garden. 

Wildlife World (South Hall -Level 1-16065) has been designing and manufacturing wildlife habitats for over 15 years.  Within this product range is a broad spectrum of wild bird related products as well as habitats for beneficial insects, mammals and pollinating bees.  The company’s latest and newest product, the Urban Range, has been developed to help or attract wildlife.  They have been designed specifically to help people living in either the city environment or in a rural setting.  The Urban bird feeder has already won the European Consumers choice award after only being on the market for three months.

X-Pro Tools (South Hall – Level 2 -46107) is showing its new range of innovative tools that has been designed by X-professionals for the X-tra professional.

Companies wishing to learn more about the range of services offered by Gardenex to British exporters of garden and leisure goods should contact Gardenex (The Federation of Garden and Leisure Manufacturers Ltd), the trade association that works on behalf of British companies to help its members increase sales worldwide - telephone: +44 (0) 44 1959 565995  or  fax:  44 (0) 1959 565885; emai info@gardenex.com  or visit the Gardenex website on www.gardenex.com

Rolawn raised £313.76 for Greenfingers on Garden Re-Leaf Day to help the organisation continue its work in creating inspiring and magical gardens for children in hospices.

Rolawn’s activities saw staff arrive for work dressed in green as well as organising the sale of green cupcakes and launching the Big Rolawn Grow Challenge competition.  This competition sees competitors sowing sunflowers and/or pumpkin seeds and the one that grows the tallest/biggest wins. 

To round things off, the company discounted online orders by 5% on Re-Leaf Day and donated this percentage to the charity.

Rolawn’s Sales and Marketing Director, Jonathan Hill said: “Coming to work dressed as The Riddler was different – I was a bit worried that the car might breakdown en route.

"Everyone at Rolawn threw themselves into the day and we had a terrific time. We are all committed to supporting this inspirational charity and knowing that our efforts have contributed to helping Greenfingers raise money to fund more of the magical gardens it creates is fantastic. 

"Furthermore, the Grow Challenge will keep awareness at the top of the agenda as staff try to outdo each other in their green gardening efforts.”

Squire’s is a family owned group of 15 garden centres based in Surrey, Sussex, Middlesex and Berkshire. We are committed to growing our business and to promoting the highest standards in plant and horticultural retailing.   

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our business as Group Plant Buyer.

The role has responsibility for the ranging, negotiation and promotions of close to £10m plant sales.

The successful candidate will work closely with the Buying Director and the Garden Centre Plant teams to produce an interesting range of the highest quality plants at competitive prices.

The role is based in our Group Office in Farnham, Surrey, with competitive salary and benefits.  Working pattern - 5 days per week, including 2 days per month at weekends.

If you are interested in applying please send your CV in confidence, preferably by 30 April 2015, to Darran Oakley, Buying Director:  darran@squiresgardencentres.co.uk

Horticulture Quality Controller (ref:BP7244)

Location: Northamptonshire
Salary: £Competitive - Dependent on Experience 
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

Our client is a national group of garden centres with a depot based in Northamptonshire is looking to recruit an experienced quality controller with excellent horticultural knowledge. 

The Role :

• To visit nurseries/growers throughout the year to ensure plant specification sheets are being adhered to and planned crops/inputs are delivered are achieving the requisite quality.
• To collaborate with the buying team to ensure visits are planned in line with inputs and promotions.
• To alleviate and ensure that there are no rejections of crops upon arrival at the Hub or at the Garden centres due to quality issues.
• To complete batch checks and spot checks deliveries at the hub to ensure consistent quality.
• To create the right conditions to develop and upgrade the plant quality to surpass all other plant retailers.
• To build and maintain good working relationships with growers and suppliers.
• To build effective working relationships with the distribution and supply chain teams at both the hub and H.O

The Candidate :

• Preferred with a horticultural background or horticultural qualification
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to build and cultivate strong working relationships.
• Time management skills.
• Ability to work on own initiatives and self-motivator.
• Excellent influencing and negotiating skills.
• Works well under pressure.
• Gains insights into problems and uses initiative and creativeness to deliver solutions.

This is a fantastic role for an experienced horticuturalist who is looking for a new opportunity in a large business, applications encouraged as we are looking to interview in the next few weeks.

 Please submit your CV in the first instance, or to discuss further call Brad Peck at MorePeople on 01780 480530

Plantarea Manager (ref:BP7241)

Location: Bedfordshire
Salary: £16k to 18k per annum
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

I am currently seeking a talented horticulturist who is looking for the next step in their career.
The successful candidate will have a real eye for customer service and take huge pride in their work, with a real 'can do' enthusiastic attitude. We are looking for a real leader, someone who is not afraid to get involved and lead by example.

What will you need?

• A practical, hands-on approach
• Natural leadership skills and the ability to motivate and support the development of the whole store team
• The willingness to go the extra mile for our customers
• Excellent people skills
• A high degree of professionalism, especially when handling difficult situations
• A proactive approach to solving problems, and the ability to deal with issues as they arise
• Preferably, previous retail management experience

Main Duties:

• Support the Store Manager, Assistant Manager and team in all aspects of your store's day-to-day operations
• Manage the daily running of your department, enabling everyone to inspire, educate and equip customers.
• Be responsible for managing cash and other daily administrative tasks
• Constantly find ways of improving your department and motivating your staff to achieve agreed company objectives.
• To drive performance maximising commercial potential.
• To promote staff ownership & accountability to create a positive & enjoyable working environment.
• To ensure that your department operates within current Health & Safety legislation.* To contribute to the success of the business as a whole.
• Ensure the store is clean, both on the shop floor and behind the scenes
• To undertake other duties as required

Full time permanent position including alternate weekends and additional weekends during key sales times.

Please submit your CV in the first instance, or to discuss further call Brad Peck at MorePeople on 01780 480530

Account Manager (ref:DS7235)

Location: Wiltshire
Salary: £30k-40 per annum
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

Our client is a well established Garden Centre Supplier who currently seeking a driven sales orientated Account Manager who has the ability to sell to the major garden centre and groups across the UK. 

The SUCCESSFUL Candidate will be responsible for:

• Proactively and reactively managing existing accounts within the Garden Centre Sector 
• Proactively developing new business accounts 
• Provide advice to customers and aid in queries and issues 
• Represent the company at trade shows and exhibitions 

For this role our client is seeking:

• A proven background in territory sales to the garden sector who can demonstrate their ability to hit and exceed targets 
• Be a target driven individual who has the ability to hit sales target and achieve growth within their sector 
• A strong relationship builder who has excellent customer skills and can ensure customer satisfaction

Please submit your CV in the first instance, or to discuss further call Dianne Saunders at MorePeople on 07929 013910

Grower (ref:DS7236)

Location: Norfolk
Salary: £14k to £24k per annum
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

I am looking for an open minded grower who has some seed propagation or plug plant growing experience to join my clients team.

Our Client is a specialist grower based in Norfolk who grow a wide range of herbs, Cress, Pea Shoots, Edible Leaves, Edible Flowers and Micro Veg products, specially selected for their intense flavours, eye catching colours, visual impact and tenderness. Used by chefs around the country including Michelin starred chefs in some of the UK's most famous restaurants.

They are interested in the individuals potential and ability to grow with the role.

They are seeking someone with good horticultural training ideally in commercial production and an interest in working in a fast paced unique business which is set to expand.

 Please submit your CV in the first instance, or to discuss further call Dianne Saunders at MorePeople on 07929013910.

I am currently seeking an experienced Garden Centre Manager to join the team of a well-respected group of garden centres. 

I require a talented retailer to take on the leadership of a newly refurbished site in Hampshire. The opportunity for the site is huge with potential to double the current turnover. 

There is a generous remuneration package with the potential of a vehicle. 

Candidates will ideally have experience within garden centre management previously but good retail site managers with good seasonal experience will also be accepted. 

Ideally this is a position for more of an established candidate but if you currently have experience working as an assistant manager or department manager in a large site you may be suitable.

Please submit your CV in the first instance, or to discuss further please call Brad Peck at MorePeople on 01780 480530 quoting reference #BP7231

I am currently seeking a plant area assistant for an established garden centre in Essex.

Retail experience is preferred but a good people person with a drive to succeed will be considered. 

We are looking for someone with a minimum of an interest in gardening. In depth plant knowledge is preferred but not required.

Please submit your CV in the first instance info@morepeople.co.uk quoting the reference #BP7228 or to discuss further please call Brad Peck at MorePeople on 01780 480530

Will we be seeing more of this during the run-up to the General Election – political party candidates being seen out-and-about at garden centres? Here George Osborne is spotted visiting Wyevale Garden Centres at Syon Park.

The former Chancellor of the Exchequer tweeted: "Lovely Easter morning in garden centre @wyevaleGC discussing #pensionfreedomsday with local residents."

Let us know if a member of a political party visits your centre between now and polling day. Email trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

The sales of solar lighting and decorative garden products have transformed the make up of the GTN Garden Products chart.  

When Easter last fell in the same week – five years ago in 2010 – there was only one lighting product in the Top 50 and that was from Solus. This week there are 11 lighting lines shared between Gardman, Smart Garden and Kaemingk.

Star performers include:

• Gardman Solar Mini Ice Orb continues to be the No 1 bestseller in the chart.
• Smart Solar’s Flutterby Butterfly is the highest chart climber, up 30 places to No 14.
• Kaemingk Solar Stainless Steel Marker lights saw the highest week-on-week increase to re-enter at No 24.

Chris Beardshaw has become an RHS Ambassador, with a special focus on promoting community gardening.

Chris will join Alan Titchmarsh, Mary Berry, Adam Frost, James Wong and Nick Knowles to champion the joy and benefits of gardening and support the UK’s gardening charity, the RHS.

Sue Biggs, RHS Director General, said: “I’m thrilled that Chris is joining us as an RHS Ambassador to support and promote this life-enriching campaign. Chris is one of Britain’s best-known and best-loved gardeners and has long been involved with, and championed, community gardening projects. He is a close friend of Nick Knowles, who also has a keen interest in supporting our community gardening campaigns.

“RHS Britain in Bloom volunteers invest upwards of 10 million hours a year into greening up and cleaning up Britain’s villages, towns and cities. These volunteers create safer, happier environments, where crime is reduced, and transform disused spaces into beautiful places where communities come together and engage with each other.

“It’s critical we celebrate the incredible achievements of Bloom and the volunteers’ hard work, as well as encouraging more people to join in,” said Sue Biggs. “Without Bloom and its army of volunteers our streets would be more littered, our parks less cared for and as many as 5 million fewer plants may not be grown in community plots. We’re delighted with Chris’s support and look forward to working with him more over the coming years.”

Chris Beardshaw said: “I’ve been involved in many community gardening projects over the years and have seen first-hand the incredibly positive impact they can have on people living in the area and involved in gardening. They create friendships in streets where people didn’t even say hello, and make brighter, more beautiful places to live. It’ll be a privilege to celebrate the work of the Bloom volunteers and encourage more people to get involved.”

Chris joined Adam Frost on Friday (10 April) to launch RHS Britain in Bloom 2015 with a special community transformation project, and he has other projects already planned over the year.

Sales of young veg plants have really exploded despite the weather, with garden centre EPOS data supplied for GTN Bestselllers. They outsold seed packs to take the Top 33 chart positions and 46 in total of the Top 50.  

Next week we expect sales to show a further boost as the Suttons grafted veg plants get delivered in.

Star performers include:

• Cucumber F1 takes the No 1 position ahead of five tomato varieties.
• Jalapeno Hot Shakira is the highest new entry at No 28.
• Young courgette plants from Quantil are the highest chart climber, up 32 places to No 7.

After all the early season growing media gains and the prospect of a bumper growing year, the first week of Easter has pulled sales of growing media back to level with last year. 

Five years ago, when Easter fell at the same time, not so good weather also accounted for a week-on-week drop in growing media sales. Let’s hope the warmer weather from Easter Monday onwards gets us back into positive territory.

Star performers this week include:

• Vital Earth Organic Garden Compost is the highest new entry this week.
• Scotts Levington Original Gro-bag is this week’s highest chart climber.
• Westland Organic Veg Growing Compost saw the biggest percentage sales increase.

Thieves have made off with more than £20,000 worth of stock after breaking into a Cwmbran garden centre.

The burglary at the Sunnydale Garden Centre in Croesyceiliog happened between 12:10 and 04:20 BST on Tuesday 31 March.

According to Gwent Police, £23,000 of stock was stolen from the centre, including Yankee Candle products and 20 blue shopping baskets to carry them.

Anyone with information on the break in is asked to contact police on 101.

Valentine Warner, TV chef and author, has been announced as the Keynote Speaker on day two of the HTA Catering Conference 2015, which takes place on 9 and 10 June 2015 at The Belfry, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands.     

Valentine trained as a portrait painter before putting down the brush to pick up the spoon. He worked in London restaurants for eight years under such chefs as Alastair Little and Rose Cararina, before setting up a private catering company Green Pea.

With a strong focus on robust, flavoursome food, Valentine believes that a real understanding of excellent ingredients, producers and the natural history of food contributes as much to the plate as the cooking. A very keen outdoors man, Valentine can often be found seeking new adventures outside the kitchen and, most likely, fishing.

Valentine’s first hit series What to Eat Now (BBC Two) on the best food that Autumn has to offer was closely followed by a second series focusing on Summer. He presented Valentine Warner: Coast to Coast (Good Food), in which he travelled the country fishing and cooking his catch, as well as Ration Book Britain (Yesterday) and Valentine Warner Eats The Sixties (Yesterday).

Valentine has been a chef for Great British Food Revival (BBC Two), Love Your Garden with Alan Titchmarsh (ITV 1), Country Show Cook Off (BBC Two), Perfect… (Good Food) and My Kitchen (Good Food). Recently Valentine presented Valentine Warner Eats Scandinavia (Good Food) and two series called Hook It Cook It and Valentine Warner’s Wild Table: Canada (Fox).

Valentine has written two best-selling books accompanying What to Eat Now. These were followed by The Good Table: Adventures In and Around My Kitchen and his most recent book What to Eat Next, published in 2014. Valentine has written for the Times, the Independent and Countryfile, Delicious, Waitrose Food Illustrated and Olive magazines, to name a few.

As keynote speaker at the conference, Valentine will talk about his background, how food became a major part of his life, how to integrate seasonal foods into menu planning and why the quality of food should really matter to anyone operating or thinking of developing a garden centre catering outlet.

The two day conference, complete with conference dinner and exhibition, and sponsored by Vision Commercial Kitchens, will cover hot topics that impact garden centre catering and will take place in both conference and workshop format. There will be plenty of time for networking, with the conference exhibition providing a great opportunity to meet with catering product suppliers.

Booking for the HTA Catering Conference 2015 is now open, go to www.cateringconference.co.uk

The Royal Horticultural Society has announced the appointment of Robert Brett to the position of curator at RHS Garden Hyde Hall, in Essex.

Robert took up the post on Tuesday 7 April, joining a team of more than 250 staff and volunteers. As curator, Robert is responsible for managing and developing the garden’s plant collections and horticultural displays, and for leading a team of horticulturists, RHS trainees, apprentices and garden volunteers.

Robert trained at the Welsh College of Horticulture and has a Kew Diploma in Horticulture and an MSc in Environment and Development Education from South Bank University. He started his career in landscaping before moving to Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, where he assisted in the managed the orchid collections. He then became supervisor of glasshouses at Cambridge University Botanic Garden, where he also taught adult education programmes, and then moved to The Eden Project, as horticultural curator for temperate collections. Robert joins the RHS from his latest role at The Sainsbury Laboratory in Cambridge where he was responsible for the setup, delivery and management of a comprehensive plant growth facility for the Laboratory.

Robert said: “I’m thrilled to be joining RHS Garden Hyde Hall at such an exciting time in its history. The next few years will see many new developments to the garden, including a new edible garden, a winter garden and a 46 acre perennial meadow. It’s an honour to be able to work with a fantastic team to enable these ambitious projects come to life, ensuring that Hyde Hall remains one of the country’s best loved gardens now and in the future.”

In response to the increasing popularity of the garden, to which visitor numbers have grown by 41% over the past two years, the previous Curator and Head of Site, Ian Le Gros, has taken on the role of dedicated Head of Site with reponsibility for overall site management and key project development.

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

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

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

Access is by subscription only.  For £145.00 per year you and your team can have access to the most 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 Veg-2-Gro Products Bestsellers chart for this week are here

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

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