Speculation over the imminent sale of troubled Solus Garden & Leisure gathered momentum this week. But by the end of play on Friday there still hadn't been an official announcement on whether or not a deal had been done. 

And as the rumours continued throughout the garden industry, Scotts Miracle-Gro, who pulled out of a deal to buy Solus back in April, said they would make a statement on their current position next week, probably on Tuesday.

The administrators acting on behalf of Solus, meanwhile, were sticking to the official line that they were making progress and were hopeful of completing a sale.

It was in February when Solus first released a statement confirming they were in talks with Scotts, "working on a plan that would bring the two businesses together in the UK."

But then on April 2 Scotts announced they were no longer in negotiations to join forces with Solus with managing director Martin Breddy stating: "Our distribution agreement with Solus has expired."

Just over a month later, on May 15, the shock news that Solus had gone into administration was revealed.

Rumours that Scotts were still interested in buying Solus were rife during SOLEX at the NEC this week, and fueled by the appearance of the company's UK marketing director Paula Parker at the outdoor leisure show.

GTN Xtra has learned that the administrators are contacting garden centres asking them to pay outstanding accounts by the end of next week.

As we reach the summer flattening of sales volumes, we must wait to see if the weather or the burgeoning economic confidence has any influence on visits to garden centres.  Sales volumes, year to date, are currently 1.9% up on 2012, up 15.2% on 2013 and now down 1% on 2011.

There was a particularly confident mood at SOLEX this week, suggesting that most centres are continuing to look positively at summer sales.  Most exhibitors reported increased orders for 2015 on furniture and BBQs.

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

• Garden Products – up 29%
• Veg 2 Gro – up 24%
• Growing Media – up 98%
• All items index – up 38%

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

William Sinclair has announced that Hugh Etheridge is stepping down as Chairman and will cease to be a director with immediate effect. Rupert King succeeds him as Chairman.

Hugh Etheridge said “Following the recent settlement at Bolton Fell I have decided that now is a good time to step down. I have enjoyed my 3 years on the Board and I believe that the Company is now in a good position to continue its progress. I wish the team well for the future.”

Peter Rush, Chief Executive Officer said “On behalf of the whole Board I would like to thank Hugh for his contribution to the development of William Sinclair and wish him well for the future. Hugh leaves William Sinclair in a strengthened financial position, well advanced towards full completion of the Company’s state-of-the-art, customer focused, manufacturing site at Ellesmere Port, and positioned to capitalise on these strengths through the next stage of its development.”

Rupert King said “I would like to echo Peter’s comments and thank Hugh for his hard work as he has helped steer William Sinclair, particularly since he became Chairman. I look forward to working with Peter and his management team, as, together, we continue to build a strong future for William Sinclair.”

The survey also found that today 70% of gardeners grow some fruit and vegetables and, of the 30% who don't, nearly 70% would like to. The biggest reason they give that stops them growing food is not having enough space, followed by not enough time. 

Mary Berry is a keen vegetable and fruit grower, so is well aware of the passion people can have when growing their own. RHS Ambassadors champion areas of horticulture they are passionate about, and use their profile and expertise to help the RHS bring that passion to a wider audience. 

Mary says: "I've been a member of the RHS for 30 years, supporting its charitable work and enjoying many visits to its beautiful garden in Wisley, which inspires over one million visitors a year with world-class horticulture. 

"We also have a culinary herb garden, grow fruit and vegetables in our garden and enjoy cooking the produce we've grown. Our latest success was fennel bulbs, which I love. I've yet to perfect celeriac - the results have been rather pathetic! 

"There is great satisfaction with growing your own produce; we grow what we enjoy most and what is not too difficult to achieve success. I think it is important that children know where food comes from and that they should be encouraged to be hands on - the results are so rewarding." 

Guy Barter, RHS Head of Gardening Advice, says: "As one of Britain's best-loved and most well-known cooks, it's truly wonderful that Mary Berry has become an RHS Ambassador. We know that growing food is the number one way people start to get into gardening, so having Mary championing grow your own will be fantastic to encourage new audiences to get gardening. 

"People are less likely to discard food they've grown, and consuming fresh produce close to where it is grown saves transport and packaging, and, of course, food will be fresher. It is also often cheaper, which could benefit families who struggle to meet the rising costs of supermarket food. 

"With more than half of gardeners who don't grow food saying it is lack of space that puts them off, we need to promote further the many ways people can grow fruit, vegetables and herbs in small spaces, from apples in pots and tubs to herbs in windowboxes on windowsills and balconies. 

"However, if you do grow your own, be wary of neighbours tempted by your produce, with one in seven gardeners admitting to helping themselves when it hangs over into their own garden!" 

In her role as an RHS Ambassador, Mary Berry will also be opening the RHS Wisley Flower Show on Tuesday 2 September 2014. 

Mary Berry, a keen gardener, is the doyenne of family cooks, specialising in Aga cookery, cakes and desserts. Mary becomes the fifth RHS Ambassador, joining Alan Titchmarsh, James Wong, Nick Knowles and Adam Frost. 

Greenfingers, the charity dedicated to creating magical gardens at children’s hospices around the UK, has started work on its 44th garden at Little Havens Hospice in Thundersley, Essex.

The charity is creating a fully accessible and interactive ‘Grow Your Own’ garden where seriously ill children and families who are cared for by Little Havens can enjoy growing and harvesting their own food, as well as using the new space for therapy, play and relaxation.

The Grow Your Own garden will transform a currently vacant patch of land into a lush and abundant fruit and vegetable garden where all children can be involved in planting, cultivating and harvesting crops. The garden has been designed and built by Chelmsford based Eden Horticulture, with Matthew Eden working alongside Greenfingers’ Garden Project Manager Emma Hanford.

The garden will feature many stimulating and interactive elements for the children and families to enjoy with the fruit and veg being grown in specially designed fully accessible raised beds.  Children will enter the garden via a beautiful pergola generously donated by Harrod Horticultural and can travel along Cedagravel pathways, alighting on an impressive stone circle, kindly donated by CED, which will serve as a meeting and entertaining area. 

At the centre of the stone circle will be a fun bespoke watering can water feature, which the children can actually use to help water the garden.Raised grassy viewing areas that include an iroko tree seat donated by the Garden Trellis Company under an existing oak tree will border the garden.

Another central feature of the new Grow Your Own garden will be the impressive circus style ‘Big Top’ where outdoor activities can take place, children and families can relax and the hospice’s Care Team can run vital sessions in the beautiful surroundings of 110 acres of Essex Wildlife Trust land.

Emma Hanford, Greenfingers’ Garden Project Manager, said of the garden ‘We are thrilled to have made a start on our 44th garden – this ‘Grow Your Own’ garden at Little Havens will be such an inspiring space for the children to learn and have fun growing fruit and vegetables with their families, the Care Team and the hospice’s volunteers – spending time together and passing down experience through the generations, out in the fresh air. We can’t wait for the children here to get out here!

Once again, the support we’ve received from the industry has been wonderful, we are grateful to everyone who has been involved so far, and would welcome any other interest in this exciting project.’

Greenfingers have already received amazing support from suppliers across the industry to help with the project at Little Havens.  In addition to the major donations from Harrod Horticultural, CED and Garden Trellis Company Greenfingers would like to thank the following for their support on the project so far: David Driver & Sons; Dale Hire; Q Lawns; Scotts; Alton Garden Centre; Perrywood Garden Centre; Gardening Express; VegTrug; Kilgraney Railway Sleepers; Underwoods and LOFA.

The Grow Your Own garden at Little Havens, which is expected to be completed by mid summer, will be the second to be built under the umbrella of the charity’s Rosy Cheeks’ appeal, which aims to raise the funds for at least ten more gardens at children’s hospices around the UK.

To get involved in the garden please contact Greenfingers on 01494 674749 and for latest project updates follow Greenfingers on twitter @Greenfingerscha

Pat Flynn, publisher for the Garden Trade News portfolio, will be standing down at the end of July after 10 years at the helm.

"I have worked to incredible deadlines for the past 25 years in horticulture – 10 here at TGCMC – and I think it’s time to step back and take some ‘me’ time.

"I’m proud of what we’ve achieved with GTN, our awards portfolio and related products.  We are the market leading communication service for the industry and everyone else follows our lead."

Pat will be succeeded by Mandy Atkin, who joined the team two years ago as Advertising Manager on GTN, and brings with her a wealth of experience from the consumer magazine sector.

"Mandy is the perfect choice to spearhead the next phase of the Garden Media portfolio alongside Neil Pope as Editor – I wish her every success. I will still be on hand as a consultant for the team but I don’t think they will need me for long."

Trevor Pfeiffer, Managing Director, said: "We, and I include the whole industry in that, are all extremely grateful for Pat's determination to ensure the UK gardening industry has the best B2B communications and events possible."

"That GTN, GTN Xtra, The Greatest Awards, and our show specific publications are all held in such high regard is down to Pat's professionalism.  We are very pleased Pat will still work with us as a consultant from time to time, so we can be sure her professionalism continues to be passed on to the team as we move forward."

Pictured: Pat Flynn is presented with a bouquet of flowers at The Greatest Awards Summer 2014 from guests Jonathan Hindle and Diarmuid Gavin and fellow presenter Trevor Pfeiffer.

David Domoney, co-presenter of ITV’s flag ship show Love Your Garden, is highly concerned about the ‘disconnect’ between children and nature – largely due to rise and rise of the Internet.

“Where has the simplicity of a garden treehouse for children gone, asks Domoney, where they can climb a tree and connect with nature? A simple tree for kids to climb. A connection with the outdoors”.

At this year’s RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, David Domoney has designed an Avatar-style elevated Treehouse and Woodlands called The Quiet Mark Tree House and Garden by John Lewis.

“We are fighting an uphill battle with the Internet” says Domoney. “And gardening is the loser”.

According to communication regular Ofgem, teenagers today spend  over 32 hours each week either watching television or on the Internet. The time is evenly split between the two activities. That’s an increase of 2 hours per week in terms of online usage year on year.

A RHS survey last year revealed that 70 per cent of 18-year-olds do not think gardening is a career to be proud of.

“The internet and political correctness has cut off our children’s greenfingers”, according to Domoney, who founded Cultivation Street and the Young Gardeners competition in association with Prince Charles.

Political correctness is also the enemy of children connecting with the outdoors and a sense of adventure, according to the TV gardener.

“When schools started banning leap frog and conkers on health & safety grounds 2012 I became highly concerned”.

Ofsted recently reported that unacceptably high levels of British state schools were not making competitive outdoors sport compulsory for youngsters. In fact only 13% of state schools surveyed said they expected all students to take part outdoor sports.

“We need a fundamental shift in the how connect children with the outdoors and not take the easy option of linking them up to smartphone, iPads and videogames consoles to educate and entertain them”, says Domoney.

The trend towards screen-based entertainment is alarming. A recent survey of 1,000 16-24 year olds by the Institute for Advanced Studies at Lancaster University indicates 75% of young people claim they could not live without the internet; 45% of young people said they were happiest online and 86% love new technology.

The RHS, organiser of the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, says gardening is facing a skills crisis because of an ageing workforce and a lack of young people coming through.

Domoney says “Young people spend too much time in front of a screen. It’s highly addictive and unfortunately the virtual world seems more real than the real world for a lot of youngsters. We need to do everything in our power to get youngsters to reconnect with nature”.

David is actually campaigning to encourage parents to engage their children in the wonders of the garden.

Celebrity gardener Frances Tophill visited Macmillan Cancer Support’s Legacy Garden, at this year’s RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, and took the opportunity to encourage seasoned gardeners to share their passion for the outdoors with younger generations.

Frances, co-presenter on ITV’s Love Your Garden, is passionate about inspiring younger people to get hands-on outdoors and she believes there’s no better way than learning from experience.

She explained: “My grandma was one of the biggest influences on my love of gardening. Sadly, she died of stomach cancer when I was eight years old. To this day the smell of pelargonium and tomato foliage takes me back to memories of helping her in her garden.

“My aunt shared my grandma’s passion and when she inherited that garden, she continued to nurture it over the years. Sadly she was also diagnosed with cancer and when she became terminally ill, I was able to help her to keep on top of the work in that same garden I had tended as a child. I am proud to be able to support Macmillan and hope to inspire others to share their gardening legacy with their loved ones - without my family serving as my inspiration, perhaps I would never have realised my passion for gardening.”

While visiting the garden, Frances also unveiled Macmillan’s ‘Living Tree’, a performance choreographed by the director of the Yellow Room Theatre, Jo Harris.

Jo explained: “The performance embodies the idea of strength and stability, using the changing of the seasons as a way of representing the services that Macmillan provides to people affected by cancer.

“The idea of laying down roots, the cyclical nature of the seasons as well as growth and development for the future help to embody the positive nature of a Legacy. The story of cancer is changing and a Legacy to Macmillan can ensure that the future generation of people affected by cancer have a Macmillan team in their corner, should they need one.”

This year’s garden has been designed for the second year running by Becky Govier, winner of last year’s silver award. The legacy of Macmillan Cancer Support founder, Douglas Macmillan is the inspiration for the garden and encourages visitors to consider their own legacy and the difference that gifts in wills can make to the lives of others.

There are currently two million people living with cancer in the UK – a number set to double by 2030. Without the necessary funding, helping people to reclaim their lives from cancer through medical, practical, financial or emotional support, will prove more of a challenge than ever.

Legacy donations, or gifts in wills, make up almost a third of Macmillan’s entire income, playing a vital role in ensuring the charity is able to provide support to people affected by cancer.

Members of the HTA have come out on top at this year’s RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show with many winning medals for their floral displays.

Rose growers were celebrating in the Festival of Roses and Floristry tent as David Austin Roses scooped Gold and Best Rose Exhibit for their showcase of English Roses.  Silver Gilt Flora medals also went to HTA members Bill Le Grice Roses, Fryer’s Roses and Harkness Roses for their arrangements. Peter Beales Roses, Seale Nurseries and Style Roses were also winners taking Silver Flora medals for their displays.

Continuing on from their success from this year’s HTA National Plant Shoe, Blackmoor Nurseries won a Bronze Flora for their array of fruit trees and plants, whilst Franchi Seeds of Italy also took home Bronze for their Italian seed range in the Growing Tastes Awards.

In the Floral Marquee, Cooks Garden Centre won Gold for their display of hardy and tender patio plants whilst Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants were also Gold winners for their summer flowering herbaceous perennials. Desert to Jungle won Silver-Gilt Flora for their hardy exotics, whilst Norfield Nurseries Ltd also took Silver Gilt Flora for their exhibit of Japanese maples.

There were Silver Flora medals for HTA members Burncoose Nurseries, Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants (for their second exhibit) and Hart Canna.

HTA members were also present in the show gardens with Squire’s Garden Centres winning a Silver Flora for ‘A Hampton Garden’ and Coolings Garden Centre won a Bronze Flora for ‘One Hundred Years from Now’.

Winners list in full

Gold

David Austin Roses

Cooks Garden Centre

Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants

Silver-Gilt Flora

Bill Le Grice Roses

Fryer’s Roses

Harkness Roses

Desert to Jungle

Norfield Nurseries Ltd

Silver Flora

Peter Beales Roses

Seale Nurseries

Style Roses

Burncoose Nurseries

Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants

Hart Canna

Bronze Flora

Blackmoor Nurseries

Franchi Seeds of Italy

A garden inspired by Australia,Essence of Australia, has been awarded an RHS Gold Medal as well as the title of Best Show garden at the 2014 RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.

A number of displays from some of the UK's best growers, florists and garden designers, showcasing inspiring plant combinations, diverse themes, innovative concepts and exceptional skills were awarded coveted RHS medals.  

Designed by Jim Fogarty for Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne,Essence of Australiacelebrates the beauty and diversity of the flora and landscapes of Australian states Victoria, and the Northern Territory. Sponsored by Tourism Victoria, Tourism Northern Territory, Qantas and Trailfinders, the garden's design takes inspiration from the Rainbow Serpent, an iconic dreamtime creature from Aboriginal culture that inhabits deep permanent waterholes and controls the presence of water.

Sloth - Quarry of Silencesdesigned by Sheena Seeks was awarded Best Conceptual Garden and an RHS Gold Medal. The garden features a large sand cone at its centre, and over a hundred spades and forks climbing up the side to reach the golden stone at the top, representing the goals we have in the life.

Designed by Jeni Cairns and Sophie Antonelli,A space to Connect & Grow,won Best Summer Garden. Built from recycled industrial materials and designed to improve the local urban environment, the garden brings artists and community together in a space that fosters connection and creativity. At the centre of the garden stands a pavilion with a living roof, full of edible plants.

Garden of Solitude,designed by Alexandra Froggatt, received a Silver Gilt medal and judged as best in the Your Garden Your Budget category. The sunken garden has been designed as a space for relaxation and contemplation, with a sheltered seating area, a reflective pool and a waterfall.

Forty eight growers and nurseries from the Floral Marquee were awarded Gold Medals at the Show. Todds Botanics was awarded the title of Best Exhibit in the Floral Marquee for its display of drought tolerant, unusual herbaceous perennials. McKinlay Gibson were also awarded the Best Professional Floristry Exhibit and Hadlow College were awarded the 2014 RHS Hampton Court Floristy College of the Year.

Alex Denman, RHS Head of Shows Development, said: "RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show once again demonstrates some of the best of horticulture, from specialist nurseries to contemporary designers. With 9 gardens winning Gold medals at the show this year and a diverse range of different garden styles and designs, we have some amazing talent and skill, keeping the Show fresh and reflecting the exceptional standard of creative talent and skill that this show continues to attract."

My client is a large garden retailer who is currently looking for a plant area manager at one of their flagship sites.

 I am looking for a planteria manager with the skills to join the leadership team of one of the UK's top garden centres.

 You must be an excellent man manager and have the necessary retail skills and experience to take on this role.

Plant retail knowledge must be good but specific in depth knowledge is not required.

 This role will suit an individual that has ambition and is looking to progress to a site management role in the future.

I am currently recruiting for a chain retailer based in the garden industry.

I am looking for an ambitious individual to join a hardworking team based on the south coast.

You will preferably have a purchasing background, preferably at at least a buying administrator level and be looking to step up.

Preferably from a fashion background preferably with experience in accessories also.

Could suit a graduate with work experience.

Please call Brad Peck on 01780 480530, or apply with your CV quoting reference #6493 to info@morepeople.co.uk

Our client is a well established young plant supplier who supply the professional growing market with a large variety of plants. They are currently seeing a driven sales orientated individual who has both superb plant knowledge and an aptitude for sales or a professional sales person who has sold into the growing sector.

The SUCCESSFUL Candidate will be responsible for:-

• Managing key grower account
• Developing new business and managing existing accounts
• Provide technical advice to customers
• Represent the company at trade shows and exhibitions

For this role our client is ideally seeking:-

• A proven background in territory sales to the grower sector or an outstanding individual from the growing or retail sectors who has the drive to become a top sales person
• 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 call Dianne Saunders on 07929 013910 or apply with your CV to info@morepeople.co.uk

Scotts Pathclear Gun (1 litre) is the highest re-entry in this week’s GTN Bestsellers Garden Products chart.

Other returning products include: 

• Doff Slug Killer (800g plus 200g free).
• Stewart Flower Pot Saucer 8-inch Terracotta.
• Bayer Baby Bio Orchid Food (175 ml).
• Scotts Miracle Gro Pour & Feed (3 litres).

Meanwhile, Gardman Bamboo Canes 1.2m, pack of 20, is the highest climber.

Scotts Levington Tomorite (1 litre) retains top spot in front of Gardman Ice Orb Solar Light.

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

As summer gets into full flow, it is important to keep weeds at bay and Vitax’s range of weed products will help keep gardens weed free.

Specially designed to kill any unwanted grass, weeds or roots in overgrown garden areas, Vitax’s Weedfree Concentrate contains a high strength formula which eliminates  weeds at the root preventing re-growth.  Applied using a watering can, re-planting can take place immediately. Available in a 1 litre pack, RRP £16.99.

For convenience, Vitax’s Weedfree Concentrate is also available as a trigger spray (Vitax’s Weedfree Ready to Use (RTU) which kills plants such as nettles and dandelions that other weedkillers leave behind.

The RTU spray can be applied directly to the weeded area which makes it easy to remove any unwanted weeds which occur on hard surfaces. Available in a 750ml spray, RRP £4.99.

In addition to the WeedFree range, Vitax’s SBK Brushwood Killer is designed to eradicate and effectively control weeds such as brambles and thistles without harming the surrounding area.  The tough weedkiller can be used all year round and is safe to use on lawned or turfed areas.

Simply mix SBK Brushwood Killer with water before application.  The product is available from good garden centres throughout the UK in four pack sizes including 125ml and 500ml and is also available as a 750ml RTU spray. RRP starts from £5.75. 

For more information about Vitax and its products, visit: www.vitax.co.uk. 

The Secretary of State has supported the Planning Inspector’s recommendation to uphold the planning permission for Rushden Lakes, in Northamptonshire, for 465,000 sq ft of mixed use retail and leisure, including a home and garden centre.

It is hoped that the new site could provide around 2,000 jobs with the facilities attracting three million visitors each year.

Tim Walton, CEO of LXB Retail Properties plc, the company behind the development,  said: "This is excellent news. The planning permission was originally granted by the local authority in October 2012 and has been subject to a thorough review process.

"The Group can now look forward to developing this major retail and leisure destination bringing much needed investment and jobs to East Northamptonshire."

The biggest movers in the GTN Bestsellers Veg-2-Gro chart are seeds with both Suttons and Thompson & Morgan seeing their products return to the Top 50.

• The highest climber, moving up 39 places to No 10, is Suttons Carrot Early Nantes 5.
• Thompson & Morgan Coriander is the highest returning line while the company’s Runner Bean Red Rum  is the highest new entry.
• Other newcomers are Unwins Carrot Early Nantes 2 and Suttons Brussels Sprouts Bedford  Fillbask.

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

Bosmere have announced the appointment of Gurj Kleer as Business Development Manager.

Gurj graduated in Law from Birmingham University and has spent time working in the retail sector with a major High Street fashion retailer. She will be developing relationships with retailers and commercial suppliers who require specialist bespoke products and service. Her appointment follows that of Pippa Bowker who joined Bosmere earlier this year as Marketing Coordinator. 

Bosmere have also appointed two new Sales Agents. Mark Rogers will be covering the Midlands and Matthew Fevin will be responsible for the South West. 

Commenting on the appointments, Steve Millington, Sales Director said: “The changes in the supply chain in 2014 have created many challenges and opportunities. Bosmere is well positioned to meet the needs of the market place in terms of innovation, range, customer service and reliability.

"This year we are celebrating 35 years in the garden industry and these new appointments will further strengthen our sales and marketing operation”. 

Bosmere will be introducing their new products for 2015 at Gafa Cologne and Glee including the new SimplyCover range of furniture covers which received an enthusiastic response at Solex 2014. 

Arthur Bowers have two Top Soil products in the GTN Bestsellers Growing Media chart Top 10, with their 25-litre bag being the highest climber.

• Arthur Bowers also have the highest re-entry with their Landscape Bark (100 litres).
• Their Mini Bark Chips (100 litres) have also returned to the chart after a doubling of sales.
• GEM Cambark Chunky Chip Bark (70 litres) has also seen a 50% increase in sales.

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

Members of the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) are celebrating their success once again at this year’s RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.

The APL’s success at Hampton Court continued with am impressive accolade of Best in Show, Best in Category,  two Gold medals, four Silver Gilt medals and three Silver Flora medals, taking their tally to a 26 medals in the past three years of the show.

Landform Consultants, headed by APL chairman Mark Gregory won Best in Show and Gold for their build of the ‘Essence of Australia’ garden which was designed by Jim Fogarty for the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.  Landform also scooped Gold for ‘Eruption of Unhealed Anger’which was designed by Nilufer Danis.

The Your Garden, Your Budget gardens, all built by APL members proved to be popular with the judges yet again.  Landform continued their medal run by winning Gold and Best in Category with ‘Garden of Solitude’, designed by Alexandra Frogatt and built on a budget of £15,000. 

In the same category, Chew Valley Trees won Silver Gilt for ‘Green is the Colour’, designed by Elinor Scarth and Etienne Haller on a budget of £7,000. Hambrooks also won a Silver Gilt for their garden ‘Halo’which was designed by Stuart Charles Towner on a budget of £13,000.  RDC Landscape Design and Construction completed the Your Garden, Your Budget medals with a Silver Flora for the ‘Bacchus Garden’ which was designed by Jean Wardrop on a budget of £10,000.

There was good news for Living Landscapes who won a Silver Gilt for the ‘Al Fresco’ garden which was designed by Peter Reader.  Scotscape won Silver Gilt for Jordans Wildlife Garden which was designed by Selina Botham, whilst Big Fish Landscapes added to the their medal tally by winning a Silver Flora for the Macmillan Legacy Garden.

Garden House Design were also highly recommended after winning a Four Star Trade Stand Award which featured a Renson Camargue Louvered Terrace Cover, a Jamie Oliver Wood Fired Oven as well as composite decking and an impressive selection of planters.

APL Chairman, Mark Gregory said: “This once again demonstrates the landscaping excellence from the APL and its members. Every year the APL showcases the very best in garden design, landscaping and plant production and I would like to congratulate all on their success at Hampton Court. It is always an honour to receive accolades for your work, but it is particularly satisfying to receive them at this level.”

Full list of winners:

Al Fresco – SILVER GILT

Designed by Peter Reader (Peter Reader Landscapes)

Built by Living Landscapes

Bacchus Garden  (Your Garden, Your Budget) – SILVER FLORA

Designed by Jean Wardrop (Wardrop Designs)

Built by Ricky Cole (RDC Landscape Design & Construction)

Eruption of Unhealed Anger  - GOLD

Designed by Nilufer Danis

Built by Landform Consultants Ltd

Essence of Australia – GOLD and Best in Show

Designed by Jim Fogarty for Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

Built by Landform Consultants Ltd

Garden of Solitude (Your Garden, Your Budget) – SILVER GILT AND BEST IN CATEGORY

Designed by Alexandra Froggatt

Built by Landform Consultants

Green is the colour (Your Garden, Your Budget) – SILVER GILT

Designed by Elinor Scarth & Etienne Haller

Built by Chew Valley Trees

Halo – (Your Garden, Your Budget) – SILVER GILT

Designed by Stuart Charles Towner

Built by Hambrooks

Jordans Wildlife Garden – SILVER FLORA

Designed by Selina Botham

Built by Scotscape

Macmillan Legacy Garden – SILVER FLORA

Designed by Rebecca Govier (Green Edge Garden Design)

Built by Big Fish Landscapes

Garden House Design – 4 Star Tradestand Award

A bunch of 10 sweet pea stems were valued at £50 each in a national competition held at Capel Manor College, Enfield, north London on Saturday...  

Keith Thompson of Guilden Morden, Hertfordshire, secured the £500 first prize in Mr Fothergill's national sweet pea competition, which attracted entries from as far afield as Ross-shire, Co Tyrone and Cornwall.

The winner originally grew sweet peas as a schoolboy, presenting his mother with the first bunch he ever cut.  He took up the hobby again 15 years ago. 

This year he has grown 18 varieties in his garden, where he nets the plants to protect against pollen beetles. He pinches off the tendrils and side shoots to encourage large blooms and long stems.  Keith lists Mr Fothergill's Gwendoline and Alan Titchmarsh as his two favourite varieties.   

He puts his success down to the incorporation of plenty of farmyard manure into his soil and the addition of blood, fish and bone fertiliser just prior to setting out his young plants, after which he waters them regularly, but does not feed them again.

While Keith won the class for entries submitted in person on the day, there was also a £500 first prize for the best postal entry, which was won by Margaret Smith of Burton on Trent, Staffordshire.  Mr Fothergill's Pim Dickson, who devised the postal method using a two-litre plastic soft drinks bottle to ensure safe transit of blooms, said he was really pleased at the good condition in which they all arrived.  "Not one of the 34 postal entries was damaged," he commented.

There were similar on-the-day and postal categories for schools, which were won by Priory Junior School, Bicknacre, Chelmsford and All Saints Primary School, Youlgrave, Derbyshire respectively.  Each received a first prize of £500.

The judges for the competition were John Fothergill of Mr Fothergill's, gardening writer Peter Seabrook MBEand Stephen Dowbiggin OBE, principal of Capel Manor College.  Entries were judged on their overall appeal.

G7Swan have the largest share of the garden centre EPoS market in the UK and have consolidated this position by securing their 10th new garden centre since January.

These new customers range from a single till, single back office cloud based solution up to a 16 till garden centre with a table service restaurant.

Chris Marsden-Jones G7Swan Business Development Manager said: “this success is based on the back office application which provides an extensive range of functionality from EPoS to CRM to financial accounts. It is easy to use no matter what level of administration capability within the garden centre and can be deployed either as a cloud based solution or on a local server.”

Here's what a couple of garden centres had to say...

“G7Swan is well established within the garden centre industry, giving them an edge over their competitors with features, stability and support. We felt that this is a company and product that we could trust long term and is vital to making our retail venture a success.” Warren, Welland Vale

“We chose to implement the G7Swan hosted system as we view it as being the most flexible and easy to administer solution for our requirements. We look forward to working with G7Swan as we expand our group of Garden Centres.” Tony - Home & Garden

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

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

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

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

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

Highlights of the GTN 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.