Planters have bought Brookfields Garden Centre, Nottinghams Premier Independent Garden Centre, to grow their business to 4 garden centres across the Midlands plus 4 high street Every Occasion Card Shops.

Company Director, Gerald Ingram told GTN Xtra: "The negotiations have taken over a year but we got there today. The Clower family have owned and run the centre for over 60 years. They have taken the centre forwards with a great restaurant, Arthurs, a wonderful pet and Aquatic centre, great gifts and some fantastic plant care.

"One of the big attractions of the centre was the management team who will be staying in place to take the centre forward under our ownership. We plan on keeping the Brookfields name although eventually branding it Planters Brookfields.

"We eventually hope to develop a covered plant area as we have at Bretby and Tamworth, increase the covered heated area and expand the restaurant including separate Coffee shop.  Our plan is to increase the turnover by 50% in a relatively short time span and get Brookfields into the Top 20 GCA audit results.

"Its great news that the centre remains an independent and we have the opportunity to build on its previous successes."

Planters existing garden centres are: Planters Tamworth, Planters Bretby, Garden King at Swadlincote, Derbyshire.

To kick off the spring 2023 gardening season, Tesco has announced it will be the first supermarket retailer in the UK to sell all of its British-grown bedding plants in peat-free compost.

This joins its move earlier this year to retail only peat-free bags of growing media. Together these two initiatives have enabled Tesco to reduced its peat use by nearly 9,000 cubic metres and its carbon footprint by more than 1,200 tonnes of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent emissions) a year – a reduction of 75%.

Tesco sells around 40 million plants annually and its selection of bedding plants is grown by Bridge Farm Horticulture in Spalding, Lincolnshire. Alex Edwards,

Tesco Horticulture Category Buying Manager said: “Going peat free on our British-grown bedding plants is right for our customers - we've listened to their feedback and have worked hard to prove we can deliver the same great quality, but now being better for our planet. Looking ahead, we hope this approach can be adopted on a wider-scale – it’s our aim to deliver this across a broader range of plants.”

Last year Tesco’s bedding plants were around 95% peat free because a viable alternative hadn’t been found for young plant propagation. After a year of trials with growing media containing wood fibre and natural by-products, and the problem has been solved.

Louise Motala, Bridge Farm Horticulture Managing Director said: “We felt as strongly as Tesco that it was an important step to remove all peat from our compost formulations. To enable us to do so we have started propagating the majority of our seed and cutting young plants ourselves. This investment in our facility and capabilities has not only helped us to deliver on this commitment, it has also given us greater flexibility and control of the whole supply chain.” 

The 2023 GIMA Gala Awards dinner (19th October, Celtic Manor) may yet be seven months away but suppliers who want to be in the running to win one of the highly coveted awards need to start thinking about their 2023 entries.

The deadline for all GIMA Award product and marketing awards has been confirmed for June 2nd. Entry stipulation for these awards states that all entries must have been launched during the period June 2022 to May 2023.  It has also been confirmed that this year’s judging day will take place on July 11th and 12th. Once again, these days of deliberation will take place at Warwick Racecourse, with the judging panel set to be confirmed shortly. 

Last year’s winners included Westland, Primeur, The Garden Village, Treadstone Products, Willsow, Wildlife World, Smart Garden Products and The Solar Centre. With 10 product awards, three marketing awards plus the coveted Gardenex-sponsored ‘Export Achievement’ award, the GCA-sponsored ‘Supplier of the Year’ award and the award-of-awards ‘Sword of Excellence’ up for grabs, there’s never been a better time to start your 2023 entry.

Don’t miss out!

This year, the GIMA Awards will be sponsored by a wealth of fantastic industry brands, including Glee which returns, once again, as headline sponsor, as well as the HTA, GCA, Gardenex, Garden Trade News, Gardenforum, Horticulture Week, Decco, CM Ventures, and Hornby Whitefoot PR. Sponsorship opportunities are also available - please contact GIMA to find out more.

To enter the 2023 GIMA Awards or to book your place at what is set to be a night to remember please visit www.gima.org.uk

The founders of BDP Imports Holdings Ltd (T/A Bramblecrest) have announced a recent development of the business’ ownership.

The founders will retain a minority interest with the majority of shares being held by a newly established Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). The sale completed on March 3rd, 2023.

An EOT is a trust which acquires and holds a controlling interest in a company for the benefit of its employees, giving the effect of employee ownership, without directly owning or buying shares.

Bramblecrest was founded in 2000 and the Founders want to ensure that the business not only retains the values that have made the company successful but also continues to provide opportunities for its employees. For the past 23 years, the business has benefited from prudent and considered planning. The founders believe that an EOT structure is the best way to secure the long-term success of the business for its 58 employees. The founders will maintain a minority shareholding within the business and are planning to remain active directors as the business transitions to Employee Ownership.

This exciting move to employee ownership allows the business to remain independent, resilient, and sustainably financed enabling it to continue to supply its loyal customer base with high quality products and customer service. It is a long-term arrangement which means that the founders maintain a serious commitment to the business for the foreseeable future.

By giving the staff this reassurance and by placing the employees at the heart of the business, the founders sincerely hope and expect that the new structure will create fresh opportunities and a new energy. The Bramblecrest founders added: “We are working to ensure that the growth and success we have benefitted from to date, is the foundation for further expansion in the years to come. It’s therefore business as usual as we focus on continuing to do what we do well”.

Melcourt’s SylvaGrow Multi-Purpose 100% peat-free compost was recognised as a top performer and a Which? Best Buy in February, earning it the right to use the prestigious endorsement.

Only products receiving a Which? Best Buy can use the logo – it can’t be bought. The Best Buy shows that properly formulated peat-free products work successfully for many crop types.

Andy Chalmers said, “It will be challenging to quantify the benefits derived from the Which? endorsement, but in a typical garden centre compost environment, the widely recognised and respected logo should help customers make the right choice. In a market with no formal product quality standards, SylvaGrow Multi-Purpose’s achievement is a testament to the diligent R&D work carried out over many years and our excellent production team.”

"For production reasons, the logo won’t appear on the SylvaGrow Multi-Purpose bags, but we can offer stockists a selection of practical point-of-sale items."

Contact Andy Chalmers, for more information.

Telephone: 01666 502711, or email: andy@melcourt.co.uk

Leading buying group Associated Independent Stores (AIS) has revealed the calendar for its industry-favourite INDX Furniture and Home trade shows.

Following a successful Q1 in 2023, AIS has made the decision to retain the same running order for the Q1 2024 shows, with the year set to open with INDX Furniture on 19-22 January at AIS’ dedicated exhibition venue, Cranmore Park, in Solihull.

INDX Homewares will follow on 20-21 February, while the specialist INDX Bed & Bedroom will take place on 23-24 April.

The full calendar for INDX 2024 is below:

January

• INDX Furniture, 19-22 January

February

• INDX Homewares, 20-21 February

March

• Toys Autumn/Winter 2024 Imports, 12-13 March

April

• INDX Bed & Bedroom, 23-24 April

June

• INDX Furniture, 18-20 June

August

• INDX Bed & Bedroom, 28-29 August

September

• INDX Homewares, 10-11 September
• Toys Spring/Summer 2025 Imports, 11 September

Emma Rackley, Director of Home and Furniture at AIS, said: “We have taken exhibitor, visitor and member feedback into account in the curation of our 2024 show calendar. In 2023, we made the decision to schedule our shows in relation to industry buying cycles so that they are best placed to serve the needs of both ends of the buying relationship. Overall, the response to this has been extremely positive, so we have made the decision to carry this running order over into 2024. We look forward to welcoming our varied customer base back to Cranmore Park for another successful year of trading.”

AIS has already hosted seven exhibitions so far in 2023, with a number of exhibitors weighing in with positive feedback.

Greg Bachelor, Sales Director at TCH, said: “We’ve been attending INDX Furniture since the very first show 10 years ago, and it’s amazing to see how it has adapted over this time to keep in line with industry demand. Throughout this time though, the low-pressure environment has been a constant mainstay, meaning we can focus on letting our products do the talking.”

George Mann, National Sales Manager at Le Creuset, added: “It’s no exaggeration when I say that this (INDX Homewares) has been a fantastic show for our business. We had our first customers on the stand for 8:30am on the Tuesday morning and by 8:50am the first orders were secured.

“I believe, more so than ever, that it’s incredibly important to connect face to face with business owners and buyers during this challenging climate. The lovely personal environment INDX offers allows us to spend time with our customers to learn about their challenges and ensure we are tailoring our support to their individual needs, and of course sharing our newness of the season to secure deals with both existing and new customers.”

Graham Carberry, National Contracts Sales Manager at Sealy UK, concluded: “I think the planning and organisation before and during the AIS show is second to none and the facilities provided are the best in the industry. Sealy UK is proud to attend these events and to be part of the AIS family, thank you for making us so welcome. All of the customers that came really wanted to do business, and the new restaurant really deserves a mention.”

Few hobbies provide the joy and satisfaction that comes naturally with gardening, but every time a new season gets under way, the promise of a manicured garden can be cruelly interrupted by a wave of plant pests and diseases wreaking havoc.

From the annual onslaught of leaf-munching slugs and snails to novel diseases that are tightening their hold as global trade of plants, trees and shrubs accelerates, gardens across Europe are under attack like never before.

The good news is that there is a plant that thrives in the face of adversity; a plant that is the gardening world’s equivalent of a lifelong best friend. This horticultural wonder is the pelargonium, and it’s little wonder that its reputation as being virtually indestructible is growing by the day.

The perfect plant for beginners

Before we dig deeper to explore why these summer bedding stalwarts are the first choice for beating summer pest and disease invasions, it’s important to look at why pelargoniums are playing an increasingly vital role in gardening.

The Covid-19 pandemic saw households worldwide confined to their homes in 2020, with outdoor spaces increasingly regarded as a precious refuge during this time of crisis. Millions of people took up gardening as the growing of plants was hailed as critical for wellbeing and mental health.

Not only are pelargoniums the definition of simplicity to grow, especially for beginners, but they offer a long season of flowers and foliage interest, blooming profusely throughout summer and into autumn – whether grown on a balcony, in a window box, hanging basket, container or in traditional garden bedding displays.

There is a huge choice of types available, from zonals that form the backbone of summer bedding, to trailing ivy-leaved types that set hanging baskets ablaze, and statuesque regals with their showy, ruffled flowers – and that’s just a snapshot of the range on offer. Plus, they’re brilliant value for money; news that will be music to gardeners’ ears with household finances under pressure during the pandemic.

But what makes pelargoniums the first choice for gardeners is their remarkable ability to shrug off the worst that nature can throw at them. Flick through the pages of gardening magazines and you’ll discover that gardens are under attack like never before.

Disease resistant and drought tolerant

One of the best-loved summer bedding plants, Busy Lizzies (Impatiens walleriana types), fell from grace over the last decade due to their susceptibility to impatiens downy mildew, which wiped out growers’ stocks and gardeners’ plant displays in 2011. Upright and trailing pelargoniums quickly stepped in to plug the gap.

Serious outbreaks of Xylella fastidiosa on mainland Europe have posed a major threat to some cherished staples of exotic-style planting since 2013, decimating olives, lavender and hebe. But pelargoniums, also an essential ingredient of Mediterranean-influenced and exotic gardens, are unaffected by this killer disease, which is spread between plants by sap-sucking insects.

With so many emerging threats, it’s no wonder that gardeners are increasingly seeking plants that are less susceptible to this tsunami of diseases – especially at a time of heightened environmental awareness which is seeing households becoming more reluctant than ever before to resort to using chemical plant protection products.

Pelargoniums are the hassle-free choice for gardeners

So, what makes pelargoniums the perfect choice for gardeners who want a hassle-free summer of nonstop flowers – apart from the fact that they haven’t succumbed to the invasion of new pests and diseases over recent years?

First and foremost, they’re one of the few summer bedding stars that are largely left untouched by slugs and snails. Gardeners may indeed find molluscs hiding beneath pelargoniums’ bushy foliage, but their stout stems and thick, fleshy leaves are unpalatable to these plant-wreckers, which will head off to track down and devour the soft, fleshy young growth of other flowers and veg.

Slug populations are predicted to rise, too, as winters become wetter and milder due to climate change, allowing pests to survive the colder months, while a reduction in traditional chemical-based slug controls could also result in populations heading skywards. For plots that are over run with hungry slugs and snails, pelargoniums are the answer to gardeners’ prayers.

It’s also easy to reduce the risk of two problems – rust and grey mould – that can affect pelargoniums during damp conditions. Outbreaks are most likely to strike where plants are crammed in too tight and grown in poorly ventilated situations, so cut the risk by ensuring adequate spacing between plants (about 20cm should do) and remove any brown or mouldy leaves at the first hint of trouble. 

Healthy pelargoniums aren’t the first port of call for aphids, but if sap-sucking insects should strike, they can easily be controlled with an application or two of a general-purpose organic bug killer.

What about vine weevil? Gardeners are all too aware of the damage that these insects can inflict, with adults feeding on foliage and leaving characteristic notching around leaf edges, while grubs devour plant roots. In gardens where vine weevil is a known problem, it’s advisable to grow pelargoniums in pots,
window boxes or containers, filled with fresh multi-purpose compost at the start of the season.

By using a quality compost, gardeners can be assured that vine weevil larvae are not present in the compost at the start of the season – and as plants have to be overwintered in a frost-free environment indoors, their rootballs can be checked for signs of trouble when plants are lifted and potted up to bring under cover ahead of chilly autumn nights.

To sum up, pelargoniums aren’t simply unbeatable for flower power and resistance to all manner of garden nasties, but they’ll reward gardeners with wonderful flower-packed clusters, fascinating and sometimes scented foliage, season-long blooms and unrivalled ability to create a Mediterranean
atmosphere in any garden setting. Make sure that pelargoniums are at the top of your garden shopping list this spring!

www.pelargoniumforeurope.com

The Horticultural Trades Association and its members have long-awaited the publication of the Government’s draft Target Operating Model (TOM) describing our future border.

The plans are intended to enable the horticultural sector to trade internationally and thrive while safeguarding biosecurity and plant health. HTA fully supports this ambition, with over 95% of our businesses importing some sort of plant product and long-standing global trading relationships.

The TOM published today lacks the concrete proposals that can give the sector confidence that will alleviate trade challenges and risks, particularly from the EU trade through ports on the east coast of Great Britain. HTA will continue to engage, including in the forthcoming six-week consultation period, to ensure sector needs are represented.

The sector has supported the development of a workable system of plant health checks at the ‘Place of Destination’, which has been adopted and running since January 2021. Despite this, the Government still intends to move plant health checks to Border Control Posts (BCPs) by January 2024. We call on the Government to ensure that these inspections work practically and cost-effectively to avoid imposing unnecessary bureaucracy and costs on our industry. We need certainty that commercial ports can handle plants and trees.

HTA welcomes the option of a proposed Authorised Operator Status (AOS) model with the potential to allow authorised and trusted businesses to inspect their own plant imports. However, barriers to access for horticultural businesses remain, and the AOS model will not be adopted widely. Pilots need to happen before BCPs are introduced, but with the tight timeframe, it is unlikely any business will achieve AOS status before BCPs are introduced. 

We support £28.8bn in GDP as a sector and 764,00 jobs, and despite our weighty economic footprint, the majority of our industry is smaller businesses. Any change, extra administrative burdens, bureaucracy, and product handling risks impact these businesses hard. Helping reduce costs and burdens should be integral to a plan. Prioritising delivery of the IPAFFS IT system and e-Phyto for our sector to increase ease and efficiency is long sought and delayed. We also seek to understand if the proposed Common User Charge announced in the TOM at the Government-owned Inland Border facility in Sevington, Kent, will be adopted GB-wide.

Jennifer Pheasey, Director of Public Affairs at the HTA, said, “This draft version of the TOM is long-awaited, and we still need certainty and a full picture of what the future of the borders will mean for UK horticulture. Our priority is to deliver the seamless, swift and secure movement of plants and plant products. We will fully engage in the feedback period and urge the government to prioritise the needs of our sector, the first sector to experience checks following the UK leaving EU membership. We also need to ensure the TOM aligns with other legislation, such as the Windsor Framework, and enables the horticultural sector to flourish and deliver on our ambitions for growth.”

The UK’s leading marketplaces for wholesale home, gift and fashion, Spring & Autumn Fair have announced a dedicated Community Development team, headed up by Community Development Director Laura Rae, focused on developing relationships with buyers to improve their buying experience.

With the launch of its game-changing new meetings programme Connect @ Autumn Fair together with the Community Development team, the show which takes place on 3rd – 6th September at NEC Birmingham, is offering the best opportunity for buyers to find the right products and brands that their customers will love.

Laura Rae, Community Development Director says, "We're thrilled to be part of the vibrant and dynamic retail sector, and to have the opportunity to enhance the visitor experience at the upcoming Autumn and Spring Fairs. Our team is committed to innovation and development, with a goal of making it easier than ever for visitors to meet their buying needs and strengthen their relationship with the show.”

Meet the Team

Laura Rae, Community Development Director

Laura is a project management professional with more than a decade of experience in the events industry. She has held responsibility within diverse organisations such as Deep Tech Jobs, Clarion Events & the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew cultivating dynamic and engaged communities for portfolios of events in healthcare, technology, conservation and finance. Laura holds a BSc in Medical Neuroscience and is a qualified Prince2 Practitioner.

Magda Musial, Community Development Manager

Magda has worked in global events for the last 10 years, in both marketing and operations roles where she has held responsibility for managing the experiences of many different stakeholders and customers both pre-event and onsite.

Amanda Kendall, Community Development Manager

Amanda is a community management & engagement professional with more than a decade of experience in the events industry. She has worked in community management in several industries such as healthcare, technology, supply chain & logistics and more. Amanda has worked in several roles within the events industry such as sales, operations and community management. She holds a BA (Hons) in Business Management.

Connect @ Autumn Fair is the new meetings programme at Autumn Fair, designed to help buyers find the right products and brands their customers will love, and for exhibitors to create leads, orders and opportunities in an incredibly efficient and effective way.

Offering a new way to shop the show, for the first time in Autumn Fair’s history, buyers will have access to detailed information on all 600+ exhibitors before the show opens with the ability to search and filter them by criteria that is most important to their business. This includes searching by product type, sustainability accreditation, minimum order value, carriage paid, and much more.

Making valuable connections with exhibitors has never been so simple. Buyers can request as many 15-minute meetings with exhibitors as they like, and exhibitors can request meetings with buyers too. These meetings are double opt-in, so they are only arranged if both parties are mutually interested and have availability.

All meetings take place on the exhibitor stands so buyers can see and feel all the products and, with valuable time saved, buyers have more time to shop the show for unexpected new product finds, trends, and inspiration.

It’s never been easier to find your next best-seller. Connect @ Autumn Fair is completely free for buyers to use and there is no minimum meeting requirement. Click here to find out the next steps or email connect@autumnfair.com with your questions - the community development team are happy to help.

Directors at a Yorkshire garden centre group have invited a local MP to open their new garden centre later this month. Morley and Outwood MP Andrea Jenkyns will cut the ribbon to celebrate the official opening of Tingley Garden Centre, one of four owned by Yorkshire Garden Centres, at 12 pm on 22nd April.

Yorkshire Garden Centres MD Mark Farnsworth is looking forward to showing Ms Jenkyns around the new centre: "Although we opened the doors at the end of September, it was always our intention to formally open the centre in the spring and celebrate the gardening season.  We are delighted that Andrea has taken time out of her busy schedule to come and cut the ribbon for us.

"To celebrate the official opening, we are giving all customers a pack of vouchers which they can redeem throughout May and June.  We have also put together a range of exclusive offers for the whole of the official opening weekend, so all our visitors have the opportunity to join in the celebrations."

Ms Jenkyns and invited local ward councillors will enjoy a tour of the centre and refreshments in the Garden Room Restaurant after the ribbon has been cut.

Tingley Garden Centre employs over 250 people and is home to a 1000m2 plant canopy, a 300-seater Blooms Kitchen, Grass Hoppers indoor and outdoor play, Mission Out Epic Adventure, Hearty's Food Hall and a botanically themed restaurant, The Garden Room, that serves lunch and Afternoon Teas for 140 guests.

The Yorkshire Garden Centres family comprises Tong, Tingley, Otley and Bingley Garden Centres.

Last month The Old Railway Line Garden Centre, located in Three Cocks between Brecon and Hay-on-Wye, donated a range of plants, seeds, seed potatoes and compost to the five local cluster primary schools.

Operations Director, Katie Eckley said “We are passionate about inspiring the next generation of gardeners. We love to collaborate with local schools and help with projects whenever possible.

“Each school received £100 worth of gardening goodies which will set them up for growing success this season. Matthew and Mike had an enjoyable morning out in the van delivering the goods and meeting the children at each school.”

Retail and Events Manager, Matthew Lewis added “It was great fun delivering a bundle of plants and gardening materials to our local primary schools. All the pupils were so excited about the opportunity to grow their own plants and vegetables at school. Gardening is a great activity to get children outdoors, to enjoy the fresh air whilst learning about growing plants and where their food comes from.”

For more information about the Old Railway Line Garden Centre contact the Old Railway Line directly by calling 01497 847055 or visiting their website www.oldrailwaylinegc.co.uk.

The new Fortis range of cylinder lawnmowers from Cobra delivers advanced lawn mower technology to bring a convenient lawncare solution with incredible cutting precision.

The range combines eight machines in one to give the ultimate package for creating picture perfect lawns, and are the first powered cylinder mowers to be launched by Cobra.

There are four mowers in the Fortis range. Starting with a compact 14” model that is powered by a Loncin petrol engine, and then the 17”, 20” and 25” all featuring Briggs & Stratton engines for extra power for larger lawns. They are all self-propelled and have a three-way drive facility, allowing the blades to be disengaged without having to stop the engine.

Fortis mowers all feature a six-blade precision ground cutting cylinder to give the finest, most precise cut possible. The height of cut can easily be adjusted too with variants as low as 6mm and ranging up to 30mm. The finishing touch to the perfect cut comes from the steel front roller giving an enhanced definition to the iconic lawn stripes.

Convenience and comfort have also been considered as the mowers have foam cushioned handles that fold down for easy transportation and compact storage. 

What makes the Fortis machines the ultimate in lawncare however, is their ability to transform into seven other machines to ensure that lawns are immaculate and healthy. The Fortis six-bladed cassette can simply be removed and replaced with another accessory cassette in the range to switch its use. 

Other cartridges include:

• Verticutter – lightly removes thatch build up with light, fine blades without penetrating the soil and by cutting vertically to increase turf density
• Scarifier – more aggressive than the verticutter and can easy remove debris and dense thatch by penetrating the soil to encourages new growth
• Dethatcher - will remove the densest layers of thatch and will collect twice as much material as the verticut cartridge. Its thick, wide spaced tines will penetrate the soil up to 6mm deep
• Aerator – brakes up soil compaction as its blades slit the ground to allow extra air, moisture and nutrients to reach the grass roots. Ultimately, creating a healthier, thicker and more luscious lawn
• Turf rake – powerful blades both lift thatch and thinly slice soil surface to ensure maximum water, air and nutrients can flow to the roots
• Lawn brush – features rotating brushes that easily collects light debris such as fallen leaves, twigs, grass clippings or litter and places it in the collection box. It can also be used to remove dew and light rain from the lawn to prevent fungal diseases
• 10-blade cassette – gives an even closer finish worthy of croquet, tennis lawns and bowling greens!

It’s not just the convenience of the cartridges that makes the Fortis range so special, the cutting ability is superb and incredible precise.  

The cylinder mowers’ blades spiral around the cartridge, as such they cut with a scissor action, slicing instead of chopping like a rotary mower. This is better for the grass, as it has less impact and causes less trauma which in turn leads to healthier grass. The clean cut from a cylinder mower is less damaging for the plant and also helps prevent against diseases forming. Not only does this create healthy lawns, but it also gives crisply defined lines for a perfectly striped finish.

For further information about Cobra, please visit www.cobragarden.co.uk.

The Royal Horticultural Society will kick off National Gardening Week 2023 on 1 May, for a week of gardening across the UK, in the lead up to the coronation of King Charles III.

This year the theme for National Gardening Week is ‘Create Your Coronation Container’ as the RHS calls on people to celebrate King Charles and his love of horticulture by creating colourful planting schemes in whatever available space they may have, whether that be a window box, a hanging basket, or even an old pair of wellies.

The King is known as a champion of the environment and an ardent supporter of the nation’s passion for gardening, so the RHS is inviting people to produce jubilant planting schemes to mark the beginning of his reign.

Participants are encouraged to let their imaginations run riot in concocting colourful displays, whether they feature a nod to the King in the form of his favourite flower, the delphinium, or perhaps Alchemilla Mollis, the preferred plant of the Queen Consort.  

The RHS is calling on those who get involved to share images that capture the coronation spirit on their social media channels, using the hashtag #nationalgardeningweek.

National Gardening Week is the nation’s biggest celebration of gardening and raises awareness of the difference that gardens and gardening can make to the lives of everyone in the UK. It inspires more people, particularly the next generation of gardeners, to experience the joy of growing and creating beautiful green spaces. 

The RHS hopes that as many people as possible - whether that be community gardening groups, schools, organisations, families or individuals - will get involved.

Clare Matterson, Director General of the RHS, says: “Immersing our hands in soil, gardening and being in nature brings joy and happiness, lifting our spirits and benefiting our physical health. National Gardening Week is all about encouraging even more people across the country to experience that joy for themselves, regardless of their background or plant knowledge. Given King Charles’ well documented love of gardening we’re calling on the nation to get planting in the week of his coronation, and I can’t wait to see people’s creativity come to life.”  

For more information about National Gardening Week, visit the RHS website at: www.rhs.org.uk/nationalgardeningweek.

With summer in touching distance, consumers across the country will very soon start to think about updating their outdoor spaces and this will include looking at how they extended those summer evenings with outdoor heating solutions.

Whilst traditional styles will remain popular, many consumers may be looking for more cost-effective solutions, which is where La Hacienda – part of the AMES UK family of brands - comes into its own with its extensive range of energy and cost-efficient electric heaters.

Here the team outlines four key reasons why ‘going electric’ might be better than you think.

1. The most cost-effective solution

When thinking about the main outdoor heating fuels – wood, gas and electricity – many people would rank electricity as the most expensive option, thanks to extensive recent news coverage regarding fuel bills. But the truth of the matter is simple - electric heating is the cheapest outdoor heating solution. Whilst the initial outlay might be higher, electric heating is much more cost-effective in the long run. The average cost of running an electric heater starts from as little as 31p an hour*, whilst gas comes in at £1.35 - £2.38 per hour and wood almost six times as much as electric at £3.78 per hour.

2. Energy efficiency

Unlike gas and wood-fuelled fires, electric heating offers not only targeted heating, but it also provides more energy-efficient heating with little to no heat loss. Wood and gas distribute heat via convection, which means they only warm the air around them and this can be greatly impacted by weather – one gust of wind and flames can be easily extinguished.

By comparison, electric heating uses infrared to provide a more targeted and controlled heat. The process of heating via infrared is the same as that from the sun, using wavelengths that are most efficiently absorbed by our bodies. The heat travels in a straight line from the source allowing it to be aimed directly at the target object without heating the air between. This also means that weather has minimal impact, reducing heat loss and maximising warm, cosy evenings.

Utilisation of wavelength also means electric heating solutions can be tailored to suit different needs, with heaters designed for both larger open areas and smaller garden spaces, something that neither gas nor wood can boast.

3. Convenience

Electric outdoor heaters are, quite simply, easier to use than gas or wood-fuelled heaters. All La Hacienda’s heaters are ‘plug and play’ designs, where users only need to select the heat/light setting of their choice. Gas and wood-fuelled heaters require fuel, such as propane or wood, to be purchased and stored, whilst lighting the heater itself often comes with complications, most notably weather-based impact.

4. Safety first

Another benefit of electric heaters is that they are safer to use than gas or wood-fuelled heaters. Gas heaters can pose a risk of gas leaks or explosions, whilst wood-fuelled heaters can pose a fire risk. Electric heaters, on the other hand, do not require fuel, so there is no risk of gas leaks or sudden fires. To support this safety message, all La Hacienda electric heaters have been allocated an IP safety rating, which clearly outlines the level of protection each model has against external factors such as dust and water.

Caroline Elliot, spokesperson at La Hacienda said: “Electric powered heaters haven’t had the best press in recent years, but they are packed full of amazing innovation and benefits. We are on a mission to help retailers better understand the product and educate their customers on the economic benefits of electric heating. Of course, we appreciate that not all consumers have access to external power supplies or simply enjoy the hypnotic power of a real flame, which is why our overall offering continues to include a wide range of outdoor heating solutions.”

Light up your outdoor heating sales with La Hacienda’s updated electric heating range

Offering solutions for all garden sizes and consumer needs, La Hacienda proudly offers five unique electric heater collections for the 2023 season: standing, tabletop, hanging, parasol and portable – made up of 18 SKUs.

The ranges consist of a combination of quartz, carbon fibre and halogen heating elements, which offer differing heat and lighting intensity, and are fully supported by new point of sale displays, available for delivery into store now. These half pallet FSDUs – delivered flat pack – clearly outlines the feature of benefits of electric heating and can stock up to eight products. New lifestyle imagery and updated digital assets have also been made available to retailers, to help them educate and inspire consumers via social media and in-store.

Find out more

To find out how you can start stocking La Hacienda’s 2023 electric heating offering, please visit www.lahacienda.co.uk. The 2023 product catalogue can also be viewed by visiting https://lahacienda.co.uk/catalogue/

Further details about AMES UK can be found at https://ames-uk.com/

In this issue:

• Hillier grows – Interview with Chris Francis,
• GCA Conference 2023 – Big, bold, sustainable and £100k raised for Greenfingers,
• GCA Winners – All the winners from the GCA Conference,
• PATS Sandown Show preview,
• BeefEater – LOFA Member profile,
• Beautiful stonework from The Patio Black Spot Company,
• GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards Presentations at Spring Fair,
• Pictures from all The Greatest Christmas Award winning centres: Barton Grange, Rosebourne, The Old Railway Line, Pughs, Gates, Longacres, Gouldings, Alton, Groves, Meadowcroft, Brimsmore and Poundbury, British Garden Centres, Pengelly, Blue Diamond, Klondyke, Gordale, Silverbirch, Woodlands, Little Dobbies, Azure, Stratford    , Chessington, Chacewater, Coolings, Sapcote, Wentworth, Perrywood, Garsons Titchfield, Keydell, The Grange, Tingley, St Peters, Garden King, Fron Goch, Ellerker Lodge, Chepstow, Birkacre, Bennybeg,
• Thank you to the judges and sponsors of The Greatest Christmas Awards 2022,
• Encouraging signs for Spring – HTA Column,
• Cash is king – GIMA Column.

with all the news direct to your e-mail inbox.  The best news service every weekend and all the breaking news as it happens.

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Hyve Group plc has announced the appointment of Nicola Meadows as its new Divisional Managing Director for the Retail, Manufacturing and Engineering Division. 

Nicola joined Hyve in August last year as Portfolio Director for Spring & Autumn Fair, soon adding Glee and fashion events Pure London and Scoop to her remit and taking on leadership responsibility for the entire Retail portfolio.

Mark Shashoua, CEO Hyve Group plc says: “During her time with us so far, Nicola has shown herself to be a strong and calm leader for her team and she is currently overseeing the rollout of Connect on the Spring and Autumn Fair portfolio. It's her connection with Hyve’s 'why' that really makes her the ideal candidate for this role. I am very much looking forward to working with her to maximise the portfolio's potential and create even more game-changing impact for our retail, manufacturing and engineering customer communities.”

Nicola Meadows adds: “I feel honoured to be guiding such established events through an exciting time for the industry, working alongside incredibly talented and passionate teams. We are transforming the future of events with the launch of Connect at Spring & Autumn Fair, and our aim is to generate higher returns on investment for our exhibitors and an unrivalled return on time and experience for visitors across the entire division. It is our role to provide the best platforms to showcase great products and innovation as well as nurture the brands and retailers of the future to ensure continued business success.”

Hawley Garden Centre in Dartford is for sale with a guide price of £5m.

The 7.6 acre site adjacent to the M25 that is also famous for its cabaret nights is being marketed by Christie & Co, the details are currently on rightmove: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/129230507#/?channel=COM_BUY

Bransford Webbs are working alongside Perennial this year to raise money and awareness for the charity through the sales of the stunning Nemesia ‘Peaches n Cream’. 

The first crop of this gorgeous perennial hits garden centres across the country this week, with 40p from the sale of each plant donated towards the fantastic work done by the charity.

Perennial is the UK’s only charity dedicated to everyone who works in horticulture, and their families when times get tough. They provide free and confidential advice, support and financial assistance to people of all ages working in or retired from horticulture.

With gorgeous, heavily scented blooms of pink and lemon smothering the foliage throughout the summer months, this beautiful variety creates an eye-catching cloud of summer colour and attracts bees to your garden. 

‘Peaches n Cream’ has been bred exclusively for The Bransford Webbs Plant Company by Richard Webb, breeder of the famous Hardy Nemesia ‘Confetti’. Just like, ‘Confetti’, ‘Peaches n Cream’ is a hardy variety, ideal for pots or baskets, growing in most gardens in full sun or partial shade, in moist but well-drained soil.

The Bransford Webbs Plant Company, in conjunction with Allensmore Nurseries, Wyevale Nurseries and New Leaf Nurseries, are proud to support Perennial with their ‘Plants for Perennial’ campaign to raise money and awareness.

Nemesia ‘Peaches n Cream’ is available in a 2L pot. For more information, please visit www.bransfordwebbs.co.uk or www.perennial.org.uk

Azpects’ popular EASYJoint Select product range expands with a new premium colour. Platinum offers a cool and contemporary shade of pale grey-beige, perfect to complement emerging trends in landscape design.

EASYJoint Select retains the ready-to-use, sweep-in application method that revolutionised jointing compounds in 2010 with the launch of EASYJoint. These all-weather jointing compounds provide excellent results rain or shine – just ask our customers!

 “We use Azpects' EASYJoint in many of the gardens we work on. It gives the joints between the paving a smooth finish, plus with it being ready to use without mixing required, it's easier and faster than traditional methods! “GM Sharp Landscapes Ltd

Innovation

After extensive research with merchants and landscapers, Azpects are confident that the new colour will prove popular with customers, as it has been carefully designed to complement trending colours of porcelain and natural stone tiles.

Sustainability

Like the rest of Azpects’ tubbed product range, Platinum will be packaged in tubs containing 30% recycled plastic. Since 2019, Azpects has saved over 208 tonnes of virgin plastic from being used in the manufacture of EASYJoint, EASYJoint Select, EASYGrout and EASYPrime tubs. Additionally, all the tubs can be 100% recycled, further reducing the environmental impact of the packaging.

Choice

Platinum joins Bronze, Tungsten, Carbon, and Jet Black in the EASYJoint Select range, while the original EASYJoint range is available in four colours – Mushroom, Buff Sand, Stone Grey, and Basalt.

Made in the UK

Azpects are proud to manufacture all their products exclusively in the UK, providing a greener option for merchants and end-users who wish to lower their carbon footprint. Supporting British manufacturing reduces shipping and transport impacts on the environment and whilst supporting the British economy.

Jeff Carter, Associate Director of Azpects says, “During this time of economic crisis, it is more important than ever to support British manufacturing. Azpects are dedicated to reducing the impact on our planet and the cost to customers, without hindering product performance.” 

Learn more about Azpects range of jointing compounds, or find your local stockist at www.azpects.co.uk

A new study has shown that some smartphone identifier apps misidentify at least one in five plant species. 

With spring in the air and more people spending time outdoors, smartphone applications offer opportunities to get people engaged with plants, biodiversity and potentially to determine if a plant is problematic or harmful. 

Researchers from the University of Galway and University of Leeds have released findings of a study which highlights that they should not be trusted to identify plants with 100% accuracy, a particularly important issue for for toxic plants.  

The team tested the ability of six common smartphone applications to identify 38 herbaceous plants native to Ireland. The highest performing app only had 80-88% accuracy.  

The study also found that the apps showed considerable variation across plant species, but they were better able to identify plants in photographs that included flowers than when photographs only included leaves.  

Dr Karen Bacon, Lecturer in Plant Ecology at University of Galway and senior author of the study, said: “The prevalence of plant ID apps on smartphones means that people can now reach into their pockets, take out their phones and identify plants - easier than ever before.  

“This offers a great means of encouraging people to engage with nature and become more familiar with the plants in their local areas or, indeed, plants in new exotic places when they travel.  

“However, we don't really know how good many of these apps are at doing what they say they can - identifying plants accurately. This is of particular importance when we consider people trying to identify a plant that an animal or young child may have ingested - how sure can you be that your app is giving you the right identification?” 

The app technology is improving all the time, but for now, identifications from such apps should be used as a help to identify plants and not automatically considered to be correct. 

The study - “A repeatable scoring system for assessing Smartphone applications ability to identify herbaceous plants” - has been published in the international scientific journal PLOS ONE - and was authored by Neil Campbell, who carried out the work while completing a Master’s degree at the University of Galway; Dr Karen Bacon; and Dr Julie Peacock, Associate Professor in Ecology at the University of Leeds. 

Dr Peacock said: “Plant identification apps have huge potential to improve plant awareness in the general population.  

“They can also aid conservation efforts and environmental consultancy teams. However, we should be aware that plant identification apps are only a tool to guide the user. The user needs basic plant identification skills too, as well as a willingness to double check the plant species suggestions that the app gives.  

“A calculator is an excellent tool in maths, but without knowledge of at least basic arithmetic, someone using it could not know if the calculator was giving a strange answer. Similarly, basic plant identification skills and a willingness to check suggestions that apps make, will help the individual most effectively use these apps."  

The study can be downloaded from the PLOS website: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0283386 

Pictured: Selfheal in the Burren Nature Sanctuary which was identified by the smartphone apps in the study. Credit - Karen L. Bacon 

Notcutts Garden Centres has been celebrating the success, performance and customer service excellence of its colleagues across 19 garden centres at this year’s annual awards event.

On 16 March, 130 Notcutts colleagues and sponsors gathered together at Chesford Grange Hotel in Kenilworth to celebrate their peers and reflect on their achievements over the past year.

The family-owned garden centre group presented 12 awards in categories such as ‘Best Restaurant’, ‘Environmental Action’, ‘Best Customer Service’, ‘Planteria Excellence’, and ‘Community Hero’.

Individual colleagues were also recognised with ‘Frontline Heroes’ awards for demonstrating exceptional customer service, as well as ‘Long Service’ awards for colleagues achieving 25 and 40 year milestones in their careers with Notcutts.

Nick Burrows, Chief Executive at Notcutts Garden Centres, said: “We’re proud to recognise the outstanding service that our incredible teams deliver across the country every day, making great efforts to inspire customers and to share their skill and expertise. Well done to all our award winners and thank you to our sponsors for supporting our celebrations.”

The Notcutts annual awards event was sponsored by many key suppliers including Brakes, Mr Fothergills, Darlac, Smart Garden, Westland, FAR Logistics, McBains, Evergreen, Kettler, Char-Broil, Esprit, ADT – part of Johnson Controls, Pelican and Hozelock.

For more information about Notcutts visit notcutts.co.uk.

Photo caption: Notcutts Woodbridge Garden Centre colleagues collect their awards alongside Caroline Notcutt (front centre). (L-R) Shanel Shimmon; Neil Ludgate; Caroline Notcutt; Rob Canham; Darren Brooks, General Manager at Notcutts Woodbridge; and ‘Frontline Hero’ winner Craig Beecroft-Smith. (Credit: Chris Kemp, Copyright: Notcutts Ltd).

Peter Burks, GCA CEO, says: “Following the Government’s announcement on March 23, that all retail sales of peat would cease at the end of 2024, and that nurseries are to no longer use peat after 2026, we have been discussing with our members and have two concerns.

“Firstly, we believe there needs to be government support to enable good quality, alternative substrates to be available in sufficient quantity to replace all the peat currently in use.

“This needs to be made available to both growers and retailers to ensure neither is trying to make do with a poor product.

“Secondly, we are concerned that British nurseries have neither the time, nor the capacity to make up the deficit on imported plants, if plants grown in peat abroad are not going to be allowed to be imported. More time needs to be allowed for this change.

“Allowing plants grown in peat to be imported into the country in direct competition with our own growers, who would be 100% peat free, would be very difficult in what is sure to be challenging times.”

The GCA represents more than 200 garden centres nationwide.

Through sharing information and its inspection programme the GCA helps members to achieve high standards in customer service, plant quality and reliability.

For further information, please visit www.gca.org.uk.

Following media stories, some of which are included in this issue of GTN Xtra, about further developments on the peat-ban, the Defra Press Office issued the following Blog on Friday 24th March:

There has been news reporting of our ban on horticultural peat. In 2011 we agreed to a voluntary phase out of the sale of peat and peat-containing products by 2020, and repeatedly stated that we would legislate if this was not successful. While progress was made, the industry transition has been too slow. Therefore, in August 2022, we announced a ban on the sale of peat and peat-containing products in the retail horticultural sector by 2024.

The retail sector accounts for 70% of peat sold in the UK. The professional sector also utilises peat to grow some food products and plants ranging from oaks to rarer species. There are already many peat alternatives on the market including bark, coir, bracken which have been well adopted in the amateur sector. Defra has jointly funded research with the industry on peat replacements in professional horticulture, the results of which are promising. Indeed sectors such as strawberries and other soft fruit growers have already transitioned away from peat-based growing media.

However, the sector has raised concerns about the widespread availability of these products. This week we set out further details to the professional horticultural sector and our expectations for a phased reduction in the use of peat with a date of 2026 - allowing for certain technical exemptions – with a complete ban from 2030.

A phased approach will enable professional horticulture businesses to conduct further commercial scale trials to identify suitable peat-free growing media, in particular for challenging plants, allow time for adaptation and replacement of commercial growing systems and to allow plants already started in a peat containing growing media to work their way through the supply chain.

The exemptions include:

• Technical exemptions for production of young plants in plugs with a maximum volume of 150ml and the production of edible mushrooms with a peat casing layer of 2cm. As our understanding of the technical difficulties improves then this may also include other plant types or production methods where peat cannot be readily replaced.
• Conservation exemptions:  It will be necessary to ensure that peat continues to be available for the safeguarding of vulnerable or endangered plant species where it is unclear whether a peat free growing media and no other reliable growing media. This exemption will not be time limited.

At all times we have considered the views of stakeholders on both sides of the argument, seeking to protect our precious peatlands, our largest carbon store, while acknowledging the difficulties the industry face in making such a change.

A Defra spokesperson said: "We have repeatedly stated that if the voluntary targets to phase out the horticultural use of peat, set in 2011, were not successful then we would need to legislate. Our peatlands are our largest carbon store as well as a uniquely valuable habitat. Our approach has sought to achieve our commitments to restore our peatlands while acknowledging the challenges faced by the horticulture sector in transitioning over the last 10 years.

"We believe that a ban in the amateur sector for 2024, which accounts for 70% of use, is still the right approach. Furthermore, we feel that a phased approach for the professional sector with some exemptions from 2026 and a full ban from 2030, is achievable given the number of peat alternatives available and the period of time permitted for the sector to adjust."

Ivyline, one of the sector’s leading garden, home and giftware suppliers, has relocated its warehousing in a move that is designed to support the brand’s ongoing growth plans.

The new warehouse – part of a 65,000sq ft warehouse development operated by Amethyst Group - is located just 25 minutes from Ivyline’s headquarters at Stoneleigh Park and provides the perfect backdrop for the next chapter of Ivyline’s story. Having witnessed significant growth over the last two-years, this much larger warehouse space not only facilitates rapid future expansion, but it also ensures peace of mind for retailers with quicker despatch times and the introduction of improved systems to reduce mis-picks and stock shortages, including access to the Amethyst’s Wellesbourne site’s robot-operated shuttle racking, which is currently the largest in Europe.

To celebrate this new phase of growth the Ivyline team is inviting customers to visit the new facilities in conjunction with a trip to Ivyline’s showroom, where SS23 and Christmas 23 ranges are available to view and order.

Scott Thomas, Ivyline Managing Director, said of the relocation of Ivyline’s warehousing: “Ivyline has years of experience supplying retail, which is why we were able to forecast the need for new warehousing. In recent years, not only has our retail network grown but our product portfolio has significantly expanded to incorporate exciting new categories, and as such our footprint is increasing. In order to accommodate this growth and to continue on our journey to be champions of multi-channel despatch, new facilities were a key priority. It’s an exciting prospect and we hope that our customers will join us to see what we’ve been up to ahead of peak season.”

Find out more

To find out more about the Ivyline difference or to visit the new warehouse or showroom facilities at Stoneleigh Park, please visit www.ivylinegb.co.uk, email sales@ivylinegb.co.uk or by calling 024 7633 9180.

Rope Trellis by The Good Life brand is the latest product from Treadstone Garden to be creating a buzz, with positive responses from garden centres and the gardening media. This month has seen a successful first round of deliveries to customers, where a solid stockist base has already been established.

Inspired by cargo nets, Rope Trellis is an alternative to conventional fixed trellis manufactured using a natural jute material. It provides the perfect marriage of user-friendly features and sustainability, at the same time of hitting the retailer value ‘sweet spot’.

Customer Friendly

Rope Trellis is available in five sizes (from 6 x 2ft to 6 x 6ft.) that all come supplied rolled up. Each pack is therefore easy to transport home where it can then be unrolled and installed. 

Rope Trellis is hand-made and tied specifically so that the product hangs tight and straight, giving a consistent sequence of support rope for plants to grip. Furthermore, if the user wants to add colour to the garden, Rope Trellis can be easily stained by dipping the rope in outdoor preservative.

Users can fix it to walls or fences or tie it between two wooden posts to create a stunning garden feature. Retailing from £19.99, installation is quick and the product can easily be uninstalled temporarily for when fencing needs painting or changing, as well as easily transported when moving home.

Eco Friendly

Treadstone are building a reputation for creating innovative products and wherever possible launching sustainable concepts. Due to the natural jute material Rope Trellis is an eco-garden solution which can be adapted to many types of gardens or outdoor spaces. 

Despite only recently being delivered into garden centres, the trellis is already experiencing wide reach after media attention in March. Rope Trellis was recommended in BBC Gardener’s World magazine’s March 2023 issue appearing in the ‘Growing Greener’ feature and was highlighted as an innovative eco gardening solution. As a result, the range has experienced even more demand from end users and gardening retailers in recent weeks.

Garden Centre Friendly

The compact size of the Rope Trellis is also beneficial to retailers as its retail footprint is small, making it a more valuable proposition than fixed timber trellis. In fact each Rope Trellis display stand fits thirty pieces of Rope Trellis, with £900 of retail value in a little over 0.25 square meters. The merchandising stand itself is supplied ready built with impactful ‘chalk board’ effect branding supporting the Rope Trellis concept.

National Account Manager, Anne Corr said: "Rope Trellis created a buzz when we launched the product last year at Glee. Now the stock has been delivered into the market we are continuing to make noise about the range. We are delighted with the recent BBC Gardeners World review which has helped increase awareness of Rope Trellis to gardeners across the UK. With this products’ unique appeal, we hope it can help garden centres offer a real point of difference, attracting gardeners of all ages."

For garden centres interested in stocking Rope Trellis or any other Treadstone product they can DARE TO SELL DIFFERENT and email - sales@treadstoneproducts.com to find out about pricing and availability. Browse the Treadstone Garden website to view all their products and brands.

Ligneolus UK Ltd has signed up to exhibit at the Four Oaks Trade Show to be held in Cheshire, 5 & 6 September 2023. 

Emma Brown, Commercial Manager at Ligneolus UK Ltd, said: “We’re a family run business through and through. Based in Hull, East Yorkshire, we specialise in designing, manufacturing, and supplying a range of horticultural and bespoke timber displays, as well as other sustainable and eco-friendly products. Our products are carefully crafted using only the finest materials, including FSC certified timber and other sustainable resources.

"Environmental responsibility is at the heart of everything we do all our products are handcrafted right here in the UK using ethically managed sustainable sources. When you choose Ligneolus, you gain the peace of mind that you're working with a family-run business that takes sustainability very seriously."

Ligneolus UK Ltd has chosen to exhibit at the 2023 Four Oaks Trade Show as the leading marketplace for the sector.

"We are excited to use FOTS to showcase our products and we look forward to meeting you all you on the stand – E146 & E147," added Emma.

For more information about Ligneolus UK Ltd visit www.ligneolus.co.uk

For more information about the Four Oaks Show visit www.fouroaks-tradeshow.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

GTN March 2023. In this issue: Blue Diamond’s Greatest Show – Full results and exclusive pictures from the Blue Diamond Awards 2023, Press to Impress – 6 pages of product and supplier news from the Garden Press Event, Bathgate for Peat Free NOW, Fountasia bring magic to garden centres, Evergreen Garden Care’s increased Peat Free capacity – Interview with MD Colin Stephens, Nurturing future display talent – Glee’s new Talent Store, LOFA – The voice of the outdoor living industry, Stepping stones to success – Interview with Antony Harker, Keeping plants in the headlines – GTN’s new Planteria column, Spotlight on Horticulture – HTA Column