What will you be doing on Garden Re-Leaf Day, Friday 13th March?

After the great start to the year, Garden Re-Leaf Day is a great opportunity to generate local PR and generate extra sales as well as raise funds for Greenfingers.

If every garden centre in the country used the day to raise just £100 for the charity that would enable another magical garden to be built at a Children’s Hospice. What a great way to celebrate the start of the season and show all our customers the great things gardening can do.

Greenfingers have a FUNdraising pack of suggestions for Garden Re-Leaf Day which can be accessed at: www.greenfingerscharity.org.uk/gardenreleaf

Or you can join in the Garden Re-Leaf Day sponsored Walk or cycle ride.  Come and help over 100 other Greenfingers supporters raise money towards another garden by walking of cycling in the Oxfordshire countryside.  It's a great opportunity to get to know your peers in the industry and do your bit for Greenfingers FUNdraiaing.  This years event starts and finshes at Chilton Garden Centre just off the A34 close to the HTA offices at Horticultural House.

You can register for the walk here: https://www.greenfingerscharity.org.uk/gardenreleaf/register-grd-2020-walk

or for the cycle ride here: https://www.greenfingerscharity.org.uk/gardenreleaf/register-for-the-cycle-challenge

See a selection of photos from Garden Re-Leaf Day 2019 below:

Haskins Garden Centre has confimred the acquisition of Forest Lodge Garden Centre, Garden Style and Birdworld, in Farnham.

This acquisition is part of a long-term plan for Haskins to expand its group of four garden centres across the south. The family-owned company has been looking for the right business, in the right location, for a number of years to add to its portfolio of sites.

Warren Haskins, Chairman of Haskins Garden Centres, explained: "We have long admired Forest Lodge, Garden Style and Birdworld and are delighted to welcome the businesses and its teams to the Haskins group. We have created a great culture within Haskins and have worked hard to develop a long-term plan for all our sites, with a view of remaining a family-owned, independent business. We are pleased to have held out for the right opportunity and believe that Forest Lodge, Garden Style and Birdworld will be a good cultural fit and will help support our future strategy."

Roger Head, Managing Director of Denys E. Head Limited, said: "After setting up the business with my parents 40 years ago, we have had an incredible journey and I feel that it is now the right time to retire and therefore sell the business. I have known Warren Haskins throughout this period and believe the Haskins business to be the perfect custodian to continue to develop Forest Lodge, Garden Style and Birdworld. I am very proud of the business and the team of people who have contributed so much to our success and I have worked hard to make sure the transition is as smooth as possible for the team and our customers."

Forest Lodge is an award-winning garden centre and retail offering on a 6.8-acre site, with an impressive 300 seat restaurant. The business is located three miles south west of Farnham, directly off the A325, providing an extensive catchment including Guildford, Reading, Southampton, Portsmouth and Andover.

The site also incorporates the retail and wholesale business, Garden Style Plant Centre, on a further 3-acres which complements the main garden centre's offering. Haskins acknowledges the opportunities to develop this facility.

Birdworld is one of the largest independent tourist attractions in the south east and has been a popular local destination for the past 50 years. Spread over 23-acres with its own catering and retail facilities, it attracts over 100,000 visitors a year to the bird park, gardens and aquarium, and has an extensive conservation and breeding program.

Warren Haskins added: "As a business we have a lot to learn about Birdworld but already see it as an essential element of the long-term plan for the site."

Haskins has centres in Ferndown (Dorset), West End (Southampton), Roundstone and Snowhill (West Sussex). Haskins Snowhill is currently closed to carry out the final phase of the centre's redevelopment plan, ahead of re-opening for business in spring 2020.

Visit www.haskins.co.uk for further information.

Here is a separate statement issued by Savills: 

Denys E Head Ltd, advised jointly by Savills and Gilbert Evans, has sold the entire issued share capital of its business to Haskins Garden Centres Ltd for an undisclosed sum.

The company comprises award winning garden centre Forest Lodge, well known visitor attraction Birdworld and Garden Style Plant Centre, three well established enterprises which occupy an extensive freehold site situated to the south west of Farnham in Surrey.

Denys E Head Ltd was founded by the vendor's father in 1958 as a firm of market gardeners.  In 1980 following a successful period of growth the company relocated from their original premises in Godalming to the current Forest Lodge site, which was comprehensively redeveloped before opening as a purpose built garden centre in 1981.  The company subsequently acquired the neighbouring wildlife park known as Birdworld, which had been open to the public since 1968, and in 2017 the specimen plant business Garden Style was relocated to an area adjoining Forest Lodge Garden Centre, which enabled all three businesses to be run as one integrated entity.

In 2018 planning permission was obtained for the extensive phased development of the property and business, including provision of a new Birdworld visitor centre and family entertainment building, a significantly enlarged garden centre, six residential dwellings and a new single access, which provides the potential for the business to continue its development as one of the largest combined retail and leisure attractions in the south east.

Ian Simpson, director in the leisure & trade related team at Savills, comments: "The sale of this well-established family run business provided the purchaser with an opportunity to acquire a popular combined garden centre and visitor attraction in a good location. Due to the nature of the site there is little competition and coupled with excellent visitor numbers, this makes it both a rare and strong income producing asset. We are very pleased to have been able assist our client with the sale of such a valuable and much loved company."

Mike Gilbert, head of Gilbert Evans' specialist garden centre advisory team, adds: "We received very strong interest for the business. We were delighted to secure a deal with Haskins - a family run company that will ensure this very successful and highly regarded business can be taken to the next stage."

The Prime Minister’s cabinet reshuffle has seen a number of changes made within the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

The changes see George Eustice MP appointed as Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs replacing the Rt Hon Theresa Villiers MP who has been in the role since July 2019. George Eustice MP leaves the position of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Minister, where he regularly engaged with the HTA and other organisations on issues impacting the sector. His replacement in this position is yet to be announced.

In other appointments, Alok Sharma has been appointed as Business Secretary and President of the COP26 Climate Summit which takes place in Glasgow in November. COP26 is a UN global meeting which brings nation’s together to tackle climate change.

James Clark, Director of Policy and Communications at the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) said: “We see the appointment of George Eustice MP as Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as a positive move given his knowledge of our industry. As a sector, ornamental horticulture makes such an important environmental and economic contribution to the UK economy, adding £24 bn to UK GDP and employing 568,000 people.

“With a busy agenda ahead three priorities for the HTA are Brexit, immigration and plant health. On Brexit, we need to ensure that trade continues to flourish. On immigration, we need to make sure we have the right people in the right numbers to allow the industry to function and grow. On plant health, we need to make sure that biosecurity has a high level of importance across Government departments. We look forward to working collaboratively with George Eustice MP and his team on progressing these in the months ahead.”

A bid to build almost 200 homes at a garden centre site in Clacton, Essex, has been unanimously rejected by councillors.

The proposal to demolish St John's Plant Centre, in Earls Hall Drive, and build new homes was shelved by Tendring District Council's planning committee on Wednesday (February 12).

Members raised concerns about a number of issues including the character of the homes and access issues from St John's Road.

The existing nursery buildings and glasshouses would have been bulldozed and 24 apartments, 163 homes and eight mixed commercial/residential spaces created.

However, St Osyth Parish Council and angry residents opposed the development, and all nine district councillors voted to reject it.

To read the full story click here

What will you be doing on Garden Re-Leaf Day, Friday 13th March?

After the great start to the year, Garden Re-Leaf Day is a great opportunity to generate local PR and generate extra sales as well as raise funds for Greenfingers.

If every garden centre in the country used the day to raise just £100 for the charity that would enable another magical garden to be built at a Children’s Hospice. What a great way to celebrate the start of the season and show all our customers the great things gardening can do.

Greenfingers have a FUNdraising pack of suggestions for Garden Re-Leaf Day which can be accessed at: www.greenfingerscharity.org.uk/gardenreleaf

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year (week 6)

• Garden Products - up 20%
• Growing Media - up 36%
• Wild Bird Care - down 16%
• Veg-2-Gro - up 3%
• All Plants Index - up 23%
• All Items Index - up 14%

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

The first week of February 2020 was a great week for plant sales with volumes reaching the highest level for the week over the past four years. All of the top 6 plant genus increased their sales: Primula, Narcissus, Cyclamen, Hyacinth, Galanthus and Tulip.

• Dianthus were the highest movers up the GTN Chart with sales volumes increasing rapidly.
• Begonia were the highest placed chart re-entry at No 23.
• Zonal Geranium’s featured in the chart for the first week of the year at No 47.
• All Plants volume sales change: Week on week UP 9.5%.  Year to date vs 2019 UP 23.6%, vs  2018 UP 11.3%.

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

Westland Horticulture will launch the biggest ever advertising campaign for peat-free compost this spring, investing £1.5million in a New Horizon TV campaign.

Westland’s New Horizon campaign, developed under the theme “Greatest Grow on Earth”, is a celebration of growing. The campaign, which is set to reach 20 million households from April this year, forms part of Westland’s commitment to lead the move towards more sustainable growing media products and promote peat-free or heavily peat-reduced products across all its communication channels in 2020.

As part of its peat reduction strategy, Westland has invested £35 million into developing peat alternatives over the past 18 years and has also spent £5 million promoting peat-free and peat reduced alternatives to consumers since 2007.  

New Horizon has been developed using Westland’s latest advancement in peat replacement technology, BIO3™.  It will be the first peat-free compost to be advertised on TV, and Westland believes it could become its best-selling compost ever.

Keith Nicholson, Marketing Director for Westland commented: 

“New Horizon is the result of 18 years of research and development and represents a game changer in peat-free compost. Consumers no longer have to make a choice between performance and sustainability. First and foremost, this is a high performing compost which offers excellent growing for gardeners.  

“We are really excited about New Horizon and its growing potential, and this campaign will help spread the message that gardeners can make a sustainable choice without compromising on performance.”

New Horizon comes in three varieties – all plant, all vegetable and a tomato planter.

Life is Outside. Take the indoors out by zoning your garden this year. Every room inside you can have out; ensuring your garden really works for your lifestyle. 

This vision came to life at the Klondyke Group’s recent Garden Furniture and Outdoor Living Showcase event, which took place at Houghton Hall Garden Centre at Carlisle on 5^th February.

Zoned areas focused on outdoor cooking with the garden kitchen; entertaining space with both garden dining and garden lounging areas, and the must have zone for quiet relaxation within the garden snug.

The showcase presented Klondyke’s main Outdoor Living themes for 2020 and display techniques, alongside core product lines. The showcase featured furniture, barbecues, firepits, parasols, outdoor lighting and play equipment and showed the garden centre’s Outdoor Living teams the exciting new developments in design, environmental manufacturing, merchandising and product innovation.

Several suppliers exhibited at the showcase, including Norfolk Leisure, Scancom, Leisuregrow, Alexander Rose and Smart Garden.

Klondyke’s Furniture Buyer Suzanne Gorst organised the show and commented “Our 2020 event has showcased our themes and ranges to our Outdoor Living Teams and set the scene for the year ahead. The Showcase has been an ideal platform to present a fantastic array of stimulating ideas and inspiration and we are delighted with the positive feedback from all those who attended.”

GIMA’s forthcoming Day Conference - open to both members and non-members - will be a must-attend for any supplier wanting to hear from two of the UK’s leading garden centres.

Headlining the Day Conference will be British Garden Centres’ Phillippa Stubbs – who, along with her husband Charles, is certainly in demand having recently acquired the Hillview Group and took advantage of the Wyevale dispersal to create a 57-strong portfolio of stores. British Garden Centres is now the UK’s second largest garden centre chain, and Phillippa will be using her time at the GIMA Conference to talk to delegates about their plans for the future, and their expectations of the supply chain.

Joining Phillippa on the agenda will be well-known garden retailer, Guy Topping, MD of Barton Grange Garden Centre. A popular personality, Guy has been instrumental in raising the standard of garden retailing in the UK.  Barton Grange Garden Centre in Preston, Lancashire has consistently been winning accolades, and this year is no different having just been awarded the ‘Destination Garden Centre of the Year’ award by the GCA. Guy will be telling delegates at the conference about his latest Flower Bowl development and is also keen to share his thoughts on the supply base and what they need to do to keep up with retailer andconsumer expectations.  

It has also been confirmed that Boyd Douglas Davies, the newly appointed Director of Communications at British Garden Centres,will also be attending.

It’s not just retailers however that will be leading the content for the day. Leading consumer and design trends intelligence agency, Scarlet Opus, with whom GIMA launched a collaborative partnership with in 2019, will also be giving a sneak peek into their forthcoming trends content that will be officially unveiled at the Consumer & Design Trends event on March 26th.

The Day Conference, which takes place following GIMA’s AGM (open exclusively to fully paid-up members of the trade association), is also a great opportunity to network with other GIMA members.  Non-members will also get the chance to discuss with the team the range of benefits associated with becoming a member of GIMA.

Find out more

Further information about the forthcoming GIMA AGM & Day Conference can be found at www.gima.org.uk. Open to both members and non-members, GIMA is urging interested parties to secure their places now as space is limited. Tickets cost £60 per person for GIMA members, and £120 per person for non-members. A buffet lunch and refreshments will be available throughout the day and is included in the ticket price.

Hillier Nurseries is pleased to announce that the company has been awarded ISO 14001 accreditation.

ISO 14001 is a globally recognised standard, providing an agreed framework to follow regarding Environmental Management Systems. It indicates that a company is having less of an impact on the environment and has strong systems in place; increasingly commercial  organisations are looking for suppliers and partners to be able to demonstrate this and other standards.

Hillier aims to be a leader in good environmental practice and, prior to this award, already had a strong, sustainable approach in place across the company’s nurseries. For example, waste is kept to a minimum throughout the supply chain by recycling bags and packaging materials and water is re-used from the company’s own reservoir.

Thanks to continued efforts to ensure this has all been documented properly and is part of day-to-day working practices, Hillier has now been awarded ISO 14001 certification.

Squire’s Garden Centres has signed up to The Planet Mark to help drive its sustainability efforts.

Squire’s Managing Director Martin Breddy explains the move: “Increasingly, our customers and colleagues have been asking us what we are doing to become more sustainable. Whilst we have numerous initiatives in place and are making progress, we know there’s much more that we can do. The Planet Mark will ensure that we meet our reporting obligations, but more importantly, it will inspire us to deliver tangible sustainability progress for our customers. We were also encouraged by their relationship with the Eden Project, who have been a close partner with them since the very start.”

The Planet Mark certification scheme is a three-step process.

1. Measure & Record
   Firstly, expert independent auditors will conduct a formal measurement of energy, waste, travel and other elements that consume carbon in Squire’s, and compile a report that complies with global protocols. 

2. Employee Engagement
   Secondly, The Planet Mark will work with Squire’s senior team to cascade the programme to all employees, inspiring them to become involved.

3. Communicate
   Finally, the team will create a communication plan for Squire’s customers, explaining the steps being taken to improve the company’s carbon footprint.

The first year for Squire’s will involve data collection, measurement and employee engagement, with their main consumer communication starting in 2021.

Steve Malkin, CEO & Founder of The Planet Mark commented; "We are delighted that Squire’s has signed up to The Planet Mark. Garden centres provide a unique position in society, bringing people together with nature and each other. Regardless of whether you are a gardening novice or a seasoned horticulturist, whether you have a small back garden or vast acres of land, you can enjoy the benefits of environmentally friendly gardening. We all have a need to connect with the natural environment. Squire’s Garden Centres provide a communal space for people to align with nature and for biodiversity to thrive. We are looking forward to a blossoming relationship over the coming years."

Squire’s Chairman Sarah Squire added; “There is no doubt that as individual businesses and an industry we are going to be increasingly, and quite rightly, held to account on our environmental credentials, from plastic to carbon. Progress needs to be thoughtful and measured, as well as measurable, in order to be real and credible. There is no room for window dressing and bandwagons but plenty of opportunity for meaningful and incremental change. Squire’s will work hard to make that change, and becoming a certified holder of The Planet Mark is part of that.”

As he steps into his role as chairman of the GCA, Mike Burks, says: "I'm keen to demonstrate the role that the industry can play in protecting wildlife and the environment, as well as bringing people together through gardening to promote better health and wellbeing.

The managing director of The Gardens Group added: "We are in an enviable position, in that so many trends and needs of the modern world cross our path, so we must work together to make the most of these opportunities as awareness of the plight of our planet grows and conversations about mental health continue to gain prominence.

"Our speakers gave us so much food for thought, as we gathered as an industry to ensure that we are part of the solution rather than contributing to the problem.”

Choosing powered garden tools can be a daunting undertaking, and many gardeners choose to forego manicuring their green spaces because they don’t have the knowledge or the confidence to buy and use the right products for the task at hand.

In partnering with Yard Force, David Domoney hopes to bring comprehensive insight to a range of garden power tools that can offer reliability, durability and high performance, to the everyday gardener; aiming to demystify powered tools for everyone.

David said, “Like anything in the garden, once you know how, it becomes so easy. In learning how to look after our gardens properly, using power tools where needed, we make time in the garden so much more enjoyable and open doors to learning new gardening techniques and having access to a healthy and well-cared-for garden.” 

Yard Force® is an internationally recognised brand with years of industry experience and knowledge. Their Marketing Manager, Victoria Rimmington, said “Introducing a household name to represent our brand instils the confidence we have in our products and their performance, we are excited to work alongside David to encourage people to get outside and enjoy transforming their garden with a little helping hand from Yard Force.’ 

David went on to say: “Giving people access to a better gardening experience is always a good thing; with practical advice on making the most of their garden and the tools necessary to give great results with little effort. The more we can do using professional electric-powered equipment leaves us more time to enjoy the garden. 

"To that end, the tools that I’m keen to demystify are three practical power tools for gardeners which are the Cordless Lawnmower, 20V AquaJet Pressure Cleaner, and Compact 280R Robotic Lawnmower with i-Radar technology. To me, these innovative products really showcase what an exciting time it is to be a gardener; whether you’ve just started out or are an old hand, these are a game-changer.”

Through a series of instructive videos, top garden tips, and exciting competitions, the partnership will encourage budding gardeners and virtuosos alike to get outside, give their gardens some TLC, and find out exactly how powered garden tools can give them the power they need to kick their gardening gambits into to full gear.

https://www.yardforce.eu/en/david/

Leading garden décor manufacturer, Vivid Arts, has confirmed that its popular Gardening Rabbit figurine will be raising even more funds for Greenfingers this Easter season.

Since its launch at Glee 2018, the playful rabbit figurine - equipped with a garden spade and bearing the trademark Greenfingers green gloves - has become a popular seller for Vivid Arts thanks to the character’s link with the children’s hospice garden charity. A donation of £2 from every rabbit sold is given to Greenfingers, with the total donation in 2019 almost reaching the £6,000 mark. However, this year the Vivid Arts team are hoping to far exceed this, with a £9,000 target being set.

The finely detailed hand painted ornament, made from high quality resin, stands at approximately 18cm high and will look adorable in any garden setting, as well as adding character and a sense of wildlife to any outdoor space that both adults and children will enjoy. Plus, with Easter on the horizon, it represents a superb seasonal gifting sales opportunity for retailers.

To make sales even easier, Vivid Arts supply an A3 POS poster with all orders to help retailers promote the rabbit instore.

Paul McGuire, Sales Director at Vivid Arts said: We’re absolutely delighted to continue our support of Greenfingers. Over the last 18 months the Greenfingers Rabbit - which is also available as a fundraising tin for till top collections – has not only brought joy to thousands of gardens, but has also helped to promote the Greenfingers brand to consumers, whilst also raising much needed funds that will enable the charity to build even more valuable garden spaces.”

Linda Petrons, Director of Fundraising & Communications at Greenfingers said: “Our sincerest thanks to Vivid Arts for their continued support. The Greenfingers Rabbit was very popular last year following its launch at Glee. Both adults and children alike will love this cute little character and it will make the perfect Easter gift for a gardener.  The funds raise will further help our mission to bring the inside of a children’s hospice outside into a therapeutic garden for life-limited children and their families to enjoy.”

Find out more

Trade customers wishing to stock the Vivid Arts Greenfingers Rabbit can either speak to their local Vivid sales representative or contact Vivid Arts direct on 01244 659911 , or by email sales@vividarts.co.uk

You can join in the conversation by joining Greenfingers on social media - https://www.facebook.com/Greenfingerscharity/, @GreenfingersCha on Twitter, and @Greenfingerscharity on Instagram and LinkedIn. 

Leading garden furniture company, LifestyleGarden is hoping to launch a company initiative to educate the next generation of eco-warriors about the impacts of marine plastic pollution. 

With the issues of sustainability and single use plastic galvanising a green revolution, young children are growing up with an understanding of how we can all make a difference to help our environment.

Inspired by activists such as Greta Thunberg and programmes such as Blue Planet II, youngsters feel it is important to reduce plastics being deposited in our oceans and move to a more sustainable future in order to improve the world they live in.

Last month, the company visited Hockley Primary School – local to its UK trade showroom in Basildon - where LifestyleGarden Merchandiser, Richard Baxter, gave a thought-provoking talk to the school’s ECO Team about how the company repurposes marine plastic waste into sustainable furniture.  

The hour-long talk also gave the pupils the chance to learn about and sit in LifestyleGarden’s ground-breaking DuraOcean chair, the first commercially available piece of furniture of its kind to be made from ocean plastic waste such as fishing nets, ropes and debris found on the seabeds.  The school children were then presented with goody bags and the school received their own DuraOcean chair, which now sits proudly in their Sycamore classroom.

The visit was so successful that LifestyleGarden is now looking into a series of impactful school talks that will teach the importance of sustainability, look at how much plastic is thrown away and the effect this has, and to possibly look at introducing a special ocean recovery school programme.

Richard Baxter, Merchandiser at LifestyleGarden said; “It was inspiring to hear from Hockley Primary School’s staff and the pupils from the ECO Team about the actions and activities the school undertakes to embrace and promote sustainability.  We were amazed that the Hockley pupils were so astute to the problem of plastic pollution and wanted to play their part to prevent it.  It iscomforting to see that children are leading the way, taking action, encouraging their friends and family to change and reduce their carbon footprint.  We are hoping this could be the start of a new plastic education programme which includes school talks, as well as beach clean-up clubs.  Children have a special connection to nature, wildlife and want to protect the environment around them. It is important to engage the next generation on environmental topics, as they are, after all, our future.”

Find out more 

If you want to find out more about LifestyleGarden and its premium-quality outdoor furniture, please visit http://www.lifestylegarden.com and follow the team on Facebook and Instagram.

Further details about ScanCom’s commitment to the environment and social accountability can be found at http://www.scancom.net

The Royal Horticultural Society has announced that the theme for this spring’s National Gardening Week will be Sowing the Seeds of Friendship.

For the nation’s biggest celebration of gardening (27 April–3 May 2020), the RHS is calling for gardeners up and down the country to join in events, check out their local gardening clubs, organise gardening gatherings and conquer loneliness by making friends through horticulture.

Now in its ninth year, the event has grown in popularity every year with National Gardening Week 2019 seeing thousands of people sharing their ‘passion for plants’ on social media.

A recent OnePoll Survey commissioned by the RHS showed that 52 per cent of people in Britain have experienced feeling alone. More than half of adults enjoy being surrounded by greenery and a further 53 per cent said it boosts their mood. As a result, 59 per cent agreed being a member of a community group would make them feel less lonely and a quarter said it would boost their confidence. And more than a sixth of those polled wish there were more social groups in their community to join.

Guy Barter, Chief Horticulturist, RHS, said: “Through our campaigns such as Britain in Bloom, we already know that gardening is a superb way to make friends and meet new people. Gardening with others creates a strong sense of companionship and camaraderie, and lifelong bonds often flourish from something as simple as sowing seeds in the ground. This year we hope National Gardening Week will lead to hundreds of budding new friendships.”

The theme reflects the ethos of the RHS Garden for Friendship which will feature at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show (19 - 23 May), aimed at celebrating how you can make great friends through gardening.

In 2020, the RHS hopes even more people will get involved in National Gardening Week and register their events at www.rhs.org.uk/nationalgardeningweek. Registration will open soon, with everyone invited to upload their events and activities to the website and discover hints and tips for taking part.

Guy Barter offers the following tips to those who are wondering how they can get involved:

• Join a local gardening club – or create one!
• Get involved with your nearest RHS Britain in Bloom community group
• Invite your neighbours to a party in your garden
• Volunteer at an RHS Garden or other garden
• Learn from others about gardening, share a passion for growing plants, text or post pictures of plants with friends

For more ideas and advice, see the National Gardening Week website.

The aim of National Gardening Week is to raise awareness of the difference that gardens and gardening can make to the lives of everyone in the UK, and to inspire more people to experience the joy of growing and visiting beautiful green spaces. The four RHS Gardens will be leading the campaign, with other gardens, societies, charities and organisations across the nation encouraged to join in and hold their own events.

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The nation’s gardeners are taking advantage of the breaks in the weather to clean their patios ready for the spring and add decorative items to make their views brighter. Algon’s Organic Algae Remover Patio Cleaner increased sales by 80% to move back up to the No 1 Bestselling garden product position.

Brintons Patio Magic, from Evergreen Garden Care re-entered the Top 50 at No 28.

Other highlights:

• Koopman’s 8cm Buddha moved 11 places up the chart to No 9.
• Smart Garden Products Meanagerie Garden Deco Bobbly Bird flew up 30 places to No 11.
• Briers Secateurs Black were the highest chart climber, shooting up 32 places to No 2.

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

Westland’s New Horizon Peat Free compost saw big sales gains last week to move up the chart and be the third highest selling growing media line of the week.  

Two other New Horizon lines also feature in the GTN Bestsellers Growing Media Top 50 and Bloomin Amazing Soil Enricher, the by-product of a renewable energy plant, climbed 26 places up the chart to feature in the Top 10. 

Highlights of the week were:

• Evergreen Garden Care Levington Essential Multi Purpose 50 litres continues at the top of the chart on the back of Early Bird promotions.
• Westland New Horizon All Plant Compost 20 litres + 33% Extra Free is a new entry at No 27.
• Kelkay RHS Horticultural Sharp Sand Large was the highest re-entry at No 32.

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

Veg seeds saw signs of spring growth last week as onion sets volume started to wane. Beetroot Boltardy was the highest volume veg seed pack bought by gardeners with carrot seeds not far behind.

Highlights of the week were:

• Taylors Onion Sets Stuttgarter took over as the No 1 Veg-2-Gro product.
• Taylors Seed Potatoes Taster Pack Pentland Javelin is the most popular seed potato variety at the moment.
• Suttons Beetroot Boltardy re-entered the GTN Chart at No 8.

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

In advance of Nest Box Week, sales of nest boxes in garden centres increased to the extent that the Gardman Heart Nest Box moved right up to No 3 in the GTN Wild Bird Care chart.

Highlights of the week were:

• Westland Peckish Natural Balance Energy Balls 50 +20% Free stays at No 1 for the fifth week in a row.
• Gardman Peanut Bites 1kg were the highest re-entry at No 20.
• Tom Chambers No More Mess Mix 2.5kg trebled sales to re-enter at No 38.

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

Leading quality wild bird and pet food producer, Henry Bell & Co, is focusing on nest box education during National Nest Box Week with advice on how to select and care for the right nest box this spring. 

The Henry Bell range of Nest Boxes are specifically designed to encourage different bird species, including Robins, Blue Tits, Great Tits, House Sparrows and Wrens. They are all crafted to provide adequate insulation from the cold and extremes of weather and have good drainage, locks to protect from predators and top opening – _as recommended by wild bird care experts. Each nest box comes with recommendations about how best to use, clean and position the nest box. 

Types of nest boxes start from RRP £5.99 for the Henry Bell Nest Box and Henry Bell Open Nest Box through to a more premium offering found in the Henry Bell Elegance range which features a variety of entrance holes, open front designs, sloping and flat roofs (RRP £14.99). 

At a time where the national spotlight is on nest boxes, Henry Bell shares its top tips on how to select and care for the right nest box: 

• Decide which birds you wish to attract into your garden: Ensure your nest box caters to the bird species you have in mind, such as a 32mm entrance hole which is suitable for the House Sparrow, Great Tit and Nuthatch, or an open front for Robins, Pied Wagtails and Wrens. Consider putting up nest boxes with different size holes as you will then cater for a variety of species. Whatever you choose, ensure there is plenty of fresh water available. 
• Where to position the box: Safely locate the nest box away from predators, hanging it at a height of 2-4m from the ground (or below 2m from the ground in cover for open front nest boxes). Face the box between north and east, thus avoiding strong sunlight and the wettest winds. Make sure that the birds have a clear flight path to the nest. 
• Caring for your nest box: Do not disturb the nesting box once it is in use. It is recommended that you clean your nesting box after September. Do this using rubber gloves and removing all nesting material, carefully using boiling water to kill any parasites. 
• Consider the long-term relationship: Natural nesting sites are becoming scarce and wild birds and becoming more reliant upon nesting boxes. There are also ever decreasing food resources for wild birds and it is becoming more and more essential that you feed your garden birds all year round. Once you have started, try and create a routine as the birds will become reliant upon your help to bring life and vitality into your space. 

Henry Bell & Co is a fourth-generation family-owned British business that produces quality animal feeds. The company launched its own range last year, Henry Bell Wild Bird Care, which features 120 quality products catering for every type of garden bird, all designed with health and wellbeing of birds in mind. Henry Bell has also made sustainable packaging a priority with all their Wild Bird Food packaging being 100% recyclable whilst protecting the integrity of the elements inside each bag. 

During National Nest Box Week, Deco-Pak is encouraging customers to get their gardens, yards and balconies ready for our feathered friends.

The RSPB recently reporting that the song thrush population has plummeted by 76% in 40 years, and house sparrows along with other small garden birds are also witnessing a similar decline as hedgerows and woodland habitats are continuing to be lost. With the loss of natural places suitable for nesting increasing,  it has never been more important to conserve our native breeding birds. Providing well designed hibernaculum such as nest and roosting boxes for them can really help and Deco-Pak has the perfect range for retailers to stock for customers to purchase to preserve the population of avian visitors. 

With sustainability at the heart of the business ethos, Deco-Pak’s product lines are designed with both carbon footprint and material longevity in mind. Made from FSC wood, these sustainable wildlife havens tick all the boxes for eco gardens and will provide warm and safe homes for the garden birds in the winter weather. All boxes are painted with a water-resistant coating, so they can survive the outside elements and support Deco-Pak’s mission to protect wildlife and encourage the growth of the UK’s bird population.

Split into eight individual collections ranging including the Village, Classic, Hatchling, Mood, Nestling, Printed and Signature, there is a nestbox to suit every outdoor space.  If you’re looking for a bird box that’s different from the norm,  Deco-Pak’s GIMA Award winning ‘Quintessentially British’ range features unique designs including a garden shed, wine bottle feeder, London Underground box and 10 Downing Street, all enhanced with charming features that really set them apart from others on the market.

From modern minimalist designs featuring a beautiful roses and poppies print, to whimsical creations including beach huts, cottages and farmhouses, Deco-Pak’s nestbox range provide a quirky gifting opportunity, as well as providing a safe breeding environment for birds to return to the garden year after year.

Craig Hall, Marketing Director at Deco-Pak said; “With the news that our natural nesting sites are declining, it is vital to take small but meaningful actions in the garden to help the bird population.  Our nest boxes are the perfect solution and come in all shapes and sizes to provide birds with a safe place to rest and raise their young, are vital to their survival, as well being a decorative addition to your garden.  The year-round market for wildlife-friendly gifts is a key growth area for garden retailers. Awareness weeks such as National Nestbox Week and RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch are ideal opportunities to get involved with and get both adults children engaged with nature.”

Find out more

To find out more about Deco-Pak’s leading line up of bird care products, visit www.deco-pak for more information.

elho has appointed two new members to its UK sales team to help the company continue its growth into 2020, as well as creating another new position.

Molly Cordall joins as the new Area Sales Representative for the South East. She will be managed by Louise Hoskins who has returned from maternity leave to the position of Account Manager, where she will be managing regional sales representatives as well as overseeing key accounts.

The company is continuing to strengthen the team and is currently recruiting for an Area Sales Representative for the South West.

David Nicholson, Sales Manager for elho in the UK and Ireland, commented: “We’re thrilled to be able to strengthen the UK sales force to be able to offer support to our existing team, whilst being able to now fully service key areas of the country and our retailers in these areas. At elho we continually innovate, evolve and invest in the UK market and our new team members, along with our new collection, is the latest step in this.”

This comes as the company launches its 2020 collection, which features new ranges as well as new colour introductions on existing ranges.

For over 55 years, elho has been a prominent market leader in its sector and is the leading innovator in the synthetic pottery market. As the most sustainable company in its category, elho makes designer plant pots for both indoor and outdoor use. It also creates innovative smart solutions such as self-watering systems and plant lights so that plants can grow even in dark corners of a house.

elho products are created with nature in mind. Last year, the company used 5.6 million kilogrammes of recycled plastic in the production of its designer pots. 70% of the raw materials used in all elho products is from recycled plastic. In turn, all elho are 100% recyclable. The production process is sustainable too and runs on 100% wind energy generated by its own windmill at its office in Tilburg in Holland. They even have 2,000,000 bees producing special elho honey in the grounds of the offices!

If you are interested in stocking elho products, or applying for the South West vacancy, contact david.nicholson@elho.nl.

For more information please visit www.elho.com.

Tong Garden Centre is repeating its free orchid advice day following last year's successful event.

The Bradford centre is holding an Orchid Day on Sunday, 1st March where lovers of the tropical species are invited to receive free advice and health checks for their plants.

The day will be led by former orchid grower, Chris Channon, a Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) gold medalist who said: "Orchid Days give house plant lovers the opportunity to find out how easy orchids are to grow and how best to look after their plants, as well as have any queries answered.  

"People are welcome to bring their own orchids along during the day. I'll be able to give them a free orchid MOT during my clinic and diagnose any problems they may have, as well as give handy ‘dos and don'ts' on how to treat their plants, especially when they're not at their best."

Chris will be in the houseplant area at the Tong Lane garden centre between 10am and 4pm for general advice and will be giving talks and re-potting demonstrations at 11am and at 2pm. The talks will last 30-40 minutes and will give advice about how to care for your orchid, how to ensure that it flowers repeatedly and other types of orchids to grow beyond Phalaenopsis.

The demonstrations will be followed by a question and answer session. There is no charge for entry and there will be offers on selected plants throughout the day.

Tong's Plant Buyer Steve Smith is delighted to welcome Chris back to Tong: "The event was so successful last year, attracting many people in store to learn more about caring for their orchid. Customers loved the free orchid health check, valuing Chris's expertise."

Tong Garden Centre occupies a 17 acre site in Tong village. It is one of Yorkshire's biggest garden centres with 110,000 square feet of retail space and parking for up to 1,000 cars.

“Rushing into things is dangerous. But doing nothing is more dangerous.” So says Adam Wigglesworth of Aylett Nurseries in St Albans in GTN's Sustainability Directory 2020, published last week.

“It's a moving target, this sustainability thing but customers expect it. Financially, it makes sense. It works, recycling, waste reduction. Those things actually make efficiencies and even in situations where things are slightly more expensive actually, customers are normally happy to pay the difference, or you have to absorb a bit of it.”

Aylett Nurseries have been on the sustainability journey now for many years and are main sponsors of the annual St Albans Sustainability Week.  “I've been banging on about it for a while but if you only did one thing it would be by yourself a bailer and bail your plastic, bale your cardboard and bale your shrink and take it out of your waste stream.”

“When we show our customers what we do (they have massive displays of their waste management and sustainable products etc in store during St Albans Sustainability Week and at other times) they all say, ‘I didn't realize you were doing so much.’ That’s why we must tell people about it.”

Adam’s staff at Aylett’s play a big part in their sustainability journey.  “How many people work in garden centres who aren't enthusiastic about the environment? This is not a difficult sell. When we started on the sustainability kick, we had a management meeting: I said there are two ways to look at this, there are those of you who are the eco warriors, you're going to love this and then there are those of you who aren't and you're interested in your pay packet. All of you are going to benefit from this because we're going to reduce the amount we send to landfill, we're going to reduce our costs. We're going to sell our cardboard and our plastic, we're going to reduce the waste bill. So everyone succeeds and customers love it.”

“That's why I like being in this industry was their reaction. That doesn't mean we're green. It doesn't mean we don't have plastic pots. It doesn't mean we don't use heating but we certainly need to adapt and change and keep moving forward. We've got to do our best. I feel very, very passionately about it.  Customers are not asking us to completely rip up our business model and change it. There's a huge following, particularly in St Albans from customers to know what we're doing.  And when we tell them what we're doing, it is such a positive saying and we're not doing nearly enough.”

“I suspect loads of people have done L.E.D. lights. I've changed every single light in the garden centre. It cost £60k with a very helpful carbon trust grant of 10%. I'm saving just over 20 percent a year on my energy bill so the payback for me is three years. They've got a warranty of five years and over their lifetime that’s 30 tons of carbon we’ve saved just by putting in LED lights.”

Aylett Nurseries have also been involved in wider sustainability initiatives. “A few years ago we signed up to the Refill App (www.refill.org.uk) for free water bottle re-fills and currently we get at least a dozen people a day calling in for free water.  What’s not to like about that!”

“At the end of the day you've got to do this for the right reason. And the right reason is for the environment. Everything else is a benefit. If you're only doing this to be seen to be green that's the wrong reason.”

Read more about garden centre sustainability in the on-line version of GTN's Sustainability Directory 2020 using this link and see the sustainability listings of over 80 garden centre suppliers.

We have a limited number of extra hard copies of the Sustainability Directory available.  Please contact trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk for details.

Gardeners in the UK can now manage weeds in an organic, natural way with the launch of an innovative new weed prevention product from Westland. 

‘Resolva Weed Preventer’ is a first in the UK marketplace, offering gardeners an organic, timesaving, preventative solution to weeds. The highly effective new product is made from 100% plant based natural ingredients and is safe for both children and pets.

Research shows that whilst gardeners enjoy a certain amount of weeding, it can be frustrating if it gets too much.  Resolva Weed Preventer is proven to stop weeds before they start, reducing the need for hand weeding in beds, borders and vegetable patches by preventing weeds’ seed development and establishment.   The product is simply sprinkled on bare soil then watered in to provide six weeks of protection after application.   It does not damage established plants.

Keith Nicholson, Marketing Director for Westland commented: “Westland is delighted to bring this innovative new product to market which offers gardeners an organic solution to the management of weeds. With gardeners becoming more environmentally conscious and keen to cut down on the use of chemicals, this offers a practical and proven solution which stops weeds appearing in the first place. Resolva Weed Preventer will be of particular interest to gardeners with children or pets, as the formulation is safe for both.  It will also tick a box for gardeners who want to take control of weeds in the garden and free up more time for other gardening tasks.”

Resolva Weed Preventer comes in a 2.5kg environmentally friendly tub with scatter scoop.  For further information please visit www.gardenhealth.com.

Kelkay have announced that they have recently won new listings for their market-leading aggregates range in the seven-strong Great Western Partnership (GWP). The win comes after the successful launch of the new look range at Glee in September when Fiona Newton, buyer for GWP, met with the Kelkay sales team.

New orders are being processed and merchandising is underway in Castle Gardens, Brimsmore Gardens, Poundbury Gardens, Plymouth Garden Centre, Bernaville Nurseries, Monkton Elm Garden Centre and Merry Harriers Garden Centre. The new category set up will be ready for the expected upturn in demand for landscaping products in the Spring.

Speaking about the change, Fiona Newton commented “I actually dropped on to the Kelkay stand at GLEE on the recommendation of a colleague, with no real expectations. But when I saw the aggregate offer and the new merchandising and point of sale, I was keen to bring the proposition to the whole group. We are very pleased with the way the Kelkay range fits into our offer and the service we’ve enjoyed from Scott McCabe and the rest of the team.”

Kelkay expect their business with GWP to grow significantly as a result of the new category listing.

With January 2020 covering a five week reporting period we can now confirm that it has been a record start to the year, beating the previous high set in 2019 by 16%.

Whilst that is a great omen for the rest of the year we should remember that January sales only account for 6% of the years total sales, so we should be careful about making predictions for the rest of Spring just yet.

The really good thing, however, is that with volume sales being so high more people have been choosing to visit and spend money in garden centres during the first five weeks of the year than ever before.  If that continues… watch this space!

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year (week 5):

• Garden Products - up 30%
• Growing Media - up 14%
• Wild Bird Care - down 21%
• Veg-2-Gro - up 38%
• All Plants Index - up 99%
• All Items Index - up 46%

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

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

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

As the year goes on we give sales volume comparisons with 2017 as well as 2018 to allow your teams to see variations over a three year period.

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

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

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

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

Highlights of the GTN Wild Bird Care Products chart for this week are here

Highlights of the GTN Veg-2-Gro 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.

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 £120m.

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.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or call 01733 775700.

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

Casual Dining – the industry’s favourite restaurant, pub and bar event, has added CEOs, founders and senior directors from YO!, London Union, Loungers, Carluccio’s, Byron, Flat Iron, Imbiba, Pizza Pilgrims, Wahaca, Dishoom, Busaba, Yard & Coop, and Hippo Inns to its ‘biggest ever’ Keynote line-up.  A record 65 speakers (with more yet to announce) will appear in 35 sessions at the show.

For this year’s visitors, who’ll be heading to ExCeL London over 25-26 March in their thousands, it’s a rare opportunity to hear from some of the UK’s most inspirational and influential business leaders from across the casual dining restaurant, pub and bar sector, talking about the big opportunities, innovations, and trends for the year ahead.

Richard Hodgson, CEO of YO!, is among the big names looking forward to sharing exclusive insights at the show.  He'll be joining Peter Martin, founder of the Atlantic Club, Jessica Parrish, former commercial director at Time Out Market, and Jonathan Downey, founder of Milk & Honey and London Union, to talk about the opportunities, as well as the pitfalls to be avoided, when taking restaurant and bar brands 'global'. 

Loungers’ Nick Collins, who has been instrumental in growing the brand from 56 to 166 sites since he became CEO in 2015, is now confirmed for an exclusive opening day interview.  He’ll be talking with Mark Stretton, MD of Fleet Street Communications, about everything from multi-site roll out to going public on the stock exchange.

The Restaurant Leaders panel is sure to be a big draw, featuring Mark Jones, CEO of Carluccio’s, Simon Wilkinson, CEO of Byron, and Jo Fleet, MD of Flat Iron, who calls Casual Dining Show “a great opportunity to meet, share and celebrate the sector”.  While the latest additions to The Casual Dining / Supersonic Inc Marketing Podcast panel, hosted by Mark McCulloch, are Oli Ingham from Wahaca, Libby Andrews from Pho, Anna-Marie Mason from Mitchells & Butlers, and Sara Stark from Dishoom.

“Casual Dining is the only UK event that annually attracts so many leading innovators, influencers, trailblazers and decision makers from across the casual dining sector together in one place at one time.  It always attracts the best, most exciting and inspiring brands and industry experts, which is a testament to just how invaluable it is to the industry it serves,” says event manager Eva Ellis.

See below for the full list (to date) of CEOs, MDs, owners, founders, executive chefs, ops directors, food chiefs, head marketeers, and industry analysts, who’ll be speaking in Casual Dining’s three show theatres (sponsored by Yumpingo): 

• Richard Hodgson, CEO of YO!
• Nisha Katona MBE, founder & CEO of Mowgli
• Simon Emeny, chief executive of Fuller, Smith and Turner
• Steve Holmes, CEO of Azzurri Group
• Nick Collins, CEO of Loungers
• James Spragg, CEO of Casual Dining Group
• Mark Jones, CEO of Carluccio’s
• Simon Wilkinson, CEO of Byron
• Peter Borg-Neal, chief executive of Oakman Inns & Restaurants
• Chris Hill, CEO of New World Trading Co (NWTC)
• Martin Wolstencroft, CEO of ARC Inspirations
• Jonathan Downey, founder of Milk & Honey, London Union & Street Feast
• Laura Harper-Hinton, owner & creative director at Caravan Restaurants
• Thom Elliot, co-founder of Pizza Pilgrims
• Tom Barton, director & co-founder of Honest Burgers
• Lizzie Ryan, director at Imbiba
• Charlie McVeigh, founder & investor at Bunker Projects
• Chris Miller, founder & CEO of White Rabbit Fund
• Baton Berisha, managing director of The Ivy Collection
• Jo Fleet, MD of Flat Iron
• Amber Wood, MD of Cosy Club
• Simon Bunn, MD of Brewhouse & Kitchen
• Simon Potts, MD of The Alchemist
• Joycelyn Neve, MD of Seafood Pub Company
• Anthony Pender, co-founder of Yummy Pubs
• Laura Morris, co-founder of Yard & Coop
• Mark Wogan, creative director / co-founder of Homeslice
• Andrew Macleod, founder of Emilia’s Crafted Pasta
• Andre Johnstone, business development director at wagamama
• Steven Mangleshot, executive chef at wagamama
• Mark Teed, head of food at Star Pubs & Bars
• Antony Bennett, head of food at Loungers
• Duncan McEwan, exec development chef at Casual Dining Group
• Alice Bowyer, group executive chef at Liberation Pubs & Bars
• Ross Pike, chef director at Oakman Inns
• Seamus O’Donnell, executive chef at The Alchemist
• Winston Matthews, food & beverage director at Busaba Eathai
• Anna-Marie Mason, brand marketing director at Mitchells & Butlers
• Jenny Mcphee, head of brand at The Alchemist
• Libby Andrews, marketing director at Pho
• Sara Stark, marketing director at Dishoom
• Oli Ingham, creative marketing lead at Wahaca
• Simon Allison, head of marketing at Inception Group
• Brian Trollip, operations director at Dishoom
• Adrian Laws, operations director at Hippo Inns
• Mark McFadyen, group operations director at Brewhouse & Kitchen
• Chris Stagg, operations director at Peach Pubs
• Will Prideaux, operations director at Nicholson’s - Mitchells & Butlers
• Dave Lewis, operations director at Browns Brasserie & Bar
• Steve Phillips, operations director at Busaba Eathai
• Steve Hill, operations director at Bone Daddies
• Jessica Parrish, former commercial director at Time Out Market
• Jay Morjaria, chef & F&B consultant
• Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality
• Peter Backman, foodservice analyst      
• Karl Chessell, food & retail director at CGA
• Graeme Loudon, commercial director at CGA
• Simon Stenning, founder of FutureFoodservice.com
• Dominic Allport, insights director - UK Foodservice at The NPD Group
• Mark McCulloch, founder & CEO of Supersonic Inc
• Peter Martin, founder of Atlantic Club and VP of CGA
• Mark Stretton, MD of Fleet Street Communications
• Mike Berry, head of content at Fleet Street Communications
• Ann Elliott, CEO of Elliotts Agency

For timings and seminar details, please visit: www.casualdiningshow.co.uk/keynote-programme.