Wyevale Garden Centres has this morning announced the sale of Bournville Garden Centre, which will be sold to British Garden Centres. This is the fourth transaction with British Garden Centres following the sale of one centre in December 2018, six centres in February and eight centres in June 2019.

Bournville will continue to be run as a garden centre. The sale is expected to complete mid-August.

Anthony Jones, COO of Wyevale Garden Centres, said: “I am pleased that Bournville will continue as a garden centre, run by an operator that we now know well thanks to having sold centres to British Garden Centre’s over the last year. I would like to take the opportunity to thank all of our colleagues at Bournville for their hard work and passion, and wish them all the best for the future under new ownership.”

Charles Stubbs, MD of British Garden Centres said: “We are proud to announce the purchase of Bournville Garden Centre into our rapidly expanding British Garden Centres family. Phillippa, Robert and I and all the British Garden Centres teams are looking forward to supporting Bournville in the set up for the autumn/winter trading period.”

Wyevale Garden Centres also announce today that Swindon Hay Lane Garden Centre’s landlord, Studley Grange Limited, will continue to operate the site as a garden centre. It will be operated alongside the existing Butterfly World and Craft Village, which are also situated on site. The site will continue operating as a Wyevale Garden Centre until the end of September.

Anthony Jones, COO of Wyevale Garden Centres said: "We strive for a positive outcome with all our centres and I am delighted that Swindon Hay Lane will continue to be run as a garden centre, with all employees to transfer over to new ownership. I would like to wish them all the very best for the future.”

Tony Miller M.D of Studley Grange Ltd said: “I am over the moon to bring the garden centre back in house, allowing us to fully integrate the garden centre with the Craft Village, Butterfly World, Farm Park and Zoo, on the 25 acre site. We have recently obtained planning approval for a building linking the Garden Centre and Craft Village together, with more favourable conditions on use. Our existing management and staff are excited and looking forward to working with their new colleagues at the garden centre.”

With only 22 centres "still to be sold" the state of play for garden centre groups changes with every new sale announcement.  Here is our current "State of the Nation" chart along with a list of all the Wyevale transactions to date.

Over the past few weeks we've been asked by several readers for a list of the Wyevale centres that have been sold and to who.  Here is our A-Z list, including the 22 that are still to be sold.  We believe this to be correct as we go to press this morning...

While garden centre footfall and total volume sales continue to run at levels up on both 2017 and 2018 garden centre management teams’ thoughts are turning to next year and looking forward to Glee.

In the September issue of Garden Trade News you’ll read the Expectations for Glee from a number of retailers and exhibitors and there is a common theme of looking for sustainability and green credentials in products they want to be selling next year.

Adam Wigglesworth from Aylett Nurseries explained: “2019 has been a great trading year so far with customers showing real interest in all ‘green’ aspects of the products they are buying. Never before have I dealt with so many queries on the detail of all products in terms of their environmental impact. There is a real ‘head of steam’ behind consumers’ desire to improve their environment and to reduce their footprint at all levels. Curating the correct range of products for this changing market will be challenging but bring opportunities.”

With entries steadily coming in for the New Product Showcase at Glee, which we organise, we will be watching to see how many of those entries are making the most of the opportunity Adam refers to.

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year (week 32)
Garden Products - up 70%
Growing Media - up 7%
Wild Bird Care - up 10%
Veg-2-Gro - up 1%
All Plants Index - down 19%
All Items Index - up 8%

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

The Corby and Fellas EPOS system has received praise from Mark Winchester, Managing Director of Blackbrooks Garden Centres.

"After investing in a system by one of your competitors and having the unfortunate realisation that things were not working as smoothly as they should, I decided to look for a more efficient system and more reliable technical support," Mark told Corby and Fellas.

"So, after a brief conversation with Alan McCammon and a subsequent presentation from Corby + Fellas, I decided to bite the proverbial bullet and install C&F across the group and I have to say even with the deadlines imposed on your team by myself, the installation process went without a hitch. In fact, I could not have hoped for a better nor smother installation process, so thank you for that.

"Your system has proven to be robust and intuitive enabling our operators to adapt and adopt almost immediately. It is also worth noting the relaxed attitude my till operatives now have due to the confidence they have in their abilities to navigate and rely on their till. This in turn has had a positive effect with the whole team and customers alike.

"I now look forward to making better use of the back-office functionality that your system provides which I have no doubt will trigger cost savings and efficiencies to my business."

For more information visit www.corbyfellas.com

Festive has recently teamed up with the world’s largest battery brand, Duracell, to help you maximise your Garden Centre battery sale opportunities.

According to extensive research carried out by Duracell, there are two types of battery shoppers: 

1. Those that buy batteries as a destination purchase.
2. Those that buy on impulse, when they see a point of sale display in store.

This relatively new and exciting partnership gives you the opportunity to boost your sales and profit from both types of shoppers.

According to an IPSOS Quantative study, batteries are ranked the 2^nd most wanted and expected item at the checkout. In fact, 40% of all battery sales are bought on impulse, where the shopper is only adding batteries to their basket after seeing them on display - which tells us that display is key.

To help you boost your sales by 40% and add to your profit margin, we now offer a huge selection of Duracell batteries in a number of bespoke quality displays at a competitive price.

How many items do you sell that are powered by battery? On average, there are 17 battery operated devices per household. This figure is expected to increase by 20% year on year.

Our fully merchandised support for the world’s leading battery range also includes a replenishment system to provide all year round management of the category. With the peak selling season for batteries fast approaching, be sure to place your order now for autumn delivery.

Here’s to winning with Festive.

To learn more about our Duracell offering and how we can help you, get in touch today.

Landing page: http://www.festive.co.uk/duracell-batteries/

The Garden Centre Association is encouraging its members to do what they can to help reduce the amount of plastic going to landfill.

Two of its member centres recently worked with Herefordshire and Worcestershire authorities to get non-black PP plastic pots and trays accepted in household and kerbside recycling bins.

Will Blake, Director at St Peter’s Garden Centre in Norton, Worcester, said: “There has been a lot of discussions among GCA members about how we can help reduce plastic waste, especially as there is a large amount of it in the garden centre industry currently.

“Myself, along with Nick Baker at Webbs of Wychbold garden centre at Droitwich Spa, have recently been in touch with the local authorities to see how we could help.

“Nick wrote to the local councils, only to find out, that many will not accept plastic plant pots in recycling, however I visited the reprocessing plant for our counties and discussed it further with them. They had heard of the taupe plant pot and welcomed a visit to discuss the situation. I took a whole selection of PP pots with me – Popplemann Teku, Taupe, black and also some trays.

“We put all the pot types through the plant, and the good news is that, every single non-black PP pot was identified by the infrared scanners and sorted into its correct plastic category. 

“The particular company I visited, Severn Waste Services, were extremely helpful, and really appreciated my input. Within a week of the visit, they had updated their website (which lists exactly what can and can’t be placed in the recycling bins) and they met with the county council to advise of the acceptance of non-black PP plant pots, which is great news for the people of Herefordshire and Worcestershire.”

All non-black PP plastic pots and trays can be accepted in household and kerbside recycling in the Herefordshire and Worcestershire areas.

Will added: “As garden centres, St Peter’s and Webbs of Wychbold are now actively advertising this to our customers, both instore using posters, but also through social media.

“We were initially inspired to do something about this issue after David Chilvers of Bransford Webbs Plant Company, which is a GCA Associate Member,pioneered a taupe pot initiative in 2018.

“A group made up of the largest growers in the UK, came together and established that they needed to change the colour of the plant pot, to enable them to be recycled. This has now been widely adopted and the majority of plants grown in the UK, from spring 2019, are now done so in recyclable PP plant pots.”

Westland will give the trade its first close-up look at the newly-formed Gardman Crest business at Glee next month.

Westland acquired Gardman at the end of 2018 and has since re-structured the brand with its own Crest Garden division, to offer the Gardman, Kent & Stowe, Flopro, Grow It and Cole & Bright brands. Every single product in these ranges has been analysed and improved, with branding, packaging and POS revamps.

The company stresses that the re-vamp involves genuine innovation and not simply redesign and refreshing. Significant new products include a brand new range of Kent & Stowe gardening gloves, footwear and kneelers, as well new products in the tree care and traditional cutting tools ranges. Product developments for Cole & Bright include a new decorative range, as well as motion sensor security lighting. The Gardman brand will regain much of its former splendour and heritage with hanging baskets and planters, as well as the UK’s first range of decorative jute co-co liners.

Grow It has new advanced growhouse solutions and innovations with stability pockets for wind resistance as well as stronger covers, zips and shelving. Walk in models have new ventilation in the form of side roll doors designed to ensure an even air flow.

Head of marketing Natalie Searle said: “The team has made amazing progress and we can’t wait for Glee to showcase all the work that has taken place since last October. We have reinvigorated the brands to give them a new lease of life and where we have been able to make improvements we have, all to serve the needs of today’s gardener. We’ve introduced new products and developed strong brand identities, all whilst ensuring quality, design and functionality are at the core.

“We have kept all of the great products and brands that Gardman has done for the past 25 years, as well as retaining the two leading brands of Kent & Stowe tools and Flopro watering from Crest Garden. Plantpak has merged with Grow It and is now a fully comprehensive range of growing and propagation. However, we have also spent this year enhancing our product offering with high quality, innovative products in all of our ranges.”

Gardman Crest will share the Westland Horticulture stand and will showcase all the new products, branding refreshes and POS materials as part of a lifestyle display alongside visualisation of the in-store proposition.

Dorset garden centre Goulds at Littlemoor near Weymouth is to double the size of its restaurant.

It will expand into the adjacent space currently occupied by a conservatory showroom and will provide 168 covers.

Dorset Council has approved the application, which will see the two buildings linked together with a kitchen, wash-up and servery in the centre of the combined building.

Goulds says full-time staffing will increase from eight to 10 and  part-time jobs from seven to 13.

Mr Fothergill’s Seeds were delighted to welcome Sally van der Horst, Secretary General of Fleuroselect, as the keynote speaker at the august open day for the gardening press at their Kentford trial grounds where over 2000 seed lots are tested annually. She was delighted to be part of the Suffolk company’s launch of the plant of the year campaigns for 2020 – rudbeckia and cucumber.

Sally explained the role of Fleuroselect, who will celebrate their 50th anniversary next year, as the international organisation which represents breeders and producers of the starting material for pot and bedding plants, both seed and cuttings. Through a system of European trials varieties are assessed for those which specifically show excellence in breeding which could

then become Fleuroselect Gold Medal winners and FleuroStar winners.

Sally explained that UK companies had been at the core of Fleuroselect since its creation in the 1970’s which is a role Mr Fothergills had been pleased to continue. She commented “the youthful Mr. Fothergill’s joined Fleuroselect after they set up business and have been a proud and positive supporter ever since. They are part of the group of companies within Fleuroselect who focus on supplying the Home Garden Market. Filling and selling seed packets accounts for most of their main business and I am sure if you look at their assortment there are many wonderful varieties that have received a Fleuroselect Gold Medal.”

Sally continued to praise Mr Fothergills by saying: “Our Home Garden group has not sat still. Just over 10 years ago we got together to look at how we could talk to each other and better share ideas on a Pan-European scale. Mr. Fothergill’s has been on the organising committee for that from the start, now through our great friend and supporter, Commercial Director, Tim Jeffries.”

The Home Garden Group developed a Plant of the Year campaign to promote one crop each year in both flowers and vegetables that is suitable for Hobby Gardeners starting first with the Sunflower which was supported by a spectacular display at RHS Wisley of over 180 varieties. Not only was the trial a delight for the public, who had the opportunity to vote for their favourite, but there were visitors from breeding companies from all over Europe and even Japan paying a visit.

From displays at one successful location at Wisley, there are now displays in Ireland, France and Germany. 2019 is the year of the Nasturtium and the Carrot and we have Nasturtium trials at RHS Harlow Carr and Hyde Hall as well as the Jardins des Plantes in Paris, Ega Park in Erfurt, Teagasc, Ashtown Food Research Centre in Dublin and the spectacular Blumeninsel Mainau on lake Constance. We look forward to similar displays in 2020 for rudbeckia and cucumbers.

Sally explained the rationale behind the campaigns “We believe that the campaign highlights the diversity in each species, and we hope that gardeners will branch out and try some of the newer varieties. We use children in the photography as we have high hopes that it will encourage them to develop and maintain pleasure in gardening. You can’t start young enough.”

Three of Aardman studio’s best-loved characters – Wallace, Gromit, and Shaun the Sheep – are set to be immortalised in a new range of pot feet by Jardinopia as part of an exclusive global licensing deal.

The ranges will be unveiled at Glee, where three sets will be revealed – two showcasing Wallace & Gromit characters and one for Shaun the Sheep. The second Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon will hit UK cinemas on 18October. 

Wallace & Gromit first appeared on our screens 30 years ago in ‘A Grand Day Out’. Bristol-based Aardman now has four Oscars and an impressive list of awards and accolades and a worldwide fanbase.

The licensing deal has been six months in the making, says Jardinopia’s Tony Barnett. “We’ve had such a great success with our generic Potty Feet ranges, that we felt now was a good time to investigate the licensing route to market. Aardman was an obvious first choice for us. As a fellow South West based company, and one that has brought joy to millions of homes, we knew the fit was right. We’re excited to be working with them and hope these exclusive ranges can both help put Potty Feet firmly on the global map and prepare the ground for additional global licensed ranges that we will be launching in Spring 2020.”

Rob Goodchild, Head of Licensing at Aardman added: “It’s great to be working with independent, creative businesses such as Jardinopia as we look to extend our licensing programmes in the home and garden categories. We hope these products will bring a smile to the faces of Aardman fans everywhere.”

The collaboration of two British brands marks an exciting chapter for Jardinopia, who launched to the UK market only 18 months ago. The company has since enjoyed exponential growth and now distributes to 14 countries offering 90 different designs under the Potty Feet brand. An exciting additional complementary sister brand is set to make its debut at Glee (stand 6S81).

To find out more about Jardinopia and Potty Feet, visit the website. 

The Ball Colegrave Annual Summer Showcase is one of the UK’s premier trade events. With over four acres of seasonal plant displays and variety trials, set in the heart of the Oxfordshire countryside, this event attracts an audience of over 3,500 Growers, Independent and Multiple Retailers, Parks and Landscapers, Garden Writers, Plant Breeders, Trades Associations, Students and Home Gardeners.

Trade Visitors and Home Gardeners alike, voted for their favourite variety using a blue marker flag. With over 1300 catalogue varieties, 200 new varieties and 700 experimental products on display, there was certainly plenty to choose from!

This year, not only saw visitors favouring “New” varieties with their choice in voting, but also many more Perennial varieties appeared in the top choices.

Here are this year’s top varieties voted for by our visitors:

NEW Petunia ‘GlacierSky (P)’

This most unique, stand-out flower ‘wows’ gardeners with its constellation of stars edged with an ‘ice’ effect margin… a great new twist on a garden favourite!

GlacierSky is a Petunia sensation with its striking and unique colour patterning.

At the 2019 Summer Showcase at Ball Colegrave, GlacierSky stole the show with its captivating colouring and strong performance in pots, baskets and containers.

This was reinforced by the 3,500 Trade and Consumer visitors to the 2019 Summer Showcase who both voted GlacierSky as their favourite variety!

GlacierSky has large violet flowers with a distinct ‘ice effect’ edging, decorated by white speckles. The uniqueness of the variety is also revealed in the high weather resistance, semi-trailing and strong branching habit, which in combination with a stable colour pattern and a great shelf life makes this a real ‘standout’ variety. 

GlacierSky is a ‘must have’ plant variety for impulse colour sales at Retail in 10.5-13cm pots and ready planted baskets.

In the garden, GlacierSky loves a sunny location on the patios or balcony in containers, baskets and window boxes.

Available to the trade as a Ball 84 plug tray with colour labels, weeks 8 – 20. For the home gardener, we look forward to seeing this variety in many Garden Centres and Plant Retailers across the UK in 2020. 

NEW Lavandula angustifolia ‘Blue Spear’

The showiest English Lavender you can grow and sell!  

Lavandula Blue Spear shows off bigger, taller spikes than any other seed Lavender, with more upright flower stems that stand closer to each other for an intense bluish-purple colour impact, even from a distance.

The well-branched, bushy plants are easy to grow. Their very tidy shape, early flowering and uniformity make them ideal for pot tight production in 10.5cm pots upto 1 or 2 litre pots and provide strong colour at point of sale.

Being a seed and first year flowering variety, crops of Blue Spear are particularly economical to produce and can be started in the Spring without the necessity of overwintering or heavy fungicidal programmes.

Seed can be advantageous over vegetative varieties in reducing the risk of importing diseases such as Xyllela from overseas production sites.

Blue Spear is particularly ideal for patio containers, garden beds, rock gardens, cut flowers, dried flowers, is highly attractive to pollinating insects and of course carries that special ‘feel-good’ Lavender fragrance.

This hardy variety (USDA 6a – 8b) is ideal for a full sun location, providing lasting pleasure and scent over a very long season. Garden height; 28 - 33cm and spread; 23 - 28cm.

Available to the trade as a Ball 40 plug tray weeks 15, 18 and 24, plus a Ball 104 tray weeks 10-18, all supplied with colour labels. For the home gardener, we look forward to seeing this variety in many Garden Centres and Plant Retailers across the UK in 2020. 

NEW Geranium ‘Macarda^® Pink with Purple Eye (P)’ 

An outstanding performer for window boxes, containers and baskets!

Pink with Purple Eye is just one of the outstanding colours in the Macarda^® interspecific Geranium series. It is understandable why this particular colour was chosen as this has been a real consumer favourite colour in zonal varieties.

But, the Macarda^® series delivers a new twist to the market. Not only does this variety provide a strong and early proliferation of single flowers in rich colours, but its habit is to die for! The plants are strong, yet controlled in their neat semi-trailing and mounding form to provide a powerful display of colour in baskets, window boxes or patio containers. The full-looking and tight shape of the ‘ivy-leaf’ foliage contrasts exceptionally well against the multiple flower heads to provide an oustanding plant presentation.

In the garden, Macarda^® has high weather resistance and is self cleaning, so it needs little dead-heading to stay looking good. The foliage remains clean and tidy. Height & spread 35-40cm.

At retail, Macarda® fills 11 – 17cm pots with great ease and stays neat looking for longer with its strong flower retention and clean mounded foliage. We think it looks best in 13cm (1 litre) upto 17cm (2 litre) pots. There are 6 colours in the range; Dark Red, Magenta, Orange, Pink, Pink with Purple Eye and White.

Available to the trade in a Paper 104 plug tray with colour labels, weeks 6 and 8-16. For the home gardener, we look forward to seeing this variety in many Garden Centres and Plant Retailers across the UK in 2020.

The 2019 Summer Showcase ‘Blue Flag’ results: Your Favourite Varieties

What is the Blue Flag survey?

The ‘Blue Flag’ survey is a measurable study that identifies sales opportunities right through the supply chain, enabling Ball Colegrave customers to determine what varieties are “favourites” as visitors place a blue flag beside their favourite plant. Over 2,000 blue flags were placed this year during trade and public days which are counted daily and totalled at the end of 3 weeks. 

Other Facts about our Trial Grounds

Ball Colegrave has been conducting plant variety trials and customer open days from their Trial Grounds in West Adderbury for 55 years. Today’s Trial Grounds not only presents the companies assortment of catalogue varieties in a rich display of settings and retail ideas, but also comprehensively evaluates hundreds of new future lines before introduction. This ensures that when a product is introduced in the Ball Colegrave catalogues, our staff and visitors have seen it and know it performs under UK growing conditions! 

Over 25,000 Annual and Perennial plants are bedded out in the trial and display beds with in excess of 5,000 pot plants and 2,000 patio baskets/containers are planted up for the event.

Traditionally the Trial Grounds were attended by Parks and Nurserymen. Today they are joined by an ever increasing number of Garden Centres looking for new plant and retail ideas.  

Mr Fothergill's celebrated 60 years in horticulture for their Trials Manager Brian Talman at their August Press day with a presentation of an acer Shirasawanum Jordan in a premium pot with a personalised inscription. Acers are one of Brian’s favourite plants and the gift follows earlier celebrations and gifts within the company.

The company marked the occasion when the trials were looking at their best and in front of the gardening journalists of the UK. As he celebrates 60 years working in horticulture, Brian muses how his working life could have been quite different if he had not heeded the advice of a family-friend doctor. "As a Surrey teenager I passed an engineering exam in 1959 to become an apprentice, but because of my asthma the doctor said a factory environment would be bad for me and I would be better working outside".

Brian noticed local seed company Nutting & Sons of Merstham was advertising for a trials assistant, so he applied for the post, was taken on a five-year apprenticeship, at the end of which and while still a teenager, he was appointed flower seed manager on a six-month probation. "Although I was never told the company was satisfied, I suppose it must have been because I stayed until 1983", laughs Brian.

During that time the company moved to Cambridgeshire. In 1983 Brian was approached by Chicago-based Ball & Co and invited to set up a British trial ground, which he managed until 2002 when he decided to set up his own plant company Talman's Plants Nursery, which in turn led to him working with Mr Fothergill's. In the early days of this association, Brian grew all Mr Fothergill's plants at his own nursery because there were no facilities at the seed company's Kentford, Suffolk, base. Through the years, Brian has supervised the development of the Kentford trial including the development of polytunnels to facilitate all germination and growing on-site.

Mr Fothergill's commercial director Tim Jeffries takes up the story. "We know how fortunate we are to have Brian running our trials, which several independent experts have told me are the best of their kind in Europe. His plant knowledge and understanding and his growing skills are unparalleled. He is a key member of our specialist horticultural team". Brian Talman is more modest. He simply says "I can honestly say I have loved every minute of the past 60 years. While every day may have its challenges, every day I work with plants is a joy".

A very special cake for Brian - 100% edible!

L-R: Jane Perret (Restaurant General Manager), Marc Etheridge (Assistant General Manager), Kevin Holmes (Outdoor Manager), Pauline Oxford (Customer Services Team Leader), Simon Hallam (General Manager), Warren Haskins (Chairman), Andrea Montes (Indoor Manager), Yvonne Bunyan, (Goods In Manager)

Haskins Garden Centre at Ferndown in Dorset celebrated its 25th anniversary with a special staff BBQ.

With more than 150 staff in attendance including Chairman Warren Haskins, the celebratory BBQ was a huge success. The Ferndown senior management team joined Warren and his son, Jamie Haskins, Jamie’s wife and two daughters, to mark the occasion.

Warren Haskins, Chairman of Haskins Garden Centres, commented: “Thank you so much to each and every person that has helped make the Ferndown centre the success story that it is today. It was wonderful to see so many staff at our 25-year celebratory BBQ and I look forward to seeing what the next 25 years will bring.”

Haskins officially opened its doors in March 1994 at the Longham site, having moved from a smaller site at Trickett’s Cross in Ferndown previously. The family-run garden centre group has grown from the humble beginnings of a small market garden in Coy Pond in Branksome, to operating four popular centres located across Dorset, Hampshire and West Sussex. The business has grown from a turnover of £17,000 in 1969 to a multi-million pound turnover and from employing seven people in 1969 to employing over 600 people.

Warren added: “When we cut the ribbon on the day the Ferndown centre officially opened in 1994, there were three generations present – myself, my mother and my three children, Steve, Becki and Jamie, aged from 10 to 14. Fast forward to 2019, 25 years on, and my son Jamie was with me at our 25-year celebratory BBQ. To me, that is something really special; family is deeply rooted into our core at Haskins.”

Haskins was founded in 1882 by Harry James Haskins, the great grandfather of Warren. Chairman Warren Haskins is now celebrating 50 years in the business, after taking over the family retail nursery in 1969.

Haskins Garden Centre is located in Ferndown, Dorset. Visit www.haskins.co.uk for more information.

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Rainer Schubert has been appointed as Burgon & Ball UK Managing Director.

Burgon and Ball is a UK-based manufacturer and supplier of premium gardening, agricultural and giftware products, whose heritage dates back to 1730 in Sheffield.  The highly successful and award-winning business is respected as a leading name in garden products, with an enviable reputation for quality, innovation and design.

Rainer was most recently UK and ROI Sales Director at Scotts Miracle-Gro for six years (now Evergreen Garden Care UK).  Before Scotts he held a number of commercial roles at Akzo Nobel over an eleven-year period.

Rainer will commence his new role from mid-August.

Whilst buying plants may not be as high on the agenda as usual, the great growing weather and people spending time enjoying their gardens is driving record high levels of garden product sales.  Last week’s Garden Products sales volumes was the highest for any of the past six years.

Highlights were:

• Smart Solar Eureka! Neo Light Bulb Lanterns continue to shine in gardens as the nights draw in with their fourth week at No 1.
• USP’s Wonderwall Vertical Garden Planters with 3-pockets are the week’s highest re-entry at No 11.
• Wilkinson Sword Bypass Pruners are the highest new entry for the week, in at No 12.

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

Waste management company Veolia who claim to be the largest peat-free composter in the UK have called for the total ban of peat.

Here is their press release issued last week:

In the UK we’re destroying 280,000 tonnes of peatlands a year and when including imported peat, this reaches a total of 805,000 tonnes solely for the use of horticulture, equivalent in mass to cutting down 80,500 mature trees.

At a time when the Government has committed to a net zero carbon emissions target by 2050, it is paramount we safeguard peatlands which retain carbon at such a scale.

The demand in the UK for ‘growing media’ - products such as compost, soil conditioners and potting media used commonly for gardening, is 1.7m tonnes - of which over a third is peat.

There are 4m tonnes of peat free compost being produced every year in the UK meaning a transition to the latter is not just realistic but an environmental obligation.

It’s time to stop excavating our precious peatlands says the UK’s largest peat-free composter Veolia. The damaging practice has continued to grow despite national targets to phase it out.

In 2011 the Government called for retailers to reduce peat use by 2020, but industry has shown lack of commitment to embrace these ambitions. Compost no longer needs to include peat as there is already a rich supply of natural green waste on our doorsteps which can match its planting properties pound for pound.

Richard Kirkman, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer, Veolia UK & Ireland says: "Peatlands are currently being destroyed at breakneck speed in the UK. At this rate a vital ecosystem along with its wildlife and broader environmental value will be lost. Peatlands are carbon sinks, no different to rainforests like the Amazon - and yet peat decimation is happening on British soil."

Veolia collects green waste from millions of households through its nationwide composting sites, processing the organic material into a sustainable, peat-free, nutrient rich product for gardeners and farmers alike. We have the tools, supply and motivation to replace peat with a greener compost - but resolve must be reflected in legislation in order to encourage a quicker transition.

Government must act on two fronts; incentivise peat-free compost for consumers while discouraging peat use through a phased, wholesale ban. If we are serious about our planet’s health and childrens’ futures we need a root and branch removal of such a ruinous practice, especially when there is an alternative readily on hand to replace it.

Between 2011-2017 there has actually been an increase in peat-based products for the growing media industry - as of 2017 56% of growing material on retailers’ shelves is still peat-based.

The UK is one of the world's top ten countries in terms of peatland area, covering two million hectares. 60% of the UK's peatland is in Scotland. The UK's peatlands store over three billion tonnes of carbon, around the same amount as all the forest in the UK, France and Germany put together.

Veolia is leading the crusade for sustainable compost - handling over 400,000 tonnes of household green waste every year derived from a nationwide network of 10 composting sites and producing up to 150,000 bags of peat-free compost known as Pro-Grow from this, meeting the highest industry quality standards in the process. This is likely to increase with the prospect of green waste becoming free to collect and on a more regular basis, as pledged in the government's Resources and Waste Strategy.

Grass cuttings, leaves and other green waste are collected from homes up and down the country to be shredded, sieved and transferred to vast heaps known as ‘windrows’. After three months, the decomposed green waste is matured and refined into a homogenous material which is then bagged and dispatched. The end product matches peat pound for pound as plant nutrition and is undoubtedly better for the green and pleasant land we all depend on.

UK peatlands are estimated to contain around 3.2 billion tonnes of carbon, which is around 9 years worth of the UK’s total annual CO2 emissions. As a country we also import millions of tonnes of peat from abroad, making us culpable for peat devastation beyond our borders. This has to stop.

Growing activity continues up year on year. As plant sales are significantly down, a lot of this activity must be preparation for Autumn veg planting, growing from seed and taking cuttings for next year.

Highlights of the week were:

• Westland New Horizon All Plant Organic Compost, 20 litres, is a chart re-entry at No 26.
• Evergreen Garden Care Levington Decorative Chipped Forest Bark, 75 litres, is the highest re-entry at No 11.
• Westland Gro-Sure Lawn Seeding Soil, 30 litres, is the biggest chart mover of the week, up 25 places to No 23.

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

Wild Bird Care sales continue to hold up well during the Summer with seed mixes and fat snax making the bulk of the volume sales.

Highlights of the week were:

• Gardman Seed & Insect Suet Feast is the highest re-entry at No 19.
• Gardman Mealworms Pack 1.2kg are the highest chart climber, up 29 places to No 20.
• Gardman Seed Feeder Premium Flip Top is the bestselling feeder this week at No 36 in the GTN Wild Bird care chart.

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

Charlotte seed potatoes have taken the lead when it comes to seed potato planting for Christmas cropping. This week six of the Top 10 Veg-2-Gro bestsellers are Christmas seed potato lines with sales running at 34% up on the same week last year.

Highlights of the week were:

• Taylors Autumn Planting Seed Potatoes Charlotte are the No 1 Bestselling Veg-2-Gro line, taking the top spot from Maris Peer.
• Colour Gro Healthy Herbs 6 Pot Carrier is the biggest selling herb plant line at No 5.
• Thompson & Morgan Cress Extra Curled is the highest placed seed line this week, a re-entry at No 11.

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

Johnsons of Whixley Garden Centre Sales has added to its blooming repertoire with the launch of a new Senecio ‘Angel Wings’ plant line just in time for its new catalogue in September.

The award-winning plant, which originally derives from Chile, has been carefully cultivated over the winter by Johnsons’ production manager Ian Nelson. He has put the plant through multiple tests, finding it able to withstand harsh conditions, while it requires minimal care and is suitable for use across a range of soil conditions.

‘Angel Wings’ is identifiable by its striking silver leaves and silky touch. It is also drought- and salt-tolerant, making it the perfect addition to a costal garden. Yorkshire-based Johnsons of Whixley debuted the angelic plant at the National Plant Show in June where it attracted widespread attention.

Ian said: “We always strive to provide something unique and beautiful that will bring something special to a garden.

“As ‘Angel Wings’ is a very robust plant, it is perfect for most growing conditions, while still maintaining its soft and delicate appearance. It requires very little care and will add a gorgeous touch to flower beds and pots alike.”

Garden Centre Sales assistant manager Paul Lamb added: “We are delighted to be able to offer the sought-after Senecio ‘Angels Wings’ to our customers. We are launching with a 5L version, and as we head into 2020 we will have the plant available in both a 3L and a 5L size.”

‘Angel Wings’, which has also been seen in the Falklands and Argentina, has gone on to make its mark on the European market, winning a bronze medal at the Netherlands Plantarium in 2016 and the Glee new product award in 2017.

Johnsons of Whixley is one of the largest commercial nursery businesses in Europe, located between York and Harrogate and a trusted supplier of garden and landscape trees and shrubs throughout the UK. Orders for the Angel Wings plant can be placed via nurserymen.co.uk.

Mid-August plant sales dipped to a 4-year low last week with total sales volumes reported in the GTN Bestsellers Epos data analysis more akin to sales levels in either February or November. 

With the great growing weather we’ve had this summer everyone’s gardens must be looking great so there’s not the need to fill gaps or start planting in earnest for autumn.

• Chrysanthemums  make their annual appearance at the top of the GTN Bestsellers chart.
• Platycodon were the big movers up the chart climbing 16 places to No 7.
• Viola make their first chart appearance of the late summer and autumn season, back in at No 11.

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Wyevale Garden Centres announce today the sale of John Browns Garden Centre.

 John Browns Garden Centre will be sold to Hillier Garden Centres, the second transaction with the group following the sale of four centres in April.

It will continue to be run as a garden centre and the sale is expected to complete by the end of September.

Anthony Jones, COO of Wyevale Garden Centres, said: “I am very pleased that John Browns will continue to be operated as a garden centre, and by an operator that we now know well thanks to having sold centres to Hillier over the last year. I would like to take the opportunity to thank our colleagues for their hard work and passion over the years, and wish them all the best for the future under new ownership.”

Chris Francis, Retail and Wholesale Director of Hillier, said: “We are delighted to announce the acquisition of John Browns Garden Centre, joining the Hillier family business, growing the group to 17 garden centres serving customers across the South of England.

"The Hillier team look forward to working with our new colleagues and getting to know the local gardening community, inspiring them with our great quality products and wide range of home-grown plants, all backed by renowned Hillier expertise.”

Wyevale Garden Centres also announce today the closure of a leasehold centre, Thatcham Garden Centre. The freehold and leasehold interest have been acquired by the current landlord, who has asked for vacant possession and the centre will therefore close by the end of September.  

Anthony Jones, COO of Wyevale Garden Centres said:

We strive for a positive outcome with all our centres and so I am disappointed to announce that Thatcham Garden Centre will close by the end of September - we have informed our colleagues and would like to wish them all the very best for the future.”

Thieves used a recovery truck to steal an employee’s car in broad daylight from Wentworth Garden Centre’s car park at Rotherham last week.

The white VW Golf GTI Clubsport Edition 40 was James Hudson’s pride and joy. Mr Hudson speculated that the car may have been ‘stolen to order’.

He said: “I work at the garden centre  – it isn’t just a customer’s car. They have clearly been checking my car out and it has probably been stolen to order and they clearly knew it was there.

“This car is my pride and joy and I am devastated, as you can imagine.”

The registration number is YR17PDZ. Footage from CCTV cameras in the garden centre’s car park showed that the recovery truck’s registration plate was FX10XCK.

Anyone with any information should call police on 101, quoting incident number 480 of August 7 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

The first week of August sees the fifth week in a row where garden centre sales have been up on last year, an average of 18% up, according to GTN Bestsellers.

After speaking with a number of centres much of that increase is credited to the changeable, but more bearable weather. This has been encouraging more people to eat in garden centre restaurants – remember last summer many restaurants were unbearable for weeks, and that resultant increase in footfall is driving the increased sales.

How have your restaurants and coffee shops been performing this summer? Have you made significant menu changes to help increase sales?  Email trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year (week 31)
Garden Products - up 34%
Growing Media - up 4%
Wild Bird Care - up 26%
Veg-2-Gro - up 5%
All Plants Index - down 4%
All Items Index - up 15%

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

London’s houseplant trend shows no signs of slowing and in response to huge demand, W6 Garden Centre is dramatically expanding its indoor plant range.

The centre, based under the railway arches of Ravenscourt Park tube station in the heart of London, has created ‘The Green Room’, West London’s largest collection of indoor plants.

The arch has been respectfully restored so that the finished result will be a spectacular marriage of old brickwork and green life.

The Green Room at W6 will open its doors in the autumn 2019 with a launch event including giveaways and a talk from ethno-botanist writer James Wong.

W6 is the second unloved piece of London space transformed by owner Beryl Henderson into a flourishing garden centre. The first, 19 years ago, was N1 at Dalston in North London. W6 won an award in 2017 for best boutique garden centre. Its café focuses on a plant-based, seasonal sourced menu created by head-chef Anton Petrov.

The former Wyevale on the High Street in Podington officially started trading as Podington Garden Centre by Cherry Lane last week as the retained team of 40 staff geared up to make big changes.

Now the country's ninth biggest garden retailer, Cherry Lane is the UK's only value garden centre group. From Wednesday, there was an initial 50% sale on selected Wyevale stock before the centre started stocking plants grown in the group’s three nurseries around the UK.

A new 140-seater café bistro  – The Watering Can café – is planned, as well as a new Garden Tots indoor play area.

The centre will eventually will stock an extensive outdoor living range including garden furniture, sheds, tools and accessories, plus homewares, kitchen products and furniture, gift ranges and toys. There will also be wild bird,wildlife and pet products.

The centre will remain open during the improvement works, which are expected to be completed by the end of September.

Nick Rubins, chief executive of the QD Group which owns Cherry Lane, said: “Our aim is simple, to sell high quality items at the lowest possible price, so that there's always excellent offers and spectacular deals to be discovered. As a family-run business, we are also keen to make the centre even more family orientated with additions like the new café and indoor soft play area. We are also looking forward to organising lots of fun events and providing some great seasonal offerings including our famous Christmas department with Santa's grotto."

Podington by Cherry Lane is the group’s 14th garden centre.

Squire’s Garden Centres has bought Heathlands Garden Centre in Wokingham. Previously owned by Wyevale, the garden centre (new entrance pictured right) will now be known as Squire’s in Wokingham.

All 33 employees will stay on, including manager Graham Carter, not forgetting Petunia, the resident cat! A clearance sale is now on before the autumn gardening ranges arrive.

Anthony Jones, chief operating officer at WGC, said: “We are delighted to have sold Heathlands Centre to a highly respected operator, and that it will continue to be run as a garden centre. I would like to take the opportunity to thank our colleagues at Heathlands who have been so instrumental in making it the brilliant operation it is today and wish them all the best under new ownership.”

Sarah Squire, Squire’s chairman, said: “We are delighted to welcome Heathlands to Squire’s Garden Centres. As a family business, firmly rooted in south-west London and nearby home counties, Heathlands is an excellent addition to our group and will be known as Squire’s in Wokingham. We will be making improvements to the garden centre over time, but we like our garden centres to be different and have their own unique character. We look forward to working with the team at the centre and really getting to know and understand the local community.”

Squire’s now has 16 centres across Surrey, Sussex, North London and Berkshire.

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RHS Retail Director, Damian Powell, took GTN's Trevor Pfeiffer on a guided tour of the new plant centre and retail areas at RHS Wisley last month.

With 70% extra display space across the shop and the plant centre stocks have been increased stocks to fill the new plant area.  That includes 30 metres of Ferns which are in great demand.

Read the full interview with Damian Powell in the August Issue of GTN, out this week.

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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 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.