A highlight of the recent Blue Diamond Awards night in Bournemouth last month was an internally produced video Alan Roper created to explain the past year in a fun way.

The AI produced movie: Blue Diamond - Growing into the Future, is not publicly available, but by popular demand outside Blue Diamond, it is being exclusively made available to the trade through GTN Xtra.

Above: Sarah Squire (Chairman – Squire’s Garden Centres) with Oliver Turner (General Manager – Barnsfold Liss) at the West Sussex nursery site.

Squire’s Garden Centres has recently filed its account for financial year ending 31 July 2025. The year was one of significant activity and exciting progress for the business. After a challenging first half of the year, the company benefited from excellent spring weather and achieved strong sales growth in its core garden centre operations.

In December 2024, the company acquired Liss Forest Nursery, incorporating a well-established hardy plant grower into its nursery division, now operating as Barnsfold Liss Nurseries.

On 14 February 2025, the company launched its Friends of Squire’s loyalty programme and has seen rapidly expanded membership. This initiative has enabled the business to better understand its customers, communicate more effectively as well as target promotional activity with greater precision.

Also in February, the company completed the purchase of the freehold of Hare Hatch Garden Centre and welcomed colleagues into the Squire’s team. The centre was restocked and reopened in sharp turnaround, with doors opening on Valentine’s Day, supported by the strong efforts of the Hare Hatch team alongside colleagues from other centres and Squire’s Group Office. Investment is ongoing to enhance the customer experience, including a remodelled restaurant and other improvements, with further developments planned. The company believes the centre has strong potential for future growth.

The £5.6m capital expenditure programme for the year focused on existing sites and included completion of the roof replacement project at Twickenham and the extension of the Milford centre. Restaurant upgrades were also carried out at Stanmore and Cobham. These projects are delivering positive results in the current financial year.

Core garden centre sales increased by 9% to £70.7m (2024: £64.9m), including an initial contribution of £1.9m from Hare Hatch. Within this, garden centre sales rose 9% to £59.8m (2024: £54.7m), while restaurant sales grew by 7% to £10.9m (2024: £10.2m). E-commerce sales were £1.0m, remaining flat year on year. Barnsfold Liss contributed £2.2m in sales (2024: £1.9m), bringing total Group sales to £72.9m (2024: £66.8m). Like-for-like customer numbers increased by 5% in Garden Centres and by 6% in Restaurants. Underlying Garden Centre profit before tax rose to £3.6m (2024: £2.2m).

The company looks forward to continuing progress on its sustainability programme and remains committed to its charitable and community engagement.

Sarah Squire, Squire’s Chairman comments: “Once again, I would like to commend our hardworking and talented colleagues throughout the business, who have shown such commitment and worked so tirelessly in a very busy year for the business. 

“At the end of the financial year, we gave our Managing Director, Martin Breddy, our thanks and good wishes for his retirement and welcomed our new Managing Director, Sam Dickson, to the team.”

Above: investment in restaurant upgrades delivered refreshed dining experiences at, from left, Stanmore, Cobham and Hare Hatch.

As part of its continued commitment to inspiring gardeners of all levels, Miracle-Gro has announced the second year of its sponsorship of the vibrant Floral Fantasia Garden at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Essex for the 2026 season.

The first year of the partnership with RHS and Floral Fantasia, in 2025, saw Miracle-Gro provide its peat-free Moisture Control and All Purpose compost for bedding plants and perennials, helping to create an inspiring, accessible space that encourages people of all ages and abilities to reconnect with nature. Despite a challenging summer of poor weather conditions, the Begonia Trial showcased at last year’s Floral Fantasia was praised for how the plants responded to growing in peat-free composts.

Through the continued partnership in 2026, Miracle-Gro is pleased to provide both investment and its high-performance peat-free compost to the gardeners of Floral Fantasia. As the lead sponsor for this year, the brand is continuing to support the Royal Horticultural Society’s vision of gardening as a source of joy, fulfilment, and thriving environments. Floral Fantasia brings together peat-free gardening and an ambition for innovation, blending them into a space that’s as educational as it is uplifting.

This year, Miracle-Gro is increasing their commitment to the partnership, to make gardening easy, rewarding and joyful, by providing detailed gardening guides at the RHS Hyde Hall flower show and supporting the judging for the Antirrhinums trial from June through to August.

2026 Trial Focus: Antirrhinums

The primary focus for the 2026 season at Floral Fantasia is an extensive summer flower trial of Antirrhinum.  A firm favourite with UK cut flower growers, their popularity amongst consumers is apparent through their prevalence across social media channels, helped due to their strong stems, long vase life and wide range of colours.

This trial, one of the largest of its kind, will feature over 130 varieties of the plant. The bedding pots and border snapdragons will be grown in Miracle-Gro peat-free compost, in parallel to an RHS trial, to demonstrate what is achievable with sustainable growing media. Planting is scheduled to begin in April.

Innovation and Future Trends

Beyond the spectacular snapdragon trial, visitors to Floral Fantasia this year will enjoy an exclusive sneak peek at the upcoming trends set to transform British gardens in 2026. In early summer, the garden will debut a special container display of Celosia, often known as "flame flowers”, giving visitors a preview of plants included in the upcoming 2026 RHS Wisley Plant Trial. These sun-loving, tender annuals are famous for their bold, velvety flower heads and fiery colours. 

As the summer sun begins to fade, inspiration will continue with the Autumn Container Extravaganza. This part of the display is dedicated to helping gardeners keep their outdoor spaces vibrant well into the cooler months.

Everyone needs a little help in the garden

Sponsoring Floral Fantasia aligns perfectly with Miracle-Gro’s brand message “Everyone needs a little help in the garden”. By supporting this colourful and creative space, Miracle-Gro is inspiring gardeners, whatever the weather, to access the benefits of gardening - taking pride in their horticultural achievements, however big or small.

Karen Wilkinson, Marketing Director at Evergreen Garden Care, said: “We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with RHS Hyde Hall’s Floral Fantasia for a second year. Last year’s begonia trial was a triumph, and moving into 2026 with a focus on snapdragons allows us to show the versatility of our peat-free and plant food range. Our mission is to nurture the nation’s love of growing with a helping hand in the garden, providing practical inspiration that visitors can easily replicate in their own flower beds or containers at home.”

The RHS Garden Hyde Hall Flower Show, featuring the Floral Fantasia Garden, is an annual event held at the stunning RHS Hyde Hall garden in Chelmsford, Essex, between 5th and 9th August 2026.

The Responsible Sourcing Scheme (RSS) has welcomed the publication of the latest ClimateXChange report, 'Transition to Peat-Free Horticulture in Scotland', highlighting the report’s conclusion that the primary barrier to progress is not the availability of alternatives, but the need for greater consistency, coordination, and confidence across the supply chain.

The report reinforces what many across the horticulture industry have been experiencing in practice: peat-free growing is achievable, but success depends on reliable performance, aligned systems, and robust standards.

Steve Harper, Chair of the Responsible Sourcing Scheme, said: “This report is an important and timely contribution to the peat-free transition. It confirms that the challenge we face is not whether we can go peat-free, but how we do so in a way that gives growers, retailers and consumers confidence in the outcome.

"At its heart, this is about quality. Without consistent, reliable performance, the transition introduces risk, and that risk slows adoption.”

The report identifies variability in growing media performance, lack of standardisation, and uncertainty around consistency as key barriers to wider uptake. It also highlights the importance of coordinated action across infrastructure, supply chains, and technical growing practices.

In response, the Responsible Sourcing Scheme, working in collaboration with industry partners, is developing a new industry-wide quality standard for growing media.

This standard is designed to provide:

• Clear, consistent benchmarks for growing media performance
• Greater transparency across raw material sourcing and production
• Confidence for growers and retailers in product reliability
• A simple signal for consumers that a product will perform as expected

Steve Harper continued: “The development of a recognised quality standard is a critical step forward. It will help move the conversation beyond ‘peat-free’ as a label, and towards ‘fit for purpose’ as a guarantee.

"By working collaboratively, we are creating a framework that supports the entire industry from manufacturers through to end consumers.”

The RSS emphasised that the transition to peat-free horticulture should be viewed as a system-wide evolution, rather than a simple material substitution. Delivering this successfully will require continued collaboration, investment in trials, and alignment across the supply chain.

The Scheme is encouraging all stakeholders, including growers, manufacturers, retailers and policymakers, to engage with the development of the quality standard and support its adoption as an industry benchmark.

“This is a shared challenge, but also a shared opportunity,” Harper added. “By putting quality at the centre of the transition, we can ensure that peat-free growing delivers not just environmental benefits, but strong, reliable outcomes for the industry and consumers alike.”

The Royal Horticultural Society has shared its recommendations on plants for gardeners to grow in support of birds, as new guidance on supplementary feeding in the summer and autumn months is published.

The RSPB advises not feeding supplementary seed mixes and peanuts to birds during the months of May to October when the risk of disease being spread via feeders is higher. As such the RHS will no longer sell seed mixes and peanuts during this period in its retail stores or at its shows and will advise gardeners to store any purchased for use later in the year.

With more than 140 species of birds to be found either nesting in or visiting the UK’s gardens, one of the most effective ways to support birds is to grow plants that serve as a natural food source. In late spring and summer, when supplementary feeding of peanuts and seed is not recommended, plants including fieldscabious, dog rose, and lavender attract insects and other invertebrates, providing the primary food source for birds during warmer months.

Meanwhile colourful and seed-rich summer favourites such as sunflowers, cornflowers and angelica can help support birds into the colder months, provided their seedheads are left standing. The additional benefit of leaving seedheads in place is that invertebrates overwintering in the plants’ stems are a food source for birds during the winter and into the following spring. Additionally, keeping some areas of grass longer and others shorter is advised; for example, dandelion seedheads provide food for birds such as goldfinches while shorter grass areas allow blackbirds, thrushes and starlings to search for worms and other invertebrates.

Popular berrying shrubs and trees such as hawthorn, elder, ivy, viburnum, Rosa rugosa, and honeysuckle offer much-needed nourishment – and visual interest - during autumn and winter months.

Providing water is equally essential, giving birds a safe place to drink and bathe and helping them stay healthy year-round. The safest way to do this is with a garden pond. For gardeners without a pond, water can be provided for birds in shallow containers such as a bird bath, so long as the water is changed daily with fresh tap water and cleaned out at least once a week. Alongside this, dense shrubs, hedges and mature trees offer valuable shelter and nesting sites, while nest boxes can support species that struggle to find natural cavities, including swifts and sparrows.

Among the harmful pathogens spread at bird feeders and bird baths is the disease trichomonosis, caused by a parasite which has led to serious declines in greenfinch and chaffinch populations and is now thought to be causing a rapid decline amongst bullfinches. The RSPB has therefore updated its guidance on supplementary feeding, avoiding bird feeders with flat surfaces, and only putting out water if you can change it every day. These revised guidelines are reflected across RHS retail, shows and gardening advice.

Helen Bostock, RHS Senior Wildlife Expert, said: “Garden birds rely heavily on the food, water and shelter found in UK gardens, making them one of the most rewarding forms of wildlife to support at home. Even small changes can make a meaningful difference to local bird populations and with spring now well underway it’s the perfect time to get sowing and planting with birds in mind. By choosing the right plants and creating a welcoming safe habitat, gardeners can help birds thrive throughout the year.”

For more information on how to support birds in the garden visit: www.rhs.org.uk/wildlife/gardening-for-birds

Specialist business property adviser Christie & Co has confirmed the sale of Moorland Nurseries & Garden Centre, a long‑established retail horticultural business located between Harrogate and Knaresborough in North Yorkshire.

Founded in 1947, Moorland Nurseries & Garden Centre has been in the same family for 79 years, spanning three generations. The Merrin family have built a highly regarded, community‑focused business featuring a popular garden centre, glasshouses, extensive retail areas, and successful concession partnerships. The 2.54‑acre freehold site also includes a well‑presented 75‑space car park and a café, attracting strong and loyal customer footfall.

The site has been acquired by British Garden Centres, the largest family-owned garden centre group in the UK, bringing the group’s national portfolio to 79 garden centres. The acquisition marks the next chapter for the site, bringing new investment and opportunities to build on the family’s decades of dedication to horticulture and retail in the region.  The site will now operate as Knaresborough Garden Centre and the existing team will remain in place following the acquisition.

The Merrin family commented, “We would like to thank our loyal and valued customers for all their support over the years and wish Charles and his family all the best for the future.”

A spokesperson for British Garden Centres, commented, “We are delighted to welcome Knaresborough Garden Centre to our Family. We are looking forward to continuing the great horticultural background of the site, while developing some of our other ranges in there. The Lime Cafe will stay and be run as a concession.”

Andrew Birnie, Director – Retail & Leisure at Christie & Co, who handled the sale, commented: “Moorland Nurseries & Garden Centre is a much‑loved, long‑standing family business. We received interest from a wide range of potential buyers however we are delighted to have supported its sale to British Garden Centres, whose experience and scale will ensure the site continues to thrive.”

Spring is the perfect time to get growing, and British Garden Centres is helping beginners make a confident start with a simple checklist of must‑have gardening essentials. 

From trusted tools and plant feeds to watering basics and plenty of plants, everything you need to make it bloom this season is easy to find in store and online.

As the days grow longer and gardens begin to burst back into life, spring is the perfect time to get outside and start gardening again. Having the right tools and essentials makes all the difference. Whether you’re planting colourful containers, refreshing borders, or simply enjoying time in the garden, preparation helps. This spring, British Garden Centres makes it easy to Make It Bloom. Use this simple gardening checklist to help beginners get started.

Every gardener needs a good pair of gardening gloves to protect their hands. Gardener’s Grove by British Garden Centres offers a wide selection, ranging from patterned fabric gloves to general-purpose rubber gloves. 

A reliable hand fork or trowel for planting and soil preparation is essential and one of the most trusted tools for any gardener. Gardener’s Grove by British Garden Centres offers affordable tools for all gardeners to get into gardening. 

Secateurs are another must‑have, ideal for tidying winter growth and keeping plants healthy as the season progresses. Kent & Stowe Eversharp Secateurs and Wilkinson Sword RazorCut Pruners are great options for managing your plant's health.

One of the most important gardening essentials is plant feed! These are essentials to help your plants grow bigger and stronger, encouraging vibrant blooms and healthy roots. Liquid feed, like Boost by Westland, is maximised through water absorption. Whereas slow-release granules, such as Miracle-Gro All Purpose Continuous Release, regulate the release of nutrients when the conditions are right for feeding. 

Another gardening essential that is a must-have for all gardeners is a watering can or hose. There are many options to pick from, and the decision should be made based on your garden size and needs. A hose is best for large garden spaces with many plants, whereas watering cans are better for smaller garden pots and beds. 

And, of course, no spring garden is complete without plenty of plants. From colourful bedding and patio favourites to pollinator‑friendly flowers, adding new plants is one of the quickest ways to refresh your outdoor space.

Once you’re fully equipped, the teams at British Garden Centres are on hand with expert advice. They help gardeners get the most from their garden this season. Customers can shop in‑store or online and find everything they need to enjoy spring outdoors.

As it approaches its 90th anniversary next year, Bents Garden & Home is placing a strong focus on its long-term future and is actively progressing plans for how the family owned and run business will continue to operate as it moves into its fourth generation.  

As a multi-generational business with deep roots in the garden centre industry, Bents recognises the importance of structured succession planning in maintaining continuity.  With this in mind, 22 members of the Bent family and spouses, aged between 12 and 83, attended an away day where the second, third and fourth generations came together to talk about the future of the Bents family business. 

Hosted by renowned family business adviser, Juliette Johnson the event was wide-ranging. Chairman Ron Bent talked about the history of Bents, dating back to 1937 when his parents started to grow roses in their front garden; all members of the family were invited to share their first memories of visiting Bents; and a brainstorming session looked at how the business might look beyond its 90th year.

Said Matthew Bent, Managing Director and third generation member of the family: “We were delighted with the success of our recent family away day, which provided a valuable opportunity for everyone to come together, reflect on the business and look ahead to the future. 

“As we approach our 90th anniversary, it was particularly important to open up new conversations around planning for the next generation and explore how our younger family members can become more actively involved in the business, whether they work within it or not. Ensuring we have a clear and inclusive pathway for our future generations is key to maintaining the strength and continuity of Bents as we move into our next chapter.”

Juliette Johnson added: “It was a real pleasure to be part of Bents’ first family weekend. Seeing all the children engage was a real highlight — their curiosity, confidence and the quality of their questions were genuinely impressive. There was such a great energy throughout the event, thoughtful, informative and a lot of fun too. I have no doubt this is the start of many more brilliant family business weekends for Bents in the future.”

As part of its succession planning process, the family, with help and guidance from Juliette, has now created the Bent Family Constitution; a document which provides a common vision for the business and outlines the principles by which it is owned and operated together as a family. It has also introduced a Next Generation Guide providing information for younger members who are interested in learning more about, or getting involved with, the business. 

By taking a proactive and strategic approach, the Bent family is ensuring the business is well positioned to evolve, while continuing to uphold the values, expertise and customer experience that have underpinned its success for nearly nine decades.

With just weeks to go until the Glee Roadshow arrives in the East, the team behind the event has revealed further details about what attendees can expect from the day’s carefully curated agenda.

Far from a traditional conference, the Roadshow has been designed as a structured, working day for garden retailers – one that reflects the pressures, priorities and opportunities shaping the sector right now, while creating space for honest discussion and practical problem-solving.

A working agenda for today’s garden retail

The day begins with arrival, tea and coffee, setting an informal tone and allowing retailers to reconnect, share immediate challenges, and step away from day-to-day trading before the core programme gets underway.

The opening session brings everyone together for a sector-wide discussion, led by Matthew Mein and Boyd Douglas-Davies.  Focusing on the current state of garden retail, it tackles everything from shifting consumer expectations and footfall to staffing, margin and operational pressures. Crucially, this is a moderated discussion shaped by the experiences of those in the room.

Learning from real retail success

From here, the agenda will move into more focused sessions, starting with Growing a Modern Family Business: The Gates Story. In this conversation, Nigel Gates (Chairman – Gates Garden Centre) shares how a fourth-generation business continues to evolve, whilst offering practical insight into expansion, ecommerce, experiential retail and diversification.

Tackling the people challenge

Attention will then turn to one of the sector’s biggest challenges – people. In Solving the People Puzzle: Recruitment, Retention and Culture, Boyd Douglas-Davies is joined by MorePeople’s Guy Moreton to explore what is really working when it comes to attracting and retaining talent, with audience input helping to shape the discussion.

A dedicated networking lunch will provide time to continue conversations and contribute to a live Slido discussion on the biggest challenges facing businesses in the year ahead – helping to shape the afternoon sessions.

Turning insight into opportunity

Post-lunch the focus will then shift towards opportunity and growth. In Experience, Transformation and Diversification: Real Growth in Garden Retail, panellists including Michael Smith from Meadow Croft Garden Centre, Samantha Gibbs from Nest & Retail Mentor, and British garden Centre’s Amy Stubbs to explore how centres are evolving. From enhancing customer experience to unlocking new revenue streams through food, events and partnerships, and rethinking how space is used to drive dwell time, spend and repeat visits.

Big impact, whatever the footprint

The final session, Small Footprint, Big Impact: Retail Excellence at Fakenham Garden Centre, sees Martin and Jennie Turner join GTN’s Trevor Pfeiffer to share how they’ve built a high-performing, award-winning business on a compact site to prove that scale is no barrier to success.

The day will then conclude with closing reflections, bringing together key insights and ensuring attendees leave with clear, actionable takeaways, followed by further networking to strengthen regional connections.

Matthew Mein, Event Director of Glee and Autumn Fair, said: “What we’ve created with the Roadshow is a genuinely useful working day for retailers. It starts with an honest look at where the sector is right now, and then moves quickly into how businesses can respond.

The value comes from the room as much as the agenda – bringing people together to share experiences, challenge thinking and leave with ideas they can put into practice straight away.”

How to join the Glee Roadshow

When: Thursday 30th April, 11am–4pm

Where: Gates Garden Centre, Oakham

The Roadshow is designed for garden centre and garden retail managers, executives, directors and senior buyers from the immediate region and neighbouring counties.

Heading to the east for the very first time the Glee Roadshow will dig into the challenges, opportunities and trends shaping garden retail right now, both regionally and nationally.

Attendance is free, but spaces are limited. To register your interest and stay up to date visit www.gleebirmingham.com/roadshow

Kernock Park Plants has announced it is supporting its customers with a ‘No Price Increases’ promise despite the many challenges currently facing the industry.

Managing Director Bruce Harnett said: “As you will be well aware, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to have a significant impact on global fuel markets. This has driven substantial increases in fuel, transport and related operational costs. For UK plant suppliers, these pressures come at a critical point in the season and follow a series of well documented cost increases in recent years, including repeated rises in labour costs. The combined effect presents a significant challenge for our sector.

“After careful consideration, including the option of introducing delivery surcharges to offset part of the additional burden, we have chosen not to take that step at this time. Instead, we will do what we can to maintain stability by absorbing the current rise in transport and associated costs.

“If the current situation persists for an extended period, or if further unforeseen cost pressures arise, we might need to review this position. We recognise that our customers are also operating under difficult conditions and our intention is to protect them from further immediate cost pressure and to support the promise of a successful season ahead.

“In the meantime, we would be very grateful if customers would look favourably on requests by our Sales Team to add to their orders so that we may optimise our trolley-fill – even where orders meet the required quantities for delivery.”

Blue Diamond Garden Centres unveiled its £1.2m makeover at Ryde’s Busy Bee when the centre was re-opened over the Easter weekend.

Among the changes are the addition of a new food hall, a fashion department and a more customer-focused layout throughout the store.

Extra seating has been added both inside and outside the restaurant, which now bears a bee-themed name, The Hive.

Busy Bee ran for nearly 40 years under the ownership of Chris and Mary Leslie. The couple, who have now retired, oversaw the business grow into one of the Isle of Wight’s largest and best-known retail destinations.

Since taking over in September, Blue Diamond has carried out extensive works to transform the site.

A full report on Busy Bee’s official opening can be found on the Island Echo website. Click here to view it.

The Ideal Home Show 2026 officially opened on Friday at Olympia London, launching its 118th year with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a host of celebrity experts from across design, property, cooking, gardening, tech, and lifestyle. 

The launch brought together familiar TV faces including George Clarke, Nick Knowles, Megan McKenna, David Domoney, Jason Bradbury, Wayne Perrey, and Briony Ace. Many more celebrity and the nation’s top experts are set to appear across the show’s Main Stage and feature areas over the next ten day for a new and refreshed programme of design talks, live demos, and masterclasses.  

Returning to the capital from 10-19 April, the show opens a bold new chapter with its most experience-led and immersive programme to date, inviting visitors to discover insider secrets, practical advice, and the latest trends. 

This year’s edition introduces a refreshed lineup of hands-on features, including creativity at The Kitchen Hub, the latest technology at The Smart Home, DIY Live, sustainable living at The Edible Garden, furry wellbeing at The Bark Yard, and the sizzling BBQ Academy & Alfresco Dining Garden, offering practical inspiration designed for real homes and everyday life. 

Architect and broadcaster George Clarke said: “I’m thrilled to be returning to the Ideal Home Show. For the past 118 years it has been at the forefront of innovation and it’s always a joy to share ideas that inspire people to create homes that are beautifully designed, sustainable, and full of heart”. 

Giles Perry, Director of the Ideal Home Show, said: “The Ideal Home Show has always celebrated creativity and the joy of making a house a home. As design and lifestyle trends evolve, so does our show, and for 2026 we’ve injected real energy into every corner. From smart technology and sustainable living to design ideas that make sense in today’s economy, we’re bringing inspiration, expert advice and considered shopping together under one roof”. 

Across the show, visitors can enjoy live cooking demonstrations, expert talks, design showcases and masterclasses, covering everything from property upgrades, spring cleaning, and fresh recipes, to gardening, outdoor entertaining, and smart home innovation. 

Limited tickets available for the rest of the dates via www.idealhomeshow.co.uk

Workshops available at https://www.idealhomeshow.co.uk/whats-on/workshops

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Gardeners, landscapers, local authorities and landowners are being encouraged to boost biodiversity by planting bird‑friendly hedging – and Wyevale Nurseries is offering free expert guidance to help them get started.

With 96 years of horticultural expertise and more than 250 acres of UK‑grown transplant production, the leading, Hereford-based commercial nursery is renowned for supplying high‑quality native hedging and trees nationwide.

John Lawrence, Amenity Sales Manager at Wyevale Nurseries in Hereford, says: “We’re driven by promoting biodiversity wherever we can and have produced a free-to-use, online guide that includes a focus on supporting bird populations through thoughtful hedge planting using native species that provide food, shelter and movement corridors.

“Hedges are crucial habitats for both resident and migratory bird species. They offer nesting sites, shelter from harsh weather and natural food sources such as berries and insects. Our free guide highlights how mixed native hedging provides the greatest benefit to birds, while enhancing biodiversity and creating micro‑wildlife corridors across rural and urban landscapes.”

Key plant species recommended by the Wyevale Nurseries team for attracting birds include:

• Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) and Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) – important berry‑producing plants relied upon by winter migrants such as redwing and fieldfare.
• Hazel (Corylus avellana) and Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), which offer strong structure for nesting and cover.
• Dog Rose (Rosa canina), Elder (Sambucus nigra) and Spindle (Euonymus europaeus) – valued for their fruit and high wildlife food value.

John explains: “These hedging choices help support a wide range of birds, from winter visitors such as fieldfares and bramblings to summer migrants including whitethroats, willow warblers and spotted flycatchers.”

To encourage more wildlife‑friendly planting, Wyevale Nurseries is offering complimentary advice to gardeners, retailers wishing to pass on the knowledge to the general public, landowners, local authorities, landscapers and other companies in the amenity sector on:

• Choosing the right native species for site conditions
• Designing mixed hedging schemes that maximise wildlife value
• Planting techniques for bareroot hedging
• Long‑term management for bird‑friendly results.

John adds: “We also advise that landscapers and gardeners to leave berries on plants into late winter; to avoid over‑trimming and embrace a slightly ‘wild’ aesthetic to create even better habitats for birds.”

Wyevale Nurseries champions sustainability in every part of its activity, from peat‑free growing systems to prioritising UK‑provenance and UK‑grown plants – ensuring resilience to UK climates and pests.

All broadleaf natives used for hedging are grown at its Herefordshire site, ensuring excellent transplant success rates nationally and reducing environmental impact through shorter supply chains.

John concludes: “Just one metre of hedging can provide a meaningful habitat for birds. We’re encouraging everyone from gardeners with small gardens to groups with community spaces to plant a native hedge and participate in building wildlife corridors across the UK landscape. It’s the ideal time for bareroot hedge planting too.

“Our bareroot season runs until the end of April as, thanks to our cold stores, our plants remain fully dormant even when outside temperatures rise – helping maintain quality and extending the lifting season, and bareroot is the most cost‑effective way to plant a hedge.

“Plus, our consumer Wyevale Hedges website – www.wyevalehedges.co.uk – caters for individuals looking for hedging on a smaller, non‑wholesale scale and for those wishing to purchase quickly and easily online.”

Wyevale Nurseries has a product selection and a highly knowledgeable and experience team that’s admired across the industry.

Its main business is to supply landscape contractors, local authorities, foresters, landowners and garden centres with a comprehensive array of trees, shrubs, hedging, herbaceous and specimen plants.

For free expert advice on planting biodiversity boosting, bird‑friendly hedging, please download the Wyevale Nurseries guide here www.wyevalenurseries.co.uk/app/uploads/2025/05/Transplants-Booklet-Complete-LR.pdf or to place an order, please call 01432 845 200 or visit www.wyevalenurseries.co.uk.

The Horticultural Trades Association has launched the Summer phase of its ‘Your Garden Year’ campaign, unveiling ‘The Late, Late Show’ – a new push to keep the nation’s gardens vibrant, relevant and full of colour through the peak summer months.

Building on a strong spring launch centred around pots, the campaign positions July, August and September as a second gardening peak, driving fresh inspiration, repeat visits and renewed consumer interest at a critical point in the gardening calendar.

Backed by a coordinated suite of ready-to-use assets, designed for use across websites, social media, in-store displays and media features, and a shared seasonal framework, ‘Your Garden Year’ continues to unite retailers, growers, suppliers and the media around a consistent approach to engaging gardeners and stimulating demand.

At its core is a simple message: ‘it’s time for more colour’. As early blooms fade, gardeners are encouraged to refresh and re-energise borders with flowering perennials, annuals, shrubs and grasses that deliver lasting impact and vital nectar for pollinators.

Neil Grant, Chair of the HTA Retail Committee, said: “The real show does not have to end early. What garden shoppers often need is stimulus, ideas and information at the right time to nudge them along. By highlighting plants and combinations that peak later, we can show gardeners that late summer is not the end of the season, but a peak moment for vibrant, optimistic borders that soften the transition into autumn.”

Key elements of the Summer campaign include:

• Plant of the Moment highlighting Roses, Rudbeckias and Penstemons in July, followed by Echinaceas, Ornamental Grasses and Scented Plants in August
• Simple Prairie Borders, a guide to the ‘Dutch Drift’ style, showcasing movement, texture and long-lasting colour for late summer
• Winter Patio Secrets to encourage early September planting of winter-flowering pansies and bulbs while soil temperatures remain warm for a colourful winter.
• National Allotment Week (10–16 August), with tailored content celebrating community growing and grow-your-own produce.

Elia Johnston, HTA Director of Membership and Marketing, said: “By launching the summer assets now, we are giving our members a clear, shared seasonal pulse. ‘Your Garden Year’ helps retailers turn browsers into customers with high-quality content, from SEO-supported blogs to social media toolkits, that present gardening as an easily achievable and rewarding activity all year round.”

The campaign also encourages essential summer maintenance practices, including deadheading, watering and feeding, ensuring gardens continue to perform strongly throughout the warmest months.

Developed by the HTA Retail Committee, ‘Your Garden Year’ provides a clear, week-by-week structure to support consistent messaging across the sector, helping to guide gardeners through the seasons, sustain engagement, and grow the market.

Further details and access to the Summer 2026 resource and planner are available at hta.org.uk/your-garden-year.

One of the UK’s largest independent turf suppliers is celebrating 25 years in business, marking a significant milestone for a company that has grown alongside the evolving needs of landscapers, contractors and garden professionals.

Founded in 2001 by Buckinghamshire entrepreneur George Davies, George Davies Turf & Stone began as a small-scale venture operating from his father’s farm in Olney. In its earliest days, the farmyard itself acted as the company’s first depot, with turf delivered, stored and collected directly from the site.

The business was born out of a need to diversify. After university, George returned to work on the family farm and began researching alternative crops, but the high upfront investment made this unviable. Recognising the farm’s proximity to the rapidly expanding Milton Keynes area, he identified an opportunity in turf supply. While growing turf himself wasn’t feasible, a chance meeting with Scenic Blue Turf led him to invest his entire £15,000 savings into a franchise.

The ability to use his father’s land and infrastructure provided a practical launchpad, allowing the business to get off the ground with minimal overheads.Today, the business delivers more than 1.4 million rolls of turf and over 13,000 bags of landscaping materials annually and has established itself as a trusted supplier to both trade professionals and high-profile home projects across Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire and Hertfordshire.

Reflecting on the company’s anniversary, George Davies credits consistent service standards and close relationships with landscaping professionals as key drivers of growth.

George said: “From day one, the goal was simple: supply the highest-quality turf, deliver it fresh and make life easier for customers. Early on, I knew that because we weren’t growing the turf ourselves, we had to stand out through service. That focus has enabled us to grow with the industry while staying true to our roots. Those roots are very much on the farm; having that base in the early days gave me the opportunity to build something from scratch.”

Scaling operations to meet industry demand

What began as a one-man operation using a passenger car and trailer has developed into a multi-million-pound business operating from dual bases in Olney and St Albans.

In its earliest days, the business was built on hard graft. George handled every aspect himself, from unloading deliveries into the farmyard to hand-balling up to 25 tonnes of turf a day. Initial deliveries were made with every roll loaded and unloaded by hand. Customers would often collect directly from the farmyard, with a simple honesty box system in place, reflecting the informal, trust-based nature of the business at the time.

As demand increased, he invested in a 7.5-tonne Mercedes 811D lorry, significantly increasing delivery capacity, although George was still manually unloading turf on site. George’s father also supported operations as a back-up lorry driver during this period. This hands-on support helped the business transition from a farm-based sideline into a more structured delivery operation capable of serving a growing trade customer base.

The company now runs a fleet of 8 heavy goods vehicles equipped with forklift trucks, enabling efficient site deliveries and supporting the rapid turnaround required for fresh turf installation.

A key turning point came in 2003 when the business rebranded from Scenic Blue Turf to George Davies Turf. The same year saw the introduction of its first HGV, finished in a distinctive bright red, a colour that has since become synonymous with the brand, enabling deliveries of up to 720 rolls at a time.

Maintaining tight delivery windows has been central to the company’s model, with two-hour delivery slots helping landscapers manage labour, scheduling and installation quality.

In 2025, the business moved into new offices to support continued expansion and operational efficiency, helping the team handle growing demand and improve day-to-day operations.

George explains: “Timing is everything with turf. Investing in logistics, technology and facilities has allowed us to maintain reliability at scale, which is critical for professional landscapers working to tight project deadlines.”

Diversification and digital innovation

Over the past decade, George Davies Turf has expanded its offering beyond turf to become a broader landscaping materials supplier, including topsoil, composite decking, artificial grass, seed and paving products.

Landscapers are increasingly looking for suppliers who can provide multiple materials from a single delivery, helping reduce time on site and simplify project logistics.

The acquisition of Landscape Supplies Herts (formerly St Albans Stone) strengthened the company’s position as a one-stop shop for landscaping professionals, adding natural stone and aggregates to its portfolio.

Digital innovation has also played a role in improving customer experience, with the launch of a dedicated ordering app aimed at simplifying procurement and improving speed for busy contractors.

George continues: “Our industry is becoming more time-sensitive and technology-driven. We’ve focused on building systems that reduce friction for our customers so they can focus on delivering great projects.”

Supporting industry and community through CSR initiatives

Alongside commercial growth, George Davies Turf has increasingly embedded corporate social responsibility into its operations. Recent initiatives include supplying premium turf free of charge to Hertfordshire Zoo to support new animal habitats, demonstrating how specialist landscaping materials can contribute to conservation projects and animal welfare.

Closer to home, the business maintains strong links with the local community, including involvement in the historic Olney Pancake Race, reflecting the company’s commitment to the town where the business first began.

As George explains: “Landscaping is about improving environments, whether that’s a domestic garden, a commercial space or a conservation project. Supporting initiatives that align with that purpose feels like a natural extension of what we do.”

A changing industry and a forward-looking future

As the landscaping sector continues to evolve, George believes suppliers must adapt to increasing demand for efficiency, reliability and integrated product ranges.

George continues: “We’ve seen a shift towards customers wanting complete solutions rather than individual materials. Our growth has been about anticipating those needs while maintaining the personalised service that independent suppliers are known for.”

As the company celebrates its 25th anniversary, George says the focus remains firmly on future growth, innovation and strengthening partnerships with landscaping professionals.

George concludes: “We’re proud of how far we’ve come, but the industry is always moving forward. Our aim is to keep evolving alongside our customers and continue supporting the sector for many years to come.”

Home and garden websites are among the worst-performing sectors for digital accessibility, with new data revealing they have 17% more errors than the average website.

The latest WebAIM Million 2026 report found that these websites average 65.9 accessibility errors per page, significantly higher than the overall average of 56.1.

Overall, 95.9% of home pages across all sectors failed to meet basic accessibility standards (WCAG 2 A or AA).

The sector ranks among the poorest performers, driven by its reliance on visual content, inspiration-led design and layered navigation.

The most common barriers include low-contrast text (on 84% of home pages), missing alternative text for images (53%), unlabelled form inputs (51%), and empty links (46%) or buttons (31%).

WebAIM also found that homepage complexity is increasing, with pages now containing an average of 1,437 elements (such as images, buttons and links), a 22.5% increase in just one year. Almost 4% of all page elements contain an accessibility error.

Nexer Digital’s latest research into user behaviour also supports this. Its Hidden Journey study found that 79% of disabled users struggled to browse products, 81% found selecting items difficult or impossible, and 81% struggled to complete transactions, highlighting how accessibility barriers appear throughout the entire journey.

Hilary Stephenson, Managing Director of Nexer Digital, said: “Home and garden websites are designed to inspire, but for many users they can be difficult to navigate and understand.

“When images are not properly described or contrast is poor, people are left guessing. That uncertainty builds quickly and can lead people to abandon the experience.

“What’s often overlooked is that this isn’t just a usability issue, it’s a significant missed business opportunity. Brands that fail to cater for disabled shoppers, as well as their friends and families, risk losing a substantial and loyal customer base. Our research shows that people are unlikely to return after a poor experience, but when accessibility is done well, customers demonstrate strong loyalty to the brands that get it right.”

The report also highlights a sharp increase in imagery, with more than one in four images missing or having inadequate alternative text.

Hilary continued: “These are not complex problems to fix, but they are widespread. With legislation like the European Accessibility Act now in force, businesses need to ensure their digital experiences are inclusive from the outset.”

AIPH has announced the distinguished jury for the 2026 edition of the AIPH World Green City Awards. Bringing together leading experts from across urban planning, horticulture, environmental policy, and sustainable development, the Jury reflects the global ambition of the Awards: to showcase cities that recognise the power of plants for providing solutions to major urban challenges.

Initiated by the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) and supported by its network of Green City Partners, the AIPH World Green City Awards champion ambitious nature-orientated approaches to city design and operation. The Awards demonstrate how plants and horticulture contribute to healthier, more resilient, and more liveable cities.

The Awards Jury is tasked with selecting the winners based on each entry’s capacity for influence, replicability, and scope to inspire change. Considering the transformational impact of the initiatives, the Jury will assess each of the Finalist entries selected by the multidisciplinary Technical Panel. From the 21 Finalists, the Jury will decide on the seven category winners. Of these seven, only one will be named Grand Winner of the AIPH World Green City Awards 2026 - an exemplar of visionary, nature-oriented urban transformation.

Representing a range of geographies and experiences, the Jury reflects the global nature of the Awards and ensures that diverse perspectives inform the evaluation of Finalists.

Members of the jury are:

• Elisabeth Belpaire, President, International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP), Switzerland
• Kobie Brand, Deputy Secretary-General, ICLEI, and Regional Director, ICLEI Africa, South Africa
• Bill Hardy, Chair of Green City Committee, AIPH, Canada
• Jennifer Jenson, Owner, Verdovia, UK
• David Maddox, Executive Director, The Nature of Cities, USA
• Dr. Bruno Marques, President, International Federation of Landscape Architects, New Zealand
• Margaret Otieno, Chair, IUCN CEC, Kenya
• Augusto Solano, Past President, ASOCOLFLORES, Colombia
• Karen Tambayong, Chairperson, Indonesian Horticultural Professionals Association, Indonesia
• Maria A. Villalobos Hernandez, Associate Professor, Illinois Institute of Technology, and Director, Master of Landscape Architecture + Urbanism, USA
• Kotchakorn Voraakhom, CEO, Landprocess, and CEO, Porous City Network, Thailand

Commenting on the Jury, Tim Briercliffe, AIPH Secretary General, said: “Cities are increasingly recognising  the role of plants as essential urban infrastructure – supporting climate resilience, biodiversity and health and wellbeing. The strength and diversity of this year’s Jury ensures that the Awards continue to highlight the most effective and inspiring urban greening initiatives worldwide.”

Finalists will be announced on 14th April. Subscribe to the AIPH Global Green City Update to receive the announcement direct to your inbox.

Outdoor cooking enthusiasts across the UK are being invited to fire up their griddles as Blackstone’s famous Griddle Week officially launches in Britain for the very first time.

For the past seven years in the United States, Griddle Week has celebrated everything people love about outdoor cooking—bringing together grillers, food lovers and creators for seven days of flavour, creativity and community. Now, the event is crossing the Atlantic to inspire UK cooks to discover just how much more they can do outside with a Blackstone griddle.

Traditionally, many outdoor cooks in the UK turn to the classic BBQ. But Griddle Week is here to show that outdoor cooking can go far beyond burgers and sausages. With a Blackstone griddle, you can cook an incredible variety of meals—from breakfast feasts to street-food favourites, camping classics and show-stopping cuts of meat—all outdoors, all year round.

To make the first UK Griddle Week a success, Blackstone is calling on grillers, creators and outdoor cooking fans to get involved. Throughout the week, participants are encouraged to share their cooks, post videos, create social content and spread the word to inspire others to get outside and cook more food, more often.

Whether you're a seasoned outdoor chef or trying griddle cooking for the first time, this is your chance to join a growing community and showcase what’s possible.

The Seven Days of Griddle Week

Each day brings a new theme to spark creativity and encourage cooks to try something different on the griddle:

Monday – Breakfast
Start the week strong with the ultimate outdoor breakfast.

Tuesday – Taco Tuesday
Street-food favourites sizzling on the griddle.

Wednesday – Burger Day
Perfect smashed burgers and creative burger builds.

Thursday – Fusion
Blend global flavours and cuisines on the griddle.

Friday – Camping
Simple, delicious outdoor meals perfect for the campsite.

Saturday – Game Day
Crowd-pleasing food made for sharing with friends and family.

Sunday – Big Cuts
Finish the week with impressive cuts of meat cooked to perfection.

Across social media, grillers are encouraged to post their cooks, share tips, inspire others and help grow the outdoor cooking movement across the UK.

With the versatility of a Blackstone griddle, outdoor cooking isn’t limited to summer—it’s a year-round way to cook, entertain and enjoy incredible food outside.

So fire up the griddle, grab your ingredients and join the movement.

Griddle Week UK has arrived.

Social Media Tags - @blackstoneproducts_uk

Dobbies Garden Centres has confirmed its return as headline sponsor of Scotland’s national garden show, Scone Palace Garden Fair, for the second-year running, as the show celebrates its fifth year.

Taking place from 29 to 30 May, and set against the backdrop of Perthshire’s Scone Palace, the event is expected to welcome around 10,000 visitors across the two days. Scone Palace is one of Scotland’s most established events venues, hosting large-scale public events throughout the year.

The popular Garden Fair brings together a vibrant mix of horticultural displays, plant sales, gardening demonstrations, and hands-on workshops for garden fans to enjoy. Visitors can also enjoy the Scottish Garden Design competition, alongside a lineup of talks and panels from leading names in the industry.

Dobbies’ Green Team from stores across Scotland will be on hand throughout the weekend, offering expert advice, practical gardening inspiration and tips to help visitors make the most of their outdoor spaces.

Debbie Harding, Dobbies’ Chief People and Corporate Officer, who lives in Perthshire, said: "Last year we were headline sponsors for Scone Palace Garden Fair as part of our 160-year celebrations. As we continue to build on our Scottish heritage, and on the back of such a successful event last year, we’re thrilled to be supporting them again this year. 

“At Dobbies, we’re passionate about connecting with our local communities and helping people bring their gardens to life. We’re really looking forward to meeting fellow garden enthusiasts at this year’s event and sharing ideas, inspiration and our passion for gardens.”

Viscount William Stormont of Scone Palace added: "We’re excited to welcome Dobbies Garden Centres back as our headline sponsor. Their strong presence across Scotland and gardening expertise makes them a natural partner for the Garden Fair, and we’re looking forward to working together to deliver another fantastic event.”

Tickets for Scone Palace Garden Fair, running 29 and 30 May, are now available at www.sconepalace.co.uk.

For more information on Dobbies and to find your local store, visit www.dobbies.com.

The Royal Horticultural Society has announced ‘Be Curious’ as the theme for National Gardening Week 2026, inviting people of all ages to ask questions, try something new and discover the many ways gardening can enrich their lives.

Running from 27th April – 3rd May, the RHS is encouraging people of all ages across the UK to take part in simple, curiosity led actions, from noticing what is already growing in their own gardens or local green space, to planting something new, taking part in a wildlife count or learning more about gardening through a course or workshop.

The theme is inspired by the RHS and The King’s Foundation Curious Garden at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, designed by horticulturist, author and TV presenter Frances Tophill to encourage the nation to discover the joy of getting curious about gardening and the vital contribution plants make to the health of people, places and the planet.

‘Be Curious’ also reflects the growing appetite for gardening knowledge and hands on nature experiences. Last year the RHS answered a record number of gardening enquiries through its RHS Gardening Advice service with 121,081 written, phone and in person enquires, while the Plants & Advice pages on the RHS website saw more than 66.1m pageviews (up 18.2% y-o-y). Gardeners sought expert advice in 2025 on everything from soil health and plant care to wildlife-friendly gardening. The data highlights an increasing interest in climate related gardening challenges, particularly drought related issues affecting a range of popular plant genera including Roses, Hydrangeas, Camellia and Clematis.

Visitor numbers to RHS Gardens last year surpassed three million for just the second time in the charity’s 222-year history with record breaking attendance at RHS Garden Bridgewater (Salford), RHS Garden Harlow Carr (North Yorkshire) and RHS Garden Hyde Hall (Essex).   This milestone demonstrates a growing desire to explore gardens and green spaces, be inspired and connect with nature. RHS Garden Wisley (Surrey) was also recently named the second most popular English attraction outside London by the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions.

Tim Upson, RHS Director of Gardens and Horticulture said: “Gardening is all about curiosity, experimentation and asking questions. This year’s National Gardening Week is a celebration of the wonder that plants and gardens bring to our lives while encouraging people of all ages to learn about plants, connect with nature and discover the wellbeing and environmental benefits of gardening.   The record numbers of enquiries to our RHS Advisory Service, alongside the highest visitor numbers to our gardens in recent years demonstrates a growing thirst for gardening knowledge and time spent in nature.  We hope more people lean into their curiosity this National Gardening Week.”

To help inspire people to take part in this year’s National Gardening Week, the RHS has pulled together a series of curiosity led actions that anyone can try throughout the week:

• Day 1 – Enjoy: take a moment to enjoy what already loves growing in your garden, balcony, windowsill or local green space and enjoy being in nature
• Day 2 – Grow: Plant or sow something new!
• Day 3 – Observe: Look out for wildlife and record what you see, from beetles and butterflies.  You can submit your observations here: https://www.inaturalist.org/
• Day 4 – Experience: Touch, smell and taste plants, explore gardening through your senses or visit a new garden whether that be an RHS Garden, one of over 200 RHS Partner Gardens or a local green space
• Day 5 – Experiment: Try something different such as propagating a plant, developing your own compost, building a bug house or experimenting with new planting techniques – visit the RHS Website for inspiration and advice – rhs.org,uk
• Day 6 – Learn: Discover a new gardening tip, skill or fact – RHS Gardens are brimming with advice and a host of gardening workshops to help develop your curiosity further.
• Day 7 – Celebrate: Call yourself a gardener and reflect on what you’ve discovered – The RHS State of Gardening Report found that less a ¼ of adults in UK consider themselves gardeners, but gardening starts with curiosity and you don’t need to identify as a gardener to garden!

For more information and inspiraion visit www.rhs.org.uk/get-involved/national-gardening-week

The team behind The RHS and The King’s Foundation Curious Garden have gathered at Highgrove to finalise, finesse and rubber stamp the plans for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show feature garden, which celebrates and encourages people to get curious about gardening and spending time in nature.

His Majesty The King, Royal Founding President of The King’s Foundation and Royal Patron of the RHS, was joined by King’s Foundation ambassador Sir David Beckham, King’s Foundation and RHS Ambassador Alan Titchmarsh CBE and Frances Tophill, the garden designer, for a special meeting at Highgrove to discuss the plants and plans for the garden. The group are united by a love for gardening and the outdoors, and the hope that a new generation will consider careers in horticulture.

Garden trainees and apprentices from both RHS Wisley and Highgrove Gardens are also involved in the Curious Garden project and will be onsite planting at the Royal Hospital Chelsea. As part of the meeting at Highgrove, The King heard from the garden trainees about their excitement around the project, who are also taking part in exchanges to each other’s gardens.

At last week’s meeting, it was agreed that the Curious Garden will host a beehive, inspired by The King and Sir David’s enthusiasm for beekeeping and producing natural honey. Other design elements already announced for the garden include an easel created by Snowdon School of Furniture Graduate Eleanor Pickin, who met those involved in the garden design at the Highgrove furniture workshops, seven raised beds to nod to Sir David’s iconic football shirt number, as well as roses by David Austin Roses for The King, Sir David and Alan Titchmarsh.

Following the meeting, Sir David, King’s Foundation Ambassador, said: “Both The King’s Foundation and the RHS do such great work in protecting and promoting green spaces across the UK. I want to help encourage a new generation to appreciate the benefits of nature and get involved in gardening. It’s been fun to be a part of creating the Curious Garden and I’m excited for people to see it at RHS Chelsea Flower Show.”

Alan Titchmarsh CBE, King’s Foundation and RHS Ambassador, said: “As a long-time supporter of both the RHS and The King’s Foundation, I am delighted to lend my horticultural expertise to the Curious Garden. Curiosity is really the beginning of any gardening journey – and certainly that’s how I began my career – so I hope this work inspires a new generation of gardeners to explore their talents through the incredible training and work experience schemes available via the RHS and The King’s Foundation.”

Frances Tophill, garden design for the Curious Garden, said: “As my first Chelsea Garden for the RHS, I am thrilled to be working on such a special design. It has been inspiring to spend time at Highgrove and learn more about His Majesty’s approach to gardening and how he incorporates his Harmony philosophy into all of the work that takes place there - which we have brought to the designs for the garden. I can’t wait to share the Curious Garden with the world!”

The RHS is the UK’s Gardening Charity, founded in1804, today the charity helps millions of people across the country garden and grow for health, happiness and the environment. With a mission to promote the Science, Art and Practice of Horticulture, the charity runs national grass roots school gardening and community gardening campaigns and conducts vital science research to help mitigate some of the biggest environmental challenges facing us today.

The King’s Foundation is His Majesty’s nature and sustainability charity. The organisation offers education programmes for young people in traditional, sustainable skills and outdoor learning, as well as managing and developing gardens on behalf of His Majesty, including those at Highgrove, Dumfries House and the Castle of Mey.

Frank P Matthews Trees has announced its return to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show for the second time, marking a significant milestone in the company’s 125-year history. This year’s presence at the world-renowned horticultural event is made even more special through the support of Lombard Odier, the global wealth manager, who will be sponsoring the exhibit.

Founded in 1901, Frank P Matthews Trees has grown from a traditional family nursery into one of the UK’s leading tree suppliers, renowned for its commitment to quality, sustainability, and innovation. Celebrating 125 years in business, the company continues to champion the importance of trees in shaping landscapes, supporting biodiversity, and addressing climate challenges.

The partnership with Lombard Odier reflects a shared vision between two long-standing institutions, both rooted in heritage yet forward-thinking in their approach. Lombard Odier, a global wealth manager with 230 years of history, is widely recognised for its leadership in sustainable investment and its commitment to helping clients transition towards a net-zero, nature-positive future.

This collaboration brings together horticultural expertise and financial stewardship, underpinned by a mutual belief in long-term sustainability, environmental responsibility, and legacy-building for future generations.

Steph James of Frank P Matthews Trees commented:
"We are incredibly proud to be returning to RHS Chelsea Flower Show during such an important year for our business. Celebrating 125 years is a moment of reflection as well as ambition for the future. Partnering with Lombard Odier feels like a natural alignment — their commitment to sustainability and long-term thinking mirrors our own values. We are deeply grateful for their support in bringing our vision to life at Chelsea."

Mark Goddard, UK CEO at Lombard Odier added:
“Sustainability has always been part of Lombard Odier’s DNA, reinforced by our heritage as an independent bank owned and run by Partners representing up to the sixth generation of our founding families.

"Supporting Frank P Matthews Trees at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show allows us to stand alongside another multigenerational family enterprise whose values mirror our own. Trees play a vital role in shaping a more sustainable world, and Frank P Matthews’ legacy shows how family businesses can lead that change with long-term vision and care for future generations. We are proud to be part of that story.”

The exhibit will focus on Malus (ornamental apple) trees and trained fruit forms, building on their popularity at last year’s show. The display will highlight their seasonal beauty, versatility, and the craftsmanship behind these striking and productive unique and traditional cultivars.

As Frank P Matthews Trees looks ahead to the next century, this partnership with Lombard Odier signals an exciting step forward, combining tradition with progressive thinking to inspire change and promote a greener future.

Grantham Garden Centre officially opened on Good Friday (3rd April), marking an exciting new chapter for the site following its transformation by British Garden Centres.

The opening was celebrated with a ribbon‑cutting ceremony led by celebrity gardener and BBC Gardeners’ World presenter Adam Frost, who officially opened the centre at 9am before meeting visitors and sharing gardening advice during the morning.

Located at Gonerby Moor, Grantham (NG32 2AB), the garden centre has undergone significant investment since joining the British Garden Centres family earlier this year. The refreshed site now offers an expanded range of plants, gardening essentials, homeware and outdoor living products, alongside a revitalised shopping experience designed to inspire gardeners of all levels. 

To mark the opening, the first 100 customers through the doors received complimentary goody bags. Visitors across the opening weekend can enjoy special opening celebration offers, including Levington Tomorite at £3 per bottle and Erins Compost 3 for £12. The British Garden Centres team were on hand throughout the day to welcome customers and introduce them to the group’s free Family Card loyalty scheme.

A key highlight of the transformation is the newly refreshed restaurant, featuring a redesigned menu and a brand‑new 7 days a week carvery, making Grantham Garden Centre a welcoming destination for a full day out with family and friends.

Natalie Skins, Centre Manager at Grantham Garden Centre, said: “It has been fantastic to finally open our doors and welcome the Grantham community into the centre. This garden centre has always been a valued local destination, and seeing customers enjoy the new look, the store and the restaurant today has been incredibly rewarding for the whole team.”

Amy Stubbs, Managing Director of British Garden Centres, added: “A massive thank you to the amazing team who has been part of the Grantham Garden Centre transformation. We are delighted to see it open and thriving. We look forward to becoming a long‑term part of the local community and supporting gardeners throughout the seasons.”

Grantham Garden Centre is now open and welcoming customers daily.

For more information, visit www.britishgardencentres.com or Grantham Garden Centre on Facebook.

Woodlodge Products Ltd has confirmed that it has become the UK distribution partner for Artevasi products from 1 April 2026, ensuring continuity of supply and service for customers across the UK.

The move reinforces Woodlodge’s commitment to delivering best-in-class service levels for UK garden centres, supported by its established national distribution network and award-winning merchandising team.

To ensure a smooth transition for retailers, Woodlodge has taken proactive steps to support customers throughout the changeover period, including expanding its merchandising capability by welcoming a number of experienced merchandisers into the Woodlodge team in key strategic regions across the UK. They all start this week in readiness for the post-Easter period where garden centres are at their busiest.

This investment will help maintain — and in many areas further enhance — the high standards of store support and merchandising that customers rely on during the critical spring season.

Michael Wooldridge, Director at Woodlodge Products Ltd, said: “Our priority is always the customer. We recognise that transitions like this can create uncertainty, so we have moved quickly to ensure continuity of supply, continuity of merchandising support and the exceptional service levels that retailers expect.

"By strengthening our merchandising team and integrating experienced personnel in key regions, we are confident we can not only maintain service levels but continue to raise the bar for in-store support and availability.”

Woodlodge’s strategy remains firmly centred on the garden centre channel, where the business has built long-standing partnerships with leading independent and group operators across the UK. By focusing exclusively on the needs of garden retailers — from tailored product ranges and bespoke planograms to hands-on merchandising and stock optimisation — the company continues to drive increased sales per square metre and improved retail performance for its customers.

The company will work closely with Artevasi to ensure a seamless transition of supply from April, enabling retailers to continue offering the popular range of sustainable and design-led plant pots to UK consumers without disruption. 

Woodlodge also told GTN Xtra they have taken on 11 new merchandisers to support their retail activities across the country.

Please contact your area sales rep or contact the office pots@woodlodge.co.uk or visit our showroom to see the complete range.

As is the tradition of our UK national press, stories about garden centres made it into their pages over Easter.  Alan Roper was interviewed in the Times where he was quoted as saying "I've been through true recessions, and you can trade through it. Garden centres have always had that kind of gift, or slight protection from economic shocks."

In The Telegraph Political Correspondent Amy Gibbons told readers that: "Garden centres are under threat because of Rachel Reeves's "financial vandalism".

Read the full Telegraph article here: https://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/2387/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/2387/pub/2387/page/9/article/NaN

Here is a link to the Times article about Blue Diamond: https://www.thetimes.com/business/companies-markets/article/rise-of-blue-diamond-garden-centre-empire-826qx0hgp  Subscription required

River View at Gouldings opened on Good Friday.

Since taking ownership of the Rosebank Nurseries plant and Garden centre in January 2026, Gouldings have completed a major refurbishment with a new plant area erected, restaurant and toilet refurbishment.

The restaurant now has 120 covers. Shop is fully stocked with everything you need for your home and garden. The new site has been rebranded as River View at Gouldings.

River View is the third Gouldings centre in the Clyde Valley.

This season Sheffield-based Burgon & Ball, creator of premium gardening tools and accessories since 1730, is launching a beautiful new design collection in its top-selling ‘RHS Gifts for Gardeners’ series.

The 12-piece new collection ‘Woodland Wonders’ takes inspiration from an increasing love for natural woodlands and for woodland gardens. Rewilding, forest bathing and the importance of natural habitats are recurring themes in winning gardens at RHS flower shows. Increasingly gardeners are looking to add a woodland element to their outdoor space, however small.

The new pattern has been created by Burgon & Ball and has an elegant and timeless feel. It incorporates specially selected eighteenth and early nineteenth century illustrations from the RHS Lindley Collections of historic botanical art. A dark green background evokes the peace of the deep forest, allowing the illustrations of berries and leaves, birds and insects to shine out. Beautiful gift packaging features the eye-catching new design, and in tune with consumer expectations, the packaging is plastic-free and easily recyclable.

Delivering value for money

‘Woodland Wonders’ adds exciting new gifting options to update and refresh the ‘RHS Gifts for Gardeners’ range. It also includes proven top-selling lines from previous RHS Gifts design collections. Across the range, prices have been set to deliver value for money, a factor always in demand with shoppers.

For example, the popular RHS Gifts herb pot set is included in this collection, now containing two pretty herb pots and designed to retail at a sub-£10 price point. The pots are packaged stacked to minimise footprint and maximise return on space for the retailer. New gauntlet gloves have a deep cuff for a little extra coverage when needed, and retail appealingly just a small margin above the regular RHS Gifts glove.

There’s also a new sowing and potting tin, perfect for gardeners who enjoy growing from seed. This reusable tin with the beautiful ‘Woodland Wonders’ design is jam-packed with propagation accessories, with lightweight stretch gloves, scoop, wooden dibblet and seed storage envelopes. Retailing at just £16.99, this new gift offers exceptional value.

Gifts for non-gardeners, too!

The beautiful ‘Woodland Wonders’ design has been extended to new gifts which will appeal to non-gardeners, as well as garden lovers. There’s a new A5 gardener’s notebook which includes a printed page of foraging information, and which comes complete with a quality pen. A magnetic notepad is perfect for the fridge door, offering the perfect place to capture those ‘jobs for the weekend’! A heavyweight cotton tote bag gives a way to take the peace of the woods with you when you’re out and about.

Reliable top-sellers

Favourite gift options from other design collections in the series make a welcome return with ‘Woodland Wonders’. In RHS-endorsed tools, the ever-popular trowel and hand fork set is included. The trowel is etched with a line of poetry by Lord Byron, and both tools have a lifetime guarantee. There’s a pruner and holster in a tin, the pruner with a ten-year guarantee. There’s also the return of gift-boxed gardener’s snips, again with a ten-year guarantee. All tools have limited-edition dark green handles.

In accessories, the ever-popular indoor watering can returns to the classic RHS Gifts silhouette, with an elegant long tapered spout for accurate pouring. The much-loved Kneelo® memory foam kneeler shows off the sophisticated new pattern to perfection. Completing the line-up, the gardening gloves have cushioned palm and anti-debris gathered wrist. They’re also washable at 30 degrees to keep them looking good.

The new collection looks simply gorgeous when displayed on the stylish ‘All You Need’ merchandising kit and will make an eye-catching attraction in any gifting display. With RRPs from just £9.99 up to £26.99, this year there’ll the perfect gardening gift for every budget in the new ‘Woodland Wonders’ RHS Gifts for Gardeners collection.

Corby+Fellas are really pleased to share that we’ve partnered with Boyles of Ballyseedy, one of Ireland’s most loved and long-standing garden centres. 

With its strong heritage and well-earned reputation for quality, Boyles has become a go-to destination for gardening, home, and lifestyle inspiration.

We’ve recently rolled out our systems across the site, bringing everything together into one simple, connected solution. The aim is to help the team work more smoothly day to day, while also enhancing the overall experience for their customers.

We’re proud to be supporting Boyles as they continue to grow and evolve, and we’re excited about what lies ahead. We look forward to working closely with the team for many years to come.

If you’d like to find out how we could support your business, we’d love to hear from you: sales@corbyfellas.com

Pictured: Shane, Thomas, and Niall from Boyles of Ballyseedy, alongside Neil Laugher of Corby+Fellas.

GIMA Buyers Guide & New Product Digest - Spring 2026 - A valuable reference for the UK Garden Trade Read On-line here

New Products for the UK Garden Trade for 2026 from GIMA Members: Altico, Auto Pot Global, Avocet Hardware – Greenman Tools, Bees Seeds, Big Cheese (STV), Charles Bentley, Durstons, Eastern Connections, Easy Cleaning Solutions (Jeyes), elho, Evergreen Garden Care, Fiskars, Floramedia, Gardena, Greenkey, Glee, Handy, Hex Living, Hortiwool, Johnsons Lawn Seeds, Lava-Lite, Lodi UK, The MAD Company, Meadow View Stone, Melcourt, Mercia Garden Products, Monty Miracle, Museums & Galleries, Outtrade BV, Pelsis Doff, Phoenox Textiles, PlantWorks, Super Ninja, Treadstone, Treasure Gardening, Vitavia, Woodmansterne, Zest Outdoor Living and the GIMA Member Directory.

GTN March 2026. In this issue: New gift packaging and greeting cards from Woodmansterne, Exclusive GTN interview with Derek Bunker as he takes retirement, Houseplants benefit from the Durston’s difference, Hunter Stoves enter the outdoor leisure market with Pollen, More than just cards – the story behind Museums & Galleries, Round up from this year’s Garden Press Event, Investments underline the future for Evergreen Garden Care, BGC’s family values vision - GTN meets up with Charles and Amy Stubbs  , Inspiration from winning garden centre teams in GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards, Giant Garden Centre Teams, Large Garden Centre Teams, Mid-Sized Garden Centre Teams, Small Garden Centre Teams, Group Large Garden centre Teams, Group Small Garden Centre Teams, Review from Spring Fair and Glee at Spring Fair, Invasive Plant Advice – GTN Planteria, AI - your partner in business - Adapt or Die, Hungry for change - Pleydell Smithyman Viewpoint, What’s shaping Outdoor Living - LOFA Viewpoint, Grounded Horticulture - HTA Viewpoint, Cautious Optimism - GIMA Viewpoint.