GTN October – November 2026. In this issue: Interview with British Garden Centres Restaurant Director Ricky Towers, Heavenly Coffee for garden centres, Behind Hamstreet Garden Centre’s Greatest Restaurant Team Award, Highlights from the 2026 Choice conference, Formbar helps with new recycling rules, WD-40’s new Bio Lubricant, Gardena’s Top of the Plots, LOFA invites applications to its new Outdoor Leisure Retail Academy, Invitation to Toy Fair 2027 , New Product Directory from Glee 2026 – Part 1, Opportunities with edible plants, Cyclamen in the Spotlight – GTN Planteria, Gluten-free messaging for café’s & restaurants, Pet trade success at PATS 26, Your silent salesperson - Adapt or Die, Keep things fresh - GCA Viewpoint, A glimpse of the future - HTA Viewpoint.

60 Years Strong – Building Tomorrow Together

As LOFA prepares to celebrate its Diamond Jubilee in 2027, marking 60 years of supporting the UK outdoor living industry, we are delighted to announce the launch of the LOFA Outdoor Leisure Retail Academy, a brand-new training initiative designed to help garden centre and retail staff feel more confident when selling outdoor leisure products.

For 60 years, LOFA has been bringing the industry together, supporting its members and championing the outdoor living sector.

As we look ahead to this milestone year, we want to do more than celebrate our heritage. We want to invest in the people and businesses that will shape the future of our industry.

And what better way to do that than by helping the people on the shop floor who are talking to consumers every day?

SCAN TO APPLY

FREE Outdoor Leisure Retail Academy Training

Applications close 16 December 2026

Listening to the Industry

We have listened to retailers and know there is a real gap in the market for sales training specifically focused on outdoor leisure products.

Selling a garden furniture set, barbecue or other higher-value outdoor living product can be quite different from selling everyday garden centre items. These are often considered purchases, and we know that some retail staff can feel uncomfortable or lack confidence when approaching customers or discussing higher-priced products.

We want to help change that.

The LOFA Outdoor Leisure Retail Academy has been created to give retail staff the confidence, skills and understanding to engage with customers more effectively, recognise what they need and ultimately help them make the right purchasing decisions.

The training will cover key areas including:

• Recognising different customer types and understanding how they like to shop.
• Engaging with customers at the right level and building confidence in those conversations.
• Helping customers to buy rather than making them feel they are being sold to.
• Understanding how to create urgency without applying pressure.
• Developing practical sales techniques that can be used every day on the shop floor.

Our aim is simple. We want retail staff to feel more comfortable and confident when selling outdoor leisure products, while giving consumers a better, more engaging shopping experience.

And, of course, if we can help retailers sell more outdoor leisure products along the way, that is good news for everyone in our industry.

Building on Success

This new initiative follows the success of our internal LOFA Sales Academy, which we introduced to help newer and younger members of staff working within our member companies navigate an increasingly complex and changing outdoor leisure market.

Over the past two years, 22 members of staff have completed the programme, gaining practical sales skills and techniques that they can now use in their day-to-day roles.

The feedback and experience from running the Sales Academy has encouraged us to take the next step and extend this training opportunity to the retailers who sell our members' products.

After all, the more confident and knowledgeable retail staff are, the better equipped they are to support consumers and help grow the outdoor leisure market.

Taking the Academy Across the UK

The LOFA Outdoor Leisure Retail Academy will launch in February and March 2027, with training taking place in four locations across the UK, covering the North, South, East and West.

Each location will host two half-day training sessions, with 12 places available per session, giving us the opportunity to train up to 96 retail staff as part of this first programme.

We are thrilled to be working with four fantastic garden centres that have kindly offered to host our training sessions:

• Bents – 5^th March 2027
• Planters Garden Centres – 3^rd March 2027
• Aylett Nurseries – 11^th & 12^th March 2027
• Old Well Garden Centre – 24^th & 25^th February 2027

Their support means we can take the Academy out into the industry and make this valuable training accessible to retailers across the country.

And the best part? The training is completely free of charge.

We welcome applications from garden centres and outdoor leisure retailers of all sizes across the UK. Whether you have a new member of staff who would benefit from some additional support or an existing team member who would like to develop their selling skills, we would love to hear from you.

How to Apply

If you feel that you or a member of your team would benefit from this free training opportunity, we would encourage you to apply.

Applications close on 16 December 2026.

Places are limited, so we would encourage retailers to get their applications in early.

https://lofa.co.uk/retail-training-application-form/

60 Years Strong – Building Tomorrow Together

As the organisation behind SOLEX, the outdoor living trade exhibition organised by the industry for the industry, LOFA has been connecting retailers and suppliers through the show since 2008.

The launch of the LOFA Outdoor Leisure Retail Academy is another way we can strengthen those relationships and support the industry beyond the exhibition itself.

Our Diamond Jubilee is an opportunity to look back with pride at everything LOFA and its members have achieved over the past six decades, but just as importantly, it is about looking forward.

The Retail Academy is one of a number of initiatives we will be introducing during our anniversary year, all with the same ambition: to support our members, connect our industry and help build a stronger future for outdoor living.

60 Years Strong. Building Tomorrow Together.

Celebrating Our Heritage. Connecting Our Industry. Building Our Future.

SCAN TO APPLY

FREE Outdoor Leisure Retail Academy Training

Applications close 16 December 2026

As a key part of GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards, customers are now able to start voting for The Greatest Garden Centre Christmas teams in 2026.  Voting is live on-line and in store from now until 20th December.

Fakenham, McKenzie & Cruickshank, Bow Garden & Aquatic Centre, Wolseley Bridge, Burleydam, Old Railway Line, Norwich Camping & leisure, Allbrighton and Trioscape have all recieved early on-line votes from their customers.  To ask your customers to vote for you and your team, all you need to do is print off the poster, the in-store voting forms and the on-line voting material that can be accessed via this link: GTN Greatest Christmas Awards 2026 Voting Materials, display them in store, add a link to your social media pages or website where you can put the voting link or the QR code as below and let the voting begin.

You can also let your customers vote in-store by printing off the voting postcards and collecting them in-store before sending them in to us for counting before Christmas. This is a great way for your team to see just what customers really like about your Christmas, as they can read through the positive comments and take a big pat on the back too.

It’s as simple as that.  Voting is open now and will remain open until 4:00pm on December 20th.

As last year, awards will be made on a regional basis as well as overall and will also take size of garden centre and team into account too, so every vote will count!

Here is the link to the on-line voting page: GTN Greatest Christmas Awards 2026 On-Line Voting Link

Here are links to the posters and in-store voting postcards artwork, plus the voting QR code fro use in social media - just click on the images below: 

If you have any questions please contact: trevor@pottingshedpress.co.uk or call 07973 504214.

Honeyfields is reminding wild bird fans that good hygiene should be an essential part of any responsible feeding routine, helping to create a safer and healthier environment for garden birds.

With feeders, tables and water vessels often used by multiple birds throughout the day, these shared surfaces can quickly become contaminated with saliva, discarded food and droppings. Regular cleaning can play an important role in helping to reduce the potential spread of infectious diseases.

“Most bird lovers know feeders should be cleaned but very few do it often enough,” says Sarah Kitson, Head of Marketing at Honeyfields. “Research suggests fewer than 2% of people follow best-practice cleaning advice. That leaves a big gap in bird health protection. This is why we are encouraging retailers to help their customers put good hygiene at the heart of their wild bird feeding.”

Birds gather closely at feeders, tables and water vessels making it easy for diseases to spread from bird to bird rapidly, this can include infections like salmonella, conjunctivitis, and trichomonosis, through contaminated food and surfaces. 

In addition, wet or old seed can grow mould that produces toxins dangerous to birds. Dirty feeders can also attract rodents, insects, and other wildlife susceptible to these diseases.   

Honeyfields’ top tips for retailers to share with their customers include:

• Try and feed regularly all year round as birds will come to rely on the food you put out.
• Choose a quality food specially formulated to help support health and well-being of wild birds.
• Consider a variety of feeds and feeding methods to help fulfil birds’ differing needs.
• Supplementary feeds should be fresh and in suitable quantities (ideally enough for 24 hrs) to help prevent waste.
• Space feeders apart to help minimise crowding and the spread of any infectious diseases.
• Regularly remove wet and uneaten food to help prevent mould and pests.
• Provide clean, fresh water for drinking and bathing, changing daily to help keep hygienic.
• Wash feeders, tables and water vessels at least weekly; Scrub with hot soapy water Disinfect with a 1:9 bleach-to-water solution and then rinse thoroughly and allow to dry before refilling.

“Think of a feeder as a shared dinner plate or water vessel as a shared drinking glass - lots of birds may be using the same surfaces, so regular cleaning is an important part of responsible feeding,” says Sarah.

“We hope retailers can help to reinforce our simple hygiene messages to their customers, ensuring that enjoying garden birds goes hand in hand with feeding them safely and responsibly.”

By making “clean, then fill” part of the everyday routine, bird lovers can take a simple but important step towards supporting the health and wellbeing of the birds they enjoy.

To find out more contact your Regional Sales Manager or call us on 0845 257 0232.

APAC launched their Christmas 2027 range last week with a grand opening at the APAC Showroom in Leicester.

Amid a party setting guests were busy placing orders for "Made for Christmas by APAC" products and taking part in wreath making demonstrations.

See GTN Xtra's gallery of photos from the evening below.

To book your visit to the APAC showroom please contact your usual APAC sales representative or call 0116 230 2555

https://www.apac.co.uk/

It might have been a grey November day, but the 50 members of the GCA who set off on a route around London’s top retailers were filled with Christmas cheer. Their mission was to capture new ideas in merchandising, display, signage and lighting, to take back to their own centres and incorporate into their Christmas offering.

Starting at Southwark Winter Market, the walking tour wound through Covent Garden, to Hamleys, Liberty, John Lewis, Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason and finally the Burlington Arcade. Some of the group even managed to squeeze in the Christmas market in Leicester Square and the new look M&S in Oxford Street.

A clear favourite was the planting outside Covent Garden. Simple but effective it included fruit boxes and carts (harking back to Covent Garden’s past) overflowing with evergreens and bold red cyclamen. Sold in every planetaria, it was easy to see how similar planting and displays would work in any garden centre.

The tour was hot on the heels of the GCA Northern Tour to see how Christmas is done at  Klondyke Heigh Lee in Knutsford, The Hollies Farm Shop, Bents Garden & Home and Newbank Garden Centre.

See the gallery of pictures below for more Christmas ideas...

British Garden Centres is lighting up screens across the UK this Christmas with the launch of its enchanting new animated advert, 'Where Magic Begins'.

Streaming on Netflix and Disney+, the heartwarming 30-second clip captures the pure, unadulterated sparkle of Christmas at British Garden Centres, proving that true festive magic is alive, kicking, and has everything you need for the most wonderful time of the year.

The story begins in the heart of the North Pole, where a sudden hush falls over Santa’s workshop. The Christmas magic meter is running low, and on the big map, the twinkling lights of Christmas cheer are starting to flicker out. Step forward Joy, a spirited little elf with a big heart and a brilliant idea.

Soaring high above the sleepy, starlit towns below, Joy spots her answer below: a British Garden Centres store full of Christmas magic. She lands right in the entrance, is welcomed by Managing Director Amy Stubbs, transforms into a BGC uniform, and her festive mission begins.

What follows reinforces the magic and memories that garden centres can create this Christmas. Wandering through shimmering aisles overflowing with glittering baubles and twinkling trees, Joy feels the power of Christmas surge and the Magic Meter top up. With a wave of her Fern Christmas Wand, she transforms the store experts, Bernard, Georgie and Charlie into festive characters; a tiny boy gets the giant teddy bear of his dreams, and a family loading their Christmas tree onto the car roof gets an unexpected sprinkle of magic, bringing a huge grin to the family cockapoo!

With every smile, hug, and moment of delight shared inside the store, the North Pole's Magic Meter climbs back to full power. Joy waves her wand once more, lighting up whole neighbourhoods in brilliant festive light before returning to the North Pole for a giant hug from Santa, as all 80 British Garden Centres burst into light across the map, proving your local centres are the hubs for Christmas celebrations and beyond.

The ad finishes with Santa’s sleigh sweeping a golden trail across the starry sky above the glowing garden centre, with the campaign message: “Where Magic Begins.”

Lucy Hewitt, Marketing Campaigns Manager at British Garden Centres, said: “There is something truly spellbinding about walking into a garden centre at Christmas. The smell of real pine, the sea of sparkling lights, and the excitement in children's eyes- it’s where special memories are born. Our new advert captures that feeling of wonder and reminds us all that when families gather, laugh, and share the season, that’s where the real magic begins.”

You can watch the 'Where Magic Begins' advert on Disney+ and Netflix, social media and YouTube this Christmas, or step into your local British Garden Centres store to feel the sparkle for yourself.

Greenfingers chairman Boyd Douglas-Davies was presented with the Prince Edward Award for Excellence in Horticultural Career Development by the Worshipful Company of Gardeners.

The award recognises those who have inspired others to enter horticulture and supported their career development. Previous recipients include Carol Klein, Jekka McVicar, Raymond Blanc and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.

Throughout his career in horticulture and garden retail, Boyd has championed the opportunities the sector offers. His enthusiasm and ability to bring people together have also made a lasting difference to Greenfingers.

As founder of Garden Re-Leaf Day, Boyd created an annual fundraising event that unites garden centres, suppliers, colleagues and friends through walks, challenges and other activities. Together, they have raised more than £1 million, helping the charity create and maintain magical, therapeutic gardens where children with life-limiting conditions, their families and carers can enjoy precious time outdoors.

Since becoming Chairman in October 2024, he has continued to give his time and expertise, building relationships and helping the charity develop its work.

Richard Jackson, Founder President of Greenfingers Charity and a close friend of Boyd, said: “I am delighted to see Boyd receive this award. He cares deeply about our industry and the people within it, and has helped so many recognise what they can achieve. At Greenfingers, we see first-hand the difference a garden can make and Boyd works tirelessly to help us bring that gift to more children and families.

“Boyd, my friend, this is richly deserved. Congratulations on an honour that I know will mean so much to you and everyone who knows you.”

The family-run producer has seen an unexpected surge in demand for growing media throughout September and October, as the UK’s unusually mild autumn encouraged gardeners back outside following one of the driest, hottest summers on record.

With many consumers having written off the summer due to drought conditions and hosepipe bans, the return of warm, settled weather in early autumn created a fresh window for planting, which resulted in a sharp rise in compost sales across the country.

According to Durstons Sales Director, Dan Durston, the shift was both welcome and unexpected. “Autumn has been a really strong selling period for us,” he said. “Once September arrived and people realised there was still time to plant and grow things, they got back out there and were buying compost again. A lot of gardeners had almost given up on the season because of the drought but the great weather in September meant gardening was still very much on the agenda. It created an unusual spike and we had to get bagging pretty quickly once we got into the new facility.”

That new facility, Eclipse Works, came online on 1st September, giving Durstons the capability and flexibility needed to respond to the late-season uplift. The 25‑acre site in Meare, Somerset represents a major investment in production capacity, logistics and efficiency, with upgraded machinery, expanded operational space and a state‑of‑the‑art mixing system designed to support higher volumes and faster turnaround. The move marks a significant step change for the heritage Somerset producer and unlocks further potential going forward.

Although the relocation had been carefully planned to coincide with a quieter period, as the peak season wound down, the timing proved fortuitous. With production switching over just as demand unexpectedly accelerated, Durstons were able to maintain supply, meet retailer requirements and keep stock flowing.

Operational resilience

The strong autumn performance follows a standout September for the business. Durstons enjoyed their best-ever Glee, with a regular stream of buyers on stand, high-quality conversations and significant interest across their Advanced, Traditional and Everyday collections. Retailers responded positively to the company’s refreshed identity, expanded capability and proven product performance, resulting in a number of exciting new accounts for the supplier.

In the same month, Durstons also celebrated an award win at Four Oaks, where its Advanced Tub & Basket Compost caught the eye of the judges and was crowned Best Retail Product/Service.

New listings under their belt, an award win and the ability to absorb an unexpected rise in autumn demand all underline Durstons’ strong performance this season and the resilience of their expanded operation.

Dan Durston concluded: “With Eclipse Works now up and running, we’re ready for the next chapter. This autumn has shown exactly why the investment was so important. It’s given us the capability to react quickly, support our customers and keep pace with demand, even when the season doesn’t behave as expected.”

Find out more
To find out more about Durstons’ award-winning performance compost offering visit www.durstongardenproducts.co.uk or by call (01458) 442688.

QD Commercial Group, the owner of the Cherry Lane outlets, has announced it is actively looking to acquire more garden centres after a positive set of financial results.

In its annual report in the year to 28 February 2026, the company said: “The strategic plan for the QD Commercial Group continues to build momentum and the directors are delighted to announce continued growth above and beyond in both turnover and profit. The business is actively looking to acquire more garden centres, destination and market town stores.”

Group turnover for the year increased by 4.5% to £123,325,000 compared to £117,965,000 the previous year.

The company achieved a net profit before tax of £1,436,000, and at the end of the year its net assets were £4,535,0000, an increase of 1.3%.

Unwins Seeds, the trusted seed brand inspiring gardeners since 1903, is expanding its premium seed offering with the launch of the Seed Society collection, an exciting new range developed to inspire ambitious growers, support the booming grow-your-own movement and give retailers a compelling proposition for today's increasingly knowledgeable gardeners.

Created for passionate vegetable growers, kitchen gardeners and the growing community of allotmenteers, Unwins Seed Society combines exceptional genetics with innovative seed technology to help gardeners achieve outstanding harvests, season after season.

Seed Society has also been designed to build a community around growing. As consumers seek greater value from gardening, they're looking for trusted advice, shared experiences and products that genuinely improve success. Seed Society delivers on all three, combining premium-performing varieties with expert growing support and an invitation to join a dedicated community of like-minded growers. Each pack invites gardeners to become part of the Unwins Seed Society Community of Growers, a new platform where members can share tips, celebrate successes and learn from fellow growers.

Every variety of seed in the collection has been carefully selected for its exceptional performance, offering excellent germination, impressive disease resistance, reliable harvests and outstanding flavour. For added reassurance, every seed is enhanced with VantagePlus™ – Unwins' natural and organic seed treatment that improves germination, encourages stronger root development, increases plant vigour and boosts resilience against environmental stress, helping gardeners achieve healthier plants and more productive crops.

The launch collection includes 46 carefully curated varieties, featuring standout performers such as Premium Ruby F1 Cherry Tomato, Midsummer Dream Sweetcorn and a selection of high-yielding vegetables chosen to deliver reliable results for both experienced growers and those looking to take their kitchen garden to the next level.

Alongside improved seed performance, Unwins’ Seed Society has been developed to enhance the overall customer experience. Larger-format seed packets provide greater shelf impact and improved readability, while expanded growing information gives gardeners more confidence throughout the growing journey. Every packet also features resealable packaging with an integrated easy-close clip, helping seeds stay fresh between sowings and reinforcing the collection's premium positioning.

Arty Speroni, Brand Manager, at Unwins, commented: “Today's grow your own gardeners are more engaged than ever before. They want varieties they can trust, practical advice that helps them succeed, and the opportunity to be part of a community that shares their passion. Our new Seed Society collection has been created to meet those expectations. By combining premium-performing varieties with enhanced seed technology, improved packaging and an engaged community of growers, we're giving retailers a premium seed collection that offers genuine added value and helps consumers achieve even greater success when growing from seed.” 

The new Seed Society collection will be available from January 2027. 

The Greenfingers Charity is getting into the spirit of the season as it prepares for its biggest and most jumperful Christmas fundraising campaign yet!

Returning for another year of festive fun, the much-loved 'Most Jumperful Time of the Year' challenge is back for 2026, with British Garden Centres’ Eve Kerrigan (Content Creator), Scott McCabe (Group Buying Director) and Ricky Towers (Group Restaurant Directorpreparing to don their finest (and possibly most questionable!) Christmas knitwear in support of the charity. Their festive effort forms a key part of British Garden Centres’ final push to hit its £100,000 fundraising target for Greenfingers before the end of the year.

The trio will be embracing the festive spirit throughout December, wearing Christmas jumpers every day in the run-up to Christmas, whether they're at work, attending meetings or simply going about their daily lives. And, of course, they're hoping the garden industry will join them in spreading a little Christmas cheer.

First launched in 2020 by Natalie Boynton, the Most Jumperful challenge has become a firm favourite within the garden industry, raising more than £31,600 for the Greenfingers Charity and proving that a little festive silliness can make a very real difference.

This year, the lucky jumper wearers will be inviting suppliers and industry friends to sponsor individual days of their challenge, helping turn their daily wardrobe choices into much-needed donations for the charity. With sponsorship opportunities available throughout December, there's plenty of scope for businesses to get involved, support the trio and enjoy some festive publicity along the way.

Eve Kerrigan, leader of the BGC Jumperful Team, said: "I'm so excited to be taking part in the Most Jumperful Challenge for Greenfingers. Christmas jumpers are one of my favourite things, and if it were up to me, I'd wear one 365 days a year! What makes this challenge even more special is that it's raising awareness and support for Greenfingers, a charity very close to our hearts at British Garden Centres. The work they do brings moments of comfort, joy and togetherness when they're needed most, so it's fantastic to be able to support such an important cause. Also, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't also looking forward to seeing Scott and Ricky in full festive attire. The tackier the Christmas wardrobe, the better, if you ask me!"

To show your support visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/bgcrocksxmasjumpers 

Even more ways to get jumperful in 2026!

But that's not all! For 2026, Greenfingers is expanding its Christmas jumper fundraising activities, creating even more opportunities for garden centres, suppliers and businesses to get involved.

Alongside the daily jumper challenge, the charity is launching a separate initiative to recruit 24 garden centres to host their own Christmas Jumper Days throughout December.

Participating centres will be encouraged to choose a date, rally their teams and invite colleagues to swap their usual workwear for something suitably festive in exchange for a donation. From wonderfully tacky knitwear and festive fancy dress to cake sales, raffles and best-dressed competitions, there's plenty of opportunity to make the occasion their own, while bringing colleagues and customers together for a fantastic cause.

With a suggested fundraising target of £500 per garden centre, the initiative alone could generate £12,000 for the Greenfingers Charity, with the potential for even more as the industry gets behind the campaign.

Meanwhile, businesses sponsoring the trio's daily challenge will also be encouraged to organise their own Christmas Jumper Days, helping spread the festive fun even further. Together, these activities have the potential to raise more than £20,000, making Christmas 2026 one of the charity's most ambitious festive fundraising efforts yet.

Linda Petrons, Director of Fundraising and Communications at Greenfingers Charity, said: "We know it's only October, but we simply couldn't keep the Christmas excitement to ourselves any longer! The Most Jumperful challenge has become such a wonderful part of our fundraising calendar, and we're incredibly grateful to our festive fundraisers for stepping forward to take it on this year.

"What makes this campaign so special is just how easy it is for everyone to get involved. Whether you're a garden centre organising a Christmas Jumper Day, a supplier sponsoring the daily challenge, or simply someone who fancies wearing something fabulously festive for a good cause, every contribution really does matter.”

Get involved and spread some Christmas cheer

Greenfingers is now inviting garden centres to register their interest in hosting a Christmas Jumper Day, while businesses and individuals can also support the Most Jumperful challenge by sponsoring a day or making a donation.

Further details of the expanded Christmas fundraising activities, including how to take part, will be announced in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, anyone wishing to support the Most Jumperful challenge can visit www.mostjumperful.co.uk, while garden centres interested in joining the Christmas Jumper Day campaign can contact Greenfingers Charity directly.

The Young People in Horticulture Association (YPHA) has completed a successful second block of its 2026/27 Management Development Programme, with delegates continuing to develop their leadership skills, confidence and professional networks ahead of the final residential session in January.

Delivered by Lindsay Muir of Cedar Associates at Pershore College, the nine-day programme is split into three residential blocks, bringing together emerging managers from across the horticultural industry for a combination of practical management training, discussion and shared learning.

Now in its second year, the programme was developed to address a gap in accessible management training for young horticultural professionals, particularly those working in smaller businesses where opportunities for formal development can be limited.

Nat Boynton, YPHA Co-Founder and programme lead, explained: "Horticulture is full of talented, passionate people who are brilliant at what they do, but being a good horticulturist doesn't automatically equip you to manage a team, handle difficult conversations or make business decisions.

"We need to make sure that people who love plants are also given the opportunity to develop the other skills they'll need as their careers progress. Too often, people find themselves promoted into management roles without ever having been given the training to succeed in them, and that's the gap we're trying to address with this programme."

The residential format has proved particularly valuable, allowing delegates from different sectors and businesses to share experiences, challenge their thinking and develop relationships that will continue beyond the course itself.

Sam Fry, of the Ramsbury Manor Foundation, is among the delegates taking part. Sam commented: "The course has already exceeded every expectation I had and continues to do so with every session. I feel so much more confident and capable in my role, and it's given me a whole host of tools that I've been able to implement and share at work with colleagues, as well as friends at other gardens and across the industry.

"Being surrounded by like-minded people has been incredibly useful and enjoyable. Sharing experience and knowledge is at the heart of horticulture and YPHA, and this course is fostering exactly that."

The third and final block, taking place from 19–21 January 2027, will include a special presentation evening, attended by programme sponsors and YPHA ambassadors.

GTN September-October 2026. In this issue: Exclusive Interview with Sam Dickson MD at Squires, Fantastic at Food - GTN’s Greatest Restaurant & Food Hall Team Award winners, Wall art additions at Woodmansterne, Launch of the 2026 Greatest Christmas Awards, Report from the annual HTA Conference, Glee 2026 review, All the New Product Award winners at Glee, GTN In conversation with Dobbies CEO at Glee, Glee exhibitor news, Floral Thursday for Greenfingers at Glee, Zig Zag retailers - Adapt or Die, Retailing with values - GCA Viewpoint, Unforgettable messages - HTA Viewpoint.

GTN Magazine is printed and mailed to Garden Retailing and Garden Industry professionals in the UK. To receive a printed copy please e-mail trevor@pottingshedpress.co.uk

GIMA Buyers Guide & New Product Digest - Autumn 2026 - A valuable reference for the UK Garden Trade

New Products for the UK Garden Trade for 2027 from GIMA Members: Altico, Angro, Auto Pot Global, Backdoor Shoes, Bees Seeds, Burgon & Ball, Cerland, Charles Bentley, Claber SPA, Durstons, Ecoo BV, elho, Emerald Eternal Green BV, Evergreen Garden Care, Floramadia, GreenKey, Glee, GRDN Living, Greenman Garden Tools, Handy, Hortiwool, Husqvarna, Jeyes, Johnsons Lawn Seeds, Lava-Lite, Lodi UK, Lohas Fertilliser, LV Bespoke, Meadow View Stone, Melcourt, Mims Pottery, Museums & Galleries Ltd, Norfolk Leisure, PlantWork, Sipcam, Super Ninja, The MAD Company, Toro, Vitavia, Vita, Woodmansterne, Zero - STV, Zest and the GIMA Member Directory.

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

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Crocus and Primrose have announced a merger to create one of the UK’s largest online horticultural businesses, bringing together two complementary brands to offer an unrivalled range of plants and gardening products to British gardeners. 

The announcement follows a significant turnaround for Primrose. Having faced considerable financial difficulties in 2023, Primrose entered administration in late 2023 with losses exceeding £5M. In December 2023, Mark Fane and Peter Clay, founders of Crocus, acquired the business and have since focussed on a comprehensive turnaround strategy. Following three years of restructuring and operational improvements, Primrose is now expected to return to profitability in 2027.

Combining Crocus’s range of more than 6,000 plant varieties with Primrose’s extensive range of gardening products will create the UK’s broadest horticultural offering for British gardeners. Both companies will retain their distinctive brands and websites, while benefitting from combined operational and logistical facilities. The combined group will employ approximately 250 staff and have sales of over £50M in 2027.

Crocus has experienced record sales growth in 2026, finishing the year 23% up year on year. Founder Mark Fane attributes this success to a long-term strategy of investing in its own UK nursery production, alongside broader operational improvements that have helped ensure strong stock availability and consistently excellent customer service throughout the peak season.

It has been an exceptional year for Crocus on all fronts. The company has maintained its ‘Excellent’ rating on Trustpilot and secured its 36th Gold Medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, collaborating with Tom Stuart-Smith on the TATE Britain garden.

Mark Fane said “It’s very exciting bringing these two businesses together to form such a significant horticultural online group. Crocus is committed to offering the widest possible range of plants, with 85% now coming from our own nursery or from our key UK suppliers. Over many years Primrose has established a strong business in a number of key product categories. The combination of the two businesses forms a formidable horticultural group."

Concerns about power capacity can stop conversations about EV charging before they have properly started. But according to destination charging specialist ElectRoad, the assumption that rapid charging automatically requires an expensive new electricity supply is increasingly outdated.

Electricity capacity is understandably one of the first questions for any garden centre considering EV charging.

Many sites already have significant demands across retail buildings, cafés, restaurants, nurseries, offices and other operations. The prospect of adding rapid vehicle charging can therefore create an immediate concern: will the existing power supply cope, and will an expensive grid upgrade be needed?

ElectRoad founder Richard Seppings believes the mistake is starting with the charger rather than the site.“The first conversation shouldn’t be about how large a charger somebody wants to install,” he explains. “It should be about understanding the energy that is already available, how the site uses it and what charging solution can sensibly operate around that.”

Start with the site, not the hardware

Every destination is different. ElectRoad’s approach is therefore to assess the available grid capacity alongside factors such as existing demand, solar generation and battery storage before determining what charging infrastructure is appropriate.

In some cases additional capacity may ultimately be required. In others, existing resources can support charging more effectively than the retailer initially expects.

Dynamic Load Management is an important part of that equation. The technology allows charging equipment to respond to demand elsewhere on the site, reducing charger output when the building requires more electricity and increasing it again when capacity becomes available.    

This means the operation of the garden centre remains the priority rather than charging being allowed to compete with it.

“EV charging should fit around the business,” Richard says. “The idea that you simply connect a large charger and hope the site can support it is completely the wrong way around.”

Solar and battery storage change the calculation

Garden centres can also have characteristics that make them particularly interesting from an energy perspective.

Larger roof areas and available land mean some sites already generate solar energy, while others are considering solar or battery storage as part of wider sustainability or energy-cost strategies.

Solar can provide comparatively low-cost daytime energy when customers are visiting, while battery storage creates the ability to capture power and make it available when required.

Used alongside existing grid capacity and intelligent energy management, these technologies can sometimes make rapid charging viable without the substantial infrastructure work that operators may previously have associated with it.    

That does not mean every site will be suitable, and ElectRoad believes that distinction matters.

Not every garden centre should install chargers

One of the most important stages in any charging project should be determining whether it makes commercial and operational sense in the first place.

ElectRoad uses site information to model potential performance and says its own existing data includes installations with different energy arrangements and varying returns. The company’s proposal specifically states that if the numbers indicate charging is not viable for a particular location, it will say so.    

Richard believes greater realism will ultimately help retailers make better decisions. “There is no benefit in pretending every garden centre needs exactly the same solution,” he says. “Some locations will have excellent existing capacity. Some will benefit from solar or battery storage. Others may need further investment, and there will be sites where the numbers simply do not work yet.

“The important thing is to establish that from the data rather than making assumptions in either direction.”

A different starting point for EV charging

For garden centres that have previously dismissed charging because of concerns about power supply, the technology and commercial models available today may justify revisiting the conversation.

The question is no longer simply whether a site has spare electricity for a charger.

It is how the grid supply, existing site demand, energy generation, storage and intelligent load management can work together and whether the resulting model makes commercial sense for the retailer.  For ElectRoad, that assessment should always come before installation.

Find out more

To find out more about ElectRoad’s destination EV charging solutions for garden centres, farm shops and other retail destinations, visit www.electroad.network.

The Old Railway Line Garden Centre has announced that its annual Spooky Halloween Walk raised a record-breaking£1,316 for its 2026 Charity of the Year, The Bracken Trust.

Open throughout October and until 1st November, the much-loved community attraction once again brought plenty of family-friendly frights, spooky surprises and Halloween fun to visitors, all while raising money for a fantastic local charity.

This year, all voluntary donations from the Halloween Walk went towards The Bracken Trust, a charity providing practical and emotional support to people affected by cancer, as well as their families and carers.

Matthew Lewis, Retail and Events Manager at The Old Railway Line Garden Centre, shared his delight at the fundraising success: "We're absolutely thrilled to have raised £1,316 from this year's Spooky Halloween Walk. This is the most we've ever raised through the event, which is a fantastic achievement! It's wonderful to see so many families enjoying the walkway and giving generously to support our Charity of the Year. A huge thank you to everyone who visited, donated and helped make it such a success."

Each year, part of the garden centre's plant area is transformed into the Spooky Halloween Walk, creating a short, spine-tingling trail filled with eerie decorations, spooky sound effects and surprises for visitors of all ages. It has become a firm favourite in the garden centre's autumn events calendar, offering families an enjoyable seasonal activity while supporting a worthwhile cause.

The Bracken Trust provides support to people living with cancer, their families and carers, offering a welcoming environment and a range of services to help people navigate the challenges that a cancer diagnosis can bring.

The Old Railway Line Garden Centre would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who visited the Spooky Halloween Walk and contributed to this fantastic fundraising total.

For more information about upcoming events and fundraising activities at The Old Railway Line Garden Centre, please contact the team on 01497 847055 or visit www.oldrailwaylinegc.co.uk.

Spring Fair, the UK’s leading retail buying event taking place 7-10 February 2027 at NEC Birmingham, is putting the spotlight on the next generation of retail favourites, with more than 200 brand-new exhibitors already booked – up 16% on the same point last year.

With fresh talent spanning gifting, greetings, home, fashion, beauty, food and drink, and children’s products, the show is a chance for buyers to discover distinctive products, compelling brand stories and new ideas before they reach the wider market.

From clever little gifts and colourful accessories to products that tap into consumers’ appetite for personality, wellbeing and meaningful purchases, this year’s new-business line-up reflects the breadth of opportunities available to retailers. Gift is particularly strong, with 78% more brand-new exhibitors than at the same point last year.

The majority of new businesses are UK-based, alongside brands from Hong Kong, Australia, Nepal, France, Zimbabwe, and India, bringing a broad mix of creativity, craftsmanship and international inspiration to the show. From first-time trade-show exhibitors to businesses returning after years away, the growing line-up underlines Spring Fair’s role as a meeting place for retailers seeking fresh products, new suppliers and ideas to inspire their next season.

Fay Tranter, Event Director of Spring Fair said, “Retailers are always looking for the next product that will catch a customer’s eye, spark a conversation or become a firm favourite. With more than 200 new exhibitors already confirmed, and this number expected to grow, we’re looking forward to welcoming a fresh wave of businesses to Spring Fair, with around a third of the brands exhibiting at the show in February for the very first time. This year’s new-business line-up is full of individuality, fresh thinking and brands with stories worth sharing. From design-led gifts and feel-good treats to playful products and distinctive home accessories, there are so many opportunities for buyers to find something different, create exciting displays and give customers a reason to discover their shops. Spring Fair is where those discoveries begin.”

Buyers agree. Clare Barton, Buyer from Dunelm said, “Spring Fair is just a great chance to find some new products.” Danielle Cunningham, Merchandiser, The Royal Yacht Britannia added, “We come to Spring Fair to see what the new ‘wow’ thing is and what’s going to be trending.”

New for 2027, Spring Fair will introduce curated destinations designed to help buyers discover the products and trends shaping retail’s next chapter. The Gift Edit, The Design Edit, The Fashion Edit and The Conscious Fashion Edit will offer editorial showcases spanning distinctive gifting, design-led products, contemporary fashion and conscious style, helping retailers navigate the show and find collections aligned with their customers and brand identity.

Supporting businesses as they take their next step

Spring Fair’s New Business Pavilion and New Business packages provide opportunities for emerging and growing businesses to meet buyers and introduce their products to the retail market. Participating names include children’s and toy businesses Anxious Alfie, Magic Mesh, SparkCards and SCHOENHUT, alongside gift brands including Crocreate, Leonie Tucker Designs, Fuchsia and Fig and The Twisted Willows Candle Co. Jen Jenivive brings a bold, irreverent approach to gifts, with books, mugs, clothing and merchandise designed to make a statement.

Spring Fair will also welcome the 18 winners of the 2027 Spring Fair x #SBS Small Business Sunday competition to exhibit for the first time in the dedicated #SBS Village, with fully funded stands giving the entrepreneurs a platform to introduce their brands to thousands of retail buyers.

Now in its eighth year, the partnership with retail entrepreneur Theo Paphitis has awarded more than 100 free exhibition stands to small businesses, with this year’s record intake representing a 50% increase on previous years. The 18 winners span categories from gift, home and greetings to beauty, food and drink, jewellery, fashion and children’s products. Highlights include Olive Tree Makes, with handcrafted clay keepsakes and uplifting gifts; Share A Little Frankie, turning hand-drawn wildlife and vintage vehicle illustrations into UK-made cards and giftware; Saffire Chocolates, a third-generation Norfolk chocolatier creating small-batch luxury chocolates; Cuppa Kindness, combining mindful tea infusions with positive affirmations and guided meditations; and Magic By Post, whose screen-free potion kits encourage imaginative play.

The Gift Edit: a new curated destination

For buyers seeking design-led gifting, The Gift Edit offers a carefully selected showcase of brands chosen for creativity, quality and commercial appeal. Presented in an editorial-style setting, it is designed to help retailers discover products aligned with consumer trends, conscious shopping and seasonal moments.

Among the new names featured in The Gift Edit are Bayliss & Bentley with their luxury hand-poured rapeseed & coconut wax candles inspired by British wildlife; contemporary home and lifestyle products from Chickidee; objects shaped by hand in Zimbabwe from Mbira Home, and Aromatic89’s luxury home and car fragrances, candles, perfumes, and cosmetics. For pet-loving customers, Dug Pog brings colourful dog harnesses, collars and leads with distinctive prints and a story centred on the special bond between dogs and their people. From home and lifestyle to fragrance and personality-led pet accessories, the selection offers a concentrated source of inspiration for buyers looking to find fresh products and distinctive brands.

New names, fresh ideas and first-time trade opportunities

Among the businesses making their Spring Fair debut in The Conscious Fashion Edit is ChakaHindi, a sustainable fashion and homeware brand offering colourful cotton pyjamas, tote bags, cosmetic bags and silk kimonos.

In Beauty & Wellbeing, LuNiche will introduce its growing portfolio of distinctive fragrance collections to UK retailers, while Flawless, an independent, women-owned brand based in Wales, will showcase handmade skincare, body care and personal care products.

Also new to the Beauty & Wellbeing line-up, Newfoundland is bringing a health and wellness offering centred on at-home testing and access to health information. Cosy Cosmetics brings fragrance-led self-care to the show with a range of body mists, perfumes, perfume oils, body care and home fragrance.

Luxury, hand-crafted home fragrances newcomer Hesperides joins the new-business line-up with further choice for gift buyers seeking opulent names to add to their collections.

Greetings, illustration and the joy of putting pen to paper

Illustration-led products continue to offer retailers a way to bring colour, character and an individual point of view to their shelves. From greeting cards and prints to thoughtful paper gifts, these ranges can work as affordable treats, occasion purchases or part of a coordinated display.

EllaJo Studio creates colourful, hand-painted illustrations inspired by nature, travel and everyday moments, available as art prints and greeting cards. Studio Pri Art brings botanical watercolours to cards, prints and tea towels, while Katie Leamon is known for its distinctive stationery, paper goods and illustrated designs.

Hallmark Cards joins for the first time, bringing one of the world’s best-known greetings brands to the show with its extensive range of cards, gift packaging and seasonal designs offering retailers fresh inspiration for every occasion.

Lydia. London adds another fresh name for buyers exploring contemporary paper and lifestyle products. Pause & Write centres on the pleasure of putting thoughts on paper, offering a stationery-led proposition for customers who value mindful moments and considered correspondence. Fifi’s Handcrafted brings a handmade touch to the greetings and gifting mix, while Lush Lobster adds another distinctive name for buyers looking to refresh their card and celebration offering.

The Opal Stories joins the line-up with a creative brand identity suited to retailers looking for newness in the greetings and gift space. Drawn by Darcy, another name in the wider new-business line-up, brings illustration-led personality to the mix.

Spring Fair’s new-business line-up also includes a range of creative and design-led brands that bring fresh perspectives to gifting, home and lifestyle. Lyn Mason Atelier joins the Licensing line-up, alongside Nicole Elders, Pigment Productions, the Royal Horticultural Society and The Travel Print Company. Their presence reflects the range of creative talent and licensing opportunities available to buyers, from independent design to established brand-led products.

Personality-led gifting: products with a point of view

Consumers increasingly look for gifts that feel personal, memorable and a little unexpected. For retailers, that creates opportunities to build ranges around humour, individuality and products that make people stop, smile and share.

Tired Mums Coffee puts community and connection at the heart of its speciality coffee brand. Roasted in North Wales, its coffee is designed to offer a moment of pause amid busy family life, with the business also supporting causes focused on parents and wellbeing. It is a brand with a clear purpose and a story retailers can share with customers.

For food and drink retailers, Made Uncommon brings together six chocolate brands – COCO Chocolatier, Love Cocoa, H!P, Otherly, Seed & Bean and UP-UP – under one Certified B Corp group. Design-led packaging and a focus on fairly traded and organic accredited products give the portfolio shelf appeal as well as a story around sourcing.

Silly Dog Designs offers personalised gifts and fun everyday products, from drinkware and mugs to plush gifts and keepsakes. Go Your Own Way brings a more personal dimension to gifting through bespoke, laser-cut 3D wooden maps that capture meaningful locations in relief – an idea with appeal for destination shops, travel-inspired gifting and customers looking for a reminder of a special place.

For retailers looking to mix humour with design, Quite Nice London creates playful, food-inspired products for people who love eating, cooking and hosting, including illustrated accessories and homeware. Its distinctive take on everyday food culture offers plenty of personality for kitchen, lifestyle and novelty-gifting displays.

Design-led living: character for the home

From decorative accessories to useful everyday products, home and lifestyle buyers can discover new brands that bring colour, craftsmanship and personality to interiors. A Touch of India, a family-run business working across the UK and India, specialises in small-batch, wood-based homewares, including trays, coasters and decorative boxes.

For retailers looking to connect home, garden and lifestyle, Nutscene brings its heritage jute twine and gardening essentials to the new-business line-up with products that can serve practical needs while also appealing to customers interested in gardening, making and creative presentation.

Little ones, playful discoveries and family gifting

The children’s and family-gifting market offers opportunities for products that combine imagination, practical appeal and a strong visual identity.

Moosel Hats & Outdoor Play brings together headwear and outdoor play, offering retailers a proposition that connects accessories with active family life. Magic Mesh joins the Kids, Toys & Play line-up with an innovative crab catcher product offering, while Snuggle Hunny brings a soft, contemporary approach to baby and children’s products.

Guirca brings a party and dress-up dimension to the line-up, with products suited to celebrations and seasonal occasions. Pop Out Projects offers another name for buyers exploring creative and activity-led gifts. The Irish artisan studio based in Sligo creates sustainable, beginner‑friendly weaving kits and pop‑out wooden craft models designed for quick, creative hands‑on projects. Crocreate also joins with cute, fun, kawaii designs for every crocheter.

Fresh perspectives across fashion and accessories

Fashion buyers will find new opportunities across clothing, footwear, jewellery and fashion accessories. Snag Group, the UK-founded, size-inclusive brand known for colourful tights and hosiery, is preparing to launch to wholesale. STUDIO returns to exhibiting after a ten-year break, bringing a wholesale collection of women’s fashion that includes dresses, knitwear, co-ords, outerwear and partywear. In Jewellery & Watch, One & Eight will make its first appearance at Spring Fair with contemporary jewellery and handcrafted porcelain pieces, using recycled silver where possible and plastic-free packaging. Pixalum, known for lightweight aluminium jewellery featuring bold patterns and colourful contemporary designs, returns after a gap of several years.

Find your next bestseller at Spring Fair

With more than 200 brand-new exhibitors booked, Spring Fair 2027 offers retailers the chance to uncover new suppliers, discover emerging talent and source products that bring fresh energy to their stores. From colourful illustration and playful gifting to coffee, candles, homewares and children’s products, the new-business line-up reflects the breadth of creativity shaping the retail landscape.

Taking place at the NEC Birmingham from 7th – 10th February 2027, Spring Fair brings together more than 1,500 brands and suppliers and over 40,000 retail buyers across a broad range of product sectors.

Retailers can register for free at www.springfair.com.

Plants & Flowers Foundation Holland brought a welcome burst of colour to London with the launch of the UK’s first ‘Flower Pharmacy’, encouraging consumers to think differently about when and why they buy fresh flowers. 

For two days, a space on Bateman Street in London’s Soho was transformed into a colourful take on a traditional pharmacy. Instead of medicine, visitors were invited for a light-hearted consultation before being matched with a complimentary floral “prescription” based on how they wanted to feel, from Happy and Calm to Energised and Treat Yourself. 

Taking place on 21 and 22 October, the pop-up was deliberately timed ahead of the clocks going back, bringing a welcome dose of colour to London as the darker days set in. Across the two days, the team handed out more than 400 floral prescriptions, with each visitor taking home a bouquet created around their chosen mood. 

Those looking for a dose of happiness at the Pharmacy received yellow blooms including sunflowers, roses, freesias and snapdragons, while blue and green hydrangeas, delphiniums and chrysanthemums featured in calming prescriptions. Vibrant orange, red and pink flowers were prescribed to those looking for an energy boost. 

The concept brought to life research commissioned by Plants & Flowers Foundation Holland, highlighting the feel-good power of fresh flowers and encouraging people to see them as an everyday pick-me-up, rather than something reserved for birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions. 

A poll of 2,000 UK adults found over half said fresh flowers make them happier than everyday treats such as coffee, something sweet or a takeaway, rising to 70 per cent among 25 to 34-year-olds. 

Yet despite their feel-good factor, 38 per cent of adults have never considered buying themselves flowers, while just nine per cent do so regularly. More than one in five (21%) said they would like to buy flowers for themselves more often, highlighting an opportunity to make flowers a bigger part of consumers’ everyday treat routines. 

Monique Kemperman, horticulture expert for Plants & Flowers Foundation Holland, said: “The Flower Pharmacy was about getting people to think about flowers a little differently. We often associate them with gifts and special occasions, but there’s no reason we can’t buy them for ourselves simply because we fancy a pick-me-up. 

"We wanted to bring that idea to life in a fun, playful way and show that picking up a bunch of flowers can be just as much of an everyday treat as grabbing a coffee or something sweet. Sometimes you don’t need a special occasion, you just need something that makes you smile.” 

Worthy causes are invited to apply for free native bareroot hedging next month as part of the launch of Wyevale Nurseries’ Awesome Autumn campaign – promoting the benefits of autumn planting.

The leading Hereford-based commercial nursery is offering 100 selected UK schools, charities, community groups with environmental projects free bareroot hedging plants to help create wildlife habitats and green corridors nationwide.

Cian Lynch, Assistant Manager (Commercial) at Wyevale Nurseries, explains: “Awesome Autumn is all about encouraging people to recognise autumn as one of the most valuable planting seasons of the year and to encourage people to plant bareroot trees and hedges. Through this giveaway, we want to support organisations that are making a positive difference in their communities while also helping wildlife thrive.

“We’re asking people to apply from November 1, 2026, until March 31, 2027, and bareroot hedging plants, also known as whips or saplings, will then be despatched in November 2027 when they are ready to plant.

“Just one metre of native hedging can provide a meaningful habitat for birds, insects and other wildlife. By donating a metre of bareroot hedging to 100 worthy causes, we’re hoping to help create more connected habitats and wildlife corridors across the UK.

“November is the perfect time to plant bareroot hedging. Plants are dormant, soil conditions are often ideal and roots can begin establishing throughout winter ready for strong growth in spring. It’s one of the most cost-effective and environmentally responsible ways to plant a hedge.”

The nursery is inviting applications from November 1, 2026, until March 31, 2027, from not-for-profit organisations including schools, charities, parish councils, community groups and volunteer organisations looking to undertake planting schemes during the forthcoming hedge planting season.

Successful applicants will receive their native bareroot hedge plants, known as whips, suitable for creating hedgerows, wildlife corridors, screening, community spaces and biodiversity projects, in November 2027. The hedging varieties will be selected by Wyevale Nurseries’ expert team to suit each project’s objectives and location.

Cian adds: “We’re particularly keen to hear from groups that are looking to improve biodiversity, create habitats for birds and pollinators, or enhance community green spaces. Whether the project is large or small, we’d love to help it become a reality.”

Applications for the free hedging giveaway will open on November 1, 2026, coinciding with the start of Wyevale Nurseries’ bareroot lifting season and close on March 31, 2027, when the season comes to an end. The successful 100 applicants will receive their bareroot hedging in November 2027.

The company grows a wide range of native hedging varieties at its Herefordshire nursery and supplies landscape contractors, local authorities, foresters, landowners and garden centres nationwide.

Groups wishing to apply should submit details of their project, the proposed planting location and the benefits it will bring to their community, the environment and wildlife.

Wyevale Nurseries, which recently celebrated its 96th anniversary, has a highly knowledgeable and experienced team admired across the horticultural industry.

For further details about the Awesome Autumn bareroot hedging giveaway, visit www.wyevalenurseries.co.uk.

Frank P Matthews has announced that Director Nick Dunn has been awarded the prestigious Jon Jones Memorial Trophy at the National Fruit Show, recognising his notable contribution to the UK fruit industry.

The award was presented during the President's Breakfast by Jon Jones' widow, Catherine, and celebrates individuals who have demonstrated distinguished service and made a lasting impact on British fruit growing.

A third-generation member of the family behind Frank P Matthews, Nick has played a pivotal role in the continued success and development of Frank P Matthews, one of the UK's leading fruit tree nurseries. Throughout his career, he has championed innovation, quality and collaboration, working closely with growers, nurseries and industry organisations to support the advancement of commercial fruit production across the UK.

In its announcement following the National Fruit Show on Tuesday 4th November, Nick was praised for his expertise in propagation, his role in introducing new fruit varieties to the UK, and his willingness to share knowledge and provide support throughout the sector.

Nick's dedication to the industry has helped strengthen relationships across the fruit-growing community and support the development of future generations of growers. His knowledge, enthusiasm and commitment to excellence have earned him widespread respect throughout the horticultural sector.

Upon receiving the award, Nick said: "I am overwhelmed, what a wonderful surprise to be recognised and to be surrounded by all my good friends that I have made over so many years at the Show.

Receiving any award from this industry is hugely satisfying and a great privilege. This one is particularly meaningful because I had the privilege of working with Jon Jones before he died. Jon was a great supporter of the industry and of young people. When we met, he gave Frank P Matthews an opportunity to work on new trial varieties, which helped kick-start research work that continues today. He was generous with his time, and I am grateful for the opportunity we had to work together."

Everyone at Frank P Matthews extends their warmest congratulations to Nick on this well-deserved achievement and thanks him for his continued contribution to British horticulture.

Thinking of reasons of why not to visit Scotland’s Trade Fair in January? Then think again. Staying away could mean missing out on exciting new products, emerging talent and fresh opportunities to boost your retail business. Here’s why.

Scotland has long been a hotbed of craft, design and innovation. 2027 looks set to be no exception. For the first time the Launch Gallery for Scotland’s Trade Fair is sold out almost three months ahead of opening, with 28 new, young companies.

Among the exciting new names to discover are Bonnie Glow, Breagha Makes, Brown & Bridge, Carriage Trade Company, Gingerlilies, Little Brick Gems, Miss Noproblem and Oak and Ember.

The Craft Gallery is another must-visit destination, bringing together 20 premium suppliers showcasing everything from beautiful ceramics and statement jewellery to luxurious textiles and fabulous furniture. It’s an essential stop for galleries, upmarket gift shops and many boutiques searching for something special.

Many exhibitors in both galleries sell exclusively to the trade, meaning their products aren't available online or through sales reps. Miss the Show and you could miss a unique supplier or product that gives your business a valuable competitive edge.

While online sourcing has its place, nothing compares to seeing products first hand, meeting suppliers and making valuable connections. At a trade show, you can explore products up close, assess quality for yourself, ask questions directly and discover new opportunities – all without the uncertainty of ordering online. Because sometimes, doing business face to face is simply better.

Put that behind you and come to the Show to speak to our friendly exhibitors who will tell the story behind the products, explain their USP, allow you to touch, feel and smell the goods, and you may even grab a Show discount. So what’s not to like?

Successful Fife business owner Emma Niven from Loch Leven’s Larder agrees: “Nothing replaces seeing products in person or building relationships with suppliers face to face. Trade shows are where you discover new brands before they become widely available, spot emerging trends and network with other retailers. They help independent businesses stay fresh and find products that will genuinely excite their customers.”

Supporting local producers has always been at the heart of Scotland's Trade Fair. The Show champions homegrown talent while helping independent retailers source distinctive products that appeal to their customers. If you believe in shopping local, make sure you're also sourcing local.

Show Director Mark Saunders reiterates this: “We fully understand the challenges facing retail at the moment. But if producers and retailers stand together to offer consumers quality, desirable goods there are real opportunities for success.

“Scotland’s Trade Fair provides an easy, welcoming, inspiring place for retailers to discover new goods and the people behind them. All we ask is that you register, book your travel early to take advantage of deals and come along. We’re confident you will be surprised by to what’s on offer. See you on 24 Jan in Glasgow.”

The Government has been accused of putting regulatory alignment with the EU ahead of scientific evidence and supporting British businesses, after Defra confirmed it would not lift the ban on selling water hyacinth, despite an independent assessment concluding the pond plant posed no invasive risk in the UK under foreseeable climate conditions.

The Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association (OATA) says the decision has cost the UK ornamental aquatics industry more than £3.5 million in lost sales since the scientific review selected several species for delisting in March 2023 – which would have allowed trade in these species again in the UK.

Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) was once a popular plant for garden ponds but was banned from sale under EU invasive species legislation in 2016. While the plant can cause environmental problems in warmer climates, OATA says the UK’s colder winters and lack of winter sunlight mean it cannot survive year-round outdoors.

Dr Matthew Bond, OATA Chief Executive, said: “We are deeply disappointed that Ministers have decided to retain this ban despite the Government’s own scientific advice that the plant does not pose an invasive risk in the UK under foreseeable climate conditions.

“British businesses have been left waiting nearly four years for a decision, despite repeated efforts to get the legislation changed. The necessary legislation had even been drafted before the last General Election but never made it onto the statute books.

“Now we learn those plans have been abandoned. At a time when the Government says it wants to drive economic growth and reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens, this decision makes no sense and is a real blow to our industry.

“It feels like Ministers care more about realignment with EU rules than they do about evidence and supporting British businesses, despite claims to the contrary. We want to see invasive species policy based on the environmental risks in this country, not simply on maintaining restrictions inherited from the EU that the data shows is just not relevant to UK conditions.”

Following Brexit, the UK retained restrictions on species listed under EU invasive alien species legislation, while establishing a process through which those species could be reassessed for their suitability under UK conditions.

OATA says water hyacinth is a clear example of why that process matters: a plant that can be invasive in warmer parts of Europe may pose a very different risk in the UK, even under future climatic conditions. The Association is calling on DEFRA ministers to explain why the scientific assessment has not led to a change in the plant’s status and to ensure future decisions are transparent, evidence-based and proportionate to the risks.

“There is another round of these assessments due in 2028 but what’s the point of wasting everyone’s time if the Government is just going to ignore its own experts?” concluded Dr Bond.

A breeding breakthrough, 20 years in the making. Thompson & Morgan is proud to introduce Agapanthus Everpanthus® ‘Poppin’® Pink’.

We have always been excited to introduce new, innovative varieties, and we believe Agapanthus Everpanthus® ‘Poppin’® Pink’ is among the most significant in recent years. We are thrilled and honoured to be launching it in collaboration with renowned South African breeders Andy de Wet and Quinton Bean and Fairweather’s, the UK’s leading authority on Agapanthus and holder of the National Collection.

This is a huge launch not only for Thompson & Morgan and Fairweather’s but also for the industry as a whole, and we are honoured to supply the first plants in the UK.

About Agapanthus Everpanthus® ‘Poppin’® Pink’

‘Poppin’ Pink’ is the world’s first truly pink, hardy Agapanthus, and the plant gardeners have been waiting for without knowing it was possible! 

Each rounded umbel holds a mass of individual flowers that open over time, extending the display of each bloom. The new buds emerge a rich, deep magenta pink, then slowly unfold into vivid pink flowers. Each petal has a dark cerise vein running through it, adding depth and definition. As the summer progresses and the sun gets warmer and brighter, the vibrant pink deepens even more, making ‘Poppin’ Pink’ truly unique. 

New flower stems continuously open all summer to prolong the flowering period, differing from traditional Agapanthus varieties, making this a true ever-blooming ‘Everpanthus’.  

This strong evergreen with upright stems reaches up to 70cm high and 60cm wide, resulting in a larger plant with even more flowers year after year. Like other Agapanthus, ‘Poppin’ Pink’ thrives in sun and copes well with dry spells once established, a real advantage for gardeners in our changing climate with increasing hosepipe bans and droughts. It is also hardy down to around -7°C or lower with protection, so it stands up well to the colder months. 

In our UK trials, every plant looked outstanding in both borders and containers. Its long flowering season and tropical look make it ideal for outside or inside in a vase, as a long-lasting cut flower.

Gavin Shaw, Horticultural Expert at Thompson & Morgan, says: “We’ve been delighted to play a part in the UK trials, and to see its outstanding performance first-hand. After years of dedicated work by the breeders, we’re thrilled to finally bring ‘Poppin’ Pink’ to our customers. We hope gardeners enjoy growing it as much as we have, and there will certainly be one in my garden!” 

‘Poppin’ Pink’ At A Glance

The Story Behind the Breeding: Tens of thousands of seedlings resulting in one breakthrough pink! 

Pictured (Left to Right): Quinton Bean, Andy de Wet & Patrick Fairweather.  

‘Poppin’ Pink’ was bred by Andy de Wet and his partner Quinton Bean, widely regarded as the world’s leading Agapanthus breeders. For this one-of-a-kind introduction, Andy and Quinton spent more than 20 years selecting and refining the pink across tens of thousands of seedlings! 

Over a career of more than five decades, Andy and Quinton have transformed the genus with stronger colours, improved forms and re-blooming varieties. This also includes other Everpanthus varieties featuring ‘Poppin’ Star’, ‘Poppin’ Purple’ and ‘Black Jack’, which won RHS Chelsea Flower Show Plant of the Year 2023. 

The plant is now multiplied in the UK by Patrick Fairweather, Managing Director of Fairweather’s, who helps select new varieties with the breeders in South Africa and looks after a National Collection of more than 400 Agapanthus. His nursery grows around 2 million young plants a year and has worked with Thompson & Morgan for more than 20 years. 

Patrick Fairweather says: “This is the most exciting plant introduction that I have ever made, and it’s certainly the most exciting introduction in the genus of Agapanthus because this is the world’s first truly pink Agapanthus. It’s taken more than 20 years of breeding in South Africa, working with tens of thousands of seedlings and plants to achieve this unique colour.”

Three of the most trusted names in the industry have joined together to launch this groundbreaking new Agapanthus, bringing the world’s first truly pink Everpanthus to gardeners across the UK!

Growing Notes for Gardeners 
 
●    Position: Choose the sunniest spot available, especially if growing in a pot.
●    Watering and soil: Tolerates a week or two without water, but dislikes being waterlogged. Use an open, free-draining compost.
●    Feeding: No feeding is needed for the first year or two. Use a high-potash feed thereafter to encourage more flowers.
●    Winter care: Cut stems back to the base once the flowers fade, and move plants to a frost-free spot or cover them for extra protection.

Be the first to sell Agapanthus Poppin Pink

Garden centres can reserve and buy stock in 3L pots from Allensmore Nurseries and Darby Nursery Stock. RRP is expected to be around £25.

Be Among the First to Grow It

Thompson & Morgan is proud to be bringing this breakthrough variety to gardeners. Available to pre-order now as 9cm potted plants from £19.99 (despatch from April 2027) or 2 litre plants from £27.99 (despatch from May 2027) and will also be available nationwide from good plant retailers.

 https://www.thompson-morgan.com/p/agapanthus-poppin-pink/wkj3156TM 

Based in Ipswich, Suffolk since 1855, Thompson & Morgan is the UK’s most successful horticultural company. It is the only seed and plant specialist to develop its own plant lines in the UK. It has introduced more species and varieties to the British gardening public than any other similar company in the industry.

Fairweather’s is a family-run garden centre and nursery in Beaulieu, in the New Forest, and home to a National Collection of more than 400 Agapanthus varieties. It grows around 2 million young plants a year. 

Haskins Garden Centres has appointed Nick Darnbrough as the brand’s first ever Head of Hospitality. The new hire builds on the business’s continued investment in establishing each of its five garden centres as destinations and supports its ambition to provide the highest quality customer experience.

Nick brings more than 20 years of senior experience across hospitality, leisure, and food and beverage. Most recently, he led the food, beverage, and retail operation at Center Parcs Longleat. Earlier in his career, Nick held roles as Head of Hospitality at the Eden Project and Operations Director at Boston Tea Party.

Nick said: “What struck me immediately was that Haskins really believes in its restaurants. The diverse food and drink selections and the centre’s high-quality standards really stand out, adding something special to every visit. I could see strong foundations and plenty of opportunity to make hospitality an even bigger reason for people to come to Haskins and assert itself as a destination in its own right.”

At the Eden Project, Nick reshaped the food offer around sourcing local produce with a sustainable approach so it became part of the attraction’s story. At Boston Tea Party, he led the operational strategy during a five-store-a-year expansion programme and strengthened service standards across the café group.

Building on the strengths of Haskins’ restaurant teams, he aims to bolster the customer experience and give people more reasons to explore the centres, spend longer there, and return more frequently.

Nick continued, “For me, hospitality isn’t just about food. It’s about the people and being welcoming to everyone from the moment they step through the door. Haskins already has strong teams and a real sense of familiarity, and I want to build on that so customers continue to feel that they belong, see familiar faces, and choose to come back. People don’t always remember the menu, but they remember the person who served them and how the visit made them feel. That’s true hospitality, and it’s what I want to keep strengthening at Haskins.”

Nick’s appointment as the first ever Head of Hospitality forms part of Haskins’ investment in its centres as destinations, with refurbishment work on its West End store restaurant and retail spaces completed in October.

The Greenfingers Charity is delighted to welcome Fran Barnes (HTA) and Tony Kersey (GIMA) as Trustees, following confirmation of their appointments at its Annual General Meeting on Thursday 29th October 2026.

Both are well-known and respected figures within the garden industry, bringing valuable experience, connections and a shared commitment to the charity's work creating therapeutic gardens at children's hospices across the UK.

Boyd Douglas-Davies, Chairman of Greenfingers Charity, said: "It is a pleasure to welcome Fran and Tony to the Board. Their skills and perspectives will complement those of our existing Trustees and help us build on the extraordinary goodwill shown to Greenfingers over many years.

"As we look ahead, we want to strengthen existing partnerships, introduce more people to the charity and show the lasting difference our gardens make. For children with life-limiting conditions, their families and the hospice teams who care for them, time outdoors can offer moments of calm, happiness and togetherness. Fran and Tony's support will help us bring those opportunities to more children's hospices across the UK."

Fran Barnes said: "Greenfingers brings comfort and joy to children and families facing unimaginably difficult times. I'm delighted to join the Board and look forward to helping the charity share the impact of its gardens and encourage more people to get involved."

Tony Kersey added: "The garden industry has shown time and again what it can achieve when it comes together for Greenfingers. It's a privilege to become a Trustee, and I'm looking forward to building on that wonderful support to help more hospice communities benefit from these special outdoor spaces."

Fran and Tony join Boyd, Treasurer Richard Capewell and fellow Trustees Tammy Woodhouse, Alastair Peat, Sue Allen, Heidi Towse, David Carey, Roger Head and Rob Jones. Founder President Richard Jackson also continues to champion and support the charity's work.

Their appointments come at a pivotal moment, as Greenfingers builds support for its Healing Hand, Helping Hearts Appeal, which aims to raise £1 million annually to create and maintain therapeutic hospice gardens. Garden Re-Leaf Day on 12th March 2027 will be a key moment in that campaign, uniting supporters across the garden industry and beyond.

To learn more about the Greenfingers Charity, its hospice garden projects and the people behind its work, visit www.greenfingerscharity.org.uk.

Hot on the heels of announcing its inaugural charity Golf Day, the Greenfingers Charity is delighted to reveal that APAC Group Ltd has wasted no time in stepping forward to become the event’s headline sponsor.

The leading UK importer and distributor of Christmas, Artificial Flowers, Ceramics, Floristry, and event décor, has snapped up the headline sponsorship opportunity, giving the brand-new fundraising event a fantastic boost just weeks after its launch.

Taking place on Thursday 15^th April 2027 at Staverton Park, the first-ever Greenfingers Golf Day will bring together businesses, colleagues and keen golfers for a day of friendly competition, networking and fundraising, all in support of the charity’s work creating magical gardens at children’s hospices across the UK.

Linda Petrons, Director of Fundraising & Communications at Greenfingers Charity, said: “What a fantastic way to get our first Golf Day off the ground! We had barely put the call out for golfers before the wonderful team at APAC stepped forward to offer their support as headline sponsor, and we really couldn't be more grateful.  A huge thank you to Hannah and everyone at APAC for being so quick to say yes. We can't wait to welcome you to the course next April!”

Hannah Shoesmith, Head of Sales at APAC Group Ltd, added: “We always love supporting Greenfingers, so when we heard about this latest initiative, we knew we wanted to get involved! It’s a fantastic cause and we’re delighted to be sponsoring the first Golf Day. We’re looking forward to a great day and hopefully raising lots of money along the way!”

Still plenty of opportunities to get involved

With the headline sponsorship now secured, the Greenfingers Charity is keen to build on this early momentum and is encouraging more businesses from across the garden retail and horticultural sectors to get involved.

Further sponsorship opportunities remain available, alongside opportunities to donate prizes or contribute to the day in other ways. Whether supporting an element of the event, entering a team or simply helping to spread the word, every contribution will help make the inaugural Golf Day a success.

Players are also invited to register their interest, in teams of two, for what promises to be a fantastic day on the fairways.

Get involved!

To register your interest in playing, contact Kirsty@greenfingerscharity.org.uk.

For further sponsorship opportunities, contact Linda@greenfingerscharity.org.uk.

As Garden Centre groups expand, managing labour across multiple locations becomes increasingly complex. Each site has its own staffing requirements, trading patterns, seasonal pressures and management styles. Without a central view, it can be difficult to know whether rotas are being planned effectively, overtime is being controlled, tasks are being completed, or compliance processes are being followed consistently.

Many businesses rely on a combination of spreadsheets, paper-based processes and disconnected systems. This can leave Operations Directors and senior managers spending valuable time chasing information rather than making informed decisions.

Skyline WorkForce Manager helps bring everything together in one place.

Designed to support multi-site operations, Skyline WorkForce Manager allows user visibility to be tailored according to role. An Operations Director can view and analyse labour performance across the entire business, while Area Managers, Site Managers and Supervisors can access only the information relevant to their responsibilities.

From rota planning and attendance management to overtime control, task allocation and HR compliance, every site works from the same system and the same set of processes. This creates greater consistency, improves accountability and provides real-time visibility of what's happening across the business.

With instant access to workforce data, managers can identify issues early, compare performance between locations and make better-informed decisions based on facts rather than assumptions.

As businesses grow, maintaining control doesn't have to mean creating more administration. With the right workforce management tools in place, garden centre groups can empower local teams while retaining visibility and control across the entire operation.

Want to see how WorkForce Manager can help you manage labour, attendance, tasks and compliance across multiple sites?

Contact the PCCS team today to arrange a demonstration and discover how leading garden centres can gain greater visibility and control of their workforce.

RocketGro continues to push industry boundaries embracing clever marketing strategies with the launch of its second TV quality advert.

RocketGro is thrilled to be able to announce the release of its second TV advert. Incorporating vibrant, eye catching, intense images and audio, RocketGro has produced a stunning second advert that takes the company up a level and places a marker down by elevating what can be done in the world of growing media.

By avoiding the traditional advert form that may be associated with the gardening sector, RocketGro is attempting to take a modern forward thinking position that embraces both the youth and the nostalgia of older generations.  

With yet more projected growth in 2027, RocketGro is making sure their marketing spend really pays off and grabs eyes across online platforms. RocketGro is not a gardening sector household name…yet. That is changing fast and the brand grows from strength to strength. More and more customers now walk into garden centres and ask if they sell RocketGro. 

Managing Director Toby Thomas commented: “We are so excited by our continued efforts to produce absorbing, engaging, ‘wow’ marketing. This second advert is another major milestone in the ongoing growth of our company. Supporting our brand and therefore our retailers with stunning marketing investment is a game changer. Consumers have embraced our fun, dynamic, innovative positioning of our brand. Coupled with our unbeatable eco story, we are a brand fit for the modern era and we are making sure we are not just future proofed, we are creating the future. Turn up the volume. RocketGro are here!’’

Watch the advert here

Find out more

If you want to learn more about RocketGro or are keen to discuss adding its product portfolio into your 2025/26 offering, please contact Toby Thomas (hello@rocketgro.co.uk /07936 928 981) or Andy Abraham (andy@rocketgro.co.uk / 07446 937902). View the full range and discover more about the RocketGro story at www.rocketgro.co.uk