GTN April 2023. In this issue:

• Fountasia – First to market designs
• Perrywood Profile – Interview with Simon Bourne
• Green Solutions – Making the crossing from Europe easy
• Tramontina – LOFA Member Profile
• Solex 2023 – A celebration of summer
• Gardening in the sun – GTN visits a Spanish garden centre
• Garden Re-Leaf Day 2023 – over £70,00 raised and counting
• March and Easter Garden Centre Sales – GTN Bestellers Analysis
• British Plants – Retailers securing their supplies
• What’s New for Pets – News from PATS Sandown
• Looking for clarity – HTA Column
• New salvias and retired roses – GTN’s Planteria column
• Packed schedule for GIMA – GIMA Column

The sixth little dobbies opened its doors to the people of Cheltenham last week.

“On one of the key shopping streets in the centre of town and withing close proximity to other retailers who have a similar customer profile to what we look for is one of our key criteria” said Graeme Jenkins Dobbies CEO who was present at the opening.

The philosophy behind the concept of little dobbies includes:

• seeing little dobbies as a genuine profit contributor to the overall group
• helping build brand awareness of the Dobbies name where other dobbies outlets are located (the new Cheltenham store is around 10 miles from the anchor store they opened just before Christmas 2022 near Tewksbury and 10 miles from their Gloucester store [the previous Blooms store taken over in the Wyevale sell off.)
• developing an earlier awareness of plants, gardening and horticulture amongst their target audience that 25/35 year old age group.

General Manager of the new store, Kayleigh Wheeler, has built the store team around her over recent weeks. A team of experienced horticulturalists, plant enthusiasts and a couple of ‘first job’ young people are amongst the team nine to operate the 7 day a week outlet. Kayleigh, an experienced retailer with a background in high street fashion retail management has been with Dobbies for around 18 months and is passionate about getting the right people with an inspiring attitude to their product into the team rather than their product knowledge, she adds: “Dobbies have developed excellent inhouse training for all their team, and with the right attitude, product knowledge can be learnt by us all, we are about giving customers confidence in their own ability through ours”.

A queue of potential customers formed prior to the ribbon cutting ceremony and within a short space of time trading was brisk through the tills as customers made their purchases from the energetic displays of enticing, fresh plant material, care and maintenance and gifting product instore.

The store was buzzing, and a good location should see the latest little dobbies soon make its mark in the local market place.

See our photo tour of the new store here and read more in the next issue of GTN Magazine

A Perry, a fourth-generation family-owned business based in Cradley Heath, West Midlands, has announced the dates of its first customer Open Days in over five years. 

The company has established itself as the UK market leader in agricultural and architectural ironmongery, threaded bar, and fixings, as well as two specialist brands – Perry Equestrian and Primus Garden Décor products, with a vast facility spanning over 140,000 square feet, including a fully automated robot warehouse.

Hosted over 2 days, on the 6th and 7^th of June 2023, the Open Days will be an important milestone for the brand, as they will be unveiling not one, but four new range launches at the event. 

Marketing Director Steve Perry expressed his excitement, saying, "We are thrilled to be hosting this event to celebrate the amazing new product ranges that have been years in development." 

The new ranges include an eco-friendly packaged hardware range that won the DIY Week ‘Sustainability of the year award 2022’, Perry Fixings – a comprehensive range of fixings and fasteners in plastic free eco-friendly packaging, an all-new range of agricultural products such as gates, fencing, and feeders manufactured and developed by the Perry Group. There will also be a sneak peek into the new products in development for their garden décor brand, Primus, for the 2024 season.

Customers attending the event will also have the opportunity for one-on-one time with their account manager to work on how they can understand their business and develop relations, and how Perry can support their customers' growth for the rest of the year and beyond. There will be exclusive deals available on the day for customers to take advantage of, and the Open Days will provide an excellent opportunity to network with like-minded retailers from across the UK.

The Open Days are Trade only and exclusively for Perry customers or people interested in opening an account. Please register in advance using the link below. The company welcomes visitors from 9:30am on both days. 

Don't miss this exciting opportunity to discover Perry's new product ranges, take advantage of exclusive deals and network with industry peers. It’s also an excellent chance to witness the company's commitment to operational efficiency and see the exciting work they are doing in sustainability, which has won them multiple industry awards.

If you are a customer of A. Perry, you can register to attend the event here: https://PerryOpenDays2023.eventbrite.co.uk  Alternatively, if you would like to speak to the company about opening an account, contact the team today at sales@perrytrade.co.uk or call 01384 414 001.

Watch the Glee TV Peat-Free Roundtable discussions held late last year with Catherine Dawson, Steve Harper, Mark Portman and Toby Thomas, hosetd by GTN Editor Trevor Pfeiffer.

Part 1.  Quality

Part 2. Consistency

Part 3. Quantity

Taverham Nursery has made a successful transition to WinRetail from Corby and Fellas from its exisiting system.

Deborah Dakers, of Taverham, spoke highly of the WunRertail system: "A big thank you to all the team at Corby and Fellas for a successful transition to WinRetail from our existing system.

"From a business perspective, they went above and beyond during the transition process.

"We have been very impressed with not only the enhanced reporting but also the detail and accuracy of the purchasing/credit features.  Processing sales/multibuys and promotions has also been incredibly easy and with so many options it has given us so much flexibility to improve our service to our customers.

"We are particularly impressed with the outstanding customer service and support we have received; they really go above and beyond.

"We would strongly encourage anyone looking to upgrade to a forward-thinking Retail Management system to talk to Alan and the C + F team."

Pictured is Alan McCammon (C+F MD) and Matthew Steel (Taverham MD).

The spring season of 2023 is in full swing, and Primeur's innovative recycled garden range continues to inspire retailers who are looking for sustainable and eco-friendly solutions to sell, inspire and influence consumers.

Primeur, a pioneer of eco-conscious products made from recycled rubber tyres, is sure to delight garden centres everywhere. From stylish, lightweight planters and hardwearing stepping-stone products to indestructible garden borders and weather and mould-resistant decking, you can order a complete range of market-leading products from an award-winning and forward-thinking supplier.

Increased operational capacity with new warehouse

A staggering 82% growth has been achieved by the West Yorkshire-based company in just five years. In addition to its Bingley head office and 50,000 sq. ft warehouse, the company has recently invested in a new warehouse in nearby Skipton to increase capacity in its garden division. The investment in this site has upgraded Primeur’s capacity for retailers to meet customer demand, especially after the pandemic increased gardening popularity. During peak season, this will ensure complete efficiency for the supply chain and extra storage space ensures the stock is available at all times during seasonal sales spikes and simplifies Primeur's picking and logistics.

Merchandising Solutions

Now coming fully built, Primeur’s merchandising offering is simple for garden centres and comes fully stocked with products and provides clear messaging to make shoppers aware of the environmental benefits of recycled rubber tyres, as well as inspiring imagery on how to use Primeur’s collection in the garden.

The free-standing unit can be positioned to create a stand-alone display up against a wall, placed back-to-back, or can be used in conjunction with other gardening sundries, to cross-sell products and ranges for gardeners in-store.

Sarah McLafferty, National Account Manager at Primeur said: “Over the last few years, Primeur has seen substantial growth in the garden market. We have learnt a lot over the last few years and that shows in the changes they have made. It is our goal to capitalise on this by providing the logistics and order fulfilment services that help retailers to keep up with consumer demand. Our new warehouse will ensure we can keep up with seasonal spikes in demand and respond quickly and efficiently to our customers’ requirements. We want to honour our commitment by driving volume and profitability for retailers.”

Find out more

To find out more about Primeur’s 2023 Eco-Garden offering, please contact the team at 01274 518800, email sales@primeur.ltd.uk, or visit www.primeur.co.uk

A recent case study of Grovewell Groups’ four centres in the South East has confirmed considerable sales growth is achievable when switching to Meadow View Stones quality decorative aggregates and paving collections.

Lee Morgan Head of Buying gave some feedback on his reason for switching and how the first year of sales had gone. 

Why did you choose to switch to Meadow View: The wide variety of traditional and contemporary products, improved merchandising solutions, own branding options, quality of the packaging, and the opportunity to increase our customer spend were our main factors in deciding to move supplier. The fact Meadow View has a facility very close to our centres is an added bonus. 

How was the installation/transition process: In a word - Seamless. Everything was organised very efficiently with minimal impact on my and our team’s time. Once the range was agreed upon and stock orders placed, Terry who heads up the Meadow View in-house Merchandising team took the reins, organising all the set-up with the framework, stock layout and POS header boards/displays. All were delivered and mechanised within a few days of arrival. 

Has the new product range delivered results:  The impressive variety of the range, from traditional best sellers to on-trend colours and more contemporary products, was the main appeal for us to switch.  We took direction from the team at Meadow View on some new lines to add, whilst making sure we included our existing best sellers which have always centred around the traditional Cotswold, Blue and Plum slates etc.  So, it was great to see some of the new lines we added such as Arctic White 20mm and Seashore, now finding a place in our top sellers. 

First Years Results: Our first year fully trading with Meadow View, with only 3 out of our 4 centres, Tenterden, Canterbury and Folkestone, achieved the same value in sales as all four of our centres the year before. We expect to see significant further increases now Hamstreet has fully transitioned to Meadow View after being utilised to clear our legacy stock from the other centres.  We have also seen an average margin improvement of 2% on the previous years’ sales so all in all we are extremely pleased we made the move and look forward to continuous growth.

Did you see an improvement in Customer Service: Yes - we already had an excellent working relationship with our rep James Worby who with vast experience within this category offered some excellent advice which helped boost our confidence.  The whole team performed, from their brand manager Jess making the introduction of our own brand simple from start to finish to the flexibility and dedication of the sales order processing and speedy delivery teams.

For more information on how to transform your centre and sales with Meadow View Stone please email: jess@meadowviewstone.co.uk

Byrkley Garden Centre is home to a Fordingbridge twin span taper trellis canopy – designed to enhance the outer spaces at the rear of the garden centre.

Commissioned by William Strike Ltd, this canopy is now in full swing, protecting bedding plants and colourful displays for year-round customer retail, no matter the weather. 

This canopy is constructed from galvanised steel and roofed in our bespoke Opal 60 membrane, therefore minimising the need for electrical lighting during daylight hours whilst complimenting Klondyke and Strike’s existing canopy on site. 

This widened transitional space covers pergola products, plants, trees, and shrubs, ready for purchase, making the best of every space under the cover.

This installation was in reaction to the demand and need for extension of facilities to new and repeat customers as outdoor protection,  since it’s a fast becoming requirement across the retail sector as climate change continues and customers value comfort and protection from the elements. 

Call us today to see how we can help you and your business – 01243 554455.

British Garden Centres was invited to give evidence by the government at the House of Lords’ Horticultural Sector Committee.

Boyd Douglas-Davies, PR, Communication and Plants Director at the family-run group was invited to represent British Garden Centres and set out the challenges that the retail horticulture sector is facing. Boyd addressed the Lords Horticulture inquiry about garden retail and the worker shortage, the impending peat legislation and how net zero will affect the industry.

Boyd highlighted to those present how vital the horticultural industry was, contributing £ 29 billion to the UK economy in 2019, and forecasted to grow to approximately £42 billion in 2030.  “The value of horticulture to our world is worth far more than just money,” Boyd said. “It also has vital benefits to our environmental policies and its’ value to our health and wellbeing is beyond measure. This is what we should be talking about beyond the pound value.”

British Garden Centres’ operation is 30% plant offering with other departments at each store there to ensure year-round employment. The diverse offering of British Garden Centres often brings customers to a horticultural establishment for the first time, where they discover plants and broaden the marketplace. Only 3% of British Garden Centres workforce are seasonal workers, the rest are in permanent employment” Boyd explained

The biggest single challenge to the industry is the proposed 2026 government peat legislation. “This has stopped our investment plan whilst the threat of the 2026 peat ban is in place.” said, Boyd.  “The scale of the issue is based around our knowledge that out of the 8 million plants, 51% are grown in the UK and 49% in Europe and none of the nurseries in Europe are far on the peat-free journey.  British growers are away ahead of everyone else so bringing in a peat ban in 2026 would put us at risk of being 4 million plants short. There simply is not enough production in the UK to satisfy what we need as a company, let alone the rest of the industry. This could mean a lack of plants in spring 2027 and then what happens? ”

Boyd also went on to address the committee outlining how Post-Brexit plant import paperwork had cost an additional £15,000 per week. Plants waiting to be inspected on lorries can spend 24-48 hours in the dark which is not good for their health and puts biosecurity at risk.

The Horticultural Sector Committee invites the public, particularly those working in the industry to provide their views on the future of the sector as part of its inquiry.  Topics of discussion include the challenges, opportunities and risks faced by the horticultural sector, including the impact of rising input costs and labour and skills shortages and the impact of climate change on productivity.

Jack Ward (British Grower Association, Mike Norris (Newey Group/West Sussex Growers Association), Ali Capper (National Farmers Union), George Hillier (Hillier’s Garden Centres and Nurseries),  and Jo Lambell (Beards and Daisies) also spoke at the event.

“This year-long special inquiry is a fantastic opportunity to showcase our sector’s challenges and opportunities to parliament and wider policymakers. Boyd’s evidence was impactful in setting out the here-and-now and longer-term asks that are common to our sector - whether that be a feasible and sustainable peat deadline or the impact of trade disruption on industry growth potential. We thank Boyd and other HTA members for contributing to the evidence-building for the sector and delivering the experience of British horticulture business to parliament,” said Jennifer Pheasey, Director of Public Affairs, at the Horticultural Trades Association who was also present at the meeting.

Initial results from a new report produced by the Horticultural Trades Association and members of its specialist group, the Growing Media Association, reveal a significant decline in the use of peat in environmental horticulture. 

The report covers industry trends in growing media from 2021 to 2022. It highlights a positive shift towards more sustainable practices within the sector, with UK suppliers, growers, and retailers collaborating to develop alternatives.

Initial results from a new report produced by the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) and members of its specialist group, the Growing Media Association (GMA), reveal a significant decline in the use of peat in environmental horticulture. The report covers industry trends in growing media from 2021 to 2022. It highlights a positive shift towards more sustainable practices within the sector, with UK suppliers, growers, and retailers collaborating to develop alternatives.

Headline figures show encouraging progress by the sector, with peat volume having almost halved in one year and the total volume dropping below 1 million cubic metres. The retail industry has shown a remarkable decrease in using less than half the volume of peat compared to the previous year. The percentage now stands at just 16.8% and is rapidly declining. Additionally, the professional use of peat has fallen below 50% for the first time.

The full report of the Growing Media Monitor, developed annually by the HTA, GMA, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, and the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs, will be available in the coming weeks. The early headlines, however, mark a significant milestone in the industry's ongoing efforts to promote sustainability and reduce environmental impact. The HTA is encouraged to share this news and continue working towards a more sustainable future.

However, many of the UK’s tree and plant growers face several challenges to transition to 100% peat free in the near future and have called for their research and development trials to continue until 2030. This will allow professional peat-free mixes for growing the thousands of plant types and species at the quality and quantity required.

James Barnes, Chair of the HTA, commented on the report's findings, stating: "The results of this report are a testament to our industry's dedication to sustainability, taking significant and effective steps towards reducing peat use, and that industry-led initiatives are already yielding results. We remain committed to removing peat from compost in retail by the end of 2024. However, to accelerate our progress towards a peat-free future, we urgently need all stakeholders, including government, to focus efforts on addressing the barriers to alternatives and a successful transition. We remain hugely concerned about a drastic shift from 2030 for ending-peat use for professional purposes and the impact this would have. By working together, we can ensure a more sustainable future for horticulture and protect our planet for generations to come."

Environment Minister, Trudy Harrison, said: “It is encouraging to see today’s figures which show the professional sector making good progress in moving towards using effective peat-free alternatives. Our peatlands play a crucial role in locking up carbon, providing habitats for wildlife and helping with flood mitigation.

“We will continue to support and work with the professional sector as we move towards a fuller transition to peat-free by 2026 and a complete end to horticultural use of peat by 2030.”

Every year hundreds of new products are entered into the highly coveted Glee New Product Showcase with just fifteen gaining triumph after a fiercely fought pitching process and judges’ deliberation.  Nine months have now passed since the 2022 winners were crowned; here Glee catches up with a some of those winners to find out how their latest trophy has impacted their business and what they have planned for Glee 2023.

2022 Glee New Product winner: Planters - Woodlodge

Woodlodge is one of the leading gardenware suppliers in the UK, and as consumers become more environmentally aware of what they buy and how they garden, there has been a boom in consumer demand for more sustainable products from their suppliers.

Garden Planter winners, Woodlodge, which scooped the win with its EcoMade planters made from 97% ocean-reclaimed material, reported an uplift in sales since launching at Glee and winning the New Product Award. Michael Wooldridge, Director at Woodlodge said: “Sales have picked up for EcoMade since the launch and we’re forecasting these to continue increasing as sustainability moves up the agenda for retailers.  It was fantastic to have the product recognised by the judges and we are delighted to win. The award showcases Woodlodge’s outstanding product development and our ability to tap into the consumers’ mindset and demands.”

Looking to Glee 2023 Michael added: “Being the main garden trade event of the year we feel it is important to exhibit at Glee every year to reach as many buyers as possible.  We will be launching our new catalogue at the June show which is full of new ideas that are exciting to retailers and consumers. Our range of products is our best yet, with innovation, trend-led pieces and sustainability continuing to stimulate ongoing interest and conversation in the industry. “

2022 Glee New Product winner: Garden Plants, Seeds & Bulbs – Golden Grove Nursery

With planters come plants and the 2022 Glee Garden Plants, Seeds & Bulbs Award went to Golden Grove Nursery with Cryptomeria jap. 'Kyara Gold’. Talking about the win, Golden Groves’ Roger Ward said: “The award was a great boost of moral to the management and staff at the nursery and it is good to have a plant in development appreciated by the industry. Someone quipped to me at the time - “Fancy a conifer winning a best plant in show” - so it gives some positive publicity to the plant group after some recent lacklustre coverage. The nursery also gains positive publicity and perhaps gives it greater credibility and introduction to new customers who perhaps are unaware of its products. These benefits take some time to reach fruition.”

Come June, Golden Grove will be returning to Glee’s plant hub – the Green Heart – it has been confirmed that the team will be showcasing not just the standard ranges but also new varieties and will be highlighting how their plants lock up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and the work they have been doing to reduce their own carbon footprint.

2022 Glee New Product winner: Landscaping & Garden Buildings – Meadow View Stone

The value of credibility that a Glee New Product award can offer was noted by 2022 Landscaping & Garden Buildings winners, Meadow View Stone. Sarah Hill, MD at Meadow View Stone said: “Winning the award against some very strong competition gave all our team a huge morale boost.  In what is considered a very competitive product category, it gave the business greater credibility and further cemented the Company’s strength - as innovators within the decorative aggregate category.”

Sarah added: “We have always been great supporters of the industry event, so will once again be exhibiting our products and new collections alongside our many merchandising solutions.  We continually study trends, evaluate sales data and collaborate with customers and key industry influences to identify gaps in the market or our product range.  This is what drives our NPD along with new or improved operating solutions, some of which will be evident at Glee. 

As a growing business we also recognise the need to be more sustainable and environmentally conscious, so Glee will be a platform to showcase the environmental benefits of some of our existing products, together with potentially new products and merchandising solutions, that improve or negate the impact on our environment.”

2022 Glee New Product winner: Garden leisure & Entertaining - Zest

Meadow View’s thoughts were echoed by Zest, which scooped the Garden Leisure & Entertaining award in 2022. “Not only is it motivational for the new product development and marketing teams, particularly because of all the hard work that is involved, a Glee New Product Award is a great asset for the sales team in driving next season’s business in terms of exposure and confidence.  An award attracts significant attention from the trade and is a great support when reaching out to garden centre buyers.  This is especially true in today’s uncertain times when a clear point of difference and peer group acknowledgement that a product is truly ‘on trend’ is a persuasive message for the garden trade,” said Zest’s Head of Commercial Development, Simon Davison.

Zest is confirmed to be exhibiting at Glee 2023 and will be taking a proactive approach to on trend product development, which reflects the massive changes in consumer attitudes and needs in terms of outdoor living and acknowledges consumers’ concerns for the future.   Simon explained: “The company’s natural advantages are its use of slow-grown timber sourced from FSC® certified forests (FSC®-C114990), combined with quality manufacturing methods and a handcrafted finish with an absolute focus on desirability, durability, and sustainability.  Over and above that, the design team is focusing on products that reflect current trends such as outdoor modular cooking, wellness, relaxation and being close to nature. Our design team are also focusing on the use of the garden all year round and late into the evenings as well as during the day, grow your own self-sufficiency, and easy access products”.

2022 Glee New Product winner: Growing Materials – Sipcam Home & Gift

Sipcam Home & Garden scooped its first Glee New Product award in 2022, topping the Growing Materials category with its Peat Free Compost Booster & Organic Superfood. Talking about the win Sipcam MD Matt Jones said: “Since the Glee award many customers have been impressed with the Organic Superfood concept, which provides a multi-action 6-in-1 booster for plants and an organic feed solution that reduces carbon footprint. With Organic Superfood in stock this month, it represents an exciting time for the Sipcam team, with the biggest product launch since ecofective® was introduced to the market in 2018.

The product has gained hundreds of stockists and we are continuing to invest in the range to ensure we are meeting the increasing demand.

“Winning the award created heightened extra reach for the launch of Organic Superfood, positioning it as a ‘must view’ proposition for garden care buyers. From a brand recognition perspective, winning such a prestigious category upheld the growing reputation of the ecofective® brand within the gardening industry, something that the Sipcam team have been working hard towards over the last five years.

“We would definitely encourage suppliers to enter the awards. Even being shortlisted offers a useful platform to highlight your product range… If you win, it’s not only an amazing feeling but is an game-changing springboard for a new product launch.”

Glee New Product winner: Best of British - Airflow

Celebrating British manufacturing, the Best of British award was awarded to Airflow in 2022 for its “Bertie” Christmas tree stand. Talking about the win Airflow’s Managing Director, Lionel Huish said: “We created our Christmas tree stand based on the feedback we received from British Christmas tree growers who were frustrated with the quality of tree stands that were available in the marketplace.  We worked tirelessly, over two years, to develop an innovative design and solution to the problem, thus felt entering Bertie into the New Product Awards at Glee was an ideal opportunity to present our British designed and manufactured product to a mass audience.

“The move by the Glee organisers to hold the exhibition in June suited us perfectly, as it was well timed for buyers looking to place orders for the winter season. By winning The Best of British Award at Glee, we saw an immediate increase in enquiries and sales, particularly from Garden Centres and Wholesalers. We even saw Bertie showcased on Glee TV.

“The process of entering The Glee New Product Award was extremely straightforward, as the form could be completed through Glee’s online portal. Having been shortlisted, at the exhibition, Managing Director, Lionel Huish was required to present a two minute “elevator pitch” which was a great chance to unveil our product, while also gaining feedback from industry experts. This led to a huge increase in footfall to our stand from buyers who had seen our presentation and were keen to learn more about Bertie.”

Enter the Glee New Product Showcase in 2023

Entry into the Glee New Products Showcase is now open and is completely free of charge to all Glee exhibitors.  The showcase will feature entries from twelve different product categories: Plants, Seeds and Bulbs, Growing Materials, Growing Accessories, Garden Growing Containers, Garden Decoration, Garden Tools & Machinery, Landscaping, Garden Leisure & Entertaining, Wild Bird Care and Wildlife Products, Gifts, Body & Bath, Christmas, Greeting Cards, Toys and Games, Homewares, Clothing and Fashion Accessories, Pet Products, Retail Services & Experiences, and DIY Products.

To enter, simply download the entry form from the Exhibitor Zone (online at www.gleebirmingham.com)

Find out more

Glee is the UK’s leading garden retail show, focusing on building year-round profits for buyers and suppliers within the core gardening and outdoor leisure product categories.  To keep up to date on the latest Glee news visit www.gleebirmingham.com.  To enquire about exhibiting at Glee 2023, which will take place June 27th – 29th, please call +44 (0)203 3545 9752.

London Marathon competitor, Becky Lafford, set a new world record of 3 hours 59 minutes and 57 seconds for running a marathon IN WELLIES! 

Helping Becky achieve this incredible feat were Leon Boots’ EXPL Unisex Explorer boots, which are not just ultralight – at 65% lighter, manufactured from seamless injection-moulded EVA material that is far more environmentally friendly and more durable than other traditional wellies and also vegan safe. These pioneering boots come with a 40mm shock absorbent sole and removable sock liner for maximum comfort.

Leon Boots, Kevin Burgess, said: “Massive congratulations to Becky for her amazing World Record-breaking marathon run. Running any marathon is a huge achievement, but doing it in wellies and then setting a new world record is off the charts!”

45 different world records were set during this year's historic London Marathon, led by 23 year-old Kelvin Kiptum, who triumphed in the men's run in two hours, one minute and 25 seconds. 

This is the second time that Leon Boots have stormed to victory in the London Marathon.  Becky’s achievement follows on from that of Peter Butler Jones, who completed the 2021 Virgin Money London Marathon in aid of mental health charity, Mind, wearing the same model of Leon Boots. The Unisex Explorer boots were on Peter’s feet when he completed the race in 2hrs 56mins and 38secs, trouncing Damian Thacker’s previous record for the fastest marathon wearing wellies. 

The unisex Explorer is the perfect boot for many activities from serious hiking to regular dog-walking. Along with other wellingtons in the Leon Boots range, including the best-selling Ankle (that are now also available in Mens sizes UK9 – UK12) Boots, they are available to buy in many retailers nationwide – as well as Leon Boots’ own online store - priced at just £59.99.

Find out more

To find out more about the Leon Boot Co. please visit www.lbcboots.com

The Garden Centre Association Trust has selected Louise Kemp from Coolings Wych Cross Garden Centre and Ashley Bains from Barton Grange to attend this year’s International Garden Centre Association (IGCA) Congress.

The two candidates will receive a sponsored place at the IGCA Congress in September as part of the Dick Allen Scholarship Award Scheme.

Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Will Armitage says: “We are delighted to announce that Louise and Ashley are this year’s successful applicants and we wish them all the very best for September.

“The Trustees were thrilled to receive so many applicants for The GCA Trust’s IGCA delegate places this year. After much deliberation, our two candidates were carefully selected for this year’s congress study tour to Italy in September.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the applicants and assure them that it was a very close call. We are very much looking forward to hearing all about Louise and Ashley’s experiences in Italy when we meet at the 2024 GCA Conference at the De Vere Cotswold Water Park in January.”

The object of the GCA Trust is to advance among the general public and, in particular among horticultural students, education in horticulture, and particularly garden centres, by the provision and administration of scholarships and bursaries, including prizes to foster such education.

The Trust also aims to assist horticultural students to study, research into and gain experience of horticulture.

Gary Carvosso, Chairman at Coolings explains: “We are delighted that Louise, who has shown such flair in her retailing and leadership skills to date, has been awarded a place to attend the IGCA conference. Her passion for the industry is remarkable and this is a great opportunity for her to visit many world-class garden centres in Italy.

“Spending time with highly successful and motivated retailers from all over the world will undoubtedly broaden her horizons further. The lasting impact will be very positive for both Coolings future, as well as Louise's career.”  

Louise started in 2016 at Wych Cross, working for Wyevale as part of the plant sales team, she eventually led the plant area team. In 2019, Coolings purchased the site and shortly afterwards Louise was promoted to site manager.

Meanwhile, Ashley is a senior member of the outside sales team at Barton Grange.

He explains: “I am thrilled to have been given this opportunity to go on the IGCA tour. It’s a great opportunity for networking and meeting like-minded people. It will also help me gain confidence in meeting new people, as this is not something I would usually do.

For the company, I hope to bring back some fresh ideas or different ways of doing things, as well as sharing our own methods of working with others.”

Ashley has been with Barton Grange since October 2019.

Guy Topping, Managing Director at Barton Grange, says: “I’m so chuffed for Ash. He’s a great lad who will make the most of this opportunity and will contribute well to the group.”

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

Dobbies has saved wasted emissions equivalent to charging a phone 30.9 million times, through its partnership with Too Good To Go, statistics revealed this Stop Food Waste Day.

The partnership, which began in February 2021, has seen 69,880 Surprise Bags of food sold which would have otherwise gone to waste. Over 174 tonnes of CO2 emissions have been saved from going to waste by Dobbies’ participation in the scheme, the same amount as flying from London to New York almost 200 times.

Customers can purchase a Surprise Bag in 53 Dobbies’ foodhalls across the UK, filled with quality surplus food that would ordinarily go to waste. With an RRP of £12-14, the Surprise Bags are available to buy for £3.99.

Roz Docherty, Senior Food Buyer, at Dobbies said: “Our partnership with Too Good To Go highlights our understanding that our customers care about the environment, whether it be through reducing food waste or gardening in a sustainable way.

“Too Good To Go is simple to use. Customers simply download the free app and search for nearby businesses with unsold produce. They then purchase a Surprise Bag and collect it at an allotted time.”

Sophie Trueman, Country Director at Too Good To Go UK and Ireland added: “It’s fantastic to see our partnership with Dobbies continue to pave the way for a more sustainable future. At Too Good To Go, our mission is to make sure good food is enjoyed, not wasted. Our app users get great meals at a great price, businesses reach new customers and we’re reducing the harmful impact of food waste on our planet – it really is a win-win-win!”    

For more information about the Dobbies partnership with Too Good to Go please visit: https://www.dobbies.com/too-good-to-go

The landlord of Northern Ireland’s leading retail and leisure park, The Junction, has today handed over a 110,000sq ft site to Dobbies to begin fitout work on its flagship garden centre.

The official handover ceremony follows 12 months of redevelopment by Killowen Contracts on behalf of Lotus Property, which saw a number of local construction jobs created and a £10m investment in the site to prepare it for Dobbies arrival to the scheme.

The full-service store will be Dobbies’ second venture in Northern Ireland, and the largest in its UK portfolio showcasing a rejuvenated store concept with outdoor and indoor plant areas; areas for gardening products, outdoor furniture, pets, gifting and toys, as well as cookshop and home décor; a foodhall, a children’s soft play area and new restaurant and café.

The store is expected to attract a footfall of around one million visitors per annum, creating 120 new full and part-time jobs, making it one of the largest employers at The Junction and within the Antrim and Newtownabbey borough.

Alastair Coulson, Lotus Property said: “There is much excitement locally ahead of Dobbies opening later this year at The Junction. For many months now, visitors have been able to see the large-scale redevelopment of the site in preparation and we’re thrilled to officially hand it over for Dobbies to begin fitout. This is a really important moment in our journey of creating a standout retail and leisure scheme that will bring more footfall to Antrim, benefit the local economy, create jobs and make the area a real destination for people from across Northern Ireland.”

Graeme Jenkins, CEO of Dobbies, commented: “We’re thrilled to be forward to moving forward with the fitout ahead of opening in late Autumn. Our store at The Junction will not only be our biggest store, but will also be our best.

“We’re committed to being a good neighbour during the process both to existing tenants on site, as well as engaging the Antrim community with recruitment events, charity partnerships and school initiatives coming in the months ahead. We’re really looking forward to opening the doors and will share opening plans in due course.”

The key sales period for pelargoniums may be in full flow but that doesn’t mean retailers should sit back and relax! The experts at Pelargonium for Europe (PfE) – Europe’s leading marketing initiative for these classic summer plants – share five top tips on how retailers can still maximise the sales potential of pelargoniums through social media, direct marketing and easy to achieve updates to point of sale instore to drive sales throughout the summer.

1. Capture your customers’ attention with social media

As we spend more time at home than normal the internet and, more specifically, social media, has become our shop window. Much of our buying is done via these channels or is at least influenced by the content which fills our timelines. Any retailer who has a strong presence on social media will be able to engage with new and potential customers before they even set foot in the store.

In the case of pelargoniums, PfE has created a wealth of material which retailers are able to optimise via their social media channels. This content not only reduces the time a retailer has to dedicate to social media, but it is designed to inspire consumers, with the aim of encouraging them into store to make purchases of pelargoniums and associated sundries.

Available for direct download from www.pelargonium-trade.com, content for social media use includes stunning aspirational lifestyle imagery where retailers can ‘sell the look’ as well as downloadable social media banners and posts, which have been optimised for use across Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Retailers need only upload and let the imagery and supporting text do the hard work for them.

PfE’s consumer site www.pelargoniumforeurope.com also lends itself well to providing retailers with inspirational written content, perfect for use on Facebook or their own website. From step-by-step craft projects to an in-depth look at the history and care of pelargoniums, this resource can enable retailers to build a profile as experts in all things pelargoniums, reinvigorating the consumers’ confidence in them.

2. Competitions, giveaways and workshops

One of the easiest ways to increase engagement with your customers both online and in store is with competitions and giveaways. Drawing customers’ attention with a competition is a great way of opening up a conversation regarding specific product groups. A simple mechanism for entering will inspire more participants whilst also providing an opportunity to showcase a key fact; a fact that may surprise entrants and therefore help encourage them to make a purchase. In the case of pelargoniums this could relate to their ease of care, resilience or the many different varieties available.

Invite winners into the store to collect or, even better, select a prize for themselves. This could result in more sales being made and a relationship forged with a new, potentially long-term customer.

Workshops are also a great way of inviting customers into the store before the end of the sales season. Consider a summer workshop on ‘the new generation of pelargoniums’ and utilise different colours and types of pelargoniums to create something that defies expectations, or even a craft workshop for wedding flowers or al fresco dining décor. These workshops are reliant on staff availability but can deliver a strong influx of customers wanting to secure plants. Communicate workshops through social media and also with direct marketing to your retail database.

3. Make noise in the retail setting

With so much choice available to them, it is sometime hard for consumers to know what to buy. With PfE’s dedicated point of sale tools, including banners, posters, flags and flyers, it makes it easier than ever to direct their attention to this key summer seller. They’re quick and easy to download and print so you can have yours in a matter of days.

The inclusion of dedicated signage promoting pelargoniums also supports the psychology of shopping in that consumers are more likely to engage with a brand that is visible throughout the store. The investment in merchandising support and prominent positioning throughout the shop floor or plant area, promotes a brand or product that can be trusted and is confident that it will deliver on what it promises.

4. What am I buying?

Many consumers like to know what they are buying before committing to a purchase. In the case of pelargoniums this might relate to the ultimate size of the plant, quick information on care and watering, and flowering time. Whilst much of this information will be present on the plant label, retailers can help increase impulse sales by making this basic information even clearer so that the customer attention is drawn from across the shop floor. A chalk board, for example, is a quick, simple and cheap way to communicate these key details, whilst providing consumers with the confidence to purchase.

5. Keep displays fresh

The display you set up at the start of the season does not need to be the one that you finish the season with.  As pelargoniums have such a vast array of colours and types - such as zonal, ivy leaved, regal, scented leaf and angel - keep your display fresh by mixing up colours and cross merchandising pelargoniums alongside planters, complementary plants and even gardening gloves to increase the average basket spend. In doing so, retailers can entice customers who might not have previously noticed the pelargonium stock, whilst also encouraging repeat sales amongst existing customers. If you do refresh your displays don’t forget to add a photo to social media to entice customers to come and see for themselves!

For more information and images of geraniums visit: www.pelargoniumforeurope.com

Publication is free of charge with photo credit: "Pelargonium for Europe". Please send us a copy.

Pelargonium for Europe

Pelargonium for Europe is the marketing initiative of European geranium breeders Dümmen Orange, Elsner PAC, Florensis / P. van der Haak Handelskwekerij, Geranien Endisch, Selecta One and Syngenta Flowers. The initiative was founded in 2016 with the aim of promoting and securing long-term geranium sales in Europe. Its activities began in 2017 and in Germany, Austria, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Poland, activities are supported by the EU as part of the “Europe in Bloom” campaign. 

Summer is fast approaching and as homeowners around the UK start planning for social gatherings and alfresco dining, Glee - the International Festival for Garden, Leisure, and Pet will be embracing the outdoor living trend with ideas and inspiration for 2024.

Taking place at the Birmingham NEC from the 27th to 29th of June, the halls at Glee will once again be home to exhibitors showcasing the latest designs in BBQs, inspirational furniture styles, and material and outdoor lifestyle influences within the dedicated Outdoor Entertaining sector.  Glee's late June timing is designed to offer significant benefits to buyers, with thousands of existing and new products exclusively launching at the show together providing the perfect opportunity for buyers to preview the latest collections and place orders for the upcoming gardening season.  With summer right around the corner, Glee is also the first opportunity within the 2023 buying calendar to source outdoor furniture, garden heaters, and decorative items or finalise top-up orders for immediate delivery into store.

The power of the outdoors

There is no doubt that the outdoor living movement has exploded recently as outdoor spaces have been embraced with new interests. Gardens have become, more than ever, a place to relax, escape, work, eat, exercise, and play.  Recent research by YouGov for the HTA (2021) revealed that nearly half of UK households (42%) use their gardens to entertain family or friends with garden parties and barbecues. The HTA also showed that sales in the outdoor living department at garden centres were 19.88% up in 2022 compared to 2021, indicating that this momentum is showing no signs of stopping.

Indoor and outdoor merged rooms

Furniture and accessories have blurred the lines between indoors and out, adding comfort and style by effectively creating zones while maintaining an open look and uninterrupted view of the garden and beyond.

Emotive design forms the foundations of Glee exhibitor Bizzotto’s brand philosophy and furniture collections. With a commitment to high quality, sustainability, and beauty, its three furniture brands, “Yes”, “Bizzotto Outdoor” and “Homemotion” will take centre stage. Tramontina has all retailers need to sell the stylish and versatile al fresco dining dream, from beautifully understated bistro sets to loungers which create individual and comfortable areas to relax in.  Hex Living will also be creating the perfect outdoor room with its contemporary garden furniture ranging from loungers to storage solutions.

Social hotspots

Fire pits, chimineas, log burners and patio heaters have proven to be the must-have garden accessory and that trend is set to continue into next year as people enjoy their gardens for longer. According to an Amazon survey, 32% of people plan to buy a fire pit in 2023, making it a popular outdoor cooking and heating appliance.

Pinnacle Agri is a newcomer to Glee and its showstopping product is the Firestorm Patio Heaters which use eco-friendly wood pellets to create a dazzling, smokeless flame within a glass tube, perfect for those that like the modern aesthetic. Fandango Products will be bringing back its safe and easy-to-use Kindling Cracker firewood splitters. They are also the UK distributor for Espegard's fire pans and accessories, which with their simple and functional design for warmth and cooking will win over fire pit lovers everywhere.

Al fresco dining

The overall barbecue and alfresco eating market in 2021 were worth just over £2.2 billion, with the UK hosting around 165 million barbecues in the same year. And with the cost-of-living crisis affecting many, garden dining and cooking remains a fashionable and cheaper alternative to a visit to the local pub or restaurant.   Campingaz has enhanced outdoor cooking experiences throughout the UK and beyond and will continue to inspire both retailers and consumers through its barbecue range at the show. Blackstone Europe will give retailers the opportunity to sell outdoor cooking experiences for large groups or families with its griddles and barbecue accessories. Elsewhere, household names such as Kamado Joe, Landmann and Primo Grills can all be found within Glee Outdoor Entertaining, featuring what the latest innovations from these market leaders.

Dudley-based Midtherm and Glee newcomers Gozney will also be bringing their ranges of pizza ovens to capitalise on the soar in popularity of outdoor cooking.

Garden Decor

Poppy Forge is bringing its British-designed and made garden products to the Outdoor Living sector including plant supports, arches, obelisks, garden art and boot care products.

Primus will be returning to the show to showcase its leading homeware, gifting, and garden décor brand. From its Wallace & Gromit sculpture range to wind chimes and hangers, outdoor clocks, and metal wall art they will offer customers garden decor with quality pieces that draw the eye and elevate an outdoor space.

Illuminated spaces

The craze for solar garden lights has seen consumers extend their garden time after the sun goes down. Solar lighting can enhance a garden or outdoor space, giving it a wonderful, cosy ambience as well as practical illumination for outdoor areas that need a lift.  Nordlux’s range of lights can be used beyond the garden to illuminate the front door, driveway, and garage, as well as balconies and terraces. Forum Lighting Solutions is one of the UK’s largest suppliers of lighting and radiant heaters are an energy-saving solution to keep the garden warm after dark.

Eco-Friendly

The sustainable garden industry has seen a huge boom - with more and more eco-savvy consumers opting for eco-friendly materials for their outdoor living accessories.  Dr Heat will showcase its eco-friendly firelighters produced exclusively from recycled candle wax and shredded Miscanthus grass, grown in the South West of England.  BCB’s International’s FireDragon - Eco-Friendly Fire Lighters, made from rotten vegetable matter, will appeal to fire and flame lovers who don’t want to harm the planet.

Matthew Mein, Event Director at Glee said: “Consumers are increasingly focusing on improving their outside spaces, with recent statistics supporting the growth of the outdoor living industry. Increasing choices, a newfound love of the garden and budget-friendly options made available by retailers are making outdoor entertainment more affordable and accessible for consumers. At Glee 2023 those exhibitors that make up the Outdoor Entertaining sector will together showcase the latest trends and products that will help to drive growth in the industry this year and beyond, whilst enabling buyers to better plan their buying and merchandising strategies ahead of the peak summer season.”

Find out more

Glee is the UK’s leading garden retail show, focusing on building year-round profits for buyers and suppliers within the core gardening and outdoor leisure product categories.  To keep up to date on the latest Glee news visit www.gleebirmingham.com.  To enquire about exhibiting at Glee 2023, which will take place June 27th – 29th, please call +44 (0)203 3545 9752.

Don’t miss Glee Fire, Grill & Chill

For the second year in a row, many of these outdoor heating solutions, barbeques and firepits will be in action within Glee’s dedicated Fire, Grill and Chill area. Relocated to a prime location at the front of the NEC near the Hall 6-8 and Hall 20 entrances, this area will be the go-to place for leisure buyers to source 2024 ranges, as well as provide the backdrop to the Glee Party on Tuesday 27th June, to which all exhibitors and visitors are invited.

Rosa ‘Queen Bee’ from Wharton’s Nurseries Ltd.

Garden centres can feature crown-worthy clematis and regal roses on their websites and touchscreen Kiosks with Joy of Plants’ new ‘Coronation & spring gift plants’ Plant Finder group.

The company has added the special section to help customers and staff at garden centres nationwide find clematis and roses with royal names or connections to commemorate the celebration.

Amanda Barber, Library Manager at Joy of Plants said: “There are a number of Clematis with royal names and connections, like the stunning deep purple Clematis ‘Royalty’. For smaller gardens and new gardeners, a clematis can be a great choice for a plant to mark the occasion. 

“For lovers of roses, there are also lots to choose from, Rosa ‘Prince Charles’ or ‘King’s Macc’, for example. Rosa ‘May Queen’ is a versatile rambling rose that is also suitable for north facing walls. My personal choice would be Rosa ‘Queen Bee’, which is attractive to bees and has the most gorgeous amber coloured petals with fluted edges. This variety gives a lovely nod to our new Queen Camilla, as she is officially to be known, and her role and also acknowledges the King’s love of wildlife.

“It’s a great time to encourage gardeners to treat themselves to a new addition for their garden that they can plant on the day or remember the day by.

“Wharton’s Roses and New Leaf Plants have helped us expand the clematis and roses in our library to help plant retailers sell those plants, and to help consumers find just the right variety to suit their needs.”

Joy of Plants’ mission is to make plant information easy and accessible to all. It has created a library of more than 15,700 UK garden plants and trees and offers a platform of tools to help garden centres, retailers, growers and breeders maximise their plant sales and income.

It provides this information in many products including a Plant Finder for websites and Touchscreen Kiosks, an Image and Text Library for ecommerce sites, and ‘print on-demand’ Bed Cards.

For further details about Joy of Plants, please call 07717 532323 or visit www.joyofplants.com.

With less than a month to go, The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) is gearing up to demonstrate the value of the UK horticultural sector to thousands of visitors expected at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2023, which runs from Tuesday 23 to Saturday 27 May 2023, at The Royal Hospital, Chelsea. 

2023 will be the first year the HTA has a trade stand at the show to talk about key issues within the industry, including sustainability and drought, as well as to promote the quality workmanship of the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) and encourage more people into gardening with National Garden Gift Vouchers. 

The stand will be built by APL members: JJH, Radial Landscapes, Nick Fryer, Bushy Business and supported by London Stone, Composite Prime, Provender Nurseries, Oase, Growing Revolution and Bury Hill Top Soil, Arbour Landscape Solutions and Landscape Plus. 

APL General Manager Phil Tremayne commented, “The Association of Professional Landscapers have an excellent pedigree at RHS shows, winning many awards. So, it's great that we have been able to include a few of our members and associates in the creation of this HTA stand. I know they are looking forward to pulling this together and hopefully giving the HTA team a fantastic platform to work from during the show.” 

HTA CEO Fran Barnes said, “We’re delighted to represent our members at the most prestigious horticultural show of the year, working alongside our award-winning partners at the Association of Professional Landscapers to invite visitors to recognise the value of environmental horticulture.” 

For more information on the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, visit https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show 

Johnsons of Whixley has launched a 15 million step challenge, as part of Move More Month in April, to raise vital funds for horticultural mental health charity, Perennial.

Perennial supports people in the horticultural industry, including those who work at Johnsons, with health and wellbeing advice, housing and financial support and debt advice.

For Johnsons, which recently became a Platinum Partner for the charity, mental health is a top priority, and the company has successfully delivered mental health training to its whole team, with 34 managers and deputies receiving additional mental health first aid training from MHFA England qualified team members.

Marketing and office manager, Eleanor Richardson, and amenity operations unit manager, Dave Barrett, were the first to complete the mental health first aid course via MHFA England and, since qualifying in October, they have been training other members of staff on how to support each other’s mental wellbeing alongside health and safety advisors.

Speaking of the challenge, Eleanor Richardson, marketing and office manager and qualified mental health first aider at Johnsons of Whixley, said: "At Johnsons, we believe that taking care of our employees' mental health is just as important as their physical health, so that’s why this challenge is such an important one for us.

“Not only will we be supporting Perennial, which has helped a number of our team members in the past, but we will be getting together as a team and building bonds across departments, getting some exercise and supporting one another towards a shared goal.

“We have seen first-hand the impact mental health issues can have, and we want to do everything we can to support our employees.”

Li Crane, fundraising administrator at Perennial, added: “I would like to thank the whole team at Johnson’s of Whixley for undertaking this fantastic Steps Challenge throughout the month of April. It is a great example of how our industry can support Perennial through fundraising initiatives and by finding ways of spreading our message that Perennial is here for all those working in horticulture that need our help.”

In addition to the investment in training, Johnsons of Whixley has created a number of resources to support its staff. This includes monthly updates to notice boards and a brochure for staff on how to spot and manage negative mental health triggers. The brochure also contains information on how to support positive mental health both at work and at home, advice on how to open up about issues, and details on various support networks and helplines.

The company plans to continue its efforts to spread awareness of mental health issues and provide support throughout 2023, with support services readily available, creating a positive and supportive work environment for all employees.

Johnsons of Whixley is a successful commercial nursery based in North Yorkshire, having supplied projects including the Forth Road Bridge, Queensferry, Grantley Hall in Ripon, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, the A50 Growth Corridor and Thorpe Park, Leeds. The business has over 100 years of experience in growing and supplying trees, shrubs and plants to UK-wide planting schemes. 

In this issue:

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

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

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The Young People in Horticulture Association (YPHA) has reached a current membership list of 500, with Jordan Weston, AKA the Bearded Botanist, having been the one to take them over the line. 

As with most new recruits, Jordan joined YPHA with the aim of expanding his network- ‘I am so glad I came across this group of young, likeminded horticulturalists and have been welcomed with open arms. It’s such an exciting time to be part of the horticultural industry and I’m looking forward to sharing this time with the members, getting to know them, sharing knowledge, and hopefully meeting up at various events throughout the year!’ 

Founded in January 2020, YPHA unites 35 and unders who work or train anywhere under the banner of horticulture. The group was started by Mollie Higginson, Liam Cleary and Natalie Porter, with Abigail Stocker, Lilidh Matthews, Kyle Ross and Sarah Want joining the committee in the following years. 

So far in 2023, the association has not only welcomed new members but also expanded their committee, with the previously seven-strong team now joined by Jeremy Costello, Marketing Manager at Farplants. Jeremy takes on the role of Strategy Manager and will help shape longer-term plans for YPHA; building upon the solid foundations already established to ensure the association continues to grow, and is able to make as much progress as possible for all of horticulture. 

Also stepping up to the committee is Megan Warren-Davis, from Walberton Nursery who becomes Social Media Manager. Megan will support the quality of content, and continuity of messaging for YPHA across all their social media platforms- as well as keeping members up to date with relevant news. 

Lastly, John Tallis, owner of Outdoor Living Gardens reinforces the new structure. With his passion and experience in the landscaping sector bringing another fresh perspective to the committee, John will especially support events, as well as with future projects around training and education. 

New committee member, Megan Warren-Davis expressed her excitement for her new role, sharing that: "From a seasonal worker to a permanent horticultural assistant, I have always had a passion for plants. However, what truly made me stay in an industry that I was so new to, was the sense of camaraderie I found among other young people at the nursery. That's why I was enthusiastic to join YPHA, which brings together horticultural newcomers and those who may feel overlooked and creates chances for them to connect with experts and each other. 

“My goal is to help foster the supportive community that YPHA has created, which not only offers career opportunities and educational talks, but also contributes to making horticulture a fun and fulfilling field to be a part of."

For more information on YPHA visit ypha.org.uk 

The Horticultural Trades Association has announced its 2023 search to find the UK’s best growers.  

Following a successful launch last year, with two of our winners going on to receive awards at the prestigious International Grower of the Year Awards, customers and suppliers are invited to nominate their best nursery business, or growers can self-enter via the website. 

Martin Simmons, HTA Horticulture Support manager said, “The HTA Grower of the Year awards showcase the very best in UK horticulture and last year two of our winners went on to gain world recognition! It is a great way for retailers or suppliers to show their appreciation of our nurseries and for growers to put themselves forward as being amongst the best. Please do join in to help celebrate our industry” 

The Grower of the Year awards will recognise and celebrate best practices in sustainable production. Nominated by their customers or suppliers, grower members must be able to demonstrate their commitment to the environment through a public plan and must be working towards a target such as Co2 reduction, peat-removal, or water resilience.   

2023 Categories include:  

• Young Grower under 35 
• Finished Plant Grower,  
• Young Plant Grower 
• Production in peat free grower 
• Inspirational Business of the year 
• Staff Member of the year 

The winners will be announced during the HTA Autumn Conference on the 5th of October 2023 at the ICC in Birmingham. Award recipients will be automatically enrolled in the AIPH International Grower of the Year Awards in 2023.  

Nomination forms can be submitted online at https://hta.org.uk/goty  

The deadline for entries is 14th July 2023.  

Following last year’s success, Gedney have signed up once more to exhibit at the Four Oaks Trade Show to be held in Cheshire, 5 & 6 September 2023. 

It was an absolute breath of fresh air to attend the 2022 show and catch up with so many friends we hadn’t seen for so long due to the covid19 pandemic. Our stands are always packed with colourful Alpines and Perennials, as well as a large selection of dry summer bulbs, creating a buzz around us that rarely dies down throughout the 2 days. Lots of putting the world to rights with existing customers and proudly explaining our great range to potential new ones.

"We’ve chosen to exhibit again at the 2023 Four Oaks Trade Show where once again we will have an exciting range of colourful plants and spring bulbs on display. See our website for a preview of the great range of extras we offer, from bespoke colourful pot labels, to eye catching correx POS. We are still only 1 trolley minimum order for free delivery throughout England & Wales."

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

The Yorkshire Garden Centres group has announced that Yorkshire Air Ambulance will be its Charity of the Year for 2023 following a unanimous team vote.

Through a series of fund-raising events and collection boxes at the tills, the teams at Yorkshire Garden Centres' four sites at Tong, Tingley, Otley and Bingley hope to raise £19,000 for the independent charity that relies solely on the donations of individuals and organisations to provide its lifesaving rapid response emergency service to five million people throughout Yorkshire.

The Charity of the Year fundraising is managed by a committee led by the People and Culture team. YGC's People and Culture Business Partner - Sustainability Lead, Steph Bates said: "Yorkshire Air Ambulance was one of four charities that were nominated and voted on by our team and we're looking forward to helping them to raise the £19,000 it takes to keep the charity operational for just one day. The remaining three charities will each receive £150 from our Kindness Pot which supports good causes close to our team's hearts."

Plans to raise the funds include a team virtual sponsored walk that is the equivalent of walking 25,000 miles around the world, a 12k mud run, a skydive, raffles, bake-off competitions and collections. The fundraising kicked off with the team supporting the charity's Yellow Yorkshire campaign which runs during April and celebrates the life-saving work carried out by the emergency service.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance's regional fundraiser for West Yorkshire, Helen Berriman is delighted with YGC's support: "Thank you so much to everyone at Yorkshire Garden Centres for choosing Yorkshire Air Ambulance as your charity of the year. Every year we need substantial funds to keep our two helicopters maintained and flying, and without businesses like yours raising money, we simply wouldn't be here to provide the vital support that is needed in the event of an emergency. With everything the team has planned, it's going to be an amazing year of fundraising!"

To contribute to Yorkshire Garden Centres' fundraising, please visit https://bit.ly/YGCCharity

Since Tong Garden Centre was acquired in 2015, the team and supporters have raised over £62,500 for charity. Previous beneficiaries of the Charity of the Year initiative include Forget Me Not children's hospice, Luke's Lads, Butterflies Mental Health, The Cellar Trust, Candlelighters and National Literacy Trust. In addition, the team has supported hundreds of smaller charities in the local community.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance was set up in 2000 and, with the addition of the second air ambulance in 2007, now operates its own Dedicated Air Desk for rapid dispatch of helicopters to an incident. Swift medical interventions have a major impact on a patient's chance of survival and subsequent quality of life. On average, dispatch time is around two to three minutes and patients are transferred to the nearest major trauma centre, flying at speeds of up to 160 mph.

Tong Garden Centre was joined by sister centre, Tingley Garden Centre in late 2022 and the Yorkshire Garden Centres group was established after the acquisition of the former Stephen H Smith's sites at Otley and Harden, Bingley.

The Royal Horticultural Society has announced its second collaboration with Sofas & Stuff Ltd, a creator of beautiful British bespoke sofas, chairs, beds, footstools and more.

The partnership will see a new set of RHS-inspired designs adapted for fabrics that can be used across any of the Sofas & Stuff range of British handmade bespoke sofas, chairs, beds, footstools, and cushions – or purchased as fabrics for curtains and blinds or other soft furnishing projects.

The RHS 23 Fabric Collection is again based on the extraordinary range of assets available to RHS licensees from the RHS Lindley Collections, the world’s finest collection of botanical art. This time, however, it takes much of its inspiration from one extraordinary source: the ‘Designs for Carving’ scrapbook, by the renowned artist, gardener, garden designer and craftswoman Gertrude Jekyll. This amazing work contains sketches of gardening subjects and architectural features spanning 45 years of the life of this brilliant and influential figure.

For the fabrics, seven Gertrude Jekyll designs have each been produced in 10 contemporary colourways: red, navy, blue, duck egg, green, olive, terracotta, gold, natural and brown. Individually distinctive, they also work wonderfully together as a collection from which to mix and match prints.

There is also a new collage design, a richly illustrated botanical print drawing on the flower paintings of 19th century English artist Caroline Maria Applebee. Artfully collated, and printed on a natural-toned base, the Caroline Maria Applebee Collage features pops of colour, with the reds, warm pinks and purples of different flowers united by deep leafy greens.

The RHS 23 Fabric Collection will launch at the Soane House Installation, Stand 615, at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show between the 22^nd and the 27^th of May 2023. It will then be available to purchase exclusively through Sofas & Stuff, both in store at the company’s 23 showrooms across England and Scotland and online. 

The core demographic for this Sofas & Stuff range is homeowners in general and lovers of fine British craftsmanship in particular. To this can be added the many supporters of the RHS and buyers of always high-quality RHS licensed products.

The 2023 line follows the success of the RHS 22 Fabric Collection, which was nominated for Best Brand Licensed Home Décor Product or Range at the 2023 Brand & Lifestyle Licensing Awards (the B&LLAs).

Sofas & Stuff was chosen by the RHS not just for the durability, quality and British craftsmanship essential to its output but also for its strong sustainability credentials. The company is committed to creating and promoting eco-friendly furniture; this includes sustainable sofas and fabrics and cushions made from recycled plastic.

Sofas & Stuff is a family-run business based out of Fittleworth in West Sussex. Its focus on quality British craftsmanship in the design of its stunning bespoke pieces has made it a nationwide brand; all of the company’s handcrafted sofas, beds and chairs are made to order in Britain.

Andrew Cussins, Founder of Sofas & Stuff, says: “The success of the RHS 22 Fabric Collection has inspired us once again to adapt for our fabrics some of the extraordinary botanical art the RHS makes available to its licensees. Gertrude Jekyll’s position as one of the most influential and admired of garden designers has made her a wonderful choice for this new collaboration, which we are sure will again be enthusiastically received by both homeowners and lovers of fine British craftsmanship.”

Cathy Snow, Licensing Manager, RHS, adds: “The combination of great gardening art and design with the skill and commitment to excellence of the Sofas & Stuff craftspeople has again produced some glorious and unique fabric designs. The fine quality and stunning fabrics that lie at the very heart of Sofas & Stuff’s work have yet again taken inspiration from RHS Lindley Collections art to extraordinary effect.”

As AMES UK continues unequivocally on its mission to become the trusted authority on everything outdoors, it has continued to invest in two key appointments within its product team to place innovation and bestselling lines at the fore for all its brands including Kelkay, La Hacienda and Apta.

Joining the team are Kim Huynh and Becki Allon, who’s combined previous experience includes playing an integral part in the launch of a tool brand, as well as working within garden décor and building supplies with a focus on paving and aggregates. This ‘insider knowledge’ will give the team a real edge and a truer understanding of how AMES-represented product categories sit within the current marketplace.

AMES UK also welcomed Roy McKay as Quality & Technical manager in July last year.  Roy is a highly experienced Quality professional who has implemented robust quality procedures within the business in the short time he has been part of the team.  All suppliers are fully audited to ISO9001:2015 Standard, ethically audited to BSCI/Sedex accreditation, and stringent specification and pre-shipments are in place for all suppliers, ensuring the highest level of quality for all of the brands within AMES portfolio.

Together, the Product and Quality teams are responsible for improving and developing all AMES product offerings, including introducing exciting new ‘AMES exclusives’ across Kelkay, Apta and La Hacienda portfolios, including many ringfenced exclusively for garden centre customers.

The team will also be working hard behind the scenes to put the final touches to a new venture for AMES UK. Details are firmly under wraps until Glee, but rest assured that this exciting diversification will further cement AMES’ role as the garden retail sector’s ‘supplier of choice’.

Nick Jones, Commercial Director at AMES UK said: “The appointment of Kim and Becki, and our investment in Quality with Roy, is the definition of ‘dream team’. Their experience, knowledge and passion will work together to ensure that our product offering is not just the best out there but will also work to strengthen bestselling lines, ensure product quality, and create longevity for our family of brands.”

Find out more

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

GTN Bestsellers garden centre Epos data analysis of volume sales over the Easter fortnight reveals that total volume sales were 11% down on Easter 2022 but 4% up on Easter 2019 and 44% up on Easter 2018 when we experienced the “Beast from the East.”

Within those total sales volumes, plant sales were down on Easter 2022 and 2019 by 21% and 15%, but up on 2018 by 45%.

The problem with comparing Easter sales is that it moves around so much; from late March in 2018 to the end of April in 2019. As Easter this year was one week earlier than in 2022 we won’t be able to see a true year on year trading comparison.

The current year to date GTN Bestsellers All Products Index, at the end of week ending Sunday 16^th April 2023 is down 1.7% on 2022 but up 19% vs 2019.  That fits well with reports that footfall and restaurant sales have been good.  The cold and wet weather has, however had a bigger effect on plant sales.

To date plant sales volumes are running at 11.6% down on 2022.  Thankfully this year’s weather has not been as bad as 2018; the GTN Bestsellers All Plants index is currently 43% higher than 2018.

Those with good memories and records will recall that even after the disastrous Spring of 2018, sales volumes recovered to be 8% up on 2017 by the year end for All Plants and only 1% down on 2017 for All Products Sales volumes.

As can be seen from the week by week All Products Index tracking, below, this years sales are moving in the right direction but there are some big weeks to be hit.  Let’s hope that current cold snap really is that last and that summer can start properly in time for the Coronation weekend and all the opportunities that brings.

With the long May bank holiday in mind, here is the current Top 10 Coronation Bestsellers in garden centres:

See photos of Coronation displays we saw at St Peters in Worcester and at Cooks Stourport last week.  Please send us photos of your Coronation displays and sales ideas so we can add them to GTN Xtra: e-mail to trevor@pottingshedpress.co.uk

Squires’s Garden Centres continues to invest and looks ahead with positivity as the group filed its annual accounts for the year ending 31 July 2022 with Companies House.

Squire’s has reported a good performance for 2022, well above pre pandemic levels. The year was never going to match the record results of 2021, and the company’s budgets and aspirations reflected this. Sales dropped 2% overall to £68.2m (2021: £69.5m).  Within that total, Garden Centre sales dropped by 9% to £59.9m (2021: £65.8m), while Restaurant sales more than doubled to £8.3m (2021: £3.7m). Profit before tax dropped to £4.0m (2021: £7.9m) (underlying, adjusted).

Demand for plants and horticultural products remained at above pre-Covid levels in FY2022, as gardening and outdoor living in general remained popular.  However, like other operators, Squire’s experienced supply challenges in many categories, resulting in higher stock levels than usual at the year end. In the current year the supply chain has recovered, and stocks are returning to more normal levels.

Restaurants were open throughout the year, unlike the previous year, hence the large sales increase in that part of the business. Post year end cost price increases and challenges in the labour market remain influential.  Customer numbers at Squire’s Garden Centres dropped by 3% while in the restaurants they rose by 130%.  

Squire’s new e-commerce offering recorded sales of nearly £1m in its first full year. The company remains pleased with the steady development of this channel.

During the year Squire’s continued to invest, notably in the Wokingham garden centre, which was acquired in 2019. In January 2023 Squire’s acquired a longstanding supplier to the group, Barnsfold Nurseries, which grows superb bedding plants on the Sussex/Surrey borders. The synergy between the two companies and their shared values makes this a very exciting relationship for the future. The capital expenditure programme in the garden centres for 2023 will focus on more moderate improvements across a number of centres rather than one large project, including a number of investments aimed at carbon and energy cost reduction.  We look forward to continuing to work on our sustainability programme and remain committed to our charitable and community involvement.

Sarah Squire, Chairman, comments: “As we move forward into the post Covid world, I am pleased with the set of results we have posted again this year. Once again, I am full of admiration for my amazing colleagues, in our Centres and in Group Office, who worked so tirelessly in a constantly changing landscape throughout FY2022.

“Experience teaches us that the weather is still likely to have the greatest effect on our results for 2023. The view ahead of us may be an unpalatable combination of war; energy cost increases; stubborn inflation; wage pressures; higher interest rates; and volatile consumer confidence. However, despite all this, we believe we are well-placed to withstand the storms around us. We will continue to champion plants and gardening and work hard to maintain standards and give our customers the best service we are able. This means we can view the future with confidence."

Forest Garden has been honoured with the first ever King’s Award for Enterprise – for Innovation. The highest and most prestigious award possible for UK businesses.
 
Forest Garden received the honour in recognition of a world-leading fully automated manufacturing process they created for fence panels, which cuts production time by 70%.
 
Forest Garden CEO, Guy Grainger, said: “Whilst innovating the manufacture of fence panels may not seem particularly exciting, in our sector it has been nothing short of revolutionary.
 
“To have successfully introduced a new panel suitable for automation into our market, alongside replacing a traditional manufacturing process with ground-breaking high-speed automation, are achievements of which we are particularly proud.”
 
By fully automating the manufacturing process, the company has reduced panel production time by almost 70%, improved production margins, and enabled their UK-sourced and manufactured products to compete with imports.
 
Automation has also delivered a more uniform, quality product and increased the business’s ability to meet storm-driven surges in fencing demand.
 
Founded in 1974 Forest Garden, which employs over 500 people, manufacture and distribute wooden buildings, fencing and structures for residential and agricultural gardens.
 
Using only sustainable British timber, Forest Garden are part of the Forest Garden Group whose operations across Worcestershire and Scotland include sawmills and manufacturing plants.
 
Forest Garden are one of 148 organisations nationally to be recognised with a prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise. Announced today (Friday 21 April), Forest Garden has been recognised for its excellence in Innovation.
 
The King’s Awards for Enterprise are the most prestigious business awards in the UK. The awards were first established in 1965 and since then over 7,000 companies have achieved a King’s Award.
 
2023 marks the first year of The King’s Awards for Enterprise, reflecting His Majesty The King’s desire to continue the legacy of HM Queen Elizabeth II by recognising outstanding UK businesses. The awards celebrate the success of exciting and innovative businesses which are leading the way with pioneering products or services, delivering impressive social mobility programmes, or showing their commitment to excellent sustainable development practices.

Image above shows factory workers, team leaders and managers at Forest Garden's manufacturing facility.in Worcestershire.

Garden Centre Association members are being invited to nominate staff for the organisation’s 2023 Rising Stars programme sponsored by Westland Horticulture.

The GCA is requesting nominations by May 14, 2023.

Peter Burks, GCA Chief Executive, says: “We’re delighted to announce that the application process for our 2023-24 Rising Stars programme is now open and that Westland Horticulture is once again supporting and backing this exciting initiative.

“The Rising Stars programme is a fantastic opportunity for anyone nominated, as they’ll be able to develop their skills, while being mentored by experts in the gardening industry. It’s like no other training they are likely to receive and everything they learn will be brought back and used at the garden centre where they work, to the benefit of everyone.

“If garden centres feel they have a team member who they feel is a ‘rising star’ within their organisation, they need to put them forward today.”

Each candidate should, in the nominator’s opinion, be a rising star, or have the potential to be one. They should have a passion or desire to contribute to this year’s programme’s key topic, which is the environment and sustainability.

They should hold a position below management level and also be available to attend a series of virtual and face-to-face workshops throughout the year.

They need to have access to financial data too, including sales and cost prices, be able to demonstrate a drive and commitment that shows they wish to be developed, and have sales ideas for growing an area of the business in a sustainable or environmental manner.

Applications, which are available from info@gca.org.uk, should be completed and sent to laura@gca.org.uk before Sunday, May 14, 2023.

Peter adds: “The best performing finalists will be asked to the final workshops in the series and will then be invited to attend our annual conference in January 2024, where they will present their project idea and how it has progressed to the attendees. Delegates will then vote for a winner. GCA Inspector and Rising Stars programme mentor, Gordon Emslie will provide coaching in presentation skills in advance of the conference.”

The GCA represents more than 200 garden centres nationwide.

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

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

Ahead of King Charles III’s early summer coronation, David Austin Roses shares its commemorative collection of seven garden roses. Composed of seven English shrub roses, there’s a royal story behind each and every stem…

"There is something in the act of planting a rose in your garden to honour this moment in history that we find particularly reflective. Perhaps it’s the metaphor of putting down roots, the promise of growth and the hope of bloom and glory. Whichever regal rose speaks to you most, bedding it into your garden this May is the perfect time for it to establish, ready to flower come summertime."

THE CORONATION COLLECTION BY DAVID AUSTIN ROSES

1. ROYAL JUBILEE (Auspaddle)

Named for: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for her Diamond Jubilee 

Introduced in: 2012

Character notes: chalice-shaped blooms in a deep pink with paler pink undersides and a rich, fruity fragrance

2. ELIZABETH® (Ausmajesty) 

Named for: the late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, in her memory

Introduced in: 2022

Character notes: large apple blossom pink rosettes surrounded by petals in blush white and a sweet scent of lemon sherbet and Old Rose.

3. PRINCESS ALEXANDRA OF KENT® (Ausmerchant) 

Named for: Princess Alexandra, cousin to Queen Elizabeth II and both a keen gardener and great lover of roses

Introduced in: 2007

Character notes: unusually large bright pink flowers wot a fresh Tea fragrance that evolves into lemon with hints of blackcurrants

4. WILLIAM AND CATHERINE (Ausrapper)

Named for: the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their wedding day

Introduced in: 2011

Character notes: shallow cups of white, full-petalled blooms with a pure myrrh scent

5. ENGLAND’S ROSE (Auslounge) 

Named for: in recognition for the birthplace of the English Rose

Introduced in: 2010

Character notes: glowing pink petals with a button eye and spicy Old Rose fragrance

6. ANNE BOLEYN (Ausecret)

Named for: the second of Henry VIII’s six wives

Introduced in: 1999

Character notes: sprays of cupped rosette blooms in a pretty mid-pink tone

7. PRINCESS ANNE® (Auskitchen)

Named for: Her Royal Highness, the Princess Royal

Introduced in: 2010

Character notes: large and fragrant rich pink clusters with thick and polished foliage

For further detail on the Coronation Collection, click here

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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