The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has just released its August Market Update report showing a prevailing narrative for 2023 that despite erratic weather patterns and economic fluctuation, the garden retail sector continues to demonstrate unwavering strength to perform well with a variety of consumer offerings.

Fran Barnes, Chief Executive of the HTA, commented:

"Sales in July have shown resilience amidst the unpredictable weather and economic changes of 2023. Overall, garden centre sales held steady, maintaining parity with the same period in 2022. A strong footfall of customers resulted in a notable uptick in transactions, up by +10% compared to July 2022 and +5% versus July 2021. However, it's worth noting that the contents of baskets reflected lower-value items, leading to an average transaction value decline of -8%. The decline in demand for garden furniture, from 15% of total sales in July 2022 to 10% this July, wasn't unexpected. This shift can be attributed to adverse weather impacts on outdoor leisure sales and the increased discounting strategies aimed at clearing excess stock. But we can also see that the palpable financial strain experienced by consumers is evident. The escalating cost-of-living crisis continues to prompt individuals to tighten their belts and actively seek savings amidst escalating expenses. July's Consumer Confidence Index published by GfK witnessed a significant dip of -6 points to settle at -30.

"Responding to these challenges, garden centres are maximising their consumer offerings, which has played a pivotal role in our members’ success this month. Non-garden/gardening categories surged by +18% year-on-year, fuelled by the vibrant activity of cafes and restaurants. This is reflected in the average transaction values, with catering sales soaring by +9% to £10.76. Additionally, the pet category demonstrated strong performance, surging by +21% as customers added toys and treats to their baskets. Meanwhile, the food & farm shop category grew by +13%, and wild bird care experienced a +10% increase compared to last July. I am also encouraged by the robust performance of plant sales, even in the face of a -9% dip in garden/gardening sales compared to July 2022.  I’m certain that this variety within garden centres, as well as the belated gardening season, has contributed to maintaining a +1% year-to-date sales footing from June."

The monthly Market Updates also report on inflation rates. Over the 12 months leading up to July 2023, notable inflation rates were observed in the prices garden centre customers paid for weedkillers, plastic pots, and BBQs & heating, driven by escalating input and ingredient costs. Growing media experienced a 6% price hike, responding to heightened manufacturing expenses and the potential 2024 retail peat ban.

The HTA Market Updates are an indispensable tool for members, offering insights into their positioning amidst the membership and identifying areas of resilience, challenges, and opportunities.

The full report is available to HTA members on the association's website.

As a business, the Working At Height Regulations dictate that it is a legal requirement for garden centre managers to protect the safety of their staff and the general public by supplying ladders that are suitable for the work to be performed.

In fact, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and The Ladder Association recommend that employers only use ladders that are independently certified to the current UK and European ladder safety standard, EN131, by a recognised and accredited certification organisation, such as BSI or TUV.

For employees working in a bustling garden centre, there are all manner of tasks to be carried out that may require working at height, whether it is keeping the grounds tidy, tending to plants, organising stockrooms or replenishing shelves. 

Often, though, the quality of the ladders provided can be overlooked by garden centre owners, assuming that any standard ladder will be sufficient and sturdy enough to keep their team safe.

Luckily, leading ladder specialist, Henchman, is proud to be leading the way in workplace ladder safety and has proven popular with garden centre retails for many years. Its Fully Adjustable Tripod Ladders are the only EN131-certified and BSI kitemarked tripod ladders on the market. 

Ranging from 5ft through to 16ft, each leg is independently adjustable to accommodate substantial sloping, uneven earth, and steps, and they offer a generous platform surface, so that working hands-free is no problem. This means staff can complete the task at hand in a safe, comfortable and enjoyable working environment. 

Prices start from £299 for the Fully Adjustable Tripod Ladder and from £399 for the Fully Adjustable Tripod Ladder PRO.

For more information visit www.henchman.co.uk

Data released by the Horticultural Trades Association shows clear consequences that accelerating a ban from 2030 to 2026 on UK tree and plant growers using peat will have significant environmental and economic impacts. 

The reduced timescale will more than halve the number of growing seasons to complete extensive trialling to changes in crop production techniques leading to counterproductive outcomes contrary to the Government's Environmental Improvement Plan.

HTA members' insights already show that a fast-tracked peat ban could lead to a shortage of 100 million plants and trees immediately following the ban's enforcement. This scarcity will have knock-on effects on green spaces, gardens, and streets across the UK, impacting the country's natural landscapes. Furthermore, one in three suppliers to amenity customers, including public green spaces, expect disruptions or withdrawals from supply agreements and contracts. Garden centres also anticipate gaps in product availability by 2027.

Now, an economic study commissioned by the HTA from independent economists at Oxford Economics indicates that expediting the ban to 2026 would lead to a staggering £541 million reduction in Gross Value Added (GVA) and a £124 million decline in tax revenues. Moreover, it could potentially result in the loss of 12,000 jobs.

This news comes as we approach the one-year mark since the Government published the response to the consultation on peat sales for horticultural use.

James Barnes, Chairman of the HTA, representing garden centres, nurseries, landscapers and manufacturers, explains the key findings: “The HTA is advocating for a rational and balanced course rather than a delay. This fresh economic analysis, coupled with our impact assessment, reinstates what we have already been saying: a rushed timetable for a ban on the UK's professional tree and plant growers will result in a worse economic and environmental outcome than maintaining the original proposed date of 2030.

“It is clear that the environmental loss far outweighs the carbon savings benefit of advancing the peat removal timeline to 2026. The study underscores the need for a balanced and measured approach to ensure optimal environmental outcomes without penalising an industry already committed to transitioning from peat.

“While peat use in bagged compost for individual gardens has significantly decreased to 16.8% and is on course to be completely phased out by the end of 2024, the transition for professional nurseries producing a wide array of trees and plants is more intricate. An exemption for all UK tree and plant growers from the peat ban until 2030 would allow sufficient time for necessary trials, seamless transitions to peat-free alternatives, and proper consideration of imports without compromising plant and tree health. Our members are already well on the journey, successfully reducing the professional use of peat to below 50% volume of previous levels and on a clear steep downward trajectory.  

“The complexities of finding suitable peat-free alternatives for different plants and crops, with varying irrigation methods and nutrient strategies required, is not to be underestimated. Quality and consistency also remain barriers, further exacerbated by incentives for energy companies for biomass energy generation, which puts pressure on supplies of wood-based materials available for growing media.”

The National Trust and Blue Diamond Garden Centres are giving 10 lucky people the chance to be a custodian of one of the most significant trees in scientific history.

Ten saplings propagated from the apple tree that inspired Sir Isaac Newton’s theory of gravity are being auctioned off to raise money for the future care of Sir Isaac’s birthplace, and the location of the tree where he saw the apple fall; Woolsthorpe Manor in Lincolnshire.

Now cared for by the National Trust, this country cottage is visited by thousands of people a year, wishing to see the spot where one of the greatest scientific discoveries took place.

To mark their collaboration with the National Trust, Blue Diamond are offering ten saplings from the tree to the public for the first time. Those interested in caring for a piece of living history, will be able to enter a public auction opening on the 4 September 2023.

The auction will be run via the Blue Diamond website and will be open until the 29 September 2023. The ten highest individual bidders will become custodians responsible for supporting the future survival of the Newton tree.  

The auction format is as follows:

• Auction will be live from 9am Monday 4 September 2023 until 8pm 29 September 2023, via bluediamond.gg/newtons-apple-tree
• The reserve for each tree is set at £500. 
• The auction site will show the ten current highest bids, so to enable bidders to decide if they want to increase their original bid or to bid to ensure that their bid is one of the top ten highest bids.
• One tree per individual, therefore the ten individuals with the ten highest bids will secure one of the ten saplings. 
• Blue Diamond have pledged that they will donate up to 50% of proceeds raised from the auction, to the National Trust and Woolsthorpe Manor, dependent on the final sums raised.
• The ten winners will be presented with their sapling at a special event on 21 October 2023 at Woolsthorpe Manor.
• The winners with be presented with their sapling and a commemorative photograph of this presentation.
• In addition to the tree, winners will also be presented with a commemorative stake, planting kit, plaque and framed certificate of authenticity.

Andy Jasper, Director of Gardens and Parkland for the National Trust commented “This really is a tree with gravitas and we’re delighted that 10 lucky people / or organisations will be able join us in looking after this unique piece of living horticultural heritage that continues to inspire new thought. 

Whether someone is a passionate horticulturist, a science lover, or they’ve joined together with their local community to buy something truly special for the benefit of their neighbourhood, we hope these saplings will grow to still be around in 400 years’ time.”

Alan Roper, Managing Director for Blue Diamond Garden Centres, adds “This is a unique and rare opportunity to become a custodian of such an important and historical piece of our heritage. Blue Diamond Garden Centres want to be able to donate a substantial sum to the National Trust from the total amount raised through the auction and I hope that we can succeed in achieving this.”

This really is a once in a 350-year opportunity to secure the legacy Sir Isaac Newton created, for future generations. 

The team at a garden centre in Otley is broadening its family appeal by introducing its popular Santa experience for the first time.

Otley Garden Centre, formerly Stephen H Smith's, was acquired by Yorkshire Garden Centres in July last year and the team is looking forward to bringing its popular interactive grotto experience to Otley.

"We're excited to bring our interactive Santa experience to our new centre at Otley. We always sell out at Tong, with visitors saying how much they love our unique grotto concept with professional performers who take them on a magical journey" said Andy Bradley, Centre Manager.

"Storytelling as they go, the performers lead visitors through the festive forest as the Christmas elves share how Santa's robins make sure all the letters are sorted in time to make wishes come true! Then it's on to Santa's grotto to meet Father Christmas and choose a gift from his toyshop."

Santa's Grotto at Otley opens on 25th November. Tickets go on sale on 30th August and cost £20.95 per child and free for up to two accompanying adults.

Otley Garden Centre is part of the Yorkshire Garden Centres family with Tong, Tingley and Bingley Garden Centres.

July's Garden Centre Association’s Barometer of Trade figures have been released and show that the organisation’s members continued to perform well – despite the weather being against them.

The GCA also recorded a positive year-to-date variance of +1.03% and member garden centres saw an uplift in nine of the 13 BoT categories.

Chief Executive of the GCA, Peter Burks, says: “Sales in July held up remarkably well considering the very dull and wet weather we had to endure. This was greatly helped by catering yet again, the biggest single category this month by some distance, at +30.35%, and supported by plant sales, both indoor, +12.55%, and outdoor, +11.1%.

“The huge drop off in furniture and BBQ sales, -40.9%, was not surprising, but was certainly most unhelpful given the stock everyone is trying to clear.”

Food hall/farm shop was up 14.39% and the seeds & bulbs category was also up 11.88%. Pets & aquatics leapt up by 4.15% and gifts by 8.24% when compared to July 2022.

Clothing fell by -1.01, hard landscaping to -10.77% and garden sundries down to -8.85%.

The GCA BoT reports are compiled using actual sales figures and provide an up-to-date trading position statement. They are made available mid-month following the end of the prior month after all member garden centres have submitted their results.

The BoT reports allow members to compare their trading positions with other centres.

A tougher economic environment with inflation rising above 10% and energy costs escalating significantly during the year led to a more challenging trading year at Notcutts.

The well documented increase in energy costs and wider cost of living crisis impacted consumer confidence and this, coupled with adverse weather conditions across the spring and summer gardening seasons, inevitably impacted sales and profit in the year.

Notcutts acquired the freehold of Brampton Garden Centre (formerly Frosts) on 1st August 2022 to bring the number of garden centres in the group to 19.

Nick Burrows, Chief Executive said: “The integration of Brampton into Notcutts has gone smoothly and we are very pleased with this acquisition.”

Notcutts like-for-like turnover (excluding the Brampton Garden Centre) at £73.5m was 7.7% down on the previous year. Total turnover was £75.6m. Lower sales, a reduction in margin levels in some categories and significant external cost pressures meant that operating profits fell to £0.5m in the year.

Commenting on these results, Nick Burrows, Chief Executive said: “Following several years of robust trading we believe we are well placed to withstand the current economic challenges. Our horticultural heritage and foundations are strong and we continue to provide an expanding, attractive gardening and leisure proposition that our customers rate highly – as seen with our highest ever customer satisfaction (NPS) scores in the year. We expect trading to rebound well as economic conditions improve.”

Nick Burrows added: “We plan to maintain our focus on developing our garden centre portfolio to support the ongoing profitability of the business. This will include the completion of a project to restore the beautiful Messenger glasshouses at our Dukeries garden centre near Worksop, and the next phases of redevelopment projects in Oxford and Woodbridge. New investments are also planned in renewable energy including solar and EV charging installations, where we have collaborations with Push Energy and Osprey, as part of our extensive programme of initiatives to deliver carbon reduction goals.”

Caroline Notcutt, Vice Chairman talked of the importance that Notcutts places on a positive company culture, particularly at a time of tougher trading conditions. “We see engagement with colleagues at all levels within the business as a high priority, and we achieve this through a variety of means. These include surveys, listening groups, meetings and conferences, newsletters and regular visits by senior leaders to garden centres.”

Caroline Notcutt added: “A programme of monthly and annual awards allow us to recognise and celebrate the achievements of colleagues and these are featured in our regular internal newsletter. An increasing range of online training and development resources now supplement in person training and are at the heart of our approach to leadership and personal development for colleagues. I am particularly pleased with our comprehensive new programme of training and development in horticultural skills and leadership.”

Bridget McIntyre, Chairman, Notcutts, explained: “Our garden centres and support office work closely with our local communities supporting various charities and schools. We are into the second year of our collaboration with an innovative charity organisation, The Green Light Trust, whose mission is to ensure everyone has equitable access to the power of nature. They support people of all ages, who are often the most vulnerable in our communities, through organised outdoor activities in woodlands and green spaces. Alongside this we have forged strong partnerships with a number of external organisations to ensure a range of wellbeing services are in place for our colleagues should they need to draw on such support.”

Turning to Notcutts environmental strategy, Nick Burrows commented: “We have a clear policy and set of goals on biodiversity, sustainability and the environment which detail the steps we are taking to make progress in these areas. We are aligned to both the HTA and BRC roadmaps. Carbon reduction targets have been established across a range of areas within the business.”

Burrows added: “We have introduced additional programmes to reduce waste, mains water usage and energy consumption. We are now achieving an average monthly reduction in our electricity and gas usage of 15% which will help us save 388 tonnes of CO2 emissions in the coming year. Last year, working with Veolia, we achieved a 15% reduction in mixed waste (non-recyclable) which will help save 16.5 tonnes of CO2 emissions in the coming year. These are just two examples of the types of carbon reduction initiatives we have across many areas of our business where, in collaboration with Planet Mark, we have identified specific targets for carbon reductions. Our focus on biodiversity is also continuing and we are introducing new green spaces in all our garden centres for customers and colleagues to enjoy and where animals, birds and insects can thrive.”

For more information visit www.notcutts.co.uk

"Responsible Gardens" is the key theme of spoga+gafa 2024, the largest garden and BBQ trade fair in the world. In Cologne from 16 to 18 June 2024, the global garden lifestyle and BBQ industry will be focusing on the responsibility it bears regarding the current and future challenges and their solutions relating to the role the garden plays in society. Together with the green industry, spoga+gafa will place the centre of attention on the different levels of responsible behaviour in and around private green spaces from the points of view of the manufacturers, suppliers and consumers. 

"The focus of the topic is the responsibility the green industry bears regarding the role the garden plays in society. Together with our exhibitors and visitors, spoga+gafa will find the answers to these questions," explained Stefan Lohrberg, Director of spoga+gafa.

Resource-saving gardening, fairly produced garden products, low-emission BBQ technologies, climate-friendly garden care and irrigation, but also a responsible rapport between garden owners will be especially emphasised at spoga+gafa 2024 and the relevance of the topic will be presented and discussed in various formats. Stefan Lohrberg: "The more responsibly we treat private green spaces, the more social and personally-relevant our gardens, balconies and terraces will become. That is our to-do list for the coming years." 

spoga+gafa has already been staged under an overriding key topic that takes the current industry developments and socially-relevant topics into account every year since 2017. The key theme additionally creates a coherent experience for the exhibitors and visitors and thus an increased identification with spoga+gafa.

Already ten months before the start of the next event it is still apparent just how significant the largest garden and BBQ trade fair is for the gardening industry. In August 2023 spoga+gafa is recording a significant increase in the number of exhibitors compared to the previous events. Interested companies can still secure their participation at spoga+gafa 2024 at special conditions until 31.08.2023. 

Koelnmesse – Global Inspiration for Living, Contract and Public Spaces

Koelnmesse is the world’s top trade fair organiser for the areas of Living, Contract and Public Spaces.
At the trade fair hub of Cologne, in addition to imm cologne and interzum, other trade fair formats such as LivingKitchen, ORGATEC, spoga+gafa, FSB and aquanale are among the internationally renowned and established industry meeting places. These fairs comprehensively represent the interior and design segment, the furniture and interior construction industries' supplying sections, the kitchen world, all topics for the modern working world, garden lifestyle as well as public space, sports and leisure facilities and also sauna, pool and ambiente.

In addition to the events in Cologne, Koelnmesse is strategically expanding its portfolio in key growth markets around the globe like with the successful shows ORGATEC TOKYO in Japan, interzum bogota in Colombia and interzum guangzhou in China.
Further information can be found as well here: www.imm-cologne.com/trade-fair/interzum-home/industry-sectors or here www.orgatec.com/trade-fair/orgatec-2024/industry-trade-fairs/.
Further information: https://www.spogagafa.com/trade-fair/spoga-gafa/industry-trade-fairs/

The next events:

FSB - International Trade Fair for Public Space, Sports and Leisure Facilities, Cologne 24.10. - 27.10.2023
imm cologne - The interior business event, Cologne 14.01. - 18.01.2024
ORGATEC TOKYO - SHIFT DESIGN - The leading international trade fair in Asia for the modern workspaces, Tokyo 29.05. - 31.05.2024

Retailers who attended Glee 2023 may have noticed that one stand in particular was busier than ever and packed with visitors for the full duration of the show. As one of the most well-established and popular suppliers of plant accessories in Britain, Ivyline enjoyed its best-ever show this year, as its efforts to elevate the plant accessories category bore abundant fruit.

Renowned for supplying houseplant pots and outdoor planters to home stores and garden centres around the UK, Ivyline’s talented inhouse design team understands how to bring the hottest emerging trends into hard-working retail environments. The company is also making great strides in the Christmas category, helping to expand this prime market with inspired home décor and Advent accessories that are guaranteed to bring joy to your customers in the festive season.

Many lines are handmade or hand-finished in Europe from recycled and other sustainable materials – including jute, rattan, seagrass and recycled glass – Ivyline’s high ethical standards are evident in the quality of craftsmanship and functional beauty of its products.

If you were unable to attend Glee this year or couldn’t fight your way onto the Ivyline stand, retailers are invited to view the full collection at the company’s showroom at Stoneleigh Park in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, where the latest design-led ranges for home and garden are on display. 

Inside the Showroom

Taking pride of place is the Lifestyle Garden collection of plant supports, cloches and other grow-your-own accessories, alongside the Kew Gardens licensed range and a spectacular Spring/Summer 2024 display of indoor and outdoor planters. 

With gardening the pastime of choice for increasing numbers of Brits, Lifestyle Garden offers a way for aspirational consumers to get their hands in the soil and grow wonderful fruits and vegetables close to home without resorting to unsustainable plastic supports and other unsightly equipment. 

Launched for the 2023 season, this luxurious GYO range is back by popular demand for 2024 with new line extensions.

Incorporating lovingly crafted plant supports, two different cloche designs in large and small sizes, circular and conical hanging baskets, sturdy plant supports and four stylish trellis designs, this beautifully handmade collection is displayed to full advantage in the Ivyline showroom. See for yourself how fabulous the full merchandise range looks instore, where it will not only tempt discerning shoppers but also offers fabulous gift solutions for gardeners.

In stock and ready for delivery in double quick time, Lifestyle Garden is supported with bespoke PoS units and materials that will inspire and facilitate even more amateur growing on British soil. Items in the range are constructed out of frost resistant zinc and rustic bronze, all with a two-year guarantee. (RRP from £34.99 - £59.99).

Centrally located in a beautiful part of the country that’s easily accessible by road, the showroom offers a great opportunity for retailers who wish to browse Ivyline’s latest collections at their leisure and understand how to display coordinated merchandise to maximum advantage. 

The showroom is open Mon-Thurs 8am – 5pm, Fri 8am – 3pm and all visitors are treated to a complementary lunch. To book your visit or request a brochure email: marketing@ivylinegb.co.uk or call 024 7633 9180.

To find out more about the Ivyline difference visit www.ivylinegb.co.uk.

It’s just a matter of days until the BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair, in association with English Heritage, opens at the majestic setting of Audley End House and Gardens, Saffron Walden (Friday 1 – Sunday 3 September 2023). The event marks the start of autumn with seasonal garden inspiration, expert tips and advice, fun workshops, and plants to browse and buy.

Stunning Showcase Gardens will be packed with creative designs, planting features and autumn colour, offering visitors ideas to try at home. Lucy Chamberlain, Head Gardener at East Donyland Hall near Colchester and one of the Autumn Fair’s Plant Experts, with Audley End kitchen gardeners, Gemma Sturges and Kelly Fowler, have designed the organic, wildlife friendly Edible Garden Through Time. Val Christman, a BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair 2022 Gold award winning designer from Widford in Hertfordshire, has designed Child’s Play, an Autism-inspired children’s garden, and children from St. Andrew’s CE Primary School in North Weald have designed a nature and wellbeing Sensory Adventure Garden, which will be relocated at the school afterwards. 

Downing College Cambridge Head Gardener, Jack Sharp, and his team have designed Rest to Follow Your Path, awellbeing garden highlighting the importance of gardens as supportive spaces for positive mental and physical health which will become a permanent feature at the College after the show. Also from Cambridge, award-winning dahlia grower Kim O’Brien’s Life-Force Garden is inspired by water moving through hollow dahlia stems, signifying the similarities between plant systems and the human body.

Gardeners’ World presenters Frances Tophill (Friday), Arit Anderson (Saturday) and Adam Frost (Sunday) will be sprinkling some TV magic, sharing seasonal gardening tips with the Gardeners’ World Magazine team at the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Stage and In Conversation with Chris Bavin in Audley End’s restored Parterre gardens.

For small space inspiration, the Autumn Fair’s collection of compact Beautiful Borders will be bursting with ideas to achieve at home, all with the theme of ‘My Garden Escape’. Local professional landscaping companies will take on the Association of Professional Landscapers’ Skills Competition to build a competition standard show garden in just 16.5 hours, putting their technical skills, talent and  teamwork to the test under the watchful eye of expert assessors.

If living the good life is a passion or ambition, the Let’s Grow talks area hosted by Lucy Chamberlain and Chris Bavin offers expert advice on all things grow-your-own, from growing your own food, allotment gardening and family-friendly growing to apple pressing and keeping chickens. Guest speakers include GYO gurus Ade Sellars, Chris Collins, Lee Connelly, Matt Oliver, and urban smallholder, Sara Ward.

Plant Experts, Lucy Chamberlain, Saul Walker, Tamsin Westhorpe and members of the English Heritage Gardens team will be hosting tours of Audley End’s organic Kitchen Garden and there are historical tours of the property’s unique Capability Brown landscape. For those that like to get hands-on and creative, there are daily mushroom growing workshops with Caley Brothers (book in advance), dahlia bouquet making sessions with Kim O’Brien (book on the day), and a daily ‘sow and grow along’ with Great Dunmow flower grower, Cara Thompson, at her Make It Flourish Beautiful Border (walk up, FOC).    

Specialist growers, nurseries and retailers will be offering a wide range of seasonal plants, gardening kit, tools and accessories, with a Plant Creche for bag-free shopping. There are delicious eats, treats, drinks and street food to sample and buy at the BBC Good Food Market with toe-tapping bandstand entertainment.

Autumn Fair tickets include access to Audley End’s grand mansion with its great hall, state rooms, dressing rooms, servants’ wing, stables and chapel, and the organic walled Kitchen Garden, grounds, gardens, parklands and children’s play area. Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome in the grounds.

Rachel Poletti-Gadd, Portfolio Director - Gardening Division at Immediate Live, organisers of BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair, said: “There’s no finer place to celebrate the start of autumn than at Audley End, the spectacular setting for the BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair. Where better to enjoy a wonderful day out with seasonal gardening inspiration, expert advice, plants galore, delicious food and drink, and all of Audley End’s attractions to explore! We can’t wait to welcome visitors along to this very special event.”  

Advance adult prices for the BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair start from £15.30 (concessions £13.80), or £11.50 for English Heritage adult members (£10.30 concessions). Find out more and book tickets at www.bbcgardenersworldfair.com

Following this year’s success at BBC Gardeners’ World Live in June, British Garden Centres will be exhibiting at the Gardeners World Autumn Fair to be held in Audley End House on 1-3 September 2023.

Visitors will be able to browse and purchase a variety of high-quality plants from the British Garden Centres stand. Whether you are searching for the perfect autumn bloom to grace your garden, a dazzling display of perennials, or a variety of lush foliage plants to create an urban oasis, the team on the British Garden Centres stand will have everything you need.

The largest family-run garden centre group will have knowledgeable staff on hand who are passionate about sharing their expertise with fellow gardeners. They will be on hand to answer questions, offer guidance, and provide personalised recommendations based on your specific garden needs.

You will have the opportunity to sign up for the British Garden Centres Family Card at each show.  This exclusive membership offers a range of benefits, including access to discounts and special offers on plants, tools, and garden accessories.

BBC Gardeners World Autumn Fair, in association with English Heritage, takes place at Audley End House in Saffron Walden, Essex from 1 – 3 September with seasonal garden inspiration and plants, expert advice, shopping and entertainment.   Gardeners will enjoy seasonal gardening inspiration from the Beautiful Borders display and Showcase Gardens, and the show will also feature talks from BBC Two Gardeners’ World TV presenters, Frances Tophill (Friday), Arit Anderson (Saturday) and Adam Frost (Sunday).

To find out more about the Autumn Fair and book tickets go to www.bbcgardenersworldfair.com

The GCA has just introduced another new module to its Garden Retail Online Workshops (GROW) e-Learning platform – this time on Sustainable Disease Control.

With growing public environmental awareness, it’s designed to provide garden centre staff with the knowledge they need to help customers prevent and treat plant diseases in a more sustainable way.

Antony Snow, Instructional Designer for GROW, says: “Many gardeners choose to use synthetic controls to treat plant diseases because they are convenient, easy to use, and efficient.

“However, as more and more of us are becoming increasingly aware of our impact on the environment, customers are choosing to adopt a more natural and sustainable approach to disease control.

“This course has been written to provide our members’ employees with the knowledge to help their customers to minimise the chances of diseases taking a hold through the careful planning of where to plant and good plant husbandry.”

The GCA’s GROW modules cover a range of important topics to help employees gain knowledge and confidence in products and services, so they can successfully assist others, whether colleagues or customers.

GCA Chief Executive, Peter Burks, adds: “We’re delighted to be able to release this new course, which has been written to provide our members’ teams, and also those at Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) garden centres, with the knowledge to help their customers to prevent diseases using more natural and sustainable methods. Antony is also putting together an equally as important Sustainable Pest Control course, and this will be live as soon as possible, hopefully within the next few weeks.

“We are always working on developing GROW and increasing what we provide to cover all the topics our members might need. It’s available 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year, so people can log-in when convenient for them. It’s also a cost-effective way of delivering training and personal development that enhances customer experience and this is great for everyone.

“Many members have told us how effective it is in giving their staff confidence while providing essential education and training for them too.”

GROW started as an initial idea, devised during a strategy meeting of the GCA’s executive committee, to bring education and training tailored to individuals employed in the garden centre industry.

It’s a self-funding and non-profit facility with any surpluses being reinvested into its ongoing development and improvement. Currently there are 111 modules and more than 12,000 users throughout the UK.

These modules include a wide range of topics that cover horticulture, customer service, food safety, regulated sales and health and safety.

All the modules have been written by experts in their field and are designed to apply to a garden centre environment, with the content for the horticultural modules drawing on the vast experience of members within the GCA.

Peter adds: “If you’re not using GROW already, but would like to find out more, please contact Antony or I for further details. You can also find out about it on our website www.gca.org.uk/gca-grow-information, or by emailing grow@gca.org.uk.”

The GROW e-Learning facility is available to GCA member garden centres, as well as to HTA garden centre members too. The new course is accessible immediately to existing subscribers.

Wildlife and Birdcare Nature Recovery Project CIC is exhibiting at Four Oaks for the first time when the show takes place on 5-6 September. CEO Sammy Holman gives the lowdown on this project.

"In the height of Covid as the country was shut down and as people we took to the open spaces for our daily exercise and realised the amount of nature and birds that surrounded us, we took to our gardens to feed the birds, buy hedgehog homes and bug hotels as a past-time.  Wild bird care saw a 73% sales increase during these times. But in the background covid also bought massive challenges for buyers as suddenly container prices went through the roof and they had to find British alternatives.  As it happens my ma had asked me to go and make her some bird houses in our garage at home.  I made 30 of them and she was so impressed told me to put them on the internet and see the results.  

"I got a call from the Blue Diamond buyer Tom Scribbins, who we met in a car park in Derby and thought our work and story was amazing and supported us with an huge order for then 20 centres and today 46.  Blue Diamond group have proven that if a back story can be told and the products are well placed, British and FSC accredited the costs might be more, but the quality was so much better.   Ma sadly did not get to see the results of her suggestion as she passed unexpectedly.  But her legacy lives on in what we are doing today, both our dads were master carpenters and we are using their tools for the programme, and ma was a special needs teacher all her life and would be so proud of our skills and learning centre.  

"Our success comes with development, and Tom has continued to work with us to develop various lines with them in wild bird care and nature recovery and we have stepped up to improve our quality, speed and manufacturing requirements to fulfil the order values that they needed.  Not alway have we been the fastest and there is a very good reason for that, you see all our products are made by people with autism and learning disabilities.  We have grown from 3 people in a garage during lockdown to an 8,000 sq ft workshop where we churn out quality biodiverse, eco-friendly and sustainable habitat boxes every single day. 

"Recognised by GLEE for an award in their ESG category we won that award with pride in 2022.  Since the time we met with Blue Diamond we are now far reaching to other garden centre groups, farm shops, landscapers, developers and have been recognised as a provider of habitat homes for the Governments Biodiversity Net Gains Solutions that will become mandatory very soon. 

"Our team of 10 workforce plus 20 learners from Strathmore College in Stoke on Trent is a strong team of foragers, makers and printers who all club together to produce not only habitat products but a brilliant range of seeds cards, seed balls, wildflower growing kits, greetings cards, merchandise and gifts all relating to nature and flowers.  

"We print a wide range of t-shirts, hoodies, caps, jumpers and bags where retailers can choose their own images or use ours, we can brand and everything is printed by us, we make cushions and t-towels and anything our retailers need or might want. 

"In year we have made and shipped over 20,000 habitat boxes and made over 30,000 seed balls and 600,000 greetings cards. But we need more work, we need and want to be in more retailers.  Being an autistic CEO my voice is often not heard, I knock on doors and can waste hours and hours of time just tying to get in front of the right person.  But when we do, the answer is always the same, ‘what you do Sammy is fantastic’ and we are fantastic, we are all special needs and have additional needs and have all clubbed together thrown our talents on the table and produce the most beautiful work.  We make giant feature biodiversity planters, giant bug hotels and the all wildlife, animal, bird and insect homes. 

"It’s just so hard to get HEARD and thats why we are attending Four Oaks as we missed Glee this year due to a road accident which was unfortunate, but we hope to come away from Four Oaks with another award, so far we have won gold at BBC gardeners live, we have won our ESG award and have been invited to attend Chelsea flower show in 2024 for which we are going for gold with our wild garden for disabilities.

"If you are a garden centre, farm shop, retailers and need habitat homes for your nature and wild bird areas.  Consider us as you will not only receive incredible quality work, but also be supporting young people who have additional needs to gain their working wings and fly. 

"You can contact Wildlife and Birdcare on www.wildlifeandbirdcare.co.uk 07740 528628 or 01782 229129 ext 1."

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.

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TV and radio broadcaster, Gethin Jones has been confirmed as the host of the 2023 GIMA Awards.

Taking place on Thursday 19th October at the prestigious Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, South Wales, it will be Gethin that will help to reveal the winners of this year’s highly coveted GIMA awards.

Gethin will be highly recognisable to delegates of the 2023 GIMA awards, having enjoyed a varied TV and radio career. Starting on S4C, Gethin then climbed aboard the Blue Peter ship, where he broke four world records, completed three life threatening task, visited 32 countries and fulfilled a lifetime ambition of flying with the Red Arrows and completing the UK Royal Marine Commando 30 mile Yomp. He has also presented four series of BBC1’s Remembrance, filmed in the Green Zone of Afghanistan.

More recently, Gethin has gone on to dance his way to the semi-finals of BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing, presented Dancing With The Stars All Access in America and is a familiar face on It Takes Two. Weekdays mornings on BBC1 see Gethin host the hugely popular Morning Live programme on BBC.

GIMA Director Vicky Nuttall said: “We are sure that the confirmation of Gethin as our awards host this year will be pleasing news for many! He is a true gent that I am sure will bring a certain something to proceedings. We cannot wait to welcome him to the stage later this year.”

Book your place now!

In addition to confirming its 2023 awards host, GIMA has also confirmed that seats are quickly filling up with only a handful of places remaining for the 2023 event.  Interested parties are urged to secure their tickets now.

Prices for GIMA members: £339 + VAT per person, or £3,199 + VAT for a table of 10, whilst non-member costs are: Non-Members:  £409 + VAT per person, or £3,899 + VAT for a table of 10 (all costs include dinner and accommodation).

There are also the last few sponsorship opportunities still available. To find out more, please contact the GIMA team directly for more information.

Find out more

For further information about GIMA and its wide range of member benefits, please contact the GIMA Press Office on (01959) 564947 or info@gima.org.uk

By kind invitation of Royal Anthos, Sally Cullimore, Technical Policy Manager at the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), took centre stage on Thursday, 24 August, at PLANTARIUM|GROEN-Direkt, a prestigious horticultural event held in the Netherlands. With a focus on strengthening international collaborations and sharing vital insights, Sally presented a UK update on Borders and Trade.

Sally provided a comprehensive overview of the HTA's pivotal role and the broader UK horticultural trade during her presentation. She delved into current issues, including the complex terrain of borders and trade, encompassing aspects like CITES compliance, plant passports, the latest developments concerning the Border Target Operating Model (TOM), and the ongoing transition towards peat-free alternatives.

Commenting on her presentation, Sally stated: "It was an honour to be invited by Royal Anthos to represent our sector and discuss the critical challenges confronting the UK with borders and trade. Our European partners, particularly in the Netherlands, are integral to the UK's horticultural trade, and their keen interest in Westminster's regulatory deliberations underscores the close connection of our trading landscape. The significance of our EU counterparts cannot be overstated, and we anticipate that UK clients are held in equally high regard."

Mark Jan Terwindt, Chief Executive Officer, Royal Anthos, added: “At Royal Anthos, we are committed to supporting our members in maintaining market access around the globe. As a result of Brexit, we are confronted for the first time that a fully integrated supply chain is at risk of being “disconnected”. We are aware that only through cooperation we will be able to provide lawmakers on both sides of the Channel with the practical implications of their newly created reality. We are grateful to Sally that the HTA was able to make the time available to interact with our members, so their concerns and practical obstacles can be taken back to the UK to use in the process of getting to a workable set of agreements. We will proudly continue to support the HTA efforts.”

In 2022, the UK environmental horticulture sector’s production value was £1.5bn, with UK businesses importing plants, seeds, bulbs, cuttings, and associated products totalling half that value, predominantly from the EU. Of the £753 million worth of plant materials imported, a substantial 80% originated from the Netherlands in the same year. Among HTA member businesses, nearly 80% engaged in importing non-UK sourced plant materials, a figure that surged beyond 90% for growers. Notably, 100% of prominent growers imported plant materials, including trade-ready and starter materials like cuttings and liners.

Sally's participation at PLANTARIUM|GROEN-Direkt signified the HTA's commitment to fostering collaboration, promoting awareness, and navigating the challenges of international horticultural trade developments. As the industry continues to evolve, such dialogues prove instrumental in ensuring a robust and sustainable future for horticultural trade in the UK and beyond.

Diervilla splendens ‘G2X88544VAR’ (KODIAK® MIXX) and Precious Earth (mosses) have won the Green Retail Awards at the 2023 autumn edition of PLANTARIUM|GROEN-Direkt.

The Green Retail Awards are awarded in three categories: Best Novelty, Best Market Introduction and Visitors’ Favourite – one winner in each category. The Visitors’ Favourite is chosen by the fair’s visitors and announced at the end of the fair.

Best Novelty

Valkplant BV from Hazerswoude-Dorp has proudly seen its Diervilla splendens ‘G2X88544VAR’ (KODIAK® MIXX) come first in the Best Novelty category of the Green Retail Award contests. The jury was unanimous in finding this product the Best Novelty. “This Diervilla is colourful and has a stable shape, making it innovative in the Diervilla range. The plant has a good bushy growth habit and is neatly presented, without burnt foliage. It boasts a beautiful colourful mixture of green variegated leaves with creamy white edges and attractive pinkish red young shoots,” says the jury’s report. Five plants were awarded a silver medal and another thirteen a bronze medal. The plants submitted in the Best Novelty category were evaluated by the independent expert jury of the Koninklijke Vereniging voor Boskoopse Culturen (Royal Boskoop Horticultural Society). Of the total of 39 plants registered for this evaluation, 32 were eventually inspected.

Best Market Introduction

In the Best Market Introduction category, the Green Retail Award has gone to Precious Earth (mosses) of Vof de Leeuw den Engelsen, here too with the jury’s unanimous approval: “This concept is an attractive reintroduction of a range of mosses appealing to two key concerns of the Dutch Intratuin range of garden centres: heat control and water management. As a ground-cover plant, moss is capable of retaining moisture in gardens, and it is also very heat tolerant. Precious Earth is a refreshing product that will certainly be attractive to the younger generation, especially also thanks to its name,” were the jury’s words.  

In total, sixteen entries were evaluated in this category. Second came Ilex crenata 'Jenny' submitted by Salm Boskoop. The jury’s opinion: “Ilex crenata ‘Jenny’ is an ideal replacement for box. With its growth habit – more compact than that of other Ilex varieties – and its attractive bright green foliage, this product will definitely appeal to a certain target group.” The third place was for Hellogarden tea herbs of Griffioen Wassenaar. “This concept conforms to the spirit of the current age revolving around health and wellbeing,” said the jury.

The jury for the Best Market Introduction comprises representatives of the international retailers Jardiland, Plantagen and Dobbies Garden Centres. All the jury members are themselves responsible for the purchase of outdoor plants. The winning concept will be included in the range of the Intratuin garden centres.

Beautiful selection of novelties

With its many novelties, PLANTARIUM|GROEN-Direkt proves itself to be the ideal place for launching plants not yet introduced on the market. Besides the aforementioned two categories there is also the Visitors’ Favourite. The fair’s visitors are invited to vote for what they consider the best product via the green balls ballot system. Fourteen products are competing in this category, whose winner will be announced at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday 24 August.

In addition to the presentations of the products submitted for the Green Retail Awards, the fair is bursting at its seams with a wide variety of stands while also coinciding with GROEN-Direkt’s Autumn Fair featuring 5000 sample batches, a concepts plaza and its presale of Christmas trees. Some of the novelties are directly available for purchase here. All this makes this combined fair unique for European garden plant retail buyers.

PLANTARIUM|GROEN-Direkt was the place-to-be for suppliers and everyone else involved in the green sector to meet one another, and also the number-one fair at which all garden-plant novelties were introduced. Thousands of visitors from within and far outside Europe were treated to a green total experience featuring 223 exhibitors, 68 entries for the Green Retail Awards, 5000 sample batches, a concepts plaza and Christmas trees.

At the end of the very first day, exhibitors were already expressing their enthusiasm about this second successful autumn edition. They were very impressed by the quality of the visitors from all parts of the world and praised the clear, effectively arranged layout with the sample layers on one side and the stands on the other, the large numbers of visitors and the positive atmosphere. Many exhibitors said they’d very much like to participate in next year’s event too.

Fair manager Marjolein Wieckardt is also very enthusiastic about this autumn edition: “The presentation of the novelties submitted for the Green Retail Awards was a great success. They were real hotspots at the fair, ensuring lots of attention for all the entries,” says Marjolein. “We succeeded in creating an attractive, well-organised fair – everyone we interviewed totally agreed!”.

Green Retail Awards

A fair that revolves entirely around garden plants will of course also pay a lot of attention to novelties. The Green Retail Award winners in the Best Novelty and Best Market Introduction categories were announced on the first fair day. Those Awards were presented to Diervilla splendens ‘G2X88544VAR’ (KODIAK® MIXX), submitted by Valkplant B.V., and Precious Earth (mosses), developed by Vof de Leeuw den Engelsen, respectively.

The visitors were invited to vote for the Visitors’ Favourite Award via the green balls ballot system. And by the end of the fair there was no doubt about the winner in this category: Hydrangea paniculata LIVING LITTLE ROSY®, developed by Hinrichs Pflanzen. 

Taking place on September 12th, 13th and 14th, GIMA’s trend webinars, held in partnership with Scarlet Opus, will be a must-attend for any brands wanting to future-proof new product development, visual merchandising, packaging and marketing plans.

Delivered and presented by Scarlet Opus founder and lead forecaster Victoria Redshaw and brand and communications strategist Shelly Bou Chouch, these three webinars will provide delegates with an informative and interactive insight into the trends that are set to shape consumer desires, attitudes and aesthetics in 2025.

Focusing on key content from the 2025 Consumer and Design Insights+Trends report, the webinars and report will explore what’s driving change and the fundamental shifts impacting consumer behaviour. With a keen focus on gardening and outdoor living, this is the only content of its kind available in the UK and will address everything from colour and materials to shapes, patterns and textures. 

Every webinar delegate will receive direct access to the online event, a copy of the webinar recording and an exclusive e-book, which will unveil even more of the research and consumer marketing content gathered while identifying the trends.

GIMA Director, Vicky Nuttall said: “Our previous Trend report sessions have always been well received, and this year will be no different. We’ve already seen an influx of delegates booking their places. Anyone wanting to access this exclusive content that will offer real tangible value ahead of season 24 is invited to sign up now.”

To find out more, or to book your place for the webinar, please visit www.gima.org.uk or call 01959 564947.

To find out more about the forthcoming Scarlet Opus – 2025 Insights and Trends Report please visit www.gima.org.uk/events/scarlet-opus-2025-insights-and-trends-report/

The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) will feature insights into Korean floriculture at its Horticultural Industry Conference on 19 September during the AIPH 75th Annual Congress in Suncheon, Republic of Korea.

With the support of Headline Sponsor Biblo, the Congress will take place from 17-21 September alongside the 2023 Suncheonman International Garden Expo.

AIPH has been supporting ornamental horticulture since 1948 and has seen significant changes in the industry over the years. The comprehensive programme for the 75th AIPH Annual Congress reflects AIPH’s commitment to the industry. Attendees can learn, connect, and find inspiration from passionate individuals driving the industry forward.

The Horticultural Industry Conference, sponsored by Royal FloraHolland and MPS, will analyse the industry’s state and growth in the Republic of Korea as the country celebrates 75 years of independence.

In 1948, the Republic of Korea was an agriculture-based nation, which has since transformed into a technologically advanced nation with a GDP of €1.65 trillion in 2019, making it the 12th largest economy globally.

Growing ornamentals is particularly challenging due to mountainous areas (only 14.6 per cent of Republic of Korea’s land is fit for agriculture) and extreme climatic conditions, such as typhoons following monsoons in the hot summer. Recent statistics reported in FloraCulture International - Signs of thaw for South Korea’s flower industry - point to 4,936 hectares dedicated to ornamental horticulture. The figures published in 2021 reported €442 million worth of ornamental horticulture in 2017, with cut flowers accounting for €143 million and grown on 1,334 hectares. Potted plants, trees, and shrubs were grown on 3,622 hectares, and the total ornamental acreage decreased by about 20% to 5,000 hectares in 2017. 

AIPH member Korea Florist Association (KFA) is the most influential voice in ornamental horticulture in the Republic of Korea. KFA’s mission is to help members manage a profitable business and remove growth barriers. KFA played a pivotal role in promoting and revitalising the flower sector, including supporting the government in developing a long-term strategy with investments in infrastructure, logistics, cold chain, export promotion, and increasing the average Korean flower farm business income.

Expert speakers from the Republic of Korea will share knowledge and insights on their country’s current state and growth of the industry, emerging trends, consumer interests, and future potential. They include Dr Park Kihwan from the Korean Rural Economic Institute; Mr Lim Yuktaek, President of KFA and KOFLAS (Korea Federation of Flower-Related Associations); Mr Song Junho, Chief of Agriculture Cooperation Youngho, and a representative from the Embassy of the Netherlands to talk about trading opportunities.

By attending the AIPH Horticultural Industry Conference, participants will also learn more about environmental footprinting and sustainability and will gain valuable insights into emerging processes to help them in their work. For example, Royal FloraHolland will be talking about the new FloriPEFCR standard, which will provide a uniform environmental footprinting method for the sector. MPS aims to make growers' sustainability efforts visible and will be demonstrating its HortiFootprint Calculator, which calculates the C02 footprint based on the FloriPEFCR.

For more information and to register, visit the AIPH Website.

Read in full in the August issue of GTN on-line here or as text below

I’ve been attending Glee since 1988, when I became a junior publisher of Garden Trade News and every year there has always been chatter about the size of the show, the numbers and quality of the audience and often about the date of the show. However, this year I was struck by the volume of discussion and sometimes quite vitriolic comment about the timing of Glee.

At GTN and GTN Xtra we try our hardest not to report on speculation and general gossip and instead stake our reputation on bringing you stories based on fact with reports on actual ideas and inspiration happening in the market.  As many of you will know we are also media partners of both Glee and SOLEX, so any comment we make may be construed as biased. What follows is comment from me, Trevor Pfeiffer, based on my recollections over the past 35 years, with the sole intention of helping to make all trade shows for our industry successful for both exhibitors and retailers, highlighting some past actions and trends that are perhaps being missed. Many in our industry appear to have short memories…

Let’s start with the elephant in the room:  the timing of Glee. Despite many exhibitors telling me at the end of Glee 2023 that they had had a very successful show, if I had received £10 for every time someone told me it should be in September, I could have doubled the money raised for Greenfingers on Floral Thursday!

Some of the comments about moving back to September were based on the fact that Glee in September 2021 was their most successful Glee ever and neither of the June events since then matched that. Does that mean they have forgotten that Glee in September 2021 was the first show post Covid, when everyone met up for the first time since lockdowns and went mad, buying more than ever before to make sure they were not caught short in 2022? That post-Covid boost certainly made Glee 2021 a huge success, but in itself created a situation where retailers had so much stock left in 2022 that they didn’t need or want to buy much new, and probably wouldn’t have had, whether Glee was in June or September.  And the situation isn’t much different this year with stocks bought in 2021 still selling through at retail due to the later than usual summer.

Those with longer memories will cast their minds back to the Glee shows of the five or six years prior to Covid when the talk was of retailers either having completed all their ranging or buying decisions prior to September and therefore not attending in force or being too busy setting up Christmas retailing to be able to spare staff to go to Glee.  The general consensus was that something needed to change, and I know the Glee team spent years consulting with exhibitors and retailers about the issue.

Strategically for our industry, the move to having a trade show where new ideas and new product ranges can be shown right at the end of the previous season would seem an obvious winner.  The world’s biggest garden and outdoor leisure trade show, Spoga + gafa in Koln also came to the same conclusion. Especially as the earlier dates allow for prototypes to be shown rather than just those products which have already been ordered for manufacture ready for availability next spring, as was becoming the case with the September date for Glee.  Buying straight after one season for the next year is also the preferred method for the other main garden centre retailing peak: Christmas.

Moving a trade show to an earlier date for manufacturing and ordering purposes was also the factor that created SOLEX as a stand-alone show in July back in 2008. LOFA members said they needed to get their orders into their manufacturing centres before September as lead times with the Far East grew longer. Prior to 2008 LOFA members had occupied Hall 2 and part of Hall 3 at Glee. 

It's rather ironic that the sale of Glee to Emap back in the 1990s ended up essentially funding the set-up of SOLEX as a members only show. I can vividly recall walking around Glee in 1989 with David Arculus, Emap’s Deputy MD, who said that Glee would be a great show for Emap to buy and sit alongside Spring Fair, which it had bought earlier that year.  My comment was that as a trade show owned and organised by the industry, that probably wouldn’t happen.  I was wrong, and Emap did buy Glee.  LOFA was one of the shareholders of Glee and as a membership organisation use their funds to help LOFA members and the sales of their products, giving them the ability to set up SOLEX (at Telford from 2008 to 2012) and subsequently at the NEC, always in early July.

At SOLEX this year many retailers were commenting on the inconvenience of having to travel to the NEC twice within three weeks for Glee and then SOLEX.  Those with long memories will recall the joy with which having SOLEX separate from Glee was greeted: “It’s great to be able to spend as much time as a I want buying furniture and BBQS’s at SOLEX and then being able to focus on gardening at Glee, when before we were having to squeeze them both into one trip” was a typical comment from retailers.  The call this year was for both shows to happen at the same time.  With pressure on time today and the wide availability of suppliers showroom visits, post Covid, that may be a good route for the industry.

That doesn’t, however, resolve the issue of the cries to move Glee back to September. I doubt if SOLEX will be moving back after 14 years of a show in July.

I heard plenty of comment that smaller retailers weren’t going to attend Glee this year.  I personally bumped into plenty of folk from smaller garden centres, but I can imagine that some retailers who still have much too much stock from 2021’s ordering frenzy to sell through would prefer to stay at their centre to help sell that through.  It’s quite likely they could still be doing that this Autumn, so possibly having Glee in September may not solve that issue.

On the positive side, I’ve heard much more feedback from retailers, both big and small, who are taking a more strategic view of their buying and ranging, who understand the value of the earlier trade show date to give them more food for thought and planning and so that next year’s ranges and products can be put to bed before Christmas gets into gear.

My personal view is that the best time for Glee would be early July, but that is when SOLEX happens, and NEC contracts usually include non-competing events exclusion clauses so there would have to be plenty of negotiations to make that move.

If Glee is to be useful to groups and chains - including those on the fringes of gardening i.e. High Street and discounters – then September may be too late for them and my concern about moving back to the later date is that we may or may not get the smaller retailers to the event (as mentioned above) but we decrease the opportunity for new exhibitors and new products to be seen and listed by those retailers who need and want to plan their business in a strategic manner.

As I stated at the start of this article, as media partners we are only interested in the success of all our trade shows for both exhibitors and retailers.  At the end of the day, GTN won’t have any say in the timings as that is down to the owners and organisers of the events; however, we hope people’s short memories don’t lead us down a path that could be in the wrong direction.

Ken Cox of Glendoick Garden Centre replies to the GTN comment:

Dear Trevor

Trade Shows

The problem with trade shows is not about the date. There are 3 shows we would like to attend. HTA plant show, GLEE and Solex…

You can no longer easily fly down to Birmingham from Scotland in a day. So all would require expensive over night stays.

So we did not attend any of them, for the first time. And we won't be attending any of them until the matter is resolved. Early July would be ideal for all of them… from our point of view.

HTA plant show is too early to buy any stock for the following year. The location is not easy to get to without a car and nobody has catalogues ready. I used to be a judge for the new plants showcase. This was worth going to, but we never did much business there.

I have not, as far as I am aware, been asked formally by anyone why we don’t attend shows and what would persuade us to do so. I think the industry should ask those interested parties. Those who don’t attend are the ones whose views are most important, to find out what would persuade them to change their minds.

GLEE is reluctant to publish visitor figures, but again this is the sort of thing which the industry needs to know, I think.

As media partner you are not really able to stir the pot… but it needs stirring…

Ken Cox, Glendoick.

The Board of Directors of Squire’s Garden Centres have announced that Darran Oakley has decided to retire at the end of next season. He will be moving to Devon during the Summer of 2024.

Darran has a enjoyed a long and illustrious career with Squire’s starting in 1999, when he joined from Kennedys Garden Centres as Group Product Manager. Darran graduated to the Board of Directors in 2011 and has held this position with distinction ever since. Under his leadership of purchasing, the business has tripled its turnover, and enhanced its reputation in the UK Garden Centre Market. 

Chairman Sarah Squire said, “Darran has provided inspirational leadership during his many years with Squire’s, earning the respect of peers and suppliers alike. He has enriched the reputation of Squire’s, as well as successfully leading the Sundries buying of the Tillington group for many years. He has brought a mix of knowledge, wisdom, integrity, and sheer industry to the role. We will all miss him greatly and wish him all the very best in his retirement”.

Darran commented; “I have greatly enjoyed my long career with Squire’s and the many challenges we have faced. I will miss the camaraderie and support of everyone at Squire’s and Tillington but am greatly looking forward to a change of pace and lifestyle.”

Plans to appoint a successor to Darran will be announced shortly. 

Threaplands Garden Centre at Elgin in Morayshire has new owners.

Writing on their facebook page, Ben Laing (above) says: "I can finally confirm the rumours. Threaplands has new owners.

"For the past 30 years or so Threaplands has been welcoming you to buy plants and fresh cut Christmas trees as well as landscaping your gardens with brothers Scott and Grant Higgins and family steadily growing the business. Recent years have seen some dramatic changes with the building of the first purpose built garden centre in Moray.

"In 2014 I joined the company as part of Grant’s landscaping team after 10 years in the motor trade. I knew Scott and Grant had a dream of a new centre with a restaurant and naively set out to achieve this with no catering experience between us. This was a huge step both in the restaurant but also into the world of retail. If we knew the challenges we would face back in the days when we just had a couple of portacabins and some polytunnels, would we have done it? Yes but differently is the answer but as we now grow, I firmly believe the pain has been worth it.

"In 2018 the Laing family invested in the company when the new garden centre was being built. Since that initial step, I became a director and my father has become an integral part of the business. Our involvement has grown to a level that when Scott Higgins retired in 2022, and Grant Higgin’s focus being on the landscaping business, it was the natural step for us to takeover the garden centre.

"Scott is now enjoying his retirement travelling in his motorhome with wife Linda whilst Grant owns and runs Threapland Landscaping, a completely separate business from the garden centre. If you need your garden landscaped, he can be contacted directly through the landscaping Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/GrantHiggins66.

"It has been an incredible journey and we are very thankful you have been part of our continued growth. 

"In the photograph below are my father Neil, myself, and my daughter Olivia who now works in the business at 13 (making sandwiches on the day the picture was taken). Three generations of the Laing family look forward to your support as we bring changes through 2024 and beyond making Threaplands a destination for everyone to enjoy.

"Thank you, Ben"

The magic of Christmas has arrived in Lincolnshire early this year as Woodthorpe Garden Centre becomes one of the first in the country to open its Christmas store with doors opening at 5pm on Monday August 21st.

The store which is part of the UK’s largest family-run garden centre group British Garden Centres, is inviting customers to browse through its festive ornaments, as well as Christmas staples such as cards, calendars, wrapping paper and tags and other seasonal items.

Shoppers can choose from the best festive themes to decorate your home for the most wonderful time of the year.  Whether you are looking for a traditional look made of reds, greens and gold that will evoke the true Christmas spirit, a modern and refined winter theme made up of silver and white or the pastel pinks that evoke romance, Woodthorpe will have the Christmas décor to suit your home interiors and make it a period to remember for your family.

Woodthorpe Garden Centre offers a wide range of festival gifts, including toys, puzzles, games, stockings, and even pet gifts, making it a convenient one-stop shop for all your Christmas needs. And with gardening essentials at Woodthorpe’s core, visitors will also be treated to a fantastic plant department and gardening sundries department, whilst the restaurant on site serves delicious meals, carveries, snacks, afternoon teas, and specials daily.

Amy Stubbs, Project and Development Manager said: "British Garden Centres’ Christmas stores are a magical and festive experience. It's always a joy to see Woodthorpe come to life and the team has outdone themselves this year. Everywhere you turn, you're immersed in Christmas magic, and it has become a real destination for fans of Christmas and festive decorations. Woodthorpe has everything you need to deck your halls long before the big day and provides everything families could need for an unforgettable experience.”

The Christmas Store at Woodthorpe Garden Centre is open from 9am to 5.30pm from Monday to Saturday and 9am – 4.30pm on Sundays.

Click through the gallery of pictures below...

Corby + Fellas is now working with Milestone Nursery in Newton St Boswells, in the beautiful Scottish Borders, who are implementing the company's acclaimed WinRetail, Epos, Restaurant, Stock Control and Retail Management System.

Kim Corby-Hill, Sales & Relationship Manager, said: "We look forward to working with Ross, Leanne, Charlotte, and the team, in such a fabulous Garden Centre business with great ambitions, which C + F are delighted to provide the software and services to support such plans.

"This implementation is the second of five new Garden Centre businesses installing WinRetail throughout the summer."

Pictured, from left to right: Matt Chrisostomou (C+F Head of Technical Support + Implementations), Charlotte Davidson (Epos and Plant Area manager at Milestone) and Jacob Parker (C+F Senior Support Engineer).

EXEL Industries, the parent company of Hozelock, has acquired an 81% majority stake in Devaux, a French family-owned group specialising in the manufacture and sale of gardening tools. 

The Devaux group posted 2022 revenue of around €12 million and employs around 50 people at its production site in Tinchebray-Bocage (Normandy) and logistics facility in Savigny, near Lyon. The acquisition will enable EXEL Industries to step up its development in the consumer garden equipment market.

The Devaux Group was formed in 1992 following the takeover of Duchesnay, a manufacturer of graden tools founded in 1923, by Établissements Devaux, a company trading in garden tools founded in 1964. The Group therefore has longstanding expertise in this field.

The Group offers a wide variety of products spanning nine categories (soil, grass, wood, pruning, snow, flowers, balconies and terraces, watering and chimney accessories) in addition to a range of gardening tools for children. Marketing both own brand and retailer sub-brand products, the Devaux Group is also strongly represented in garden centers, DYI stores and supermarkets.

Through this acquisition, EXEL Industries, which already has a strong position in the garden equipment sector through established brands Hozelock, G.F., Berthoud and Tricoflex, will bolster its Leisure business by offering a new range of hand-held tools.

Marc Ballu, CEO in charge of the garden activity for EXEL Industries, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Devaux group into our Garden business. This great family enterprise promoting French manufacture offers great potential for developing our business. Their responsiveness, flexibility, capacity for innovation and quality of service in response to customer demand are remarkable. Jean-Luc Devaux, the man behind this success alongside his teams, will be the CEO. Our two companies are close and share very similar values. It is with great pleasure that we welcome this talented team.”

Jean-Luc Devaux, Devaux group Board Chairman, said:  “I am thrilled with this deal, which is a major milestone in the development of our organization. I am convinced that this transaction will prove highly beneficial for our company and will open up new prospects for growth. We are proud to join a family-owned group with which we share core values: operational excellence, service culture, respect for the environment and a passion for French industrial know-how.”

The Devaux group will become a subsidiary of Hozelock EXEL and will operate alongside the other brands of the EXEL Industries Group Garden business: Hozelock, G.F., Berthoud and Tricoflex. Jean-Luc Devaux, currently Devaux group Chairman of the Board, will be Chief Executive Officer of the new entity.

This new stage of EXEL Industries’ development is in keeping with the Group’s overall strategy of positioning itself as a leader in all its markets though both organic growth and acquisitions.

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In this issue:

• Short memories – GTN comment about the timing of trade shows.
• Reflections from Glee 2023 – GTN’s review.
• Germie, a new dawn for growing seeds – GIMA Seed Corn Funding.
• Shaping the Future of Cutting - Glee’s Best New Product 2023.
• Buyers Power List Awards at Glee.
• Glee New Product Award Winners for 2023. 
• Peckish back on TV after winning awards at Glee.
• Flying high for Greenfingers.
• Record breaking Flower Power at Glee.
• AMES are branching out – GTN Interview with Nick Jones and Caroline Elliot.
• Tramontina get in the mood winning at SOLEX.
• Outdoor Living at its best - SOLEX 2023 Review.
• Woodlodge unveil W Garden Living at SOLEX.
• LifestyleGarden stack up awards at SOLEX.
• Selling Smiles at Floral Fountasia – GTN Planteria Column.
• Keep on gardening all summer long - HTA Column.
• Innovation matters – GIMA Column