5 minute read
2022 in pictures – A look back at a challenging year
February
Garden centres, including Bents Garden & Home, celebrated winning awards recognising the strength of their teams in The Greatest Christmas Awards run by GTN.
Below: 2022 marked the 10th year of the Cultivation Street initiative supporting schools and communities.
March
Far right: The future of the Coolings garden centres and nursery business was secured with the setting up of an employment ownership trust. Led by Paul Cooling its completion was marked by a special event at the House of Commons.
Right: Spotlight on the latest gardening trends exhibited at the Garden Press Event.
Above: Garden centres turn their thoughts to offering electric car charging points to up their game on sustainability .
April
May
Left: Celebrating 21 years of trading and with 20 stores, Cherry Lane becomes the UK’s fifth biggest gardening group.
Below: Garden centres step up to the mark to help Ukraine by collecting and donating vital supplies, holding special events and fundraising for an ambulance.
June
Right: Gardening trends kicked off at Chelsea, the Peter Seabrook tribute garden is a success and HM Queen Elizabeth enjoys what was to be her last visit to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Below: Garden centre owners get together to discuss how best to make peat-free media work for everyone.
July
Right: It’s all about plants at the HTA National Plant Show with the mildew-resistant double flowered bizzy lizzy winning top spot in the show’s New Plant Awards.
Left: Recycled plastic furniture is now the norm at spoga+gafa.
August
Right: At SOLEX the new outdoor barbeque area was a hit and sustainable furniture was in demand. Show organiser LOFA also raised £7000 for planting trees at RSPB Haweswater in the Lake District.
Below: Ball’s living plant catalogue helps retailers plan ahead with new varieties and display ideas.
September
Left: Boyd Douglas-Davies publishes his last column as HTA President and a month later his first as Chair of the Ornamental Horticulture Roundtable Group
Below: Ian Flounders, from Woodlodge Products, was honoured to meet His Majesty King Charles while in the queue to pay his respects to the late Queen Elizabeth.
Bottom: Judges for the Glee New Product Awards share their top tips and Westland celebrates the overall Best New Product at Glee 2022 with its Flopro Can-Can
OctoberOctober
ve: Landscape designer Mark GregorAbove: Landscape designer Mark Gregory w y was one of the as one of the kers at the HTA conference on the challenges andspeakers at the HTA conference on the challenges and ortunities for garden retailing and horopportunities for garden retailing and horticulture in 2023.ticulture in 2023. w: EveBelow: E rgreen Garden Care’s Mark Portman took up theen Garden Car s Mark Portman took up the enge of working for a day at Camden Garden Centrechallenge of working for a day at Camden Garden Centre Left At its annual summer trials event, Mr Fothergill’s says: At its annual summer trials event, Mr Fothergill’s says usiness as usual following its £100m+ buy outits business as usual following its £100m+ buy out
November
Above: Judges for GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards hit the road and visit 100 garden centres including Summerhill in Essex which blended Christmas with the World Cup.
Right above: Interview with Graeme Jenkins at the opening of Dobbies new flagship store in Tewkesbury.
Below: Choice Marketing, now with more than 300 members, celebrates 20 years.
Below: Westland has a landslide victory at the GIMA Awards winning eight categories and the Sword of Excellence while Meadow View Stone is the GCA Supplier of the Year for the second time.
December
Left: Alan Roper spoke to GTN about Blue Diamond’s acquistion of theabout Blue Diamond’s acquistion of the three Van Hage stores which brings theee Van Hage stores which brings the group to 45 centres.
Above: Finalists and judges of the GCAbove: Finalists and judges of the GCA A We Westland Rising Star stland Rising Stars programme withs programme with projects to step up sustainability.
