GTN March 2025 - Garden Trade News UK

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Advice & information for garden centre professionals

MARCH 2 MARCH 2025 025

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UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP – Closed Dobbies sites get new lease of life

Advice & information for garden centre professionals

From auction sale to £5m -

The story behind Aylsham Garden Centre

BREWING THE BEST

Quality reigns at Clifton Coffee

ELEVATING SEEDS Retail Seeds Update

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Comment MARCH 2 MARCH 2025 025

Steal of the Century!

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ince the start of 2024 around 40 garden centres have now changed hands, some bought by new operators to the market, some by independents who are adding extra sites, and the big groups have also grown; Blue Diamond and British Garden Centres.

The closure and subsequent transfer of Dobbies centres to new owners causes a change in the ranking of the major garden centre groups.

Blue Diamond continues as the No 1 group by turnover with British Garden Centres now the clear leaders in terms of number of centres at 72.

The marked change in operators and ownership this Spring has come about by Dobbies decision to close “unprofitable” centres and allow landlords to trigger exit clauses on leases by asking for rent reductions as part of their restructuring plan. Looking back at the prices that were asked for by Wyevale when those businesses were bought by Dobbies totals almost £72m of garden centre value.

The new operators have gained those sites, 6 years on from the Wyevale “Sale of the Century”, without having to buy the businesses from

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Dobbies, just by taking on new leases with the landlords.

Judging by the reaction of customers and staff that GTN has spoken with at the re-opened and re-launched centres this could become the “Steal of the Century” with trade exceeding expectations within weeks of opening.

And the changes of ownership will undoubtedly continue. The latest sale and acquisition of Daisy Nook by Parkers Garden Centres shows that good garden centre operators can see great value in developing ongoing businesses and win through against other potential purchasers who are looking at sites for other uses.

This month we met with Gary and Brenda Groucott who bought the derelict Aylsham Garden Centre at auction during Covid in 2020. What a story they have to tell. They are the embodiment of passionate garden centre operators, with a huge inherent sense of nurture, that just go to show whilst there is change, the future of garden centres is in good hands.

Here’s to a happy and profitable Easter!

UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP – Closed Dobbies sites get new lease of life

Advice & information for garden centre professionals

From auction sale to £5m -

The story behind Aylsham Garden Centre

BREWING THE BEST

Quality reigns at Clifton Coffee

ELEVATING SEEDS Retail Seeds Update

PLENTY OF IDEAS & PRODUCTS News from The Garden Press Event

EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING Garden Trade News Potting Shed Press Ltd Dairy Drove Thorney Peterborough PE6 0TX Tel 01733 775700 www.gardentradenews.co.uk THE GTN TEAM Editor Trevor Pfeiffer trevor@pottingshedpress.co.uk Features Editor Anisa Gress anisa@pottinghsedpress.co.uk Advertising Sales Alan Burdon Alan@pottingshedpress.co.uk Digital Editor Neil Pope neil@pottingshedpress.co.uk Subscriptions Karen Pfeiffer karen@pottingshedpress.co.uk Design & Production AT Graphics Ltd www.atgraphicsuk.com Lucy Carnell – Design Alun Jones – Production Manager Robert Tipping – Managing Director James Tipping – Technical Director Printing CG Print Ltd Do you qualify for a copy of GTN?

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In this issue...

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New greetings cards and gift packaging from Woodmansterne

Alternatively, if you prefer your Garden Trade News digitally, sign up for GTN Xtra, our weekly e-mail newsletter at www.gardentradenews.co.uk

Potting Shed Press Ltd

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Elevating seeds at retail

Advertisers in this Issue

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Growing opportunities with Vitavia

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Woodmansterne

Aylsham Garden Centre interview – From Covid auction sale to £5m turnover

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Retail Detail from IPM Essen

4

STV

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9

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Brewing up a quality coffee with Clifton Coffee

New beginnings for Dobbies closed centres

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Hornby George PR

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PATS 2025

Spreading the message – News and new products from The Garden Press Event

Promising Fragrance – GTN Planteria

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Strengthening national reach – HTA Viewpoint

17

Handy Distribution

18

Doff Pelsis

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Hortiwool

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Four Oaks 2025

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Solex 2025

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Garden Trade News is published by Potting Shed Press Ltd who also publish: GTN Bestsellers, GTN Xtra, Glee Daily News and the Glee Catalogue, and the Solex Sun. Potting Shed Press also supply Garden Radio to over 100 garden centres across the country.

Director Trevor Pfeiffer

SMALL PRINT: All material © Potting Shed Press Ltd 2025. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form whatsoever, either for sale or not, without the express permission of the publishers. The information supplied in this publication is published in good faith and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. Potting Shed Press Ltd cannot accept responsibility for any error or misrepresentation. All liability for loss, disappointment, negligence or other damage caused by reliance on information contained in this publication or in the event of any bankruptcy or liquidation or cassation of the trade of any company, individual or firm mentioned, is hereby excluded.

Maarch 2025 5

Interview

Experts in their field From growing plants as a hobby, Brenda and Gary Groucott have now turned around the fortunes of two garden centres.

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hen the gavel went down at an auction in 2020, Brenda and Gary Groucott had bought themselves their second garden centre. They paid £720,000 for the site with glasshouses and a bungalow, and since then the speed at which they have developed the business has been nothing short of impressive.

It was a passion for growing plants and selling them on their doorstep and at local sales that forged a path to become garden centre owners. Now, 24 years later, they have Wymondham Garden Centre and a more recent auction purchase of Aylsham Garden Centre, both on the outskirts of Norwich.

Wymondham Garden Centre A chance conversation in 2000 led to Brenda and Gary hearing about the retirement of the owners of their local farm shop and the idea of a new garden centre business venture for Brenda took shape. At the time, Gary was working in the food development industry, but he soon saw there was enough potential in it to support them both.

“It changed our life quite quickly,” says Gary.

Business was restricted to the size of the car park but in 2016 they were able to increase it and the shop itself, which also provided the opportunity to include a restaurant.

“We didn't have great belief in the restaurant, and we had a lot of doubts, but of course, it flew as soon as opened it,” Gary adds. “We spent many hours washing up and prepping food in the kitchen, but it worked very well, and it complimented the garden centre where we saw sales take

off,” says Brenda From then on Wymondham Garden Centre became more of a destination location with Gary and Brenda seeing customers have breakfast, do their shopping and stay for lunch.

Coming up for auction During the two decades of developing Wymondham Garden Centre, Brenda and Gary were approached to see if they would like to buy the garden centre at Aylsham but the timing and price was never right.

Eventually Aylsham Garden Centre came up for auction.

By then it has already closed and the site was quickly falling into dereliction but Brenda and Gary saw there was an opportunity to buy it at the market price. They got the keys in September of that year and by the end of October they were open for business.

It wasn’t that easy though. On deciding to close the business, the former owners had locked up and walked away leaving stock on the shelves and food in the fridges and freezers. “When we came to clear up, we thought we could probably salvage quite a bit but after just a couple of hours we said, ‘you know what let’s get the skips in’” says Brenda. The only thing salvageable was the extractor fan.

It was an exciting although rather stressful time, recalls Brenda, but the team from Wymondham helped cleaning and painting.

The new centre, with its coffee shop of 60 covers hadn’t been for long before the covid restrictions hit. In hindsight, Gary says it was a risky move, but like many garden centres,

Aylsham and Wymondham Garden Centres lie to the north and south west of Norwich.

6 March 2025

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Interview

Brenda and Gary at Aylsham Garden Centre.

they were allowed to open and people wanted to buy. “We just got in here and got on with it, which is what we've always done. No matter what people do, they don't want to get stuck at home, so they turned their garden into a part of the house,” says Gary.

Wymondham has what Brenda calls ‘a runway’ – a path through the middle so that, with displays at lower heights, customers can see the end of the shop. This has the added benefit of allowing space for staff to bring in stock on pallets to make it easy for them to replenish shelves.

Quick transformation In just four years and with £1.5m investment, Brenda, Gary and their teams have transformed Aylsham Garden Centre.

“The team has been involved and seen it evolve. They feel part of it and treat it like it's their own,” says Gary.

They have worked within the boundaries of the site, linking to the existing buildings and developing it in phases to always make sure it’s open. “We couldn't afford in any way, shape or form to close the site, The 'runway' at Aylsham build a nice big building and then open up. And we (top) and planteria at Wymondham (bottom) needed to keep the staff and the income coming in,” says Gary. “It took the shape that it had to be.”

Phase three was a new steel framed building, planning for which began in 2023. It houses the main shop and restaurant but, like Wymondham, customers have a clear view of the whole space no matter from where they are shopping. “I understand about funnelling customers through each department but for me, as a customer, if I just want to pick something up, I just want to pick it up. I don't want to walk through the whole shop,” says Gary. He adds that having a clear view means customers will spend more time browsing.

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March 2025 7

Interview

The design of Aylsham's interior creates an open vista across the whole shop.

Large areas of glazing also help increase natural light levels and mean shoppers can easily see and are drawn towards the outdoor planteria. Getting floor levels and slopes right was important and Gary would stand on blocks of wood to replicate the hights as indicated in architectural drawings so he could see it ‘for real’.

Brenda and Gary have successfully transformed two garden centres with very little input from outside consultants. By being a part of the HTA BIS and visiting lots of other centres, they have become their own consultants.

“I don’t know how many photos of toilets I have on my phone,” says Brenda.

“When we did the first changes at Wymondham in 2000 and the big changes in the 2016, we didn’t have much confidence, but we went round all of these sites, saw what others were doing and we thought ‘they can’t be all wrong’,” says Gary. "It has definitely helped up but in my head, I know there's nobody more expert at knowing my business than me."

Growing their own plants, baking and cooking their own food and using local family businesses where possible are important to Brenda and Gary. A local firm has also been employed to install solar panels and storage batteries Aylsham's open plan Four Seasons Restaurant is catered for by seven chefs.

8 March 2025

forecast to bring financial returns in three to four years, but likely to be sooner. When it comes to stock, it’s given them a large supplier list, but they like the choice it gives their customers.

With seven chefs on the books, one who just does baking, customers are always guaranteed a home cooked meal. A recent pizza oven investment is also paying off as its given an opportunity to a member of the team to step up, learn about making pizza and train the rest of the team and its attracting a younger audience. “It’s difficult to measure but at half term our sales in a restaurant and pizza count goes right up,” says Brenda.

At Aylsham Garden Centre, its estimated around 45% of turnover comes from the restaurant but this is expected to change in favour of garden products as the centre becomes more established. “Garden sales are growing and quite rapidly,” says Gary.

A new EPOS system from Davidson Richards will also help keep a close track on data.

Advice For anyone starting out in the garden centre trade, Brenda has some good advice. “Be brave, take a risk and follow your gut. If it doesn’t feel right, it’s not right. People sometimes say we are so lucky – but we work really hard and the harder we work, the luckier we get,” she says.

But they also appreciate and value their staff. “Stock doesn’t sell itself,’ says Gary. “Sometimes you need knowledge staff to help sell it, and the longer you can keep staff the better at it they will be.”

There are plans for a coffee and cake area at Aylsham to take the pressure off lunchtimes at the restaurant and a farm shop with a butchery and a deli counter which will help Aylsham to achieve its potential of being a £5m turnover centre. But generally it’s not numbers that motivate Brenda and Gary, its having happy staff, happy customers and some profit to invest back into the business that counts.

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Supplier visit

Brewing up a quality coffee From supply through to training, speciality roaster Clifton Coffee ensures quality reigns from berry to cup.

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lifton Coffee in Bristol, is quite easy to find – just head for the smell of roasting beans. Started by James Fisher as a one-man band maintaining espresso machines, it has grown, over the last 23 years, to become a speciality roaster and today has customers from hotels to high street cafes, roadside dining and, of course, garden centres. Not only does it supply coffee, but it also sells and maintains coffee machines and offers training courses so its customers can make their customers the best tasting cup of coffee.

“I think the whole coffee industry in the UK is changing,” says George Melluish, Clifton Coffee’s Wholesale Manager.

“People might not always be able to tell you why something is a good product, but they know when it is. They are certainly becoming more selective when it comes to having a decent cup of coffee.”

This desire for quality fits perfectly with garden centres, as they too are aiming for the highest standards when it comes to products and services. “Garden centres value the service and the coffee that’s served – they put a lot behind it and that leads to quality and an improved experience. People are maybe taking a bit more delight in those small parts of their day, and I think coffee is one of life’s affordable luxuries,” believes George. He adds that as well as shared values, coffee and garden centre industries also have the same feeling of community and willingness to share information.

The team of around 46 people are mainly based at the Bristol hq, with Road Teams in Surrey, Manchester, Bedford and Birmingham. “We are a little bit unique as we deliver personally to around 75% of our customers,” says George. “The team are delivery drivers, technicians, trainers, account managers, all wrapped up in one.” Of the many advantages of having a regular point of contact, solving issues with machines is one of the most valuable.

It means they can be mended then and

10 March 2025

there with minimal interruption to service.

Technicians are also on hand to help customers not on a dedicated route.

Stories behind coffee As with all products, consumers are getting increasingly savvy about provenance, and this is certainly true about coffee. “Sourcing is massively important. Customers are very interested in the story of the product and where it's come from, and they want to know everything has been done correctly,” says George.

Clifton Coffee, a B Corporation company, has been sourcing coffee for its main house lines from the same farmers for the last decade, visiting farms and building up close relationships. Most comes from Brazil but in El Salvador, Ricardo Lima is one of their key producers on the Finca Buena Vista farm overlooking the Gueatemalan border. “This was our first direct trade relationship and from where we get our single estate The E1 Project coffee,” says George. “They know what they're doing and really care about their plants, the product and the people.

They invest really heavily in the local mill which supports the rest of the industry in that area."

Clifton Coffee’s George Melluish.

Tasting notes help to describe the flavour of coffee.

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Supplier visit

Beans arrive in traditional sacks many of which end up at as bedding for animals at Bristol Zoo.

Above: In the roasting area.

that of the different ways to extract caffeine – Swiss water where the caffeine is flushed out, and chemical decaffeination in Canada or Germany - this is favoured as it is the most natural and can be done in the country of origin.

Left: Coffee beans are roasted in batches of 70kg, 12kg or 5kg. During the 15 minute process, beans are heated by infrared burners with temperature, gas flow and air intake monitored on a digital screen. Once roasted they fall into a vat to be cooled by rotation.

Training

A newer relationship has been forged with a cooperative in Honduras. The Village is the company’s first Fair Trade organic line. Produced by an all-female team called Comucap Cooperative, it aims to give financial independence to female workers and, in some cases, freedom from abusive relationships.

Over the years, as these relationships have been strengthened and supply been more guaranteed, it has shifted its offering in favour of single origin coffees. One outcome is that the story is easier to tell.

Another thought that George says reflects the natural nature of coffee, is that from year to year depending on the weather, the taste of a single origin coffee might slightly change. “It’s all down to the harvest and that's fine because it's a natural product grown in the ground. This tells something of the location, the way it's been produced, and the way the plants and coffee has been looked after by those people. Where some might see this as a negative, we think it’s a positive.”

Decaf comes from Colombia where caffeine is extracted by soaking green beans in a sugarcane derivative known as the ‘sugarcane process’. George explains

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Clifton Coffee’s evolution has seen it go through several stages. Within the last decade it’s taken roasting inhouse and centralised its business at the Island Trade Park in Bristol.

When Ed Buston came on board, his experience in the hospitality sector proved valuable and soon the training programme began. “I think we were one of the first proper coffee training centres in the UK which puts us in a unique position.

We roast a really nice product and it's important both for us and for the coffee drinker, that the product is the best quality that it can be. Making a cup of coffee is quite simple but it just takes a little bit of time to make sure people know how to do it and do it justice,” explains George.

Free training sessions are offered online and inhouse in Bristol to all wholesale customers because, says George, its important people see the roastery, and the whole journey of the beans. Barista support sessions are tailored to a maximum of four people per class and last two or three hours. Returnees are welcome and can build on their basic knowledge with a course, for example on milk steaming or latte art.

Clifton Coffee is also a premier campus for courses coordinated by the Speciality Coffee Association, the board which governs coffee around the world. It’s two trainers are certified to lead these courses, and wholesale customers get a 50% price reduction which can result in certificates and diplomas for those wanting to further their career in coffee. “They are a really good way to invest in staff and we are empowering people to go back to their own site and improve the skills of the rest of their team,” says George.

Right: Bagged coffee has to rest so it can release carbon dioxide trapped during the roasting process. This is why some bags have one-way valve.

Mahlkonig grinders exactly weigh the right amount of beans to be ground.

In addition to training, potential customers are also encouraged to visit Clifton Coffee so they can see the different machines in action, taste a range of coffees and choose what’s right for their business.

They can also get help with the design process and workflow.

The plant itself Although there are 124 species of coffee, the two main types drunk today come from robusta, (Coffea canephora accounting for 35% of global production) with a strong flavour and caffeine kick, and arabica (Coffea arabica accounting for 65%) which has a milder taste and naturally less caffeine. Varieties offered by Clifton Coffee list exotic names like Red Bourbon, Mundo Novo and 74158 Heirloom.

Arabica is grown in higher altitudes and produces a slightly higher grade of coffee while robusta is happier in lower lying

March 2025 11

Supplier visit Ripening berries have the coffee bean inside. They can be dried on the bean to give natural coffee with a more fermented taste or washed off.

Making coffee at Monkton Elm

Left: Coffee beans drying in the sun.

Right: Zoe, one of Clifton Coffee’s trainers has now been authorised to host SCA education modules.

Left: Tim Nurse, Clifton Coffee's Head Roaster.

Right: Monkton Elm's Lisa Searle perfects her latte art skills.

regions. It’s a hardier plant, better able to withstand weather and attack from insects.

Because of changing weather patterns and increases of extreme weather events, global coffee production is dropping, and farmers are having to find new ways of growing and developing new climate tolerant plants. In Brazil some crops are still recovering from severe

12 March 2025

frosts in 2021 and in August 2024 causing coffee prices to shoot up.

Clifton Coffee has previously worked with Kew Gardens on a project to monitor new varieties including Liberica. “Taste-wise it’s not quite there yet. But if the same time, care and attention is invested, as it has been with arabica, then maybe it will work and be a good choice in the future,” says George.

Family-owned Monkton Elm Garden Centre, Devon, is a Clifton Coffee customer. With a food and beverage team of 47 it also fits within one of the Road Team’s routes so gets regular weekly visits.

Wendy Tyzack, the centre’s Food and Beverage Managers says they chose Clifton Coffee because they share the same values Monkton Elm offers the full range of teas but also because it was from Clifton Coffee. local and its products are sustainable, traceable and ethically sourced. “The relationship we have built with them has benefitted both them and our garden centre and, more importantly, our customers love our coffees!” says Wendy.

The newly refurbished restaurant at Monkton Elm is due to open on 24 March and the team at Clifton Coffee have helped with equipment and setting up of a new coffee counter.

Suspension Espresso has been chosen to be served at Monkton Elm but it also offers Colombia Decaf, the whole range of teas, hot chocolate, chai base as well as Clifton Coffee’s machines and equipment.

Monkton Elm has taken advantage of all the training options.

Groups have gone to Bristol, refresher courses have been studied on line and the trainers from Clifton Coffee have come to the garden centre. Wendy says sessions are interesting and easy to learn plus everything is implemented around the size of Monkton Elm’s business needs. "One of the most important lessons we take away from Clifton's training is how to make drinks to an excellent standard every time," she adds. Both Wendy and Lisa Searle, Restaurant Assistant Manager, have also completed SCA professional barista intermediate skills courses and would like to take the next step. “We are also developing a member of staff to move into a head barista role, so she will also be doing this course in the near future,” Wendy adds. “It is a fascinating course that I would recommend to anyone in a management position working with coffee.”

Onsite training from Joe Sheppard at Monkton Elm with Margaret, Lydia and Supervisor Mila.

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Hornby George PR unveils new Event PR Support packages to elevate brands at trade and consumer shows Hornby George PR is proud to introduce its new Event PR Support packages, designed to help brands maximise their visibility and impact at trade shows and consumer events throughout the year.

With two decades of experience leading the Press Office at Glee, plus the British Craft Fair and a host of other events. Hornby George PR understands the challenges exhibitors face in standing out in a crowded event space. These bespoke support packages offer a costeffective and highly efficient way for brands to leverage the agency’s market-leading expertise, deep industry

knowledge, and strategic press support.

Kimberley Hornby George, owner of Hornby George PR, said: “Exhibiting at trade shows and consumer events can be daunting, with brands competing for attention in a busy, noisy environment. Over the past two decades, my team and I have honed the expertise needed to cut through this noise, ensuring exhibitors get noticed - whether by buyers, the media, or the general public. We’ve now formalised this experience into dedicated support packages that take the hard work out of developing PR strategy, helping brands make a real impact at whichever event they are exhibiting at this summer and beyond.”

Designed to save exhibitors time while delivering maximum visibility and press coverage, Hornby George PR’s new packages – which start from as little as £300 - handle all the key strategic elements - including copywriting, media relations, and ensuring your message lands at the right time within the event calendar. This allows brands to focus on making the most of their event presence while the PR experts ensure their story is heard.

About Hornby George PR Founded by Kimberley Hornby George, Hornby George PR has become synonymous with excellence in garden retail, horticultural and lifestyle communications. Over the past two decades, Kimberley and her team have worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, gaining an unparalleled understanding of both trade and consumer markets.

In addition to her work with Hornby George PR, Kimberley is the Co-Chair of the Garden Media Guild – a position that reflects her dedication to promoting exceptional storytelling and communication within the gardening world. This dual role enhances Hornby George PR’s ability to deliver services rooted in deep industry knowledge and a commitment to celebrating all aspects of garden retail.

Get in touch For more information about Hornby George PR please visit www.hornbygeorgepr.com

Hornby George PR Phone kimberley@hornbygeorgepr.com Tel 07851 610573

Garden Press Event 2025

Spreading the gardening message

Organised by the HTA and GIMA, the annual Garden Press Event enables the media and press to discover products, suppliers and new trends for the year ahead. Connections made promote gardening on all platforms and are a vital link in the chain of information from supplier through to home gardener.

Natural anti-bug bite power

After trading online and through selected high street retailers, Alfresco natural insect repellents is looking to supply garden centres which it feels offer the perfect customer base.

The range was created by Sarah-Lou Morris after getting fed up with being bitten by bugs while volunteering in London’s Chelsea Physic Garden. Not liking the harmful insect repellents on the market, she decided to make her own.

Combining her love of chemistry and plants she founded Alfresco natural insect repellents. Working alongside a 300-yearold perfume house and using a mix of 20 essential oils, Alfesco has three scents sold in a lotion, and eau de parfum spray.

They not only smell good and are natural, but also repel insects and mosquitos.

14 March 2025

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Garden Press Event 2025

Warmth for smaller spaces

A favourite of the GTN team was the range of small, clean burn firepits exhibited by Fandango Firetools.

Part of the collection from Espegard, the smallest of these sleek, stainless-steel burners, the Lue 40, is just 40cm in diameter and 33cm in height. It comes with an attractive price rrp £219. The company’s Paul Jenkinson says Espegard has listened to customer feedback and designed the range of Lue, Brasa and Eld–fire pits to produce a good level of heat and flame with virtually no smoke, and yet small enough to fit on a terrace.

Just for seeds

Copper and bronze from Crocus

Online retailer Crocus is expanding its product range with the Crocus Collection of garden accessories made from materials including bronze, copper and stainless steel. Working directly with factories and designers in India, the ranges are not only attractive and practical but also long lasting.

It’s clever sieve and bowl has a retail price of £59.99.

Additions to the range of Growhouses include long narrow designs, which better suit small gardens, while its weaver bird hanging pots and wire wreath plant displays add a fresh new take on traditional hanging baskets. Handcrafted bowls and pot covers with etched, hammering and rivet designs bring a touch of the exotic to houseplants and indoor arrangements. New designs in the collection will all be available online by June 2025.

Melcourt has listened to customer feedback and formulated a growing media specifically for seeds. Its SylvaGrow Seed Compost, which like all its range is 100% peat free, is a mix of fine bark, wood fibre from sustainably managed forest and coir, also from known sustainable sources.

Available in 15L and 40L packs the growing media provides prefect conditions for successful seed germination but also contains enough feed to support seedlings for between 4-6 weeks. The bag is made from 30% postconsumer waste and is 100% recyclable.

Vertical solution

New to the market is a vertical gardening solution that not only accommodates plants but also provides nests and feeders for birds and insect hotels. Revolutionary egg-shaped designs from Eggologic have a permanent back plate with interchangeable front piece to allow for the feature to be changed. In small spaces this is a boon as a bird feeder or nest box no longer visited by early summer, can become a planter for bring colour to the garden until early winter.

Todd Wente says all the designs are made from 100% post-consumer resin and polyethylene and have undergone extensive testing. There are currently five products in the range, each in three colours, and Todd is keen to talk to garden centres about retail opportunities.

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March 2025 15

Garden Press Event 2025

Getting started with bees

Garden centres are being sought to sell the new Buzz Box – The Beekeepers Starter Pack, which has everything needed to begin bee keeping. With an rrp from £495 it contains everything, from the hive itself to the gloves, suits and smoker to help with the honey harvest. It even has removeable panels to enable keepers to see the bees through glass without having to disturb them.

Creator Mark Meadows founded Buzz Box with the aim of increasing the number of beekeepers in the UK. “We are short on beekeepers, and I'd like there to be more in the UK, and I want to make the journey into beekeeping as seamless and easy as possible. I’m hoping to get them hooked into the hobby so they stay with it for a long time.”

Bee populations have fallen

THE PET & AQUATICS TRADE SHOW

28-30 SEPTEMBER NEC BIRMINGHAM

dramatically from an estimated 1million honeybee colonies in 1900 to around 270,000 today.

“There were 80,000 registered beekeepers in the 1950’s and after dropping to 9,000 at the millennium, there are now 47,000 – but there are 20 million more people in the country,” he says.

Mark is looking at garden centres as an outlet as he believes their customers are the most likely people to want to keep bees. “The garden centre demographic is also the beekeeping demographic,” says Mark.

In a retail environment, the hive takes up just half a square meter of space, and a qr code leads buyers to where they can purchase a colony.

Mark is happy to help with spreading the word by offering talks at garden centres on setting up a hive and all things bee keeping.

Where the Pet & Aquatics Trade meet to do business

Aquatics Zone returning for 2025 Scan to see all the exhibitors

Centrally located in the UK with fantastic transport links Hundreds of exhibitors showcasing new product launches & trends

Registration is now open at patshow.co.uk 16 March 2025

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Garden Press Event 2025

Westland came up with a novel display to enforce the message about the strength of its Kent & Stowe Capability Digging Spade by showing it beside a number of broken ones.

Easy to replicate in any garden centre, it will certainly stop customers in their tracks and get them thinking about buying a new and stronger spade.

Congratulations, for the second year running, go to The Dipping Tank Company for winning The Best New Product Award at the GPE. Voted for by visitors, the design has moved on since last year with new products and accessories for 2025 including a Bug Hotel Style and a Corton Steel Fascia to make water collection a thing of beauty rather than something to hide. The company’s Andrew Cousins is seen here with Kate Ebbens, GIMA President, and Will Armitage, HTA President.

Webb Eco Mini Pruner Receives BBC Gardeners’ World Best Buy Award British garden equipment manufacturer Webb has been presented with Best Buy status by BBC Gardeners’ World magazine for its Webb Eco Mini Pruner

Mini chainsaws J anu

ar y 2 0 2 5

Reviewed independently by a team of experts, the Best Buy award is part of the BBC Gardeners’ World ‘On Test’ feature.

Its recent test of mini chainsaws involved rating four key areas: ease of use, comfort, performance and value for money. Marks out of five are awarded to produce a final score.

Put to the test with a range of models, BBC Gardeners’ World rated the Webb Eco WEV20PSB2 cordless pruning saw trimmer one of its best budget mini chainsaws, scoring it 4.6/5 for its performance and overall value for money. Kay Maguire, Reviews Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World magazine said: “What we like the best is that you get a very capable saw for less than £100, so we’ve awarded it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for a budget mini chainsaw”.

Mark Moseley, Webb Sales & Marketing Director, comments on this latest achievement: “Receiving positive feedback from independent reviewers is always a great validation of our brands and when it

comes from such a well-respected title as BBC Gardeners’ World it has genuine value. It reinforces the trust that retailers have in choosing to stock our products, knowing they are reliable and of high quality.”

Designed for optimal performance with a super-fast battery recharge, the Webb Eco cordless pruning trimmer provides a convenient and cost-efficient alternative to traditional petrol options. Quiet to use and cordless in design, the new range offers complete freedom with no power cables to get in the way or hold you up.

Become a Webb Stockist

Email sales@handys.co.uk Telephone 01793 333220 Visit www.webbgardenpower.co.uk

Webb Brochure

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

March 2025 17

Garden Press Event 2025

A cheer was also raised for the team at HSK Gardening and Leisure which, on its first visit to the show as an exhibitor, won The Best Stand Display Award for its imaginative display of tree ferns.

18 March 2025

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

Garden Press Event 2025

Royal endorsement

A wide range of products in the AutoPot automatic watering system range have been endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). Sustainable, space-saving and environmentally friendly, the range is stocked in around 40 garden centres and overseas through wholesalers in multiple countries. The RHS logo and endorsement will now appear on the packs of AutoPot products as well as being online and on pos.

The partnership will strengthen AutoPot's expertise in sustainable gardening solutions, while supporting and enhancing RHS aims, such as promoting water conservation and greater opportunities to get more people growing plants.

“These systems are not only good for the environment but cost-saving and highly efficient – big pluses for both gardeners and the RHS,” says Cathy Snow, RHS Licensing Manager. “They also support making gardening accessible to all, whether in a greenhouse or on a patio, balcony or allotment. All of which adds up to a wonderful growing and sustainability story that we are delighted to support.”

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

Balcony birds

CJ Wildbird Care has come up with an ingenious way for people with balconies to enjoy watching and feeding birds. The range of colourful and shaped dishes in different designs of the Balus Balcony Seed Feeder can be attached to a balcony railing using a simple bracket. Made from recycled plant-based products they are easy to clean.

Next year’s event is scheduled for Tuesday 17 February 2026.

Suppliers who are considering exhibiting can find out more at www.gardenpressevent.co.uk

March 2025 19

Retail seed update

Elevating seeds at retail

Inventive collections, sumptuous pictures and a new supplier of retail seeds for 2025.

E

stablished as a core line for garden centres, seeds continue to pull in the customers. Each year seed supplies bring in enough ‘newness’ to keep gardeners keen to grow more, try something different and entice newbies to have a go at growing something from seed.

An inexpensive introduction to gardening, seeds are also often the first port of call for children who in later years remember planting and sowing with parents and grandparents. This not only puts retailers in the unique position of nurturing generations but also guarantees steady sales through the tills.

In 2024, the HTA estimated seeds sales generated around £200m at retail and 29% of adults purchased at least one packet.

Enter a new supplier Most seed suppliers have been in business for generations so it’s exciting to see Stocks & Green making a foray into the retail seed business bringing a point of difference with the beautiful photography on the front and back of its seed packets.

Coming from a garden photography background, the company is also backing up stockist with regular images, be that step-bystep or portraits, for them to use on social media and instore promotions. “We want to support their sales so they can encourage

20 March 2025

Stocks & Green generates its own photography.

people to grow more from seed or try something a bit different perhaps,” says cofounder Iben Lund Gladman.

Based in Essex, the small independent merchant of flower and vegetable seed began trading online in 2021, but at Spring Fair earlier in February it launched a wholesale service for retailers. “We have a small set of racks and spinners being trialled at various places to make sure we get the ordering system right. We want everything working as smoothly as it can, so when it rolls out properly in January 2026, we have ironed out any little niggles,” says Iben.

Currently, the range covers around 400 varieties, which Iben says are ‘the things we like to grow’. Being gardeners of a lifetime, customers can be sure the range has been carefully considered and decided upon with authority. “Each year we go to Holland to look

at the trial gardens or fields to make sure we’re keeping up with what’s of interest,” says Iben.

One thing Stocks & Green is keen to promote is for people to fit more wildflowers among the ornamentals into their gardeners. “You can have some teasels, or bladder campion without them taking over,” she says.

Stocks & Green seeds are mid-range, and prices are clearly shown using a letter coded system. Horticultural and growing information is provided on the reverse of the packet providing what Iben says, is a good chance of being successful with seed. “We want people to give it a go. There are so many things that are easy to grow from seeds, - why buy a plant in a pot?” www.stocksandgreen.com

Kings makes buying decisions easy Making decisions easy for novice gardeners is a range of 10 Starter Collection Packs from Kings Seeds. “These are for the gardener that goes into a garden centre, and they don’t know what they want because they’re daunted by the seed stand,” says Andrew Tokely, Horticultural Director of Kings Seeds, adding, “We’ve done the work for them.”

The range has already entered some garden centres and has been well received. It includes on trend edible cut flowers, annual climbers and a Grow Your Own Christmas Lunch with Brussels sprout, parsnip, carrot, red cabbage and

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

Retail seed update

From Left: Sonila Troka says all the Fothergills seed brands will champion health and wellbeing.

Oh Sow Simple range from Fothergills.

D.T.Brown seed packs now link the vegetable with a menu idea.

New look for Johnsons flower range.

Left: Stocks & Green range is backed up by beautiful photography.

Middle: Clearly displayed pricing structure.

Above: Examples of some of the photography that retailers can use to encourage more gardeners to grow from seed.

and leeks. The collection of sunflowers has been the most popular so far, along with the Children’s Starter Pack a favourite purchase of grandparents. “We hope that once gardeners have learnt through growing seeds in these packs they will move onto the catalogues to get other varieties,” says Andrew.

To help further, Kings is now offering a block of vegan friendly seed sowing and cutting compost made from coir, perlite and added fertiliser. Just by adding five litres of warm water and waiting 10 minutes, the block will hydrate and expand to 15 litres of compost. It can be used straight away or resealed for use within 12 months. It’s an easy pick-up line in

Just some of the choice in the Kings Seeds new Starter Collection range.

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

garden centres where a dump bin of packs, with a rrp of £6.95 can be displayed beside the seeds or elsewhere. “We’ve trialled it with seed emergence and the growth we get is exactly the same as with peat-based media, but the root structure in the coir is actually stronger,” says Andrew.

Change will be positive at Fothergills Garden centres won’t see any disruption to services following Fothergills change of logistics promises Sonila Troka, Chief Marketing Officer.

“There will be no day of disruption, and we are expecting equal or better services from our partners,” she says.

Up until now, the Fothergills business has had

Ideal add on sale to ensure gardeners get their seeds off to the best start.

two in-house logistics centres but an expected increase in demand has led to the company to look at outsourcing. “We are not a logistics company, and the Metro Group has this at their heart and has a lot of experience,” says Sonila. Any cost savings will be reinvested into the company and space vacated will be used to house other departments, such as customer care, which are currently a couple of miles from the headquarters.

Changes have also been made to seed lines to make each of its brands more distinctive.

The ‘Mr’ has been dropped from the traditional brand and the logo revamped, plus there’s a new range called Oh Sow Simple with 115 SKU’s to appeal to the novice and beginner gardener.

DT Brown is now available for retailers to stock, having traditionally been an online brand only while Johnsons gets a fresh new look.

“Fothergill’s is all about helping everyone to grow so the idea is to democratize the category and bring more people in, while we still grow our existing gardeners by providing them solutions

March 2025 21

Retail seed update Rob Smith's Allotment.

Renowned for its exceptional collection of sweet pea varieties, Unwins has branched out with two new additions – spring onion Marksman and spinach Nevada which are both suited for containers and veg patches. UK-bred, the spring onion is easy to grow, robust and has a long cropping period from spring to autumn. Spinach Nevada also has long harvesting window and excellent shelf life. Another plus is that is particularly resistant to downy mildew.

they need,” explains Sonila. It’s being seen as a brand that brings people together, promoting connections and physical and mental wellbeing.

DT Browns is to major on vegetables with only a few flowers that promote pollination. Its focus will be growing the ingredients needed to craft healthy meals and as such, the packaging now includes images of vegetables and the meals they create.

Johnsons will be the brand to celebrate the joy of colour, and the first new launch will be flowers that can be cut, shared and used to decorate the home. Branding brings attention to the J and highlight its femininity and appeal

Top: New aubergine brings home grown fruits to any space. Right: Three times the colour. One packet contains three different cherry tomato varieties. Far Right: Hot spot stand brings together cost effective veg growing.

to women and its A-Z range will be rolled out in July.

All these changes have, and still are, being rolled out with positive responses from retailers and customers. The plan is for the new looks and ranges to completely replace current stock by 2026.

Big taste, small space

Thompson & Morgan and Suttons continue to work towards maximising and widening ranges with new mixes and genetics. Rob Smith, Product Development Manager, says the company is still seeing a strong trend towards growing in smaller gardens so continues to find new high yielding varieties which reap rewards in limited spaces. “You don’t need a garden or a greenhouse as we have the choice for people to make the most of what space they have,” he says.

It’s new micro aubergine ‘Baby Black Jack’, which can be grown in a 2L pot, is one example. Plants stand at just 3-35cm and produce golf ball-sized fruits in clusters.

The Tiny Temptations Mix of yellow, red and orange fruiting cherry tomatoes also means gardeners can grow a fun selection of small fruiting tomatoes without having to buy three packets of seed. Along with new Cucumber Quick Snack F1 and Snak Hero garden pea (where the whole pod is eaten) these colourful tomatoes also answer to the demand for fresh veg that can be put in a lunch box or eaten straight from the plant.

Recognising continued demands made from the increasing cost of living, the company has created a Veg Patch Saver which brings together a back to basics yet affordable range.

Holding a choice of 31 varieties, all retailing at £1.50, it is one of T&M’s new Hot Spot displays in a 30cm or 60cm rack.

Left: Hot off the press is a range of 40 seed lines being sold by Crocus in new pictorial packets. Using inhouse images, it will gradually add pictures to its range of more than seeds which are currently sold in plain packs. The company’s John Hiorns says they will predominantly be sold in its own garden centre at Dorney Court, Berkshire, but also at the flower shows where Crocus has a presence. “We’ve also designed the planting plans, sowing times and information on the back of the pack,” he adds.

22 March 2025

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

Promotion

In five sizes, the Venus has been designed for gardeners of any experience and any sized garden.

Growing opportunities Is your garden centre trading with Vitavia? If not, let us tell you why you should be!

V

itavia is a family run business based in Suffolk, selling quality hobby greenhouses and greenhouse accessories. They provide home and trade deliveries throughout the UK. Vitavia is also the UK distributor for Janssens greenhouses and garden rooms from Belgium, the perfect complement to the already well established Vitavia range.

As a wholesaler, Vitavia sell via a trusted network of garden centres and garden building specialists, one of which could be you!

What makes Vitavia different to other greenhouse companies?

Vitavia offer a very personal home delivery service, using well informed drivers who will deliver the greenhouses to the customer’s preferred place of choice. They also offer exceptional after sales service with direct contact to end users.

What are the key selling points?

All Vitavia greenhouses are made with anodised aluminium and powder coated frames in several colours, with greenhouse

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

Why should a garden centre se ell the Vitavia products?

Vitaavia offer a hassle–free operation.

On nce the greenhouse is purchased, Vitaavia do the rest! They take over from m receipt of order, liaising directly with the customer to arrange delivery and d all after care is dealt with Vitavia direectly. In addition, greenhouses have a relatively high purchase price and profit margin – so it really is win-win!

Offering ample space for growing plants, the Sirius can also be used for relaxing.

accessories to match. All products have full assembly instructions and videos to support customers who decide to build the greenhouse themselves.

What support are you offering garden centres?

Vitavia offer generously discounted display models, product literature and point of sale material. Staff training can be arranged on request and the Vitavia team are so on hand to answer any queries if and when they arise.

Small and practical, the Helios Urban is just the greenhouse for city gardens or terraces.

Get in contact with us today. Email: info@vitavia.co.uk

March 2025 23

IPM Essen 2025

Retail detail

Known mainly for its plants, IPM Essen, the German trade event held every January, also yielded great retail ideas some of which have or are coming our way.

I

n excess of 40,000 people visited the IPM Essen trade show in January, all keen to see what’s new in the gardening world. From machines using robotic arms to place cuttings in trays to silk flowers, this event in eight huge halls is buzzing with new ideas and technology in commercial plant production, retailing and floristry.

Easy houseplants The presentation of houseplants in retail situations has been given a shake up by Feldborg Growers in Denmark. A ‘supermarket’ look, it has been styled to fit perfectly with garden centres and promote its easycare brand. On point of sale, the concept also includes an easyscore helping new houseplant carers and those with more experience choose plants they are most likely to have success with.

A variety of pot sizes are available retailing pre-priced in a paper sleeve or ceramic outer pot and stock can be kept fresh with Feldborg’s top up ordering system.

Easycare houseplants have recently been adopted by British Garden Centres and should be appearing in some stores this spring. www.feldborg.com A must for every wild bird care department is the feed Advent calendar created by Baza House of Seeds in Holland. It is one in a range of gardening themed Advent calendars which have proved to be so popular that the company has now repackaged some as Spring Grow Kits to extend the sales window. In addition, Baza also offers a bird feeders to hold a variety of different seeds and windowsill growing pots.

Both ranges are made from sacks used in the tea growing industry and which otherwise would be destroyed after the freshly picked leaves have been transported to the factories.

Consequently, they all have a fantastic rustic look and no two are the same.

The company’s owner Bert Bakker is looking to break into the UK garden centre market and is working on alternatives to plastic netting currently used in the bird feed products. www.baza.nl

24 March 2025

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

IPM Essen 2025

Based in Holland, Decowraps Europe exhibited two novel ideas to add on to houseplant sales.

Both were shown on compact display units highly suited to garden centres. The Decowraps Bucket Bags are made from Kraft paper and are waterproof. An easy ‘pick up’ line for customers, they come in a variety of colours and sizes. The Fastwrap pot covers are a quick fix for added value for retailers and an easy way for customers to turn a plant into a gift. Made from laminated Kraft paper they too come in a wide range of colours and sizes. www.decowraps.com

The craze for wax coated bulbs continues to grow with Kebol, based in Holland, offering offering an everexpanding range for seasonal sales. Its Christmas line will add a fun dimension to shelves. Hyachinth bulbs from Jansen’s Overseas were also given the wax coated treatment and were artfully arranged hanging from twigs and branches. www.kebol.net www.jansensoverseas.com

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

For centres short on space, this method of retailing seeds from Austrian company Samen Maier GMBH might offer a solution.

It holds the company’s range of seeds arranged by type and price on spinning shelves and has a static base shelf for boxed lawn seed. It is committed to environmental protection and encouraging biodiversity and within its range has organic seed in ‘grass paper’ packs. www.samen-maier.at

Colour theming painted tables with product is a striking way to catch the eye. It works particularly well for coordinating with plants in flower but equally, is a great idea for indoor plants or gift lines.

March 2025 25

Garden Centre Revitalisation

New beginnings GTN celebrates the operators breathing new life into stores formally owned by Dobbies.

F

or many garden centre teams, the end of 2024 was overshadowed by the news they may be out of work following the closure of 17 Dobbies stores, plus the six high street little Dobbies outlets.

Fortunately leases on some of the sites have been taken on by other garden centre operators who were keen for everyone to see the new look stores and maximise on the busy spring season.

Some of the Gosforth team with David Domoney.

BGC, Gosforth Garden Centre

BGC, Shinfield Garden Centre

On the weekend of 22-23 February, British Garden Centres opened Gosforth Garden Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne, the first centre from the seven it is taking on. It was officially opened by celebrity gardener David Domoney, who cut the ribbon and gave visitors a talk on all things gardening. “We’re so excited to be part of the Gosforth community. We’ve worked hard to bring life and enjoyment to the site sso o that it’s not jjust ust a garden garden centre but a destination for local people,” says destination say ys Malcolm Buckle, Centre Manager.

Buckle, Managger..

In Reading, Shinfield Garden Centre became part of the British Garden Centre family on the first weekend in March. David Domoney was on hand again to celebrate, as was Yuan Yang, Labour MP for Earley and Woodley. “We’re thrilled to join the Shinfield community and were so happy to see the local residents come out in force to the reopening of the much-loved store,” says Emily Bartholomew British Garden Centres Retail Standards & Efficiency Manager. “Whether seeking plant advice, browsing garden furniture, or enjoying a cup of tea, we hope they love what we have done with the store.”

W Warwick arwicck Garden Garden Centre Centtre O On n March 1st the Dobbies Stratford upon Avon re-opened Avon centre re-op pened as Warwick Garden Centre, the lease havingg been taken over by Centre, Stratford Garden Centre. All of the existingg Stratford team were retained followingg its closure on 23rd o n 23 3rd December 2024.

2024 4. Stratford Garden Centre MD, Helen Lloyd Centre Lloyyd says: sayys: “We are planning substantial improvements to the planningg site at Warwick Road and, after a closure site , period p eriod while this work is carried out, we plan p lan on a ggrand rand re-openingg in March.””

Warwick Garden Centre will have a grand opening later this month.

26 March 2025

Squire's Hare Hatch Garden Centre Squire’s Garden Centres opened Hare Hatch Garden Centre on 3 March in the aptly named Floral Mile in Berkshire. It takes the Squire’s family number of centres to 17 all of which now offer a new loyalty programme launched in February called Friends of Squire’s. “We look forward to bringing our new customers our wonderful selection of plants – many of which are homegrown and from our own nurseries – as we head into the exciting spring season,” says Sarah Squire, Chairman of Squire’s Garden Centres.

Garden C entres.

Sarah Squire with Graham Fitsell Hare Hatch Garden Centre Manager.

Charles C harles Stubbs, BGC owner wi with ith Yuan Yang, Yang g, Labour MP for Earley and Woodley

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

Garden Centre Revitalisation

Customers were queuing around the car park so see the new look Heighley Gate Garden Centre and its restaurant.

Centre: Amy Stubbs with Adam Frost and Charles Stubbs.

BGC, Gloucester Garden Centre Att the openingg of Gloucester Garden A Centre, also on Saturdayy March 8th, David Domoney was joined by Lin McNulty and Ian Pullin, who have worked at the garden centre respectively. centre for 35 and 28 yyears ears respectively y.

Many shoppers queued for two hours from refurbished centre from 8am tto o see tthe he refurb bished cent tre and restaurant, and stock up on everything and g they they needed for their ggardens ardens as the springg sunshine beamed down. sunsh hine b eamed dd own.

BGC, Heighley Gate Garden Centre Thousands of customers queued in the Morpeth sunshine on Saturday 7th March in anticipation of the official re-opening of Heighley Gate Garden Centre after a sixweek turnaround from an empty vacated Dobbies site into a buzzing, colourful, well stocked garden centre by the British Garden Centres Family. TV Gardening superstar Adam Frost carried out the ribbon cutting ceremony, welcoming the customers into the centre before spending time chatting with them and presenting a talk in the planteria.

British Garden Centres MD, Charles Stubbs arrived just as the centre opened, having travelled up from Havant where he

had been helping with the preparations for its opening on the south coast.

Charles told GTN: “I’m so proud of the BGC team for the efforts they have put in to open these centres, so well, so quickly. I’ve probably run out of favours with suppliers, they have all been so helpful in supplying stock and plants plus helping with merchandising.”

“Thank you to all BGC Team Family members who have helped from across thee north region. This is a special opportunity for us to further develop this amazing 40 acre site.”

xxxx xxx

Gloucester Garden Centre is now ready for the spring rush.

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

March 2025 27

Garden Centre Revitalisation Charles Stubbs with Libby Stubbs and David Domoney.

Left: The team at Havant celebrate new beginnings.

BGC, Havant Garden Centre Havant MP Alan Mak, Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, officially opened the British Garden Centres Centre G arden Cent tres Havantt Garden Cent tre on Saturday 15tth March.

Mr Mak says: “It was a pleasure to cut the ribbon and declare the new Havant Garden Garden Centre open. It is ggreat reat to see this ffamily-run amily-run business investingg in Havant and ccreating reatingg what is much more than a store.

With expanded W ith an exp panded restaurant and an indoor indo oor soft play area, it is somewhere the whole family can enjoy a visit.”

Queues of over 200 customers formed outside ahead of the opening, all eager to take advantage of the 10% off everything offer that was in place to the weekends opening celebrations.

British Garden Centres MD, Charles Stubbs told GTN: “The team at Havant who transferred over from Dobbies have been truly fantastic. The efforts they have put in to get the centre cleaned and re-stocked ready for the re-opening have really impressed me.”

Northampton Garden Centre is BGC’s seventh new site and an opening date in April has yet to be announced.

By 10:330am cusstomers weere streaming through the tills with trolleys full of plants and products, the restaurant was almost full of happy customers and the new Outdoor Living showroom (in a section of the centre that Dobbies had closed off) was busy taking orders for furniture and bbq’s.

Many customers commented on how good it was to see the centre back to how it was when it was a Blooms Garden Centre, saying the choice of plants and products was very good and the prices were good too.

Pennine Garden Centre After weeks of dedication and hard work from an amazing team, Pennine Garden Centre is now part of the Yorkshire Garden Centre group.

Customers can visit Blooms Kitchen for a delicious bite to eat, or explore the stunning range of outdoor living – from beautifully crafted garden furniture to eye catching water features. In Hearty’s Food Hall they can pick up something tasty, or take a stroll through the Plant Department and fill their gardens with the vibrant colours of spring!

BGC, Rugby Garden Centre Gardening TV personality David Domoney carried out the ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday 15th March, at Rugby Garden Centre, allowing the hundreds of queuing customers into the centre to see how the it had bloomed h ad b loomed aafter fter a four four week week turnaround. turnaround.

The amazing team at Pennine Garden Centre wo orked hard for a spring reopening.

28 March 2025

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

Garden Centre Revitalisation

Newly revitalised Gates Woodlands Hinckley has been busy since it reopened.

Bringing the total number of centres to 50 are the takeovers of garden centres at Harlestone Heath, Huntingdon and Worlds End at Aylesbury by Blue Diamond. Each is benefitting from multi-million-pound investments and the first to open on 24 March is Harlestone Heath Garden & Home near Northampton followed by Huntingdon Garden Centre, in Cambridgeshire on 10 April. The site at Aylesbury will revert to its original name of World’s End Garden Centre and have a phased opening on a date to be confirmed. The first phase will be gardening with everything nongardening following.

Gates Woodlands Hinckley Five weeks of cleaning, clearing, re-flooring, creating a new restaurant atmosphere, moving the exit and tills, recruiting extra staff, plus almost £2m of stock have seen the re-energised Gates Woodlands Hinckley Centre trade for the first two weeks of March at amazing levels.

Gates owner, Nigel Gates, told GTN: “The business of the centre amazes me already with days takings getting very close to days back at Cold Overton.

“Moving the tills and exit so that people have to walk through the food hall has resulted in many more food hall sales than we expected.”

Garden centre team members have received many positive comments from customers regarding dogs not being

Three more for Blue Diamond

Back after 25 years

allowed in the centre a decision that has caused a social media storm in the area. Judging by the number of people eating in the restaurant (which is now cook to order) and shopping on Saturday afternoon, the decision appears to have been well received by the majority of customerss.

As this issue of GTN goes to press we understand that the previous owners of Rowena Garden Centre in Leicester have acquired the site and are bringing their passion for plants, gardens, and great service to customers once again.

Dobbies Centres closed and no one taking on the leases (yet) • Inverness • King’s Lynn • Altrincham

Little Dobbies • Cheltenham • Chiswick • Clifton • Richmond • Stockbridge • Westbourne Grove

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

March 2025 29

Planteria

Promising fragrance Stockists of David Austin Roses focus on fragrance while an exciting pear, ideal for gardens, and a new euphorbia make their debut.

Euphorbia Walberton’s Little Treasure will being a wealth of display opportunities.

Point of sale from David Austin Roses shines a light on scented blooms.

S

ome approved retailers of David Austin Roses have just rolled out a new promotion using scent as the hook to grab the attention of customers and offer an opportunity for earlier sales.

Point of sale in the form of pillars and bench end banners is encouraging customers to think about their preferred scents when choosing English roses. In buying and planting them now, they can get the whole summer to enjoy the fragrance. “Every centre has roses in the autumn and really go to town when they’re in bud and flower.

Highlighting the collection of fragranced roses is the perfect start to the season,” says Andrew Rollings, Account Manager.

By siting displays at the entrance to the planteria or under a canopy, Martin Ward, B2B Marketing Manager, says customers will start to engage with the promotion straight away. “Fragrance means different things to different people. Most people will go for a colour or a rose for a purpose or location, but actually what we are now asking is ‘what fragrance do you like?’. It’s quite a difficult thing to extract from somebody perhaps, but it makes them think.”

Promotions were rolled out in the beginning of March.

30 March 2025

Unlike traditional dessert pears, CornishgoldTM is prized for its exquisite juice and is idea for cooking. Harvest is late September with storage potential until November. It is also self-fertile, trouble free and resilient, even thriving in exposed locations making it a fantastic choice for retailers and their customers across the UK. Trees are available in 12L pots.

Gold from Cornwall in the form of a new pear perfect for cooking and juicing.

Juicy choice for garden orchards It’s been a long time since gardeners had the choice of buying a new variety of pear, so Cornishgold™, from Frank P Matthews, is welcome indeed. Not exactly new, it’s been growing for around 300 years pretty much unnoticed in the kitchen garden of an historic farmhouse in Cornwall, but has only now become available for garden centres to stock.

Known locally as the Treburrow Pear, it is excellent for cooking and makes the sweetest juice. It came to the notice of Dr Joan Morgan, a renowned pomologist, and after DNA testing was confirmed to be unique. Graft wood was subsequently taken and now Frank P Matthews has delivered the first trees to garden centres.

Gardening treasure The Farplants Group is promoting a hard-working new euphorbia which will look good in any garden and provide good ideas for planteria promotions. Euphorbia x martinii Walberton’s Little Treasure has a list of benefits including rich yellow foliage whose tips turns warm copper in cool weather, a compact nature with a height and spread of 25cm x 50cm and zesty flowers in early summer. Proving yearround interest Little Treasure will provide an ever evolving display in containers or borders.

For retailers, plants provide a wealth of themed displays ideas, including pirate, explorer or gem themed opportunities.

Available from The Farplants Group from August 2025.

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

Viewpoint

Strengthening national reach Will Armitage, HTA President

During a visit to Northern Ireland, Will met with Lori Hartman, Senior Horticulture Advisor CAFRE; John Shannon, HTA Area representative for NI and Owner of Inver Garden Centre, and David Dowd, Senior Horticulture Lecturer CAFRE.

E

ven though spring has started slowly this year, my role as the HTA President has been as busy as ever with member meetings and events.

The joint HTA and GIMA Garden Press Event in February was hugely successful.

Over 100 garden brands and more than 400 journalists, influencers, and bloggers met under one roof at The Business Design Centre in London. It was an amazing event and the perfect place for the industry to plan content for the year ahead. I was also very pleased to see The Dipping Tank Co win the New Product Award for a second year in a row, and I had the pleasure of presenting the Best Stand Award to HSK Gardening & Leisure.

Congratulations again to all involved.

I also recently attended the HTA’s regional member meeting at RHS Garden, Harlow Carr, Harrogate, to hear from APHA and Plant Healthy about what they are doing to keep our industry safe and discuss first hand experiences with our members.

Not forgetting the HTA’s BIS Scotland meeting I attended at The House of Bruar in

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

the Cairngorms, where members and I had an inspirational tour from the Managing Director, Peter Birkbeck. It was great to hear a different take on retailing and catering to the model most traditional garden centres chose.

Over in Northern Ireland, I met with staff and students at The College of Agriculture Food and Rural Enterprise in Belfast alongside HTA members. The level of optimism for the coming season is almost palpable, and with a late Easter this year, we should be more likely to enjoy warmer weather for the start of a peak season.

Positive take overs I was also pleased to see that other HTA members have taken over many of the old Dobbie’s centres, ensuring the staff and customers will continue to have a local garden centre. However, like many, it was sad to see Homebase go into administration, which affected suppliers. Let’s hope for a good spring season to see the industry bounce back, and let’s use these experiences to build closer relationships across the sector.

In Perthshire, Will and members of the BIS Scotland met with Patrick Birkbeck, MD of The House of Baur which majors on Scottish country clothing and a comprehensive range for the home and garden.

We’ve also had more chances for HTA members to get involved and share their thoughts. For example, we hosted a Retailer Plant Health event in early March at Horticulture House along with APHA and Defra, followed by the APL Awards on 14 March. We also have a regional meeting in Scotland on the 8 April and visitor registration is now open for the National Plant Show 2025, taking place 18 June.

As always, all HTA members should be receiving my weekly vlogs and member updates as well as our monthly Market Update, if you are not and would like to, please get in touch.

Find out more

The Horticultural Trades Association is the UK industry’s leading membership organisation and welcomes all sectors of environmental horticulture. To learn more, pleasse visit www.hta.org.uk or to enquire about membership please email: membership@hta.org.uk

March 2025 31

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