GTN October 2025 – Garden Trade News UK

OCTOBER 2025

gardentradenews.co.uk

Advice & information for garden centre professionals

5 YEARS

500+

Since company founded

Garden centre clients

50L

5 MILLION+

Multi-Purpose compost is the best seller in 100ʼs of garden centres

Bags sold

5 DAYS Max for a 24 pallet delivery in 2025

OCTOBER 2025

gardentradenews.co.uk

Advice & information for garden centre professionals

Glee review and New Product winners

Will your customers vote you The Greatest at Christmas 2025?

BOOST CHRISTMAS TREES SALES BLOOMING BEGONIAS

Expert advice

GTN Planteria

FOOD & DRINK AWARDS GTN’s Greatest winners

NEW LOOK NEW CAMPAIGN NEW GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES

Contact your Evergreen Garden Care rep for details Miracle-Gro® is a trademark of OMS Investments, Inc. and is used under license from OMS Investments, Inc. Miracle-Gro® Plant Food Liquid - All Purpose endorsed as a Which? Best Buy. Miracle-Gro® Plant Food Granules - All Purpose endorsed as a Which? Best Buy.

Comment

Christmas Glee!

A fter Glee it’s full on into Christmas for all garden centre teams and the GTN team as we set up and launch our Greatest Christmas Awards for 2025.

Judging by the number of centres that have contacted us asking for details before the launch we are expecting this year’s awards to be extra special and our team of judges are busy preparing their sleighs to make the 100 centre Christmas visits.

To ensure your team receive one of our judges visits, please nominate them straight away – the details are on pages 6 to 8 or just send an e-mail right now to trevor@pottingshedpress.co.uk.

Once again, we are giving garden centre customers the ultimate say in who is The Greatest at Christmas this year, with our on-line and in-store voting. Even though the voting only went live on-line last week we’ve already had hundreds of votes cast, and voting continues right up to Christmas, closing on Monday 22nd December, so there is plenty of time to get amongst the winners.

With voting awards for regional winners as well as overall winners to be

announced at Spring Fair in February 2026, every vote counts and the winners are always those teams who really engage with their customers the best. They are The Greatest! Full details, including downloads of posters and

voting forms can be found in the GTN Xtra newsletter: www. gardentradenews.co.uk We look forward to seeing you while we are out on our Christmas travels. Ho, ho, ho!

Trevor Pfeiffer

OCTOBER 2025

gardentradenews.co.uk

Glee review and New Product winners

Advice & information for garden centre professionals

Will your customers vote you The Greatest at Christmas 2025?

BOOST CHRISTMAS TREES SALES BLOOMING BEGONIAS

Expert advice

FOOD & DRINK AWARDS

GTN Planteria

GTN’s Greatest winners

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?

If you’d like to be added to the GTN distribution list, please send your details to Karen@pottingshedpress.co.uk to see if you qualify to be included.

In this issue...

Front Cover RocketGro celebrate 5 years 6

22

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

Conference 2025

Glee 2025 New Product Award winners

GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards

39

Your business values and your people – HTA Viewpoint

2025 are launched

25

T&M – Investing in Retail

9

Successful Choices – Choice

28

Greenfingers Garden Openings

Advertisers in this issue

Marketing Conference report

32

The Big Christmas Show kicks off

2

12

Greeting cards and gift packaging in

Christmas promotions

4

Evergreen Garden Care

Christmas Tree advice from the

10

Sipcam

full bloom

34

RocketGro

14

Glee 2025 Review starts here

British Christmas Tree Growers

17

Soho Sumex

18

GTN’s Greatest Food & Drink Awards

Association

17

Meadow View Stone

Begonias turning heads and changing

26

Durstons

minds – GTN Planteria

30

Altico

Horticulture highlights from The

40

Vitax

at Glee 2025

20

36

Floral Thursday at Glee sets new records for Greenfingers

38

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

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.

Octob ber 2025 5

GTN Greatest Christmas Awards 2025

Crowning Team Christmas Nominations for GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards are now open and remember your customers can vote too.

W

e have officially launched the GTN Greatest Christmas Awards for 2025 and can’t wait to hit the road and meet all the teams making the Christmas magic happen in garden centres across the country.

It’s simple to submit a nomination, and with numerous categories you can be sure teams in all your festive departments will be recognised. The closing date for nominations is 2nd November and judges, wearing their best Christmas jumpers, will be visiting garden centres in November and December.

To nominate a team or several teams, email trevor@pottingshedpress.co.uk including a few words about why we should come and meet you all, and a photo or two to include in our GTN Xtra Christmas photo galleries.

Customer vote The Greatest Christmas Teams category is decided by your customers and last year more than 20,000 votes were cast online and via paper slips. Encourage your customers to vote by printing the posters, there are four different designs to choose from, accessed via GTN Xtra at www.gardentradenews.co.uk. Display

6 October 2025

them in store, in toilets and cafes and add a voting link to your social media pages or website.

Your customers can also vote in-store using postcards (templates also on the website). Collect them and send them to us for counting before Christmas. This is a great way for your team to see just what customers really like about your Christmas, as they can read the positive comments and take a big pat on the back too.

Results Judges will meet in early January to review all their visits and the winners will be announced at Spring Fair on Monday 2nd February 2026.

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

GTN Greatest Christmas Awards 2025

GTN Greatest Christmas Awards categories 2025

Are we The Greatest at Christmas?

If you think we are, please

VOTE FOR US GTN’s Greatest Garden Centre Christmas Team Awards

Vote on-line by scanning this QR code, or vote on one of our forms, just ask a member of the Christmas team. Thank you

2025

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

• The Greatest Winter & Christmas Houseplant Team • The Greatest Outdoor Plant and Christmas Tree Team • The Greatest Gardening as a Christmas Gift Sales Team • The Greatest Christmas Gifts Team • The Greatest Garden Centre Christmas Promotion • The Greatest Christmas BBQ & Outdoor Leisure Team – The SOLEX Sizzle • The Greatest Christmas Food & Drink Pop up • The Greatest Festive Retail Food Team • The Greatest Christmas Wild Bird Care & Pet Team • The Greatest Garden Centre Grotto Team • The Greatest Group Small Garden Centre Christmas Team* • The Greatest Group Large Garden Centre Christmas Team* • The Greatest Small Garden Centre Christmas Team • The Greatest Mid-Sized Garden Centre Christmas Team • The Greatest Large Garden Centre Christmas Team • The Greatest Giant Garden Centre Christmas Team • The Greatest Christmas Garden Centre Team – Overall and regional winners - as voted for by customers *Group Garden Centre awards are for groups with five or more centres

October 2025 7

GTN Greatest Christmas Awards 2025

Prizes galore As well as the kudos and fame from winning one of GTN’s Greatest Christmas awards, Gold winners in each category will win prizes including stock, services or hotel accommodation from our sponsors.

Without the support from our sponsors, the awards couldn’t go ahead. Companies looking to get involved, sponsor a category and receive bespoke media coverage can contact Alan Burdon: alan@pottingshedpress.co.uk.

Thanks to: • Garden Radio • Glee 2026 • Museums & Galleries • Smart Garden Products – Three Kings • Solex 2026 • Woodmansterne

Example of the postal voting card available to download.

2025 I vote for the Garden Centre Team at (name of retailer) ............................. .............................................................................................................. as The Greatest Christmas Garden Centre 2025 because ................................................................................................ ..............................................................................................................

And the thing they do best at Christmas is .......................................... .............................................................................................................. ..............................................................................................................

Voted for by: ........................................................................................

Postcode ..............................................................................................

Email: ..................................................................................................

VOTING CLOSES at 4pm on Monday 22nd December 2025 Conditions: Potting Shed Press Ltd will take care of all submitted votes but will not accept responsibility for lost or damaged votes. We will use your personal data only for voting verification purposes unless you have given us permission to share it with the Garden Centre you have voted for by ticking this box.

gardentradenews.co.uk

No correspondence concerning the voting process will be entered into. For promotional purposes the winners will be featured in Garden Trade News and other related media. Thank you for voting and good luck. The winners will be announced at the Spring Fair trade show in early February 2026. www.gardentradenews.co.uk

8 October 2025

At a glance

To nominate email: trevor@pottingshedpress.co.uk Deadline for judging visit nominations: 2nd November 2025 To get your customers voting for you see all the detail in GTN Xtra Voting closes at midnight on 22nd December 2025 For more information on what the judges are looking for and templates for customer voting visit www.gardentradenews.co.uk

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

Choice Marketing Conference 2025

Super suppliers

This year’s Choice Marketing Conference, Trade Show and Gala Evening welcomed a record 135 suppliers. The event culminated in a dinner with 425 delegates and presentations for the Choice Supplier of the Year awards. The evening’s raffle and auction raised more than £4,000 for Greenfingers Charity and The Colegrave Seabrook Foundation.

Winners of this year’s Choice Marketing Supplier of the Year Awards 2025 Plants – Allensmore Nurseries Furniture & Outdoor Living – Leisuregrow Non-Retail Services - Corby & Fellas Giftware - Smart Garden Sundry Associate Supplier - Tom Chambers Sundry Major Associate Supplier and Winner of the Peter Wilson Cup – Westland

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

NOURISH & BLOOM

NOURISH & BLOOM

Promotion

At Glee, Woodmansterne inspired visitors with a display to encourage cross merchandising of gifts and packaging.

Greeting cards and gift packaging in full bloom Bringing a new range of cards and gift packaging, Woodmansterne is unlocking hidden sales and offering profitable add-on categories that garden centres can’t afford to overlook.

W

ith exclusive designs, strong environmental credentials and trusted W-Select category management service, Woodmansterne has been instrumental in bringing greeting cards to garden centre shop floors. At the same time finding the perfect gift at a garden centre has also become more common place as retailers build on their reputation of being trusted destinations for inspiration and leisure.

The rise in gifting as a garden centres category, continues to steadily rise bringing with it more opportunities to sell cards.

In fact, according to the Garden Centre Association’s Barometer of Trade, gifts

12 October 2025

continue to be one of the strongest performing non-plant categories. In August 2025, gifts led the way with sales up +10.1% year-on-year, underlining the growing importance of gifting, cards and homeware to overall garden centre turnover.

At many centres, customers can now find the perfect gift and pair it with the perfect card. And this has presented yet more opportunity to build on sales of both categories, extending the shopping journey and encouraging cross-category buying.

The opportunity Last year, Woodmansterne launched its first range of gift packaging including wrap and

bags, gift tags, tissue paper, and at this year’s Glee added to that choice with new designs.

But greeting cards and gift packaging aren’t just standalone categories.

Displays on its Glee stand themed around Cards and Gift wrap in Full Bloom, hinted at ways retailers can effectively cross merchandise to maximise sales. The dedicated store environment featured greeting cards and Woodmansterne’s latest gift packaging collection, complete with fixtures, displays, and a gifting table.

“We extended our gift packaging range, building on the success of our first collection and following the overwhelming positive feedback from our retailers. By pairing wrap

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

Promotion

“We’re really delighted with the ongoing upgrades to our recently acquired centre in Fochabers including the refreshed and updated card section. The team at Woodmansterne has done a sterling job re-merchandising the card and wrap department which is complimenting the refreshed gift department perfectly!

Feedback from customers and our team has been very positive.”

Simpsons Garden Centres.

On top of being fully recyclable, Woodmansterne’s contemporary collections of gift packaging will catch shoppers’ eyes.

and bags with coordinating cards, we’re hoping to help retailers unlock incremental sales and offer their customers a complete gifting solution in one place,” says Louisa Guelcé, Head of Marketing.”

By presenting cards, wrap, and gifts together, Woodmansterne demonstrated how garden centres can encourage cross-category buying and inspire customers with ready-made gifting solutions.

Benefits for shoppers and retailers Cards and wrap don’t just sit alongside gifts,

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

they actively enhance them. A well-chosen card adds meaning, while a beautifully wrapped present elevates the entire gifting experience.

It improves convenience, and shoppers appreciate completing the whole gifting solution in one visit.

For garden centres, these are powerful add-on categories that deliver strong margins consistently and encourage repeat visits. When displayed thoughtfully, they: • Complement and elevate almost every other product area, from books and toys to homeware and plants.

• Increase spend and drive incremental sales from add-on: customers are more likely to add a card and wrap when prompted at the point of purchase.

• Boost impact: colourful displays add vibrancy and inspiration to store layouts.

Put simply, they make good business sense and are an easy win.

Now is the right time to build on the momentum from Glee and the Woodmansterne team is waiting to share insights, advice, and tailored solutions to make cards and gift wrap a thriving part of your business.

For more information Visit: www.woodmansterne.com Email: hello@woodmansterne.co.uk Call: 01923 200600

October 2025 13

Glee 2025 review

Glee 2025

Another successful Glee has bought industry together and helped make garden centres the envy of the retailing world.

F

rom the moment the doors opened on the first day of Glee 2025 there was serious business to be done.

Buyers from across the UK descended upon the NEC Birmingham in September to see the latest new products, innovation and services for retailers to keep their customers happy.

Many exhibitors we spoke to said the quality of conversations and meetings was higher than ever. And added to this were firstclass displays, more than 300 entries into the New Product Awards, the debut sector

14 October 2025

Food @ Glee and GTN’s Greatest Afternoon Tea and Catering Awards. The Hive stage buzzed with energy from a full programme of seminars and presentations from industry leaders, catering experts and retailers, and of course, there was much networking.

“We’ve seen real positivity in terms of everything we’ve added to the show this year, whether it’s exhibitor growth, new features or the launch of new sections. It’s been a positive year generally, supported by the first ever Glee Road show we did back in April

which set the scene and help us understand market conditions,” says Matt Mein, Glee Event Director.

“Getting Food at Glee launched was a real highlight. It’s a relatively new area for us and we are learning how best to put it together.

But you can see the seeds of the idea starting to come together and I think we’ve got something we can really develop, grow and evolve because it plays such a vital role in garden centre turnover,” he adds.

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

Glee 2025 review

In conversation Amy and Libby Stubbs, the next generation of retail leaders from British Garden Centres were in conversation with Boyd Douglas-Davies extoling the values of working within a family business. With new centres coming into BGC this year Amy said: “We appreciate it is daunting for us and them but at the end of the day we have family support and strength when we work together.”

David Robinson, Dobbies CEO, talked about the need for stores to set themselves apart from online retailers by becoming more relevant. “Everybody keeps talking about experiential retailing the idea that it’s not just purchasing things because you can do that online and get it delivered, but actually what you’ve got to do is make the store more valuable. In a world of retail where everybody’s fighting for footfall, people choose to come and spend their leisure time with us,” he says.

One of the ways it does this is by attracting customers to its14,5000 covers across its sites, making catering a key component of the business. “Online cannot give you a nice cup of coffee and a cake, lunch or afternoon tea. It sets you out and gives you a reason for people to come, stay longer and spend more money.”

On the Feed Your Business stage, Blue Diamond’s new Stepby-step gardening videos on Youtube, were introduced by the programme’s host David Domoney.

The fabulous display of conifers secured Roger Ward of Golden Grove Nursery the award for the best stand in Glee’s Green Heart.

One visit, two shows in 2026

In conversation with Alan Roper Alan Roper, Managing Director of Blue Diamond Garden Centres, sat down for an unfiltered, no-holds-barred industry conversation on The Hive Stage at Glee 2025.

Renowned for reshaping garden centre retail and setting new benchmarks for success, Alan answered questions head-on, from business growth and leadership to the future of the sector, and even what comes after achieving your vision.

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

Guiding the conversation was Phil Wright, host of The Underground Podcast, who put questions directly to Alan in front of the live Glee audience.

Whether it was customer experience innovation, resilient business models, company culture, or Blue Diamond’s journey towards 2035 – no topic was off limits.

Many of the topics that Alan discussed can be found in an exclusive interview in the September edition of GTN, which can be read here: https://isu.pub/XBlcJEq

Next year, Glee will take a place week earlier from 8-10 September and due to industry driven demand, will cross over with Autumn Fair (6-9 September). Both shows will retain their individual brands and identities, and for the first time will co-locate at Birmingham NEC with both shows happening on Tuesday 8th and Wednesday 9th September. Glee will occupy four halls with Autumn Fair spanning five halls.

Visitors will get seamless access across both events with no barriers between halls allowing for a connected and efficient retailer event for exhibitors and enabling buyers from every garden retail department to see the latest in home and garden.

www.gleebirmingham.com

October 2025 15

Glee 2025 review

Water stopping ingenuity The inventor of ingenious devise for automatically cutting water flow from a hose when a watering can is full, has been awarded the GIMA Innovators Seed Corn Fund. Presented at Glee to Isabelle Richardson the award comes with a prize package to help fast-track the growth of SealStop including up to £4,000 of tailored support covering design, development, consultancy, manufacturing or marketing. The prize also offers a year’s free membership of GIMA and Anti Copying in Design.

“Judging was really tough, but SeatStop definitely stood out,” says Matthew Mein, Glee Event Director. “What really helped was the video which brought the story alive and showed how SealStop related straight away to gardening. It’s sensibly priced and hopefully will be a winner in the marketplace as well.”

Isabella created SealStop so people could place the hose into a trough, barrel or watering can and walk away without the worry of wasting water from over filling. After looking at the market to find the right product, Isabella realised there was nothing available so set about, with her partner, creating her own. “Winning the award will definitely help because we are just at the cusp of getting SealStop into a few garden centres – it means I can now work to make better display units.”

Isabella Richardson with Kate Ebbens, GIMA President (left) and Matthew Mein, Glee Event Director.

Originally Isabella targeted the equestrian market but can now see its benefits for the leisure industry such as making it easier to fill hot tubs. “I’m really passionate about water conservation and my next dream is to make SealStop help with saving rainwater so it works on low pressure from a water butt.” Isabella has currently sold 2500 units, all made in the UK, from her online shop. They retail at £39.99.

Future plants In Glee’s Green Heart, the Future Plants display was a draw with plants to pique interest of buyers and planteria managers.

Curated by Michael Perry, the 100 on display ranged from houseplants to trees and were all chosen because of their potential to be big sellers. “It’s not always new genetics though,” says Michael. “It’s about what plants we’re going to sell in the future whether they are new, different, unusual or reimaginings.

Consider plants sold in the 1980s. We’ve got a completely different audience now so we could launch all of those things again but in a really different way.”

From the display, Michael’s top tips were: • Agastache ‘Pink Pearl’ and ‘Bee Licious’– lavender alternatives with tropical coloured flowers.

• Chamaecyparis ‘El Pso’ – the confier that thinks it’s a cactus. It’s coming soon and could open up ‘funky foliage’ to a whole new audience

16 October 2025

Michael curated the Future Plants display with plants to add another dimension to plant sales.

flowers • Petunia ‘Itsy Bitsy’ – masses of small flowers and for the UK climate, it’s robust and weather tolerant.

• Alocasia ‘Tiny Dancers’ – with spoon-like leaves, this unusual houseplant could tempt

more people into keeping plants at home.

• Streptocarpus ‘Betty’ and ‘Beverley’ – houseplants with amazing flower power and the potential to be enjoyed outside in the summer.

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

Soho Sumex Tools are a well- established manufacturer of gardening products - including gardening hand & power tools, watering accessories and gloves & kneelers as well as storage systems and general hand tools - and we’ve been supplying private label to the UK for over 15 years.

Customers can select from our wide range of products, which offer exceptional value and can be tailored to your individual requirements.

We are proud to have some of the UK’s largest DIY retailers and builders’ merchants among our customers - a testament to the quality and service we provide.

And with our newly established UK support team, we can now offer an even higher level of customer care and support.

We supply mostly on an FOB basis, and with our newly established UK support team, we look forward to discussing your requirements!

www.saintytools.com lisa.bartle@saintysumex.co.uk

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Gleee 2025 review

Tasting the difference New awards highlight the skills and excellence of garden centre catering and food teams.

18 October 2025

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

Glee 2025 review

S

eeing trollies of afternoon teas being wheeled into Glee was a sight to behold and the spectacle formed part the GTN Greatest Food & Drink Awards. Chiming perfectly with the shows new sector, Food @ Glee, the awards recognise the skills and creativity of teams working in garden centre catering.

To find the winners of the GTN Greatest Afternoon Tea award, a team of lucky judges had the task of sampling and scoring six afternoon teas bought to the show and displayed beside the Feed Your Business Stage. This is a new category and entries included savoury afternoon teas and a take-away version, perfect for picnics and when visiting relatives. As well as tasting some of the sandwiches and cakes, judges also considered presentation, creativity and value for money.

“Our Greatest Christmas Awards have become a real success, recognising all the talent and hard work that goes into making a great festive season. But we mustn’t overlook catering which has become and continues to be an increasingly valuable garden centre sector,” says Trevor Pfeiffer, GTN Editor. “We have reintroduced The Greatest Food & Drink Awards at Glee this year to make sure we shine a light on the skills and creativity of the catering teams, plus the backstage crews, which keep our cafes and restaurants buzzing all year round.”

Although judges at Glee decided on winners of the best afternoon tea, it was customers who ultimately had their say for The Greatest Food & Drink Support Team Award and The Greatest Garden Centre Food & Drink Teams. Winners were decided by customers votes.

Rig ght, Top: Judging th he besst afternoon tea is a serious business.

Right, Below: Prepping Afternoon Teas in a Glee kitchen before unveiling them for judging.

The Greatest Garden Centre Food & Drink Support Team Award • Gold Award – British Garden Centres Catering Support Team • Silver Awards – Davidson Richards, Corby & Fellas • Bronze – Wash up teams at Planters Garden Centres The Greatest Garden Centre Food & Drink Team 2025 • Gold Award - Old Railway Line Garden Centre • Silver Award – Charlecote Garden Centre, BGC • Bronze Award – Meadow Croft Garden Centre • Highly Commended - Perrywood Tiptree • Highly Commended – Perrywood Buckhatch • Highly Commended - Perrywood Sudbury • Highly Commended – Charlbury Garden Centre, BGC

Greatest Afternoon Tea Awards GOLD British Garden Centres Great value for money and a varied selection.

Judges liked the lemon posset which didn’t appear on any of the other teas, and the cheese and pickle quiche was a tasty savoury option.

Good sizes scones.

Planters Brookfields Beautiful presentation. A savoury or sweet tea was offered and the chocolate coated strawberries added a touch of luxury.

Planters Pacific Great presentation and thoughtful selection of foods which included cheese and biscuits. The take-away option was inspirational.

SILVER Planters Bretby Excellent savoury selection and the breakfast option was a brilliant idea to attract a different audience in the morning and extend the sales window of teas.

BRONZE Planters Tamworth Excellent scones, probably the best ones in the competition, while the judges also noted the addition of fresh fruit and salad.

Garden King Loved the selection of cakes and the generous sausage roll. The mini trifle was an excellent idea and good addition to sweets.

Left: Winners of the Greatest Food & Drink Support Team category.

Right: The Food & Drink Awards are back, and all winners have set a high bar for years to come.

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

October 2025 19

Glee – Floral Thursday

Florally record breaking

Thanks to everyone who got into the floral spirit on the Thursday of Glee. We broke records and raised thousands for charity.

T

his year, Floral Thursday at Glee, raised £4,200 for the Greenfingers Charity – the highest amount raised since its inception five years ago.

By wearing something floral, visitors and exhibitors came together to share the fun, receive awards for the best dressed teams, and be part of a record-breaking photograph. This year we counted 173 smiling people in the actual photo - but we would like to add Paul Webb who took the picture, and Peter Walker who was holding the ladder for Paul.

Thanks also to all the companies who donated products for the charity raffle hosted by Bob Marley. Some of these products were entered and could be seen in the New Product Showcase so are still recent introductions to the industry.

“Floral Thursday is always such a special day at Glee for the Greenfingers Charity,” says Linda Petrons, the charity’s Director of Fundraising & Communications. “Seeing the horticultural industry come together in their best florals, all in support of children and families who spend time in hospices, is both moving and inspiring.”

20 October 2025

For the first time, the GTN team coordinated their floral wardrobes.

Raising money through the raffle.

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

Glee – Floral Thursday

Above: Johnson’s won a Team Award in recognition of their floral bucket hats.

Above: Bee outfits and floral shorts were order of the day for team Sipcam.

Left: Shake ‘em up! Bob Marley calls out the winning raffle ticket numbers.

Miracle Gro continues to be a huge supporter of Floral Thursday.

Flower power from team Grassgains.

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

Award winning Meadow View Stone with coordinating head gear.

October 2025 21

Glee 2025

Spotlight on newness Celebrating with New Product Awards at Glee.

W

ith more than 300 products across 14 categories to study, judging to find the best new products at Glee was a tricky task. But after hours of deliberation and some highly professional pitches from finalists, the winners were announced. We hope they will all go on to have great success in the marketplace.

Overall Glee New Product Award Orchard Sculpture Trellis. Treadstone Products.

“After being shortlisted last year for the original Orchard Sculptures the latest addition is the Orchard Wall Trellis and we are pleased th hey have been giiven th he award d for th he best in show. We’ve had a fantastic reaction from visitors and taken plenty of orders for stock ready in January 2026.” Dean Winters, Product and Marketing Director.

Sustainability Award Eco Crop for its Eco Crop willow products.

“We are supporting local eco crop farmers and growers across the UK and to win the

22 October 2025

overall Sustainability Award for our product is amazing. Thank you Glee!” Neil Watkins, Managing Director.

Best of British Award Andermatt. Biofleece 18.

“Our Biofleece is sustainable, but we also believe in low air miles which is why our product is made in the UK.” Robbie Di Nardo.

Garden Decoration Orchard SculptureTrellis. Treadstone Products.

Shortlisted Large Wall Mounted Solar LED Hot Air Ballloon - Triiplle toned d. Priimus.

Set of 3 planter/lantern columns. Eastern Connections.

Garden Tools & Machinery Hori Hori Trowel. EP Barrus.

“It is always and honour to win an award and be recognised in the industry. It is an accolade for us and gives our customers the confidence to buy.” Tracey Cooper, National Sales Manager.

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

Glee 2025

Food & Drinks

Shortlisted Buffalo Heavy Duty Metal Dustpan and Brush. Wilsons.

Kent & Stowe Watering Set. Westland Horticulture.

Roughneck Sharp Edge Micro Shovel.

TOOLBANK.

Retail Services & Experiences Secure Fixtures Intelligent Lockable Cabinets.

Formbar Ltd. “We are super delighted to have won and are very excited to be able to offer a new loss prevention product. We have been offering trollies and baskets for 20 years so this is a new venture for us. The reception at Glee has been enthusiastic and we’ve had lots of enquiries.”

Hannah Lewis, Managing Director.

Shortlisted Own-Branded Feeds. Bronte Heritage.

Plastic-free Plant Drop Shipping Service.

Colletta & Tyson/Accelopack.

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

Numilk. iSqueeze.

“Winning the New Product Award has definitely helped raise awareness at Glee. We have noticed an uptake in garden centres looking to expand their alternative milk option and Numilk machines can be bought outright or rented.”

Elias Ebert, Managing Director.

Shortlisted Giant Chocolate Tools DIY Lovers Gift Selection Box. The Amazing Chocolate Workshop.

Debag Global Baking Technology. Whitco Catering and Bakery Equipment Ltd.

Homewares, Clothing & Fashion National Garden Scheme Queen’s Landing Luxury Washable Mat. Primeur Ltd. “We are proud to be one of the first companies to collaborate with the NGS with a product and excited to develop more designs for the future. We worked closely with our senior designer to come up with a mat with colours that compliment current home decor trends, is functional and generates £1 for NGS with every mat sold.” Sarah McLafferty, National Account Manager.

Shortlisted Half Moon Coir Tray Mat. Primeur Ltd. Heat Holders RHS Wellington Boot Socks.

SOCKSHOP. ClipGlove Ankle Boots. Treadstone Products.

Growing Growing Containers Liberty Blue Pots. Woodlodge Products “Winning the award has highlight the Liberty range which brings an affordable line of large pots to a more people. There are three sizes, and they can be use indoors or outdoors.” Amy Oxford, Marketing Manager.

Shortlisted Manresa. Woodlodge Products.

Garden Central Essential Collection – Range Extensions. Primeur Ltd. Tierra Verde Melody & Harmony Collections.

Primeur Ltd. Tierra Verde Raised Planter Bed. Primeur Ltd. Rustic Show Bowl Planter. Rago Planters.

Pet Products Aqua Paws. Creative Products Ltd. “It’s fabulous to win an award at a show like this as it’s brilliant for us to be recognised in such a competitive category. It’s been a great show overall and highlighting the Aqua Paws product has generated lots of interest.” Richard Booker, Director.

Shortlisted ThermaCool Pet Bowls. The Buffalo Co. Get Off, Lawn Rescue. Sipcam Home and Garden.

Eco Soft Animal Bedding. Eco Crops Ltd.

October 2025 23

Glee review

Landscaping Prestige Water 250L Classic Slim Wall Water Butt. Prestige Water Ltd. “The award and the congratulations we have been getting from visitor has bought people to us to ask lots of questions. It’s a great coup for the company and we’ve had tons of positive feedback.” Junaid Patel, Managing Director Shortlisted Orchard Grande Sculptures. Treadstone Products.

Block Blitz Gravel Cleaner. Sipcam Home and Garden.

Wild Bird Care & Wildlife Products Eggologic Nester Pod. Eggologic.

“This is our debut Glee and a great opportunity to talk to bricks and morter garden centres.

We’ve spent lots of time building the product so now it’s time to talk about what makes our product different. Lots of people have noticed and commented on the award - the product is easy for customers and great for the birds and the bees.” Todd Wente, CEO. Shortlisted Bat Box. Gardening Naturally.

Hive Pod. Eggologic.

Audubon Eggpicnic Squirrell Resistant Metal Chateau Feeder. Panacea Products Ltd. BuzzBox – Beekeeper’s Starter Pack. BuzzBox.

Growing Accessories Tulip Flower Alert. Mayhem.

“This is our own invention to help houseplant growers known when to water their plants to prevent over and under watering. The long probe means they can see if compost is wet near the roots and it can be moved to different pots. The price point of £10 means it has generated lots of interest.” David Merricks, Managing Director.

Shortlisted Moiistture Keeper Mosaiic Glass Sellf-W Watteriing Globe. Panacea Products Ltd.

24 October 2025

ClipGlove Ankle Boots. Treadstone Products.

Bokashi Bin Starter Kit. Growing Naturally Ltd.

Growing Materials SylvaGrow House Plant Compost 5L. Melcourt.

“We are delighted to have been awarded New Product status at Glee 2025. A huge thank you to the judges, the Glee team and, of course, our amazing team at Melcourt.” Nikki Burton, Managing Director.

Shortlisted BioFleece18. Andermatt.

MAD Soldier Frass. MAD Company.

Westland Multi Planter. Westland Horticulture.

Plants, Seeds and Bulbs Joint winners Salvia ‘Strawberry Melba’. Darby Nursery Stock.

Euphorbia Little Treasure. Farplants.

“Glee awards are a great opportunity to showcase new varieties and impulse purchases in garden centres which are a key driver for sales. The new salvia is colourful and impressive and will be a successful plant in 2026 - it has long season interest flowers from May until the first frost.” Matt Bent, Sales Manager, Darby Nursery Stock.

Gifts, body and bath, Christmas, greetings cards, toys and games Guardman Festive Feasts Selection Box. Westland Horticulture.

“We wanted to create a special offer for customers this festive season and it’s lovely the selection box has been recognised as a good idea and concept.” Anastasia Scaife, Head of Marketing - Westland Bird and Pet Category.

Shortlisted Peckish Wild Bird Gift Set. Westland Horticulture.

Cleanse and Purify Smudge Gift Set. Mindful Living Co. Lux-Fit Gauntlet DragonFly. EP Barrus Ltd.

Garden Leisure & Entertaining Sahara Ark BBQ. Sahara “We’ve had a great reaction from day one of the show and the award has definitely validated the product’s innovative concept.” Stephen Kinsella, Sales Shortlisted Eco Willow Wood Briquettes. Eco Crops Ltd. Eco Soft Furnishings. W Living.

Ziptrack Outdoor Blinds. Solar Solve Limited.

“Very delighted our euphorbia has been acknowledge as an excellent new introduction.

The award is an assortment and we have certainly been promoting it on our socials.”

Andy Merrick, Director Head of Sales.

Shortlisted Colourful Spring Bulbs CDU. Bees Seeds Limited.

Peanut Plant. Gardener’s Kitchen.

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

Promotion

Investing in retail

F

Thompson & Morgan and the Suttons brands are back with a bang offering new products and comprehensive service for retailers.

or the first time in seven years, visitors to Glee took delight in seeing the latest products from Thompson & Morgan and Suttons.

Heritage brands, they have been stalwarts in gardening for more than 150 years, and in 2026 are poised to make a statement on the shop floor with new ranges to delight this and the next generation of gardeners.

“We’ve got a lot of positivity to share with our retail partners,” says Mark Burberry, B2B Sales Director of Branded Garden Products (BGP), the umbrella company specialising in the sale of horticultural products to retailers and direct to consumers. “The business was recently the subject of ‘for sale’ speculation, but this is no longer the case with BGP making significant investments in the retail channel and we are hearing Glee visitors say “it’s great that you are back’’.

Mark Burberry with grafted tomatoes offering retailers a higher price point.

Product update Stopping Glee visitors in their tracks was T&M’s new Fungi Farms mushroom kits.

With eight varieties to choose from, the cardboard freestanding unit is perfect for gift promotions at Christmas and Father’s Day. Kits come ready to grow in either three or four litre varieties with attractive RRP’s of £19.99 and £24.99.

Incredible edibles Grafted vegetable plants continue to forge ahead offering customers strong plants producing high yields. “Garden Centres can offer a premium product at a premium price, all the while confident the consumer is going to get a bumper crop,” explains Mark. Point of sale clearly highlights the different ranges and retailers like the fact it can go on bench ends or trollies. Trials are currently ongoing in Yorkshire to find new heirloom type (open pollinated) varieties which will be exclusive to T&M The Sutton’s Gourmet Vegetables range of seeds is helping growers with

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

recipe ideas for their home-grown harvests.

Pictures on the front of the pack show the vegetable and the mouth-watering dish, while a QR code on the reverse takes wouldbe chefs directly to recipe instructions for between three and five different dishes from something easy through to a more challenging meal. “We are trying to make it a little bit different,” says Rob Smith from BGP. “So we are offering rainbow carrots and beetroot, sweet corn that can be cooked like ribs and cucamelon.”

Backing up the new products are several senior, area sales and merchandiser appointments. “We’ve got a full complement of senior roles now,” says Mark, “and a full complement of area sales managers and merchandisers, so we are ready to go for the next season to support our retailers with great brands, great product and newness as well.”

Rob Smith with Yellow Oyster from the new Fungi Farm range.

For more information Thompson & Morgan Poplar Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk. IP8 3BU www.thompson-morgan.com Email: retail@thompson-morgan.com Phone: 01473 695330

October 2025 25

THE DIFFERENCE IN DURSTONS

For generation ns, Durstons have been at the he eart of British growing. From their Somerset base,, this family--run business has built its reputation on compost expertise, trusted qualiity and products thatt deliiver results. Now, for 2026, Durstons have unveiled a bold ne ew brand ide entitty – one e that is rooted in heritage but looks firmly to the future.

T

his re-b brand markks a co omplete sttepchan nge for the Somerset compost produccer and has clearlyy reso onated d with thee ind dustrry, as en nthusiaastic buyers at GLE EE raved about the new look and the opportunities it looks set to create in the compost category.

What prompted the change?

Durstons newly-formulated peat-free range has taken the industry by storm over the past two years, blowing competitor products out of the water in independent growing trials and helping gardeners achieve consistently outstanding results.

The exciting launch in early 2024 led to a review behind the scenes and some tough thinking to ensure the Durstons branding was in keeping with the trailblazing products the business is bringing to markket.

Sales Director Dan Durston explains: “The performance of our new peat-free range speaks for itself when you see the trial results but we felt that our original branding was a step behind and didn’t keep pace with our game-changing products. There has been a lot going on in the background over the past 10 months. We have been working hard behind the scenes to challenge the industry’s perception of Durstons and deliver something that truly represents our expertise and passion, the key strengths of our excellent products, and how we can help gardeners make a visible difference.”

What does it mean for Durstons products?

New livery and showstopping packaging have instantly transformed the look of Durstons products on shelf; guaranteed to

garner consumer attention and create opportunities for retailers.

However, it’s not just about aesthetics, as the growing media brand certainly has the results to back it up! Launched just last year at Glee, Durstons’ peat-free range absolutely stormed independent growing trials, outperforming even peat-based products and consistently producing bigger plants and increased blooms.

The key was making sure that this was all clearly communicated on pack. Fortunately, the fresh new, slick branding harnesses the outstanding nature of Durstons’ offer, putting key messages front and centre, and hammering home to gardeners the fact that using Durstons growing media will result in bigger plants and increased blooms. Strong iconography and clear on-pack information mean shoppers can find what they need at a glance – while the deesign itself

signals trust, performance and sustainability.

Crucially, it’s not just about giving Durstons products greater stand-out on shelf but also making it even easier for consumers to use the range effectively and make quicker decisions at point of purchase.

The re-brand has also created a better new range structure, with products divided into three clear collections: • Everyday – Great value peatfree and peat-based composts at a competitive price, without compromising on performance (formerly known as Manor Farm).

• Traditional – Highperformance peat-based compost and peat-free landscaping range, made using Durstons’ tried-andtested traditional mix • Advanced – Durstons’ flagship, professional grade, independently proven and future-ready peat-free compost For easy regonition, each product family is grouped by colour – white for Everyday, green for Traditional, dark brown for Advanced – and adorned with a vibrant letter ‘D’ for Durstons. Beautiful imagery aids identification further, as each ‘D’ filled with appropriate flowers, foliage or produce pertaining to the specific product type.

What can Durstons do for your business?

Overwhelming praise from the industry at this year’s Glee confirms that Durstons is on the right track and set to shake up a category in need of innovation.

For retailers, this isn’t just about shelf appeal – it’s about substance. Independent trials

consistently prove that Durstons’ growing media outperforms even professional-grade alternatives.

The results are clear: bigger blooms, faster growth and stronger, healthier plants. This performance-led approach gives retailers the confidence to recommend Durstons and the reassurance that customers will return.

The brand relaunch also signals Durstons’ long-term investment in the future of the growing media category. With peat-free mixes delivering up to 150% more growth than standard alternatives, the company is helping gardeners succeed while supporting a more sustainable industry. Durstons’ commitment is simple: to cut through the noise with products that not only look good but do good.

For garden retail buyers, this is an opporttunity to bring something freesh h and d futture-ready to their shelvees – a trusted d name

with proven results, presented in a way that resonates with today’s consumers.

All three collections are supported by fresh new striking POS material, new beautiful lifestyle imagery, and an updated website with additional retailer resources.

Dan Durston concludes: “The retailers we saw and spoke to at Glee absolutely loved the new look and described it as a ‘winning combination’ because they know it’s goingg to cattch h the custom mer’ss eye but theey alsso know our prroductts arre goin ng to deeliiveer consisten ntlly outstandiing resu ultss, which willl keep gaardeners coming ng to th he back. We may be lookkin future with ourr re--braand but I mustt stresss th hat ou ur heriitage is still extrem mely im mporttant to us, as aree the valu ues we hold d dear as a familyy-rrun busin nesss, so custo omerrs can stiill expect to reeceeive the exceptiional levvells of servvicce we prride oursellves on.”

VISIT WWW.DURSTONGARDENPRODUCTS.CO.UK OR CALL 01458 442688 TO FIND OUT HOW DURSTONS CAN HELP YOUR BUSINESS THRIVE.

Greenfingers Charity

Now open for making memories In just three autumn weeks, Greenfingers Charity opened four new children’s hospice gardens. Thanks to strong industry support in the way of funding, materials and manpower, the gardens are now places where families and staff can spend precious time.

Chestnut Tree House Hospice in Arundel, West Sussex Designed by Fisher, Tomlin & Bowyer and built

by Baylis Landscapes, The Kitchen Garden combines ornamental planting, growing beds, and pollinator-friendly features to encourage

hands-on engagement with nature, supporting sustainability, exploration, education and wellbeing. Children will be able to learn more about the journey from ‘garden to plate’ and produce grown will be used in the hospice kitchen.

These gardens have been created thanks to all those who have fundraised for Greenfingers including Garden Re-leaf day. Their generosity – along with the dedication of designers, landscapers, volunteers and those including Alexander Rose, Arbour Land Solutions, Greenwood Plants, Rolawn, Veg Trug, Vitax and LOFA, have helped make these very special project a reality.

28 October 2025

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

Greenfingers Charity

The Gathering Heart Garden at Hope House, Oswestry, Shropshire

The Centred Garden at Acorns Children’s Hospice in Walsall Greenfingers Charity Patron, David Domoney cut the ribbon to The Centred Garden, a new sensory space designed by Vara Garden Design and brought to life by Paul Taylor Landscapes.

An inclusive garden no matter of age or ability, it gives the chance to interact with each other and the natural world, throughout the seasons.

Special thanks must go to a number of supporters, trusts and foundations who helped to fund this project, including:

Described by the hospice team as their new ‘haven for play, laughter and peace’, this garden offers movement, interaction and sensory experiences, whatever the weather.

Created by the talented teams at CW Studio and Landstruction, the garden has been thoughtfully designed with inclusive play equipment, shaded seating areas, and quiet spaces for reflection, the Gathering Heart Garden provides life-enhancing moments for children, families, and staff, evolving beautifully with the seasons.

“Every day we see the difference that outdoor space makes to the children and families who come to Hope House. The Gathering Heart Garden is far more than a garden – it is a sanctuary of play, laughter, and peace where families can create lasting memories together,” says Andy Goldsmith, CEO of Hope House Children’s Hospice.

The Together Garden at Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, Sheffield First unveiled at the RHS Wentworth Woodhouse Flower Show where it received a Silver-Gilt medal, The Together Garden has now been relocated and rebuilt at Bluebell Wood.

Designed by Phil Hirst and co-creator Joanne Charlton with Jus Landscapes, the Together Garden inspires reflection, connection and comfort through its immersive planting, flowing layout and thoughtful details. Curved timber benches invite families to pause and sit together, a bespoke canopy offers shelter, and sculptural forms symbolise hands held in unity.

Located outside one of the hospice’s endof-life bedrooms, the garden now provides a tranquil sanctuary where families can make memories and find moments of solace.

“It was a real privilege to be asked by the Greenfingers Charity to design a garden for Bluebell Wood,” says Phil Hirst. “Many of the charity’s gardens are centred around children, but this time the focus was different – to offer parents and families a space to process grief and find comfort at an unimaginably difficult time.”

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

October 2025 29

Stepping Stone and Hanging Wall Plaque Fresh designs with strong in-store performance.

Four new collections inspired

by British animals and rural themes. Etched details and mixed pallet deals make them ideal for high-volume sales with strong promotional pricing.

Individually handcrafted fountains with a modern touch.

NEW

The Virtue range grows in 2026 with new LED-lit designs. Hand-finished features with strong visual appeal, proven demand and attractive pricing.

category for

2026

12 NEW

products for

2026

Timeless designs to elevate your outdoor space.

Hedra Premium Cast Stone is our new range of statement water features, blending elegant forms with authentic stone finishes. Designed as true focal points, they come with branded POS for strong in-store impact.

NEW

category for P re m i u m C a s t St o n e

2026

MAKE ANY

GARDEN by

NEW

category for

2026

Compact format.

Big impact.

GardenScape the new decorative aggregate range, ideal for smaller stores & indoor areas. With a lifestyle stand and POS, it delivers strong shelf presence and wider reach.

Altico leads in landscape and decorative garden products, with a 2026 range built on innovation and in-store impact. From aggregates and paving to water features and premium cast stone, the refreshed line-up adds new categories, exclusive collections and smart POS. Backed by our partnership with Katie Rushworth, it’s designed to drive sales, inspire customers and Make Any Garden Beautiful.

Christmas 2025

Promoting that festive feeling

Coinciding with Christmas departments opening in garden centres across the country, The Big Christmas Press Show in London bought companies and communicators together the kick off festive consumer promotions.

J

ournalists and influencers were out in force last month to find the hottest new products to promote for this year’s festive season. Companies including Baylis & Harding, Mattel and Ruggable, including many others that supply garden centres, had plenty to talk about at The Big Christmas Press Show in mid-September.

As well as promoting product, British Garden Centres (BGC) and Dobbies were showing off their new Christmas lines and spreading the message that garden centres are the perfect place to find everything for the season and make Christmas family memories. BGC also promoted seasonal stats showing is sells 169,302 sets of Christmas lights, more than 1 million decorations and 30,432 real Christmas trees.

“The garden centre isn’t just about plants,” said Phillipa Stubbs, Head of British Garden Centres. “It’s a massive part, but we are trying show how much we do at Christmas, the quality and the whole experience that you can build on.

From displays to the fun with children

32 October 2025

Left: A snowy welcome from Dobbies.

Right: Phillipa and Libby Stubbs from British Garden Centres were first timers to The Big Christmas Press Show

and families, to food in the restaurants, it can be a day out. It’s all one big memory experience.”

Libby Stubbs adds: “We have done a lot with influencers over spring summer which has been good for us. Now we have navigated that, we are looking to expand and work with more home and lifestyle people over Christmas to show that maybe even if customers are not the most green fingered,

a garden centre can still be for them.”

BCG kicked off Christmas at its Bridgenorth store on Saturday September 19th, followed a day later by Brigg Garden Centre. All centres will be selling Christmas by 12th October.

Dobbies welcomed visitors with foam snow and energetic elves. “This event gives us the opportunity to meet with influences, retail and consumer media to

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

Christmas 2025

Zoe Southworth of KAP Toys with Mini Garden Mermaid, a new line from Creativity for Kids.

KAP Toys is keen to make connections with garden retailers as it believes its products are a good fit for garden centre customers.

Above: The Matcha Advent Calendar from Bird & Blend was a Judges Pick in the event’s Wishlist Awards. “We were the first brand to come up with the tea advent calendar and this year we have three types – with caffeine, caffeine free and matcha which is new for this year,” says Megan Bond from Bird & Blend. Each day has two teabags while the matcha has a tin with enough for two drinks. Retailing at £39.50 and £55 for the matcha, the advent calendars have, for the first time this year, been picked up by Selfridges and John Lewis.

Left: Ruggable’s Elwood Forest Green Rug is part of the new 2025 collection and brings Christmas to any room with retail prices starting at £89.99.

From Ravensburger, a new launch is the My Little Plants Play+Pretend Collection with an rrp of £29.99. It comes under the Play Plus brand with products suited from birth to four years and includes, for the first time, a range of books to encourage play and development. Also new is an advent calendar jigsaw with 24 separate puzzles which can be linked together to make one big festive picture.

Above: Even though it was new last year, the Christmas wreath from LEGO was still generating much interest. It’s part of the Botanicals range retailing at £89.99.

Left: In a range of six colours, Icon Can Insulators from Thermos are a great Christmas gift retailing at around £15.

showcase what Dobbies has on offer,” said Amelia Whittaker, PR and Communications Manager.

This year it will focus on bringing Christmas to life in every sense with scent being high on the list. “We also have gifts for everyone on all budgets and gifts for gardeners including the newly launched bulb collection with £5 from every pack going towards our charity partner Alzheimers UK.” Christmas will be in Dobbies stores from October 2nd with Santa from Nov 23rd.

to fill a clear plastic or glass bauble with dried flower heads and stems. Add a strip of velvet in a coordinating colour and you have a naturally inspired bauble to add to any tree or give as a gift. “It’s also perfect for hen do activity or Christmas wedding,”

says the farm’s founder Alison Coleman. “This is a new thing for us, but we bought the materials to the show as it was an easy way to get visitors involved. It’s so simple but it’s been fantastic and a real success.”

To accompany wreath making A great idea for garden centres to add to craft or wreath making workshops came from Lower Norton Flower Farm based in Winchester. Using dried flowers, it’s easy

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

October 2025 33

Christmas trees

Keep it real… and British New assets and advice from the British Christmas Tree Growers Association, helps garden retailers make the most of home-grown trees.

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ith its new publication, printable resources, readymade social media posts, guidance and links to videos, the British Christmas Tree Growers Association (BCTGA) is forging close collaboration between growers, buyers and retailers.

The aim is to collectively bring customers across the UK, the freshest, highest quality real Christmas trees to make the festive season a success.

The 2025 Buyers Support Pack: Customer Information Toolkit has everything retailers need to update teams on how to care for and promote trees in the retail setting this November and December. Plus, it offers guidance and information for point of sale to pass on to consumers so they can enjoy their tree for the whole of the festive season.

“Like cut flowers, real Christmas trees are perishable. With the right care, a well-chosen tree can last up to four weeks.

While growers take every care to deliver a premium product, how trees are handled on arrival plays a key role in maintaining their freshness and condition — whether in-store, on display, or awaiting sale. To maintain freshness and shape, it’s essential to remove trees from pallets within 1–2 days of delivery, store them upright, and keep them in a cool, sheltered area,” advises Russell Parkins, BCTGA Chair.

The support pack is a first for the BCTGA, which has 300 grower and growerretail members, and includes data from the 2023 market research. It reveals 36% of consumers bought a cut tree before the first Saturday in December illustrating the need for good aftercare.

For 2025, it recommends launching the Christmas tree sales season from Saturday 26th November. “UK-grown Christmas trees are in excellent shape this year. With no late frosts to damage new growth, trees

34 October 2025

are looking strong across the board. We encourage buyers to look locally — our growers offer a range of different species and sized trees,” says Russell.

It’s not just about Christmas The Association is also working to get across the all-year-round benefits of British Christmas trees to wildlife, the rural economy and the environment.

It takes around 10 years to grow 6ft trees during which time they provide a vital habitat for wildlife, contribute to flood alleviation, boost biodiversity in arable areas while all the time photosynthesising.

They are also fully recyclable, with mulch returning to farms and gardens.

Economic benefits support the local job market and for some farmers, it is a useful option for diversifying.

Coolings, The Gardener’s Garden Centre, in Kent lets customers know its trees are locally grown.

At Perrywood Garden Centre, Sudbury customers are encouraged to take a photograph of the care information, so they have it to hand at home.

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

Christmas trees

Caring for your real Christmas tree Thank you for supporting a British grower. Buying British has reduced your ‘tree miles’ and helped ensure a fresher product with a lower carbon footprint.

Real Christmas tree plantations play an important role in the British landscape, not only at Christmas but all year round, and contribute to a mosaic of important habitats which support our wildlife.

Real Christmas trees are a fresh product which have been nurtured for up to 10 years before being harvested. Your grower has taken every care to provide you with the best tree possible and we would advise following the steps to keep your tree fresh and fragrant throughout the festive season:

When you get your tree home Once you get your tree home, keep it outside until you are ready to decorate it…don’t forget to keep it watered.

Plan your trees location Keep your tree away from fires, radiators and drafts.

If you have underfloor heating, turn the zone off where your Christmas tree is or use a mat to prevent it from getting too hot.

Above: Ready-made social media posts for retailers from the BCTGA. Left: Ready-made care leaflets for consumers and retailers.

Bringing your tree inside

Before bringing your tree inside, tap the bottom of the tree onto the ground.

This will remove any old needles which the tree naturally sheds throughout its life.

Keep your tree watererd They drink more than you think!

For cut trees, choose a water holding stand that is the right size for your tree.

If you have a pot grown tree, keep it watered.

Speak with your grower for more care advice and information on how to recycle your tree

British Christmas tree information and resources

2025 BCTGA WHOLESALE LIST Each year, the BCTGA produces a wholesale list to connect buyers with its nationwide network of growers. The guide offers an easy way to find growers of eight different types of trees from Fraser fir to Serbian spruce, plus those offering pot grown trees, wreaths and foliage. Whether needing a few dozen or few thousand, the guide can help retailers find trusted British growers from across the UK.

2025 BCTGA BUYERS SUPPORT PACK Use this QR code to get straight to The 2025 Buyers Support Pack: Customer Information Toolkit, which has all the links to printable information, social media posts and animated videos. www.bctga.co.uk

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

October 2025 35

Planteria

Turning heads and changing minds

I

More than 130 begonias in an independent trial, add colour to the Floral Fantasia demonstration garden and help retailers find new varieties for future sales.

nto the autumn, and the Floral Fantasia garden continues to wow visitors to RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Essex. Thanks to industry support, including Miracle Gro for the 20205-26 season, more than 130 varieties of begonia have been trialled in beds and containers to show the breadth of this colourful plant group. This is in addition to many shrubs, perennials and other annuals in the ornamental borders.

“Begonias may not be your favourite, but here you can really see their garden value,” says Michael Smith, Chair of the Floral Fantasia Working Group.

An asset for garden centres, a visit with growers is encouraged to aid future production decisions and keep planteria staff up to date with new ideas. Andy Bunker, partner of Alton Garden Centre, Essex says Floral Fantasia promotes an almost ‘back to basics’ way of gardening. “There are a lot of straightforward bedding plants being grown here and this is one of biggest categories of plants we sell in garden centres because they are simple to grow in a container or border.”

Andy sees Floral Fantasia as an independent platform in the UK to bring industry sectors together – a bit like a mini FlowerTrials in Holland and Germany where growers and retailers see new plants and get ideas. “One thing we don’t so do well is tie up between growers, breeders and retailers. I’m a firm believer in everyone talking and working together.”

Begonia trials Throughout the whole summer, begonias have been assessed and the best varieties will receive an RHS Award of Garden Merit. Coupled with this, is the People’s Choice visitor vote, which can help garden centres confidently choose varieties likely to ultimately be best sellers.

Results of both will be made known in the autumn.

Although a priority is assessing individual varieties, the trial also shows how impressive many of the plants can be in the garden border and landscape setting once they have matured, as they are smothered in flower and have the bonus of highly glossy leaves. Selling this message at retail when plants are small can be difficult and is something Michael is looking at to find a solution.

36 October 2025

Under a perfect Essex sky, begonias perform alongside a range of other bedding and seasonal plants.

Ideas for combining begonias with other plants for colourful containers.

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

Planteria

New selections of begonia are displaying highly glossy foliage and proving to be robust landscape and border plants.

Michael Smith talks to members of the press at Floral Fantasia

More than plants The new partnership with Miracle Gro means Floral Fantasia is now not just about monitoring plants, products too are being used to see how they perform growing a broad range of subjects in different planting scenarios.

Karen Wilkinson, Marketing Director for UK & Ireland at Evergreen Garden Care, said the ideal behind Floral Fantasia, which is to encourage everyone to garden, perfectly aligned with Miracle Gro’s aims to inspire and educate. “It gives us feedback, insight and an independent view on how our watering and feeding products and peat-free growing media are working in a real and challenging environment,” she said.

One of the 59 Begonia tuberhybrida in the trial.

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

For 2026, antirrhinum will be trialled.

Breeders wanting to have their plants included in the trial or in the garden are encouraged to contact Michael Smith at W D Smith & Son, Chair of the Floral Fantasia Working Group. michael@wdsmith.com

Industry support

Floral Fantasia is an independent legacy project created by the late Peter Seabrook to promote seasonal plants in a trial and garden setting. Its working group is made up of representatives from breeders, growers, retailers and marketing.

To further develop Floral Fantasia, the working group to looking to improve signage and messaging and come up with a package to tempt a retail partner.

Industry supporters • Miracle Gro • Volmary • Ball • Bpoa • Beekenkamp • Kerley & Co • Syngenta flowers • Whartons • Mr Fothergill’s • Hayloft • Kings Seeds • The Colegrave Seabrook Foundation

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Horticulture, The Conference, 2025 Celebrating UK Growers

It was a big night for Hillier Nurseries, which won three of the HTA Grower of the Year awards presented after the Conference at an evening dinner. “We’ve seen an increase in the number of nominations, a wider variety of businesses entering, and yet more entries of a phenomenally high standard,” says Pippa Greenwood, Horticulture Manager at the HTA. “The standard of entries for the Best Staff Member award demonstrates just how important staff are to the industry and the businesses themselves. The Young Grower award nominations were exceptional, and a clear reminder that UK environmental horticulture has a great future.”

Natalie Boynton is the 2025 recipient of the HTA’s Pearson Memorial Medal. Presented by Will Armitage, the award recognises her substantial contributions to the industry which includes her role as Sales Director at Happy Plants, being a leading participant of the HTA’s Nursery Working Group which led to the development of taupe pots and as a founder of the YPHA.

Getting down to business

Report launches, retail innovation and market insights top the bill of the HTA’s annual Horticulture, The Conference.

H

TA Conference 2025 opened with “we are widely recognised as an industry that makes things better.”

Josh McBain gave a bleak view of the geopolitical future which was then countered by a series of sessions focussing on the positives of our industry.

Gifts for Teachers as a growing trend was highlighted by David Denny, Liz Dowling illustrated the success of brand building through storytelling and Amy Stubbs explained that BGC were striving to gain customers for life by creating memories and experiences that make them smile.

Your Garden Year, a new HTA promotional kit was launched, MP’s and ministers spun their messages into the horticultural theme. Caroline Voaden, MP for South Devon said that garden centres are the happiest retail places in Britain.

Alan Roper extolled passion as a key factor in leadership excellence.

James Barnes was thanked by all as he retires, for his role in the Covid period, and Hillier Nurseries won most of the Grower of the Year Awards.

Well done HTA for a stimulating and most useful conference.

Congratulations to the winners.

• Blooming Marvellous Employer • Hillier Nurseries Ltd • Inspirational Business • Greenwood Plants • Life Beyond Peat • Hillier Nurseries Ltd • Plant Producer • Hillier Nurseries Ltd • Best Staff Member • Jane Poyner, Majestic Trees • Young Grower under 35 • Thomas Smith, Majestic Trees

Congratulations to the teams from Hillier Nurseries which enjoyed success in the awards.

The Value of Gardens

For the retail sector, the HTA has launched Your Garden Year. This seasonal schedule of online support and assets will help promote all-year-round gardening and drive engagement and repeat visits.

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With the ambition to build 1.5m new homes in the UK, the HTA has, for the first time, delivered a new report clearly outlining the value of gardens to health, jobs and the environment and why they should be an integral part of the plans. The Value of Gardens will be used by the HTA and Environmental Horticulture sector to lobby for a Government Office for Green Spaces and secure a minimum garden density for all new housing developments. By bringing together facts and figures, the report provides the evidence policy makers need when making important decisions.

Among the findings it shows that 29.5% of urban Great British is covered by gardens and that 86% of UK adults have either a private garden, terrace or patio garden.

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

Viewpoint

It’s all about your business values and your people Will Armitage, HTA President fostering a positive culture and creating an environment that encourages the best possible working conditions.

Authenticity

E

ssentially, we grow and sell plants, but our industry is much more than that.

How do we ensure success? Aside from the obvious factors (weather, sales, customer satisfaction), my key takeaways from the HTA’s Horticulture, the Conference are: values, people and authenticity.

Sitting in the auditorium of the iconic Barbican Centre in London, listening to Alan Roper, Natalie Boynton and Colin Stephens’ Business Leaders’ discussion, I realised regardless of the style, size or type of business, there are a few significant themes that connect all our businesses. Alan informed us that Blue Diamond’s annual turnover was in the region of £370 million, but the same three things can measure the success of his business as a small family-run business… values, people and authenticity.

Business values and people In my own career, I would agree these are some of the most critical areas of business.

Any emerging business needs to establish core values early on. By communicating them to your team, your employees will then hold those values true in every area of decision-making. If you haven’t done so already, it’s essential to focus on what your business values are and how well you

www.gardentradenews.co.uk

When it comes to social media and marketing, authenticity is one of the words you hear frequently. It’s something we’re already seeing in the next generation of horticulturists coming into the industry, thanks to groups like the YPHA. The younger generation understands this. They understand the importance of upholding these values, being true to oneself, and being authentic. The question is… is your business there yet? Have you already adopted authenticity into your business values and social media posts? communicate those to your team. If you can successfully convey your ideas and beliefs, your staff will want to live and breathe those values and you, as an employer, will be able to rely on and trust your people.

About 15 years ago, I visited an organisation in North Yorkshire that made gas sensors for submarines. I was taken down the stairs from the offices to where the technicians worked in hermetically sealed rooms. The one thing I noticed was that everywhere I looked, the company’s values were displayed on the wall. I remember at the time thinking it was a great way for the management team to constantly remind everyone of the company’s values; from top to bottom, everyone knew, and therefore everyone held those values to be true. I then enlisted the help of a third-party consultant to incorporate that into our organisation. This isn’t rocket science…but it works.

Back at the Barbican Centre, I noticed that values and caring for staff were prominent themes during the Grower of the Year Awards presentation on the evening of the Conference. Both the Young Grower and Staff Member awards demonstrated how their organisations had taken the time to understand and communicate their values,

Don’t forget the plants Horticulture, the Conference was also a perfect opportunity for me to chat with our members and listen to what they’re saying about the state of business at the moment.

I think we can all agree that retailers have had a pretty good year so far. The long, hot spring provided fantastic conditions for retailers, but it tailed off towards the end as it got hotter, and water restrictions were introduced which meant our growers didn’t benefit from the back end of the season.

My final words of advice… While you’re busy putting out Christmas stock, don’t forget that autumn is the perfect time for planting trees and shrubs so there’s still plenty of value in stocking plants. Remember your growers; they need your support at this time of year, so they’ll still be there for you in the spring.

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, pleaase visit www.hta.org.uk or to enquire about membership please email: membership@hta.org.uk

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See what’s in store for 2026

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