FEBRUARY 2025
gardentradenews.co.uk
Advice & information for garden centre professionals
GTN’S GREATEST CHRISTMAS AWARDS – 30 pages of winner’s pictures
Gold for British Garden Centres –
Christmas Award wins and 7 new centres
FORGING AHEAD GTN visits UK Firepits
NEW PLANTS GALORE IPM Essen
BARTON GRANGE BACK ON TOP All the GCA Conference winners
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Comment
The Unique Garden Centre Experience
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ast month GTN had the honour of being asked to present to the GCA on the conference theme of The Unique Garden Centre Experience: “Over the years, the GTN team have visited hundreds of garden centres and we can categorically say: “Unique experiences at UK Garden Centres, you bet!” “Most recently we’ve been to over 120 centres to meet their Christmas teams as part of The Greatest Christmas Awards and the quality and uniqueness we saw was amazing! “Christmas themes and displays, unique merchandising, unique experiences with many, many lines, not all bestsellers but creating a memorable experience for customers and providing real customer satisfaction. “The teams in each centre apply their own individuality on Christmas retailing so customers really do get a unique experience, just as our judges did. “But what is it that drives and enables that uniqueness? “I believe it is an inherent “Sense of Nurture” that comes from your horticultural roots. “From the beginning of garden centres you’ve always known that you can’t sell dead plants and to have the best reputation and business growth you have to be selling the best plants in tip top condition. “That’s where it all starts, a “Sense of Nurture” no other retailer has. “Then with that inherent “Sense of Nurture”, when you start to add other aspects to your garden centre experience you also apply that same “Sense of Nurture”. If you sell great plants you will serve great coffee, your afternoon tea experience will match your special planetaria ambience, your gifts will reflect your unique offering, your Christmas will be the best in the area, your pet products will set you apart from other pet retailers, your buildings will have a different look and feel to other retailers.
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“You don’t just do things based on spreadsheets, you do them with a deep “Sense of Nurture”. That’s why the Flowerbowl at Barton Grange is so special, unique and very successful. “You nurture your community, your customers and of course your staff. “When it comes to dealing with suppliers, I believe you lean towards those who also share your sense of nurture. Suppliers who care about their products and about you, their most important part of the chain, the garden centre retail outlet. “But it’s that sense of nurturing plants and gardening that really sets Garden Centres apart from all other retailers. “A beautifully nurtured Planteria is not just a great place to shop it’s a great place to visit, relax and re-energise. What other retailer or dining establishment can match that? “Plants and the seasons are the key when it comes to the initial visual uniqueness of a garden centre visit. Plants looking good change constantly, and with the unique innate “Sense of Nurture” that sits within all great Planteria staff the displays from one centre to the next will always be different, even within a group of centres. “So, I pose to conference that your key to continued uniqueness and success is to fully harness your “Sense of Nurture”, to make sure customers know that it is a point of difference and a reason for them to keep coming back and shopping with you. “There are many in this room who were given that sense of nurture from their parents, the founders of the garden centre business, but for the future I urge you to develop ways of ensuring the new generation of garden centre staff, managers and owners get a chance to share and further develop that wonderful unique garden centre retailing phenomenon - Nurture. “Thank you.”
In this issue... 14
22 pages of Greatest Christmas Award Winners
44
Politics doesn’t matter – EHG Column
Retailing at its best – GCA Conference Awards
38
Moments of Christmas Brilliance
45
Focus for 2025 – HTA Column
46
10
Forging ahead with UK Firepits
41
Adapting to changing climates – LOFA Column
13
Christmas through the eyes of a Greatest Awards judge
10 years at Greenfingers for Linda Petrons
47
42
New Plants Galore at IPM Essen
A year of reset and growth? – GIMA Column
www.gardentradenews.co.uk
gardentradenews.co.uk
Advice & information for garden centre professionals
GTN S GREATEST GTN’S CHRISTMAS AWARDS – 30 pages of winner’s pictures
Gold for British Garden Centres –
Christmas Award wins and 7 new centres
FORGING AHEAD GTN visits UK Firepits
NEW PLANTS GALORE
BARTON GRANGE BACK ON TOP
IPM Essen
All the GCA Conference 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?
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Potting Shed Press Ltd 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
Christmas Greatness Awarded at Spring Fair
8
FEBRUARY 2025
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.
Febru uary 2025 3
GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards
A gathering of Christmas greatness The results are in. After visiting 120 centres in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England, the team of judges revealed the winners and finalists of GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards. At Spring Fair, centres celebrated winning their awards and receiving certificates to officially crown them the best of the best when it comes to promoting Christmas The Greatest Giant Garden Centre Christmas Team – sponsored by Kaemingk GOLD: Bents Garden and Home SILVER: Perrywood Tiptree BRONZE: Gates Finalists: • Barton Grange Garden Centre • Garsons Esher • Ruxley Manor Garden Centre • Webbs, Whycbold
The Greatest Group Large Garden Centre Christmas Team – sponsored by Tildenet GOLD: BGC, Brigg Garden Centre SILVER: Notcutts Rivendell SILVER: Blue Diamond, Sanders Garden Centre BRONZE: BGC, Arcadia Garden Centre HIGHLY COMMENDED: Haskins Snow Hill Garden Centre Finalists: • BGC, Ramsgate Garden Centre • Klondyke High Legh Garden Centre • Notcutts Oxford • Squires Badshot Lea
4 February 2025
The Greatest Group Small Garden Centre Christmas Team – sponsored by Woodmansterne GOLD: BGC, Harrogate Garden Centre SILVER: BGC, Studley Garden Centre BRONZE: BGC, Wolseley Bridge Garden Centre
Finalists: • BGC, Albrighton Garden Centre • BGC, Brockworth Garden Centre • Garden King • BGC Hemel Hempstead Garden Centre
GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards
The Greatest Large Garden Centre Christmas Team – sponsored by MorePeople GOLD: Pugh’s Radyr SILVER: Garsons Titchfield BRONZE: Old Railway Line Garden Centre BRONZE: Wentworth Garden Centre Finalists • Hillmount Garden Centre, Belfast • Meadow Croft Garden Centre • Raemoir Garden Centre • Thetford Garden Centre • Wentworth Garden Centre
The Greatest Christmas Houseplant Team – sponsored by Woodlodge The Greatest Mid-Sized Garden Centre Christmas Team – sponsored by Kaemingk GOLD: Birkacre SILVER: Castle Gardens BRONZE: Glendoick Finalists: • Bosworths • Jacksons Boutique • Newquay Garden Centre • Silverbirch
SILVER: Munro’s Nurseries BRONZE: Poundbury Garden Centre HIGHLY COMMENDED: Duchy of Cornwall Nursery HIGHLY COMMENDED: Rutland Nursery Finalist: • Norwiich h Campiing & Leiisure
GOLD: Webbs, Wychbold SILVER: Newquay Garden Centre BRONZE: Haskins Garden Centre Snowhill HIGHLY COMMENDED: BGC, Studley Garden Centre HIGHLY COMMENDED: Snowdonia Nurseries Finalists: • BGC, Brigg Garden Centre • Gates • Klondyke High Legh Garden Centre • Perrywood Tiptree • Rutland Nursery • Squires Badshot Lea
The Greatest Small Garden Centre Christmas Team – sponsored by Garden Radio
The Greatest Outdoor Plant and Christmas Tree Team – sponsored by Pelsis Doff
GOLD: Cooks Garden Centre
GOLD: BGC: Wolesely Bridge SILVER: Coolings Rushmoor Hill SILVER: Gates BRONZE: Pughs Garden Village, Wenvoe and Radyr HIGHLY COMMENDED: Poundbury Garden Centre HIGHLY COMMENDED: St Peter’s Garden Centre HIGHLY COMMENDED: Jackson’s Boutique Finalists: • Blue Diamond Newbridge Nurseries • Ellerker Lodge Garden Centre • Haskins Garden Centre, Ferndown • Pengelly Garden Centre • Meadow Croft Garden Centre • Wentworth Garden Centre
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February 2025 5
GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards
The Greatest Gardening as a Christmas Gift Sales Team – sponsored by Fandango Fire Tools GOLD: Gates SILVER: Duchy of Cornwall Nursery SILVER: Notcutts Rivendell BRONZE: Blue Diamond Newbridge Nurseries Finalists: • Glendoik Garden Centre • Notcutts, Rivendell • Wentworth Garden Centre
The Greatest Christmas Gifts Team – sponsored by Museums and Galleries GOLD: Duchy of Cornwall Nursery SILVER: Gates BRONZE: Perrywood Tiptree Finalists: • BGC, Brigg Garden Centre • Glendoick Garden Centre • Old Railway Line Garden Centre • Raemoir Garden Centre • Rutland Nursery • Wentworth Garden Centre
The Greatest Christmas BBQ and Outdoor Leisure Team – The SOLEX X Sizzle – sponsored by SOLEX GOLD: Newquay Garden Centre SILVER: Polhill Garden Centre BRONZE: Alton BBQ World Finalists: • Cambridge Home and Garden • Old Railway Line • Planters Tamworth
The Greatest Festive Retail Food Team – sponsored by Pleydell Smithyman
• Glendoick Garden Centre • Ruxley Manor Garden Centre • St Peters Garden Centre
GOLD: Pughs Garden Village Radyr and Wenvoe SILVER: Gates BRONZE: Notcutts Rivendell HIGHLY COMMENDED: Blue Diamond Beckworth Emporium Finalists: • Bow Garden & Aquatic Centre • Chessington Garden Centre • Garsons Esher
The Greatest Christmas Wild Bird Care & Pet Team – sponsored by Marriages GOLD: Monkton Elm Garden Centre SILVER: Ruxley Manor Garden Centre BRONZE: Notcutts Solihull HIGHLY COMMENDED: BGC, Wolseley Bridge Garden Centre Finalists: • BGC, Wolseley Bridge Garden Centre • Fairways Garden Centre • Gates • Hillmount Garden Centre, Ards • Webbs, Whybold
The Greatest Garden Centre Grotto Tea am – sponsored by Smart Garden Pro oducts – Three Kings GOLD: Ruxley Manor Garden Centre SILV VER: Goulding’s Garden Centre Santa Experience BRO ONZE: Baytree Garden Centre
6 February 2025
www.gardentradenews.co.uk
GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards
Finalists: • BGC, Brigg Garden Centre • BGC, Hornsea Garden Centre • Chessington Garden Centre • Coolings Lifestyle • Hillmount Garden Centre, Belfast • Keydell Nurseries • Rosebank Garden Centre • Wentworth Garden Centre
The Greatest Garden Centre Christmas Promotions Team – sponsored by Glee GOLD: Pugh’s garden centre group SILVER: Alton Garden Centre BRONZE: BGC, Albrighton Garden Centre Finalists: • Keydell Nurseries • Old Railway Line Garden Centre • Pengelly Garden Centre
The Greatest Christmas Garden Centre Supplier Team – As voted for by the garden centre teams visited by the judges. GOLD: Smart Garden - Three Kings SILVER: Festive BRONZE: Kaemingk Finalists • Coach House • Florasilk • Giftware Trading • Gisela Graham • Premier • Richard Lang • Seasonal Group
GTN Greatest Christmas Special Awards The Greatest Christmas in Adversity Team • Pengelly Garden Centre • The Old Well Garden Centre
The Greatest Outdoor Christmas Event • Webbs Wychbold
The Greatest Group Team at Christmas • British Garden Centres
The Greatest Christmas Garden Centre Team as voted for by customers GOLD: Birkacre Garden Centre SILVER BGC, Allbrighton Garden Centre BRONZE: Keydell Nurseries
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February 2024 7
GCA Conference and Awards
Congratulations to Barton Grange Garden Centre for being named Destination Garden Centre of the Year 2024
Retailing at its best
T
Barton Grange, Fron Goch and Millbrook Staplehurst are crowned at this year’s GCA Conference
he GCA now has another successful conference under its belt, with January’s three day event taking place in Reading. An opportunity to learn, network and forge new contacts, it also stages its annual awards, a culmination of the Association’s inspections of all its members to recognise the very best in garden centre retailing. Delegates also voted for their favourite Rising Stars project and entries for 2025 are now welcome. “Each year, our members go from strength to strength and the competition to reach the top spots is more hotly contested,” says Peter Burks, GCA Chief Executive. “They have all been recognised for their amazing dedication to delivering the very best within our industry and they couldn’t be more deserving of these fabulous awards.”
8 February 2025
Diary date The 2026 GCA Conference will take place from 25th-28th January at Carden Park, Chester.
Above: Congratulations to Millbrook Garden Company, Staplehurst for being named Local Garden Centre of the Year 2024 Left: Cheers all round as Fron Goch Garden Centre is the well-deserved Garden Centre of the Year 2024.
GCA Conference and Awards
Garden Centres of Excellence (alphabetical order)
Congratulations to Lyme Bay Winery for being voted Associate of the Year by GCA garden centre members.
• Aylett Nurseries • Barton Grange Garden Centre • Bents Garden & Home • Fron Goch Garden Centre • Meadow Croft Garden Centre • Perrywood Garden Centre, Sudbury • Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree • Ruxley Manor Garden Centre • The Old Railway Line Garden Centre • Thurrock Garden Centre
The Barton Grange Trophy for Commercial Creativity and Innovation went to Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree and was one of four awards it was presented with.
Pyle Garden Centre took home the Dick Allen Award for the most improved garden centre.
Castle Gardens wins the Paul Cooling Environment and Sustainability Award and also went home with a further two awards. Many congratulations to Ben Clarke from Knights Garden Centre, Naggs Hall for winning the Westland and GCA Rising Stars award. His project using environmentally sympathetic methods to improve the health of roses in the planteria and houseplants, was the favourite of delegates who chose from the initiatives four finalists.
For its successful Christmas campaign with Age Cymru ‘Don’t Bear Christmas Alone’, Pugh’s Garden Centres was awarded The Worrall Cup. It was a busy conference for the company with the Pughs centres winning a further three awards.
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Garsons Garden Centre Esher and Titchfield both won The Outdoor Living Award for the best retailer of outdoor living within their categories while the Esher site also won in the Christmas Competition.
February 2025 9
Promotion
Forging ahead Tucked away on a small industrial estate in rural Monmouthshire, is Firepits UK, a bustling family business bringing highly desired and novel designs to enhance outdoor living and cooking.
A
t first glance, it’s just another small factory. But take a deeper dive, and you’ll discover a remarkable entrepreneurial enterprise whose ambition is making a significant mark on the outdoor leisure market. Since 2008, Firepits UK has been manufacturing not only firepits in a host of novel designs but also a growing range of chimeneas, pizza ovens, outdoor kitchens, log stores and a long list of accessories, all finished to exacting quality standards and designed to last. Many of the features – like the Swing Arm BBQ Rack – are exclusive.
10 February 2025
The Firepits UK story has three remarkable threads: • Unusual origins. • A commitment to making the entire product range and every single component right here on its UK site. • A dedication to maximum sustainability. “ ‘Handmade in Britain’ is our boast and we’re very proud of it,” says Tim Ross, Founder and Director. In an era when Britain has shed much of its manufacturing capacity, it’s encouraging to find a business that has successfully eschewed the stampede to outsource its operations to the Far East and carved out a
www.gardentradenews.co.uk
Promotion
rewarding niche on home soil. For garden retailers looking to add a distinctive range in an increasingly on-trend category, there’s an opportunity here to tell a compelling story that will grab the attention of consumers. The designs are all Tim’s creations, and he continues to add to the collection of more than 40 distinctive fire pits, while the range of barbecue accessories
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demonstrates the company’s passion for promoting cooking over fire. He believes your fire pit should work hard for you over its long life, providing warmth and being ideal for outdoor cooking.
The initial spark It all started back in 2008 when Tim and Emma Ross’s teenage son held a party at the family’s home near Usk. The
unpredictable cool British summer weather threatened to put a damper on the affair….so Tim came up with a solution. He made a fire pit, which kept the partygoers warm into the small hours. When everyone they knew then wanted one too, Tim and Emma spotted the business opportunity that led to the founding of Firepits UK. The couple, who already had a successful venture in the art, picture framing and home wares market behind them, set out to establish a small factory from scratch to make the most of the burgeoning outdoor living sector with a range of designs that combined a contemporary ‘industrial’ style with outstanding build quality and finish. All the products were to be made
February 2025 11
Promotion
Reasons to use Firepits UK within your outdoor leisure department • All products hand-made in Britain • Quality products built to last • Support for British manufacturing • Factory provides local rural jobs • Employment for skilled metalworkers • Competitive pricing • Distinctive products for warmth, comfort – and cooking over fire • Sustainability is a priority • Flexible orders with low minimum order requirement
on site at their rented industrial unit and the required steel sourced in the UK as locally as possible. Until recently, this was from Tata Steel’s Port Talbot works, minimising transport emissions, but following the switch from coke to electric furnaces there, the steel now comes from the same supplier’s works in Northern Ireland. All Firepits UK’s products use high grade steel that is at last 3mm thick – much greater than many rival products, Tim says, ensuring good performance and a long life. The finished products are uncoated, with no detergents applied, so will show natural signs of weathering as time passes (Tim prefers to describe it as a ‘shabby chic’ patina rather than rust). With the help of sophisticated metal spinning and forming technology, including the latest fibre lasers, they are hand-made by around 10 highly trained
12 February 2025
craftsmen and designed to last a good 10 years. Undertaking the entire production process on site means the quality of the build can be tightly controlled. Sustainability is at the heart of the business. “We prioritise keeping our environmental impact as low as possible and look for ways to improve this on an ongoing basis,” says Tim. For example, all leftover steel and offcuts are returned to Tata at Port Talbot for re-processing. Admittedly, heat and energy are required but the production chain has been organised to keep emissions as low as possible. Packaging is kept to a minimum and if not reusable is recyclable. Firepits UK products tell a compelling story that will chime with the demands of a growing number of today’s consumers, and the team is happy to discuss designs and ranges to suit specific requirements.
Find out more
For information about products and stocking visit: firepitsuk.co.uk Email: sales@firepitsuk.co.uk Tel: 01873 840777
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G TN’ss G reattest Ch hristmas A wards GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards
Through the eyes of a judge What creates the sprinkle of award-winning festive magic in garden centres at Christmas? Lilidh Matthews offers insights and highlights from her visits to centres in Devon and Cornwall while judging for the GTN Greatest Christmas Awards.
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arden centres have become more than just retail spaces, with each a destination of joy, where families create lasting memories. Stepping into a garden centre at Christmas is to experience a new festive story, reflecting the passion, dedication, and energy of the teams behind the scenes. As a judge for the GTN Greatest Christmas Awards at the end of 2024, I had the privilege of visiting ten standout garden centres across the Southwest, each with its own unique take on Christmas. From Cornwall to Dorset, I was amazed by how the teams bought the season to life. I was in awe of the creativity on display and even after weeks of singing penguins, replenishment, and endless Christmas music, the enthusiasm I encountered never wavered. This passion is what keeps customers coming back year after year. The teams at the centres I visited, certainly rose to the challenge and captured the true spirit of Christmas in their own extraordinary ways.
A magical experience Judging was no easy task, because every centre poured its heart into Christmas -visiting each centre for the first time made the experience even more special. Their individual personalities and characters shone through, yet they all shared the same goal: to bring Christmas joy to customers and their communities. Being a Christmas judge wasn’t just about awarding scores, it was about celebrating those who make the season magical and recognising where traditions had been kept alive and the festive spirit woven into every detail. From months of preparation to the final sprinkle of festive magic, their dedication is nothing short of extraordinary. With such a high calibre of centres to visit, judging was not without its challenges. The level of competition was incredibly high, making it difficult
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to single out winners and even harder to battle it out with the judges who had visited the other corners of our country. Duchy of Cornwall Nursery: Evolving Experiences & Community Spirit Proud that no two visits are the same, the displays evolve daily at the Duchy of Cornwall keeping the experience fresh for customers. Sustainability was at the heart of their offering, with my favourite product being the fabric tinsel adding a sustainable luxurious touch. Newquay Garden Centre: Festive Fun & Playful Creativity Passion radiated from every corner of Newquay Garden Centre, with clever Christmas humour infused into the displays. From the “Hoe Hoe Hoe” tools section to the ‘melted’ snowman in the sale section, their festive spirit was infectious. Their living baubles set a new Christmas trend. Pengelly Garden Centre: Resilience & Immersive Wonder Despite Storm Darragh’s challenges causing the loss of two key trading days, the spirit of the team at Pengelly Garden Centre never wavered. I was overwhelmed by the camaraderie and determination as a team to restore the magic of Christmas overnight despite the storm literally ripping off the roof. Bow Garden & Aquatic Centre: Local Identity & Thoughtful Details Every detail of Bow Garden & Aquatic Centre reflected the surrounding community, from the ‘Farm Tree’ decorated with their bestselling tractor decorations to homemade Christmas cakes for sale. Blue Diamond Saunders: Grand Scale & Theatrical Displays Height, drama and scale made the displays at Blue Diamond Saunders a breathtaking experience. What really stood out about the team was how they were willing to take on ideas; a colleague’s suggestion to alter the layout not only improved the store flow but also boosted sales proving that passion and innovation come from within. Monkton Elm Garden Centre: Christmas for Pets! At Monkton Elm the pet team shone
Lilidh with her travelling companion Bracken enjoyed the pet department at Monkton Elm Garden Centre.
through with their passion that Christmas is about the whole family and that includes our four legged friends! Their Pawsmas Grotto was a heartwarming celebration. Brimsmore Gardens: Storytelling & Theatrical Displays The immersive storytelling at Brimsmore Gardens brought Christmas to life, cleverly using products to enhance the festive narrative. Castle Gardens: Narnia Winter Wonderland Stepping through a wardrobe of floor length fur coats, visitors were transported into a Narnia themed Christmas. The sudden drop in temperature heightened the sensory experience (down to the fact that visitors had actually stepped outside into a marquee!). Groves Bridport: Community Engagement & Local Focus The Groves Bridport team’s pride in their displays was evident, the favourite display for me was the giant oven they had created with many toy turkeys popping their heads out right next to a piano that customers regularly play. Poundbury Gardens: Blending Heritage & Innovation A giant tractor built in the outdoor plant area not only drew customers outside but also significantly boosted plant sales over the Christmas period. This unexpected feature proved that sometimes, the most magical ideas are the simplest ones!
February February 2024 2025 13
GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards
Customers vote Birkacres’s Christmas team the best GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards have been another triumph with judges recognising and awarding the nation’s best. But it’s not all about what we think. Customers have been voting too and it’s great to see that so many have voted online and on paper supporting their local centres.
I
t’s a double celebration for the colleagues at Birkacre Garden Centre in Lancashire as they take home not only a gold award in their garden centre category but also were voted the best by their own customers. GTN received thousands of votes for hundreds of centres up and down the UK, so thanks to everyone to took part. Congratulations also go to the team at BGC Albrighton whose customer votes ensured it took silver and was The Greatest from a Group, and Keydell Nurseries which was voted by its customers as The Greatest in the South of England.
14 February 2024 2025
Huge congratulations also go to the winners in the national regions and all of the finalists of the customer voting, presented on these two pages, plus all those centres which took part in the GTN Greatest Christmas Awards.
Birkacres magic Imaginative, stylish displays are created by the small team at Birkacres, in a centre that has been extended since last year. They take inspiration from everywhere (including a girl’s weekend in Dublin and a family trip to Paris) and even suppliers have picked up on some of their themes. Family
run, commercialism is key in decision making with teams always on the lookout for ways to squeeze a bit more out of everything they do. A traditional grotto appeals to families and there are products to suit every aspiration and budget within the demographic. The result is an atmosphere charged with excitement and a feeling of warmth and welcome. The team are not afraid to try, try and try again to do things differently while maintaining the magic of Christmas. • Gold: The Greatest Christmas Garden Centre Team as voted for by customers • Gold: The Greatest Mid-Sized Garden Centre Christmas Team
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GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards
Old Railway Line Garden Centre and Snowdonia Nurseries share the accolade for The Greatest in Wales.
Highly Commended winners from around the country • Monro’s Nurseries shares the title of The Greatest in Scotland.
• BGC Harrogate Garden Centre, The Greatest in the North.
• • • • • •
Customers love Hillmount Garden Centre, Belfast – The Greatest in Northern Ireland. It’s a bronze for the team at Keydell Nurseries.
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•
Other finalists
Silver for Albrighton
The team from Fakenham Garden Centre are The Greatest in East Anglia
•
Hillmount Garden Centre, Belfast – The Greatest in Northern Ireland Newquay Garden Centre – The Greatest in the South West Old Railway Line Garden Centre – The Greatest in Wales - equal Snowdonia Nurseries – The Greatest in Wales - equal Trowell Garden Centre – The Greatest in the Midlands Fakenham Garden Centre – The Greatest in East Anglia Perrywood, Tiptree – The Greatest in the South East Harrogate Garden Centre, BGC – The Greatest in the North Munro’s Nurseries – The Greatest in Scotland - equal Mackenzie & Cruickshank – The Greatest in Scotland - equal
Mackenzie & Cruickshank share the honour of being The Greatest in Scotland.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Alton Garden Centre Azure Garden Centre Bosworth’s Garden Centre, Burton Latimer Bow Garden & Aquatic Centre Braintree Garden Centre, BGC Bridgnorth Garden Centre, BGC Brockworth Garden Centre, BGC Garden King Hillmount Garden Centre, Bangor Old Railway Line Garden Centre Perrywood, Sudbury Planters Garden Centre, Bretby Pugh’s Garden Village, Radyr Pugh’s Garden Village, Wenvoe Roxton Garden Centre, BGC Summerhill Garde Centre Trioscape Garden Centre Wolseley Bridge Garden Centre, BGC
February February 2024 2025 15
GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards
Gold among the glittering hoard for Gates
U
sing family favourite novels from The House at Pooh Corner through to The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, the team at Gates in Leicestershire successfully wove Christmas throughout every department. Working through natural morphology rather than lots of team meetings, Christmas was declared to customers from the moment they walked through the doors. Offering a master class in promoting gardening for Christmas gifting, the team won a Gold for skilfully using lights, ribbons and VM, to highlight gifts of the moment, from gardening knives to kneelers and keep
16 February 2025
them well stocked. “They have cracked it,” said judges of this often-overlooked sales opportunity. The same high standards were seen in the centre’s gift and toy department where trees and lights were everywhere, and a new line of silver ware was one of the best-selling lines. Festive food was located in two areas this year doubling sales opportunities. In the food hall and farm shop, Gates own make of mince pies, home produced meat and chutney are a customer draw. Moving into the planteria, lights, ribbons, a gift-wrapping service, vans selling hot churros and roast potatoes, and a street food market brought plenty of festive
cheer and put customers in the right mood for buying Christmas trees and winter interest plants.
• Gold: The Greatest Gardening as a Christmas Gift Sales Team • Silver The Greatest Outdoor Plant and Christmas Tree Team • Silver: The Greatest Christmas Gifts Sales Team • Silver: The Greatest Festive Retail Food Team • Bronze: The Greatest Giant Garden Centre Christmas Team
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GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards
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February February 2024 2025 17
GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards
Brigg takes large group Gold
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eautiful displays, as good as any seen at John Lewis, and created by a coordinated and professional team, lit up BGC Brigg Garden Centre this Christmas. It’s obvious the team have worked hard to improve the retail experience, and their opulent vignettes and multi-level displays illustrated they have definitely gone up a gear. Gifting was particularly notable, as was the giftwrapping service and videos of a member of the team showing how to make a terrarium, which elevated and bought life to the houseplant centre.
• Gold: The Greatest Group Large Garden Centre Christmas Team
Gold second year running for Cooks
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epeating their success from last year is the team at Cooks Garden Centre, Stourport, which continues to raise its game when it comes to Christmas. Squeezing so much into a tiny footprint backed up by an equally small carpark, their displays included a Narnia-like wardrobe and artificial ice floor. Welcome wreaths were selling like hot cakes and the bespoke, pre-decorated garlands made onsite are a Cook’s Christmas speciality which bring customers flocking in.
• Gold: The Greatest Small Garden Centre Christmas Team
18 February 2025
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GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards
Silver wings its way to Munro’s
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lthough he is probably unaware, Steve, the resident robin is part of the small and tightly knit team at Monro’s Nurseries, Inverness. As such, robins are a recurring theme at Christmas and customers even get a decoration robin on their cup of hot chocolate. Themes, each with a story behind them, include an eclectic mix of decorations and gifts including mini road signs of local villages which have been a big seller. Both the centre and the team are small, but they certainly make a big impact. • Silver: The Greatest Small Garden Centre Christmas Team
Plant perfection brings Silver to Coolings
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verywhere you look in the planteria at Coolings, The Gardener’s Garden Centre in Kent, the team has sprinkled a touch of Christmas magic. Displays are fun and eyecatching while inspiring customers to give plants as gifts. Staff are given the space to create their own displays including one with shrubs, perennials and pots to tempt customers into the A-Z – it certainly worked as sales of heurchera have increased. Teamwork is exemplified by the rota for selling the Christmas trees which this year are sourced from the UK.
• Silver: The Greatest Outdoor Plant and Christmas Tree Team
Pets win Gold for Monkton Elm
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he incredible team in the pet department at Monkton Elm Garden Centre in Somerset are praised for their enthusiasm and welcoming spirit. Customer engagement is high and as each member of the team has their own speciality, they are able to give good advice. Christmas was threaded throughout the department and a photo opportunity with Santa Paws was a big success this year. Monkton Elm also supported a local dog rescue charity with a dog food bank and money raised through the sale of a bespoke calendar • Gold: The Greatest Wild Bird Care & Pet Team
www.gardentradenews.co.uk
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GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards
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Big wins for Pughs Radyr
he team at Pugh’s Radyr definitely got it right this year by creating a ‘wow’ factor as you first go through to the door. Aspirational displays and the whole experience is driven by TLC (thinking like a customer) which creates true magic. From those in the buying team through to creating visual displays and background operations, they all worked as an efficient team to make the customer experience one to
20 February 2025
remember and keep them coming back for more. This shone through in its festive retail food offering where Christmas is threaded throughout and brought customers lots of sparkle and choice from local suppliers and those further afield. New for the season was a hamper making service for local businesses which builds on that already done for individual customers. Christmas carried on outside into the
planteria with spotless and commercial promotions lit up with large, illuminated reindeers and excellent displays. • Gold: The Greatest Large Garden Centre Christmas Team • Gold: The Greatest Festive Retail Food Team • Bronze: The Greatest Outdoor Plant and Christmas Tree Team
www.gardentradenews.co.uk
G TN’ss G reattest Ch hristmas A wards GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards
Teddy’s gold for Pugh’s promotion
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on’t Bear Christmas Alone was the theme of the Pugh’s Christmas marketing campaign, working with Age Cymru to raise awareness of its Friend in Need service across South Wales. Sales of the Pugh Bear and its accompanying story book ‘The Bear in the Window’ raised more than £2,800 boosted to £6000 via donation points throughout the centres and a Christmas tree cutting service. On social media, the campaign reached an audience of 92,000 and recorded more than 10,000 view on the centre’s website where it became the third most-viewed page during Christmas. As well as heightening awareness and encouraging people to display the Pugh Bear in their window at home, the centre also promoted Age Cymru’s volunteer service which received 20 new applications. This campaign has initiated a very positive and successful relationship
between Pugh’s Garden Centres and Age Cymru which is set to flourish throughout 2025 with plans to host more ‘Cuppa and Chat’ events and formulate further opportunities for Pugh’s to support the 70+ demographic through community outreach. • Gold: The Greatest Garden Centre Christmas Promotions Team
Altons keeps sales sizzling
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ith an established and knowledgeable team behind its brand, Altons BBQ World, at Altons Garden Centre in Essex continues to boost its profile with strong festive social media activity promoting bbq’s, pizza ovens and outdoor cooking accessories as perfect Christmas gifts. New for this year was a Tinsel and Tongs outdoor cooking evening event with live entertainment to get the Christmas party started. Taco the Elf made his appearance again this year on the run up to Christmas with Instagram posts of him hiding at different
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places throughout the shop. This year he also went the extra mile and provided Taco’s Treatss for Christmas with festive bbq cooking tips and demonstrations. A Christmas film ‘The Grinch who ruined Altons BBQ World’ was eagerly awaited by Altons just shy of 40,000 followerss and was also released and hosted on Instagram m, tik tok, Facebook and YouTube. • Silver: The Greatest Garden Centre Christmas Promotions Team • Bronze: The Greatest Festive Season Outdoor Living Team - The SOLEX Sizzle
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GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards
Gold for gifts at the royal nursery S tyle and elegance oozes from every department at the Duchy of Cornwall Nursery in Lostwithiel, with Christmas adding a subtle but unmissable festive sparkle. Recognised by judges with a Gold for the team’s great gifting, the quality displays are constantly being updated with many designs including Christmas tree shapes. Gifts made by local entrepreneurs are promoted throughout as are local products and as everyone on the shop floor is familiar with all the products, they are able to tell customers the stories behind them. Team spirit and attention to detail adds to the classy department which features many branded gifts and those which are hard
22 February 2025
to find elsewhere. Not surprisingly, the team also gained a Silver for its promotion of gardening gifts which were treated with the same care and given the same festive treatment. A centre where discounts are hard to come by it adds to its value by organising buses to the store for local villagers, product tastings and carol singers. • Gold: The Greatest Christmas Gifts Team • Silver: The Greatest Gardening a Christmas Gift Team • Highly Commended: The Greatest Small Garden Centre Christmas Team
www.gardentradenews.co.uk
GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards
Newquay turns up the heat with Gold and Silver
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he bbq and outdoor living department at Newquay Garden Centre, Cornwall, wasn’t left out in the cold and the effort put in by the team to warm it up with Christmas paid off and secured them a Gold. Lights, tinsel and bows adorned grills and displays while great point of sale and bespoke made-up hampers helped customers see outdoor cooking as the prefect Christmas gift. Tree ferns and furniture gave the department a homely feel while a ‘Santa Bar Be’ display bought humour to the planteria.
24 February 2025
As it’s a small centre, everyone works across all the departments, and they were justly proud of their houseplants. Christmas themes and decorations were incorporated, the orchid selection was commended, and the jungle theme bought an element of fun. The team’s own idea of a living bauble as a mini terrarium was genius. • Gold: The Greatest Festive Season Outdoor Living Team - The Solex Sizzle • Silver: The Greatest Christmas Houseplants Team
www.gardentradenews.co.uk
GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards
Harrogate holds on to its golden crown
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he small, almost family-like team at BGC, Harrogate Garden Centre created a wonderful Christmas journey through detailed vignettes with a 1950’s vibe to build stories and conjure up a festive atmosphere for customers. Decorations used in the displays created demand and resulted in strong sales. With no restaurant, the centre has a catering
van in the planteria offering hot food and drinks to increase dwell time. Quite rightly the team were proud of their efforts and winning the award for the second year running is testament to their commitment. • Gold: The Greatest Group Garden Centre (Small) Christmas Team
Webb’s houseplant wonderland gets Gold
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ouseplants make a powerful impact at Webbs, Whybold in Worcestershire as it’s the first thing customers see when they enter the centre. Visual merchandising was impressive, and first class displays with great messaging made fantastic use of vertical space and props. The committed and passionate team even made sure the busy houseplant department was part of the centre’s overall Christmas theme of Alice in Wonderland with a creative display of poinsettias. • Gold: The Greatest Christmas Houseplant Team
www.gardentradenews.co.uk
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GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards
Gold and Silver for Ruxley
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long with 15 elves and four Santas (although we know there is really only one), the team at Ruxley Manor Garden Centre in Kent gave the 7,500 families visiting its grotto a magical experience to remember and were rewarded with a Gold. Professional and slick, this traditional grotto with a magic key for each child covered every detail from the elves knowing children’s names and hobbies, through to adults receiving a branded, wooden tray to hold food for Father
26 February 2025
Christmas and his reindeers on Christmas Eve. To make sure it all runs smoothly, families of Ruxley staff are welcomed to a dress rehearsal in mid-October and special days for SEN children are allocated, along with a free entrance day for the local Dandelion Time children’s charity. Pets were not forgotten, and the team won a Silver for their vast range of Christmas toys, gifts and products for dogs, cats and small furries, attention to detail and customer service. The 250
advent calendars for dogs quickly sold out and the team is on the hunt for festive gifts for reptiles which are popular with its customers. The team deliberately doesn’t stock live animals on the run up to Christmas in a bid to reduce the number of pets bought as Christmas gifts. • Gold: The Greatest Garden Centre Grotto Team • Silver: The Greatest Wild Bird Care & Pet Team
www.gardentradenews.co.uk
GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards
It’s a sizzling Silver for Polhill
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he team of four in the bbq department at Polhill Garden Centre, Kent has kept hold of its Silver for the creative festive buzz around outdoor cooking. Bringing in guests, as well as the team, to demonstrate Christmas cooking at its indoor kitchen, customers have been treated to learning how to cook turkey, Yorkshire pudding and cookies on the bbq. Sales in the winter of 2024 have been the best so far. Social media coverage by the marketing team has backed up the events while space for accessories and rubs to promote as Christmas gifts has increased. • Silver: The Greatest Festive Season Outdoor Living Team - The SOLEX Sizzle
Silver heads to Studley
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or a small centre, the team at BGC Studley Garden Centre, Warwickshire, certainly pack a lot into the space. Great customer care was illustrated as was creativity with team members buying props on Ebay to better interpret Christmas themes and offer variation from other centres in the group. The houseplant department was packed with inspiration, great merchandising and clever use of vertical space to make up for a limited footprint. • Silver: The Greatest Group Garden Centre (Small) Christmas Team • Highly Commended: The Greatest Christmas Houseplant Team
www.gardentradenews.co.uk
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GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards
Two awards for Perrywood d Tiptree’s magical moments ts
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nspiring and engaging were the words used to sum up Christmas at Perrywood, Tiptree. The creative brains behind the theme are to be commended for the ‘magical moments’ displays from ‘The Night Before Christmas’ through to ‘Cosy by the Fire’. Not only was it visually impressive but the team had also ensured different scents could be detected to add to the ambience, there was an element of automation to catch the eye, and sounds rang out to further enhance the atmosphere.
Christmas was everywhere at Perrywood Tiptree and the lights and trees throughout the gift area, along with the first-class table scaping elevated gift buying to another level. Houseplants were fresh and displays impactful with helpful signage, and a fine selection of terrariums, promoted as the perfect gift. • Silver: The Greatest Giant Garden Centre Christmas Team • Bronze: The Greatest Christmas Gifts Sales Team
Baytree Bronze for happy families
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or more than three decades, the team at Baytree Garden Centre in Lincolnshire has been staging a grotto bringing Christmas magic to generations of families. The team has worked hard to keep tradition and the expectations of those returning each year, while also updating and moving it on. This year’s new additions are colourful backdrops to the walk through and train ride grotto and a virtual elevator which takes visitors from the real world into that of pure imagination.
• Bronze: The Greatest Garden Centre Grotto Team
Pet shop bronze at Notcutts Solihull
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A great use of ceiling space, commercial approach and Christmas feel has earned the team at Notcutts Solihull a Bronze. They provided customers with great tips and information plus fun promotions of toys and the ambience was lifted thanks to the sound of bird song from a video about caring for garden birds. The hedgehog display was also impressive. • Bronze: The Greatest Christmas Wild Bird & Pet Team
28 February 2025
www.gardentradenews.co.uk
GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards
Wolesely Bridge scores an award hat trick
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lants at the entrance of BGC Wolseley Bridge Garden Centre set the tone for a planteria crammed full of seasonal plants, messages and lights. Winning Gold for the team behind the outdoor plants and Christmas trees, they stood out for making magical themed displays with virtually no budget. Buying the wood and making a prominent Nativity display themselves helped create and cement a community team spirit which was felt and appreciated by customers
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and those who enjoyed seeing it on social media. The team also made buying Christmas trees a fun event. Shown around the centre by two younger and enthusiastic members of the team made the judges positive for the future of the industry. They also loved that a member of staff bought in their own mature houseplants to help sell smaller ones and that each team member knew exactly what they were doing because of a comprehensive job worksheet.
The range of toys for dogs and cats, and the bird care hampers which the team made up themselves added an individual touch to the pet department. • Gold: The Greatest Outdoor Plant and Christmas Tree Team • Bronze: The Greatest Small Garden Centre Christmas Team • Highly Commended: The Greatest Wild Bird Care & Pet Team
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GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards
Albrighton’s tiny team deliver Bronze
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he adventures of two store members dubbed as Tiny Tim and Little Kim set BGC, Albrighton Garden Centre apart in this category. Using a BGC toy van, the team made miniature cut outs of Tim and Kim and set them off on an amusing journey across the store. Taking photographs, they used social media to encourage customers to come in and hunt for them throughout the various departments. The team showed great understanding of how to engage with online viewers. • Bronze: The Greatest Garden Centre Christmas Promotions Team
Glendoick style secures Bronze
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n Perth, Glendoick’s team have pushed originality and creativity to the max. With so many flashes of inspiration, from baubles hung on copper pipes through to floor level lighting in dark areas, they have bought style to the fore. Being welcomed into the store by a high-class collection of gifts for gardeners put shoppers in the mood which was then
elevated by the team which put an enormous amount of effort into writing a journey to guide customers on a seasonal story through their displays. Clothing, food, home and gift, all sprinkled with Christmas, were also applauded by the judges. • Bronze: The Greatest Mid-Sized Garden Centre Christmas Team
Silver as Garsons’s teamwork shines through
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he passionate and engaging team at Garsons Titchfield in Hampshire showed immense creativity. Individuality was encouraged with each member investing their own time and taking ownership of their display on the theme of The Chronicles of Christmas based on the Narnia book, but they were supported by excellent teamwork and marketing which shone through. Standards were excellent, as was customer engagement who were made to feel extremely welcome. Judges were particularly impressed by the quality of the outside plants and the superb Christmas experience. • Silver: The Greatest Large Garden Centre Christmas Team
30 February 2025
www.gardentradenews.co.uk
GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards
Crown of silver for Castle Gardens
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ith environmental considerations at its heart, the team at Castle Gardens in Dorset have done it again and added another award to their burgeoning trophy cabinet. Making great used of every available space, the team created a winter wonderland through each department with themes including Star Wars, Jack & the Beanstalk and The Chronicles of Narnia. Uplifting messaging and signage informed and encouraged people to buy. Teamwork is a focus both in the design process and during build where some elements of autonomy run alongside collaboration with the group’s two other centres. Additional staff recognition on each display comes from a label with the name of the staff member who created it. A drive to reduce glitter and plastic and a clear ambition to find alternatives is clear and despite being advised to reduce the number of suppliers to benefit from cost efficiencies, the centre is proud to list 62, supporting a range of businesses to bring in products that are less easy to find and champion local creators. • Silver: The Greatest Mid-Sized Garden Centre Christmas Team
Team Old Railway Bronze is well deserved
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amily run, Old Railway Line Garden Centre in Powys is, perhaps, the very definition of a team. Not just those on the sales floor and hospitality, but even those beavering away in the background, from the goods in and warehouse to marketing contribute to making Christmas magic. Consistent high quality and excellence is achieved with every department pulling together to offer a fantastic customer experience with imaginative displays including Hansel and Gretel on the roof of the Christmas shop and Goldilocks in the planteria.
Bronze adds to Wentworth’s treasure trove
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he style and ambience of Wentworth Garden Centre, Rotherham, reflects the stately home next door, and the attention to detail throughout the whole centre is amazing. Even though up to 250 people are employed in the business it still feels like its run as one big family. Every corner of the centre was decorated
www.gardentradenews.co.uk
• Bronze: The Greatest Large Garden Centre Christmas Team
inside and out and the décor department was described by judges as a ‘treasure trove’. Significant investment in the grotto plus new Santa experiences upped the centre’s Christmas offering to another notch. • Bronze: The Greatest Large Garden Centre Christmas Team
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GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards
Arcadia celebrates with Bronze
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new roof for BGC Arcadia Garden Centre in North Yorkshire has brought with it a new world of possibilities for Christmas and given the team the opportunity to go skywards with its displays and use of props. There is something new around every corner and because sales have been good, more people from the outside team were brought inside to offer extra customer support.
• Bronze: The Greatest Group Garden Centre (Large) Christmas Team
Silver for Goulding’s Christmas spectacular
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oulding’s team in South Lanarkshire, created a magical Christmas experience like no other and absolutely love doing it each year. Around 250,000 people were expected to visit in Christmas 2024, walking through the lit-up grotto with animated scenes before enjoying the fair ground rides and a hot drink for grown-ups included in the price. Adding to the showy experience this year was a ride in a virtual Enchanted Elevator to see Mrs Clause. • Silver: The Greatest Garden Centre Grotto Team
Retail detail earns Newbridge a Bronze
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he excellent team at Blue Diamond Newbridge, East Sussex, have incredibly high standards and strong retail detail. Much thought had gone into what was likely to make a good gardening gift at Christmas, so children’s gardening plus tools and wellies were bought to the fore and promoted.
Christmas journey brings Bronze to Poundbury
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here’s so much to see at Poundbury Gardens, Dorset and the journey starts by being welcomed at the door by one of the friendly team. Handwritten signs with hints and tips from members of the team adorn Christmas and garden items and even though every inch of space is used, they still find space for a Nativity and train track running around the ceiling. In the
planteria, staff came up with the idea of making a tractor out of pallets, lighting up the ‘wheels’ to draw customers outside. It resulted in plant sales doubling. • Bronze: The Greatest Small Garden Centre Christmas Team • Highly Commended: The Greatest Outdoor Plants and Christmas Tree Team
• Bronze: The Greatest Gardening as Christmas Gift Team
32 February 2025
www.gardentradenews.co.uk
GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards
Gold for team Bents
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ents Garden and Home take Christmas to a completely different level. Attention to detail is second to none and professional, highquality displays are balanced with keen commercial special offers. In recognition of a younger demographic of customers Bents has created merchandising to suit and in the Open Skies area and Winter Food area up to 1300 come to eat even on the chilliest of days. Christmas is strong throughout the store and the vibe is buzzing as Father Christmas wonders around the store talking to children and adults alike. Personalised signage and posters with pictures of team members offering advice add personality and encourage dialogue. • Gold: The Greatest Giant Garden Centre Christmas Team
Trio for Notcutts Rivendell
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at’s off to the fabulous and engaging team at Notcutts Rivendell for their sharp, professional retailing and high standards which filter through to all members of staff. The result was a surprise around every corner. Christmas was bold and inspiring in every department from bulbs through to sundries and even in the concessions, and management had identified the customer demographic and aimed to please. A great example of an individual store that is part of a chain, it stood out with its unorthodox layout, its cameo
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displays and way the team multi-positioned products to increase sales. This was particularly evident when presenting gardening gifts as gave customers a second chance to see what was on offer and festive food. • Silver: The Greatest Gardening as a Christmas Gift Sales Team • Silver: The Greatest Group Garden Centre (Large) Christmas Team • Bronze: The Greatest Festive Retail Food Team
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GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards
Sanders take a Silver
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n an individual and team level there was an enormous sense of pride at Blue Diamond’s Sanders Garden Centre in Somerset, for the Christmas displays and experience offered to customers. Flow through the centre was good and improved by team ideas to move elements around which resulted in increased sales. In the planteria, teams were highly knowledgeable and happy to talk about the lines they were selling including local sourced wreaths.
• Silver: The Greatest Group Large Garden Centre Christmas Team
Houseplant dedication
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hen it comes to flair and colour coordinated displays, the team at Haskins, Snowhill certainly know what they are doing. Two of the team are dedicated to houseplants while others work across indoor and outdoor plants helping them keep on top of what’s in stock so they can better support customers. Displays are changed regularly and kept fresh thanks to an unobtrusive date on the label which has reduced wastage and instances of pest and disease. The team across the whole centre was also praised and recognised with a Highly Commended in its category. • Bronze: The Greatest Christmas Houseplant Team • Highly Commended: The Greatest Group Large Garden Centre Christmas Team
A big festive thank-you
GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards couldn’t go ahead without our fabulous team of judges who drive the length and breadth of the country to personally visit every centre that enters. Thank you for giving them such a warm welcome and here’s to Christmas 2025! GTN’s Greatest Christmas judges: Trevor Pfeiffer, Peter Walker, Nicci Gow, Neil Gow, Jane Lawler, Roger Crooks, Anisa Gress, Lilidh Matthews with Bracken, and Mark Wooten
34 February 2025
www.gardentradenews.co.uk
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Webb Brochure
GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards
Three cheers for our Christmas sponsors
GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards couldn’t go ahead without the support from our sponsors. Huge thanks to them all and for the prizes kindly given to the winners. Fandango Fire Tools ® European distributor of the Kindling Cracker™ firewood splitters, Fandango supplies everyone from small individual stores to large chains all over Europe. It also works with Espegard’s range of smokeless fire pits and cooking accessories. Fandango is giving product with a retail value of £500 to Gates for winning the gardening as a Christmas gift category. www.fandangofiretools.co.uk Garden Radio An in-store radio service designed to encourage customers to linger for longer in the garden centre. Garden Radio provides a music service which makes a real difference to the ambience and mood within the store and messages can be added too. A year’s subscription worth £495 was won by Cooks Garden Centre, the greatest small garden centre. Glee As the meeting place for the garden retail industry, Glee brings the entire gardening community together. It welcomes garden centres, international buying groups and retailers all looking for the latest and most innovative products. Two hotel rooms are offered by Glee for attending the show this year (16-18 Sept) to the Pughs garden centre group for having the best Christmas promotions team. Kaemingk Globally recognised company specialising in seasonal decorations and home accessories, Kaemingk has a legacy of innovation and craftsmanship. It designs and distributes an extensive range of products. Kaemingk stock with a retail value of £500 has been given to Bents Garden and Home for being the greatest giant garden centres, and Birkacre for the greatest midsized garden centre. www.kaemingk.com Marriages With a family heritage going back six generations, Marriages is one of the most trusted and respected names in the pet and smallholder food markets. Using only the finest wholesome ingredients, it offers a comprehensive, high-quality feed range that’s healthy, nutritious and delicious. Marriages stock to the value of £500 goes to Monkton Elm Garden Centre for its winning pet and wild bird team.
36 February 2025
MorePeople Operating in the food, horticulture, agriculture and garden industry, MorePeople is a specialst recruitment business providing permanent and interim recruitment solutions. Clients range from ‘own label’ suppliers to blue chip brands. A free recruitment consultation is offered by MorePeople to Pughs Radyr for winning the greatest large garden centre category. www. morepeople.co.uk Museums & Galleries The UK’s leading publisher of fine art cards, stationery, and home and giftware, the Museums & Galleries collection showcases Britain’s brightest fashion, art, and heritage brands, including the V&A, British Museum, Tate Gallery, Matthew Williamson, and Mary Katrantzou, amongst many talented artists and designers. Stock with a retail value of £500 is making its way to Duchy of Cornwall Nursery for winning the greatest Christmas gift team category. www. museumsgalleries.co.uk Pelsis Doff Doff (a Pelsis brand) has been delivering garden care products since 1946. As the only UK manufacture of slug pellets, it fosters a culture of innovation coupled with regulatory rigour and responsible product development. Pelsis Doff has given £500 of retail stock to BGC Wolesely Bridge for winning the outdoor plants and Christmas tree category. www.doff.co.uk Pleydell Smithyman Specialist consultant to the garden centre and farm shop sector, Pleydell Smithyman offers a full range of end-toend services, including site development, strategy and master planning. For being crowned the best festive food retailer, Pughs Garden Village Radyr and Wenvoe win a free one-day consultation with Pleydell Smithyman. www.pleydellsmithyman.co.uk Smart Garden Products – Three Kings A glittering collection of festive décor with everything to adorn the home and garden, Smart Garden Products and the Three Kings range offers everything from a warm welcome at the front door to the cosy surround of the fireplace. A prize of £500 retail value products was won by Ruxley Manor Garden Centre for the best Christmas grotto team. www.sgpuk.com
SOLEX The Summer Outdoor Living Exhibition, owned and operated by LOFA, is the only outdoor leisure event organised by the industry for the industry. This relaxed and friendly event is an excellent place to conduct business as well as a fantastic opportunity to establish new relationships and strengthen existing ones. SOLEX has given two free hotel rooms during the show to Newquay Garden Centre for winning The SOLEX Sizzle. www. solexexhibition.com Spring Fair Finding new products that customers love is no easy feat. That’s why Spring Fair brings the best brands and suppliers in the industry together, under one roof, making it easy to discover products to transform collections and offerings. Next year’s fair takes place from 1-4 February 2026. GTN is grateful to Spring Fair for hosting the Greatest Christmas Awards presentation event. www. springfair.com Tildenet Welcome to the home of quality garden brands. Tildenet Gardenware is the UK’s leading independent specialist committed to supplying the best products and service to its customers with an unrivalled range and brands that can be trusted. Tildenet is giving £500 of retail value products to BGC, Brigg Garden Centre for being the greatest group large garden centre. www.tildenet.co.uk Woodlodge Following a successful season for Snowlodge, Woodlodge Products is delighted to announce it has officially taken over the distribution of the iconic Jingles Christmas Lighting Range. For winning the houseplant category, Webbs, Wychbold gets £500 retail value of Woodlodge stock. www. woodlodge.co.uk Woodmansterne Leading supplier of premium greeting cards to independent retailers, Woodmansterne designs, produces and finishes all its cards in Britain. Its cards feed the soul, lift the spirit and reflect British culture. BGC Harrogate Garden Centre will get Woodmansterne stock with a retail value of £500 for winning the category of greatest group small garden centre. www. woodmansterne.com
www.gardentradenews.co.uk
GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards
Festive recognition
Standards are increasing year on year and some excellent teams have been given Highly Commended and Special Gold Awards.
For the vast food offering at Blue Diamond Beckworth Emporium, Northamptonshire a Highly Commended is given for The Greatest Festive Retail Food Team.
For smiling through and pulling together, the team at Pengelly Garden Centre, St Austell get a Special Gold Award for The Greatest Christmas in Adversity Teams.
The extraordinary Christmas lights experiences by the team at Webbs, Whychbold gained it a Special Award for The Greatest Christmas Outdoor Events Team.
Simple but effective signage and classy visual merchandising helped Rutland Nursery gain a Highly Commended in The Greatest Small Garden Centre Christmas Team category.
A devastating fire at The Old Well Garden Centre, Cullompton in November 2024 meant the team had to quickly adapt to keep trading. It has been recognised with a Special Gold Award for The Greatest Christmas in Adversity Teams.
A TARDIS of a garden centre, Jacksons Boutique Garden Centre in Flintshire, gets a Highly Commended in The Greatest Outdoor Plant and Christmas Tree Team category for its great locally grown Christmas tree selection and displays to encourage impulse plant sales.
Passionate about their home-grown poinsettias and with every member of the team working on all departments, Snowdonia Nurseries and Garden Centre’s team can be justly proud of receiving a Highly Commended in The Greatest Christmas Houseplant Team category.
The team at St Peters Garden Centre, Worcester created great seasonal planteria displays, offered good information and advice in its Christmas trees sales area and bought in fun fair rides to make choosing a tree a fun event. It won a Highly Commended in The Greatest Outdoor Plant and Christmas Tree Team category.
The Greatest Group Team at Christmas Special Award was presented to British Garden Centres to recognise the energy, enthusiasm and passion for promoting Christmas at every store the judges visited.
www.gardentradenews.co.uk
February February 2024 2025 37
Flashes of Christmas Inspiration
Moments of brilliance Flashes of retail inspiration were seen at many centres visited by the GTN Greatest Christmas judges as they toured the 120 garden centres that had entered. Here, the judges share their favourites.
A jaw dropping effect is created by the team at Poundbury Garden Centre, Dorset, where every bauble in its range was strung from a ribbon so customers can see how they might look at home.
Judges increasingly saw pop up food vans in Christmas tree sales areas to make festive buying more fun. Gates, Leicestershire, went for Roasties which proved to be a big hit.
38 February 2025
While making their way to see Father Christmas in the grotto at Hillmount Garden Centre, Belfast, children’s little fingers are kept busy with a chalk board wall which they are encouraged to decorate and add their name to.
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Flashes of Christmas Inspiration
Customers entering Meadow Croft Garden Centre in Essex are greeted with a giant advent calendar with a special offer behind the door of each new day leading up to Christmas.
Such an easy way to display Christmas throws and even easier way for customers to shop. Created by the clever team at Ruxley Manor Garden Centre, Kent.
The team at Newquay Garden Centre in Cornwall bring humour to the tools department by dressing up their Hoe Hoe Hoes.
Simple signage at Rutland Nursery for ‘the candle lover’, ‘the garden lover’ and ‘the book lover’ helped focus customers when choosing Christmas gifts but also work throughout the year.
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February 2025 39
GTN Greatest Christmas Awards
A box spilling over with decorations, adds to the hight and lights up the houseplant display at Blue Diamond, Sanders Garden Centre, Somerset.
Haskins Snowhill, Surrey was one of very few centres promoting gift wrapping for outdoor plants, in this case roses.
A point of difference at Polhill Garden Centre grotto was the professional photographer who was able to capture fantastic pictures of children with Santa. In Northumberland, Azure Garden Centre came up with a novel way of displaying and selling garlands.
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Taking sustainability to the next level was the Duchy of Cornwall Nursery with its fabric tinsel.
Coolings Rushmoor Hill in Kent proudly promoted locally grown Christmas trees.
Children visiting the kitchen of Mrs Clause in the Chessington Garden Centre, Surrey grotto, decorated their own gingerbread man and took it home in the clear bag provided. An efficient way of providing some creative entertainment and easy for kitchen elves to clear away and make ready for the next group.
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Greenfingers Charity
Decade of growth, challenge, and achievement
Linda Petrons Director of Fundraising & Communications at Greenfingers Charity, celebrates and reflects on a remarkable 10 years.
“I
feel tremendously proud to have been part of a great team that’s achieved so much over the past ten years,” says Linda Petrons – or ‘the Lovely Linda’ as she is known by so many. “I can hardly believe where the time has gone; the miles I’ve driven, the gardens we’ve created, and the many fantastic people I’ve had the pleasure to meet.” When Linda joined the charity, Greenfingers was working on its 50th garden. Now, as it prepares to build its 70th, she can’t help but marvel at how far it’s come. “That’s a huge milestone, especially considering we lost two years during the pandemic when our garden projects were put on hold.” Looking back on her journey, Linda points to a few standout moments. She recalls her first Greenfingers fundraising dinner, held at the stunning Clifton Nurseries. “I left my previous job at a deaf health charity in the afternoon, and, by evening, I was at a gorgeous intimate event, with people like Boyd Douglas-Davies, Richard Jackson and the charity’s Patrons Jim Carter and Dame Imelda Staunton. If I’m honest, I was a little star-struck! At that point, I hadn’t appreciated all the fantastic work being done by the world of horticulture, but on hearing more I was so excited to dive in.” Another was the launch of the Million Moments Appeal in 2015 and a new charity film. “The appeal aimed to raise £1 million to fund more gardens, and I had worked with a team of students to create the campaign’s film. That
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was such a proud moment for me.” Similarly, she fondly recalls so many fantastic corporate partnerships, including with River Island in 2016, when the retailer sold 800 gnomes in support of Greenfingers.
Achievements Linda’s achievements in the role have included managing Greenfingers’ garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2019 – an experience that ‘nearly broke’ her – but one she describes as a positive and unforgettable experience. A few years later, the charity returned to Chelsea with British Garden Centres, marking another proud chapter. “Of course, it would be remiss of me not to mention Garden Re-Leaf Day, our annual fundraising event that has been keeping me and the wider industry - busy since its inception in 2012. Over the years, it has grown into a pivotal moment on our calendar, raising over £1 million to date.” As someone who’s always been passionate about supporting children in hospices, Linda’s work with Greenfingers has been a fulfilling blend of her personal and professional values. “It’s incredibly rewarding to know that every penny raised by so many fabulous supporters,
makes a tangible difference. Seeing children, families and their carers enjoying the gardens we create means so much and is always a highlight.” Over the years, Linda has worked alongside many extraordinary people, and she’s quick to acknowledge the support of John Ashley, Boyd Douglas-Davies, Sue Allen, plus partners, Patrons, Ambassadors, volunteers, the HTA, GCA, LOFA and Glee. Looking ahead, Linda is excited about the future. “I’m thrilled to be working with Boyd during his tenure as Chair and to seeing what we and the team can achieve together. Elsewhere, the charity’s garden maintenance programme is growing, with Neil now managing the garden projects, I’m able to focus my efforts fundraising and, in John’s words ‘building the brand’. And, of course, I can’t wait to celebrate the charity’s 25th Anniversary at the Floral Ball!”
You can join in the conversation with Greenfingers on social media: www.facebook.com/ Greenfingerscharity/ Twitter: @GreenfingersCha Instagram and LinkedIn: @Greenfingerscharity
February 2025 41
Planteria
New plants galore
A visit to the international trade show IPM Essen near Dusseldorf, is the springboard for many new varieties heading to UK garden centres in the coming seasons. GTN has picked out just a few of what could generate promising sales.
The Nordic Garden Beauties concept inclu udes 24 cultivars well suited to the colder cliimates. Made up of strong hybrid-teas, shrub and d climbing roses, they excel in zones 2-9 and naturally like sun or partial shade. Beautiful imagerry for the point of sale clearly shows the rosees will bloom m until the frost. Created by Gebr. Seuren Kwekerijen, grower based in Lottum, The Nettherlands.
Charming Lewisia ‘Sunset Glow’ was voted the favourite at the show by the visitors. In the UK, it will be grown by ng a pop Kernock Park Plants and will brin of scarlet to this popular range off alpines.
Above: Several new cultivars of ground cover roses were on display at IPM Essen, with Hydrangea paniculata ‘Groundbreaker Blush’ taking the Show Your Colours Award which also considers the story behind the plants and point of sale. With a maximum height of just 30cm its perfect for landscaping, borders and containers. Blooms last up to 100 days from July starting out white and turning from pale and then to bright pink. Left: Beautiful hellebore Frilly Rosy (pictured) and the darker Frilly Ruby are new additions to the Winter Ballet range and will be grown in the UK by Allensmore Nurseries. A sure fire hit for planteria sales from October to March, they are the result of crossing the Christmas rose (Helleborus niger) with Lenten rose (Helleborus orientalis).
This rather dramatic and unusual euphorb bia has no name yet. Exhibited by international pllant distributor Planttipp which was using the show to gage interest and possibly find its perfect name.
Co olour Your Season has come up with a novel and easy way to create pop up plant displays. Designed for flowering plants, it has devised point of sale to fit around the outside of two or three stacked pallets, plu us a plastic tray to fit on top which is perfect for holding plants. Displays can easily be created in hot sp pots to maximise visibility and are a convenient and effective way to enhance any retail space. For infformation email Rob Faase. rob@colouryourseason.nl
42 February 2025
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Planteria
Sumptuous Dahlia Labella Chocolate Grande Rose is one of four in a range from Beekenkamp, all denoted by their elegant flowers and dark foliage.
THE PET & AQUATICS TRADE SHOW
28-30 SEPTEMBER NEC BIRMINGHAM
Where the Pet & Aquatics Trade meet to do business
CENTRALLY LOCATED IN THE UK WITH FANTASTIC TRANSPORT LINKS
Scan to see all the exhibitors
HUNDREDS OF EXHIBITORS SHOWCASING NEW PRODUCT LAUNCHES & TRENDS
patshow.co.uk www.gardentradenews.co.uk
February 2025 43
Viewpoint
Politics doesn’t matter... does it? Boyd J Douglas-Davies, Chair of the Environmental Horticulture Group
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s the world looks to cut its environmental impact, we, Environmental Horticulture, are in a unique position - we should be increasing our impact not reducing it! As every meeting I attend with Environmental Horticulture Group colleagues confirms, we are the industry that is welcomed by all parties, so politics really doesn’t matter. What does matter is that we keep improving our industry’s political engagement. The impact of the autumn budget will start to be felt shortly, and it is going to be hard, really hard, for business in any of our sectors. Those who have just been scraping by for the last few years won’t survive if they carry on as they have done. Change is inevitable and very necessary. Whilst I can’t promise that anything we are doing in London will deliver change, I can promise that we won’t ever give up.
Tates of Sussex Garden Centres, welcomed Lib Dem MP James McCleary (second from right) to its Paradise Park Garden Centre in East Sussex this month to discuss the challenges the family business is facing. These included the impact of the Autumn Budget 2024 and concerns that the government is not providing enough support to the horticultural sector.
Talking to everyone In recent months I have met with politicians and civil servants from across many departments. Defra, of course, as it is our nominated point of contact for general environmental horticulture issues; the Dept of Science & Innovation to talk about the breadth of technology employed across the industry and seek financial support; Skills England to push our needs for children through to adults to receive/have access to horticultural training and the Office of National Statistics to lobby for our sector to be recognised as a provider of green jobs – a vital status if we are to secure funding in the future. A meeting with the Chief Planning Officer allowed us to discuss the biggest challenges through to the smallest, but vital details, when it comes to the planned 1.5 million new homes – water storage, window design that allows window boxes, and proportion of green space allocated to each dwelling was just the start of our dialogue. Are we making a difference? Well, I think
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…we are the industry that is welcomed by all parties... we are in our own small way. An absolute win was the announcement at the end of 2024, of additional funding for children’s hospices with a significant amount to be used in the creation and enhancement of green spaces. I don’t believe this would have been a consideration five years ago.
How we can all help The special inquiry report from last year won’t disappear without a trace and in January I met with MPs and Peers from all parties to discuss how they could support our sector. They are all supporters and encouraged us to keep presenting the findings in bite-size reports. We have done just that. At the end of 2024, the EHG published two reports on
the state and opportunities provided by environmental horticulture to the country’s health, environment and finances. But how can you help? Offer to host meetings with your local MP and keep them informed of the challenges and successes you are experiencing. Remember that everything discussed at policy level is influenced by local considerations, so your conversations may be more beneficial than you realise.
Find out more
To download the latest EHG reports visit: hta.org.uk/missiongreengrowth Please let me know of any issues you want raised by the Environmental Horticulture Group. Email: boyd@theboydpartnership.co.uk
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Viewpoint
Focus for 2025 Will Armitage, HTA President
Rhododendrons at Millais Nurseries in Surrey on an HTA National Business Improvements Scheme event, are waiting for the first signs of spring.
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s we settle into 2025, it’s a time to reflect and celebrate successes, review challenges, and focus on the new goals, targets, and resolutions ahead. Even if the winter weather is bleak, we can look for signs of brighter spring times ahead, like these budding pruned rhododendrons I saw at Millais Nurseries in Farnham during an NBIS event. Our first regional meetings of 2025 have already taken place nationwide, with the full lineup available to our members on the HTA website. These events are an ideal opportunity to get together with like-minded people from your industry to discuss the issues that affect us all and collaborate to find solutions. At the time of writing, we are eagerly anticipating the Garden Press Event in London, where we’ve invited the media to meet with the industry and plan content for the year ahead. Of course, we’ve begun working towards our annual National Children’s Gardening Week in May and National Plant Show in June too and hot off the press we’ve just announced our
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annual Conference for 25 September at the Barbican in London this year. We’ll also be announcing the full programme of business improvement scheme events, and retail development forums throughout the year, so keep an eye on the HTA website or contact our team for more information.
Finding solutions together As always, the HTA will continue representing our members and their top issues with the government throughout 2025. We call for action from policymakers on border and trade issues, support for the transition to peat-free, the cost of doing business, and of course, the impacts of the Budget. We are hearing from many of our members that the year ahead will be one of cost, but as an optimistic sector, we hope to find solutions to the challenges together. I know many of you will be focusing on efficiencies, which may include reviewing your workforce while striving to maintain a good level of customer service and product quality. Investing in practical training for your
staff members that spans all aspects of your business can be beneficial. The HTA offers learning and development programmes which constantly evolve as the needs of our members and their employees change. Our members can choose from a range of available courses to train staff and grow their businesses to reach their full potential, you can find more information on the HTA website at hta.org.uk/training Many members who have already done this will be able to take advantage of having an adaptable and flexible workforce, which will be key to maintaining or even improving your position in the sector as the cost of doing business increases through 2025.
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
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Viewpoint
Adapting to changing climates: The future of the outdoor living industry ryy Gina Hinde, LOFA General Manager
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s an organisation, we are continually seeking innovative ways to support our members while also contributing positively to the broader garden industry. Did you know that 70% of individuals report feeling an improvement in both their physical and mental wellbeing after spending time outdoors? Exposure to nature enhances happiness, boosts health, and increases work productivity. People are increasingly valuing outdoor environments that encourage relaxation, contemplation, and a connection with the natural world. This is encouraging news for our industry. However, with this growing desire to spend time in our gardens, we must remain conscious of nature and the implications of climate change. The World Meteorological Organisation has projected that, over the next five years, northern Europe, will likely experience above-average rainfall. As global temperatures rise, more regions are encountering extreme weather conditions, such as prolonged heatwaves and heavier rainfalls.
Essential evolution Consequently, the outdoor living industry must evolve, producing furniture capable of withstanding both hot and wet conditions. Consumers may not yet realise it, but they will soon be seeking more weather-resilient outdoor solutions. These include covered areas, rain and heat-resistant materials, stylish and versatile fire pits, modular outdoor kitchens, and entertainment spaces that enable enjoyment of outdoor areas throughout the year. The ultimate aim is to meet the consumer demand for creating resilient, nature-focused environments that promote well-being and allow for outdoor enjoyment regardless of the season or weather conditions. In the United Kingdom, 60% of people agree that climate change poses the greatest threat to civilisation. As an industry, we must proactively think ahead and begin developing future-proof products that can endure all the elements while ensuring these items are durable, sustainable, and reusable.
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The ultimate aim is to meet the consumer demand for creating resilient, naturefocused environments that promote well-being and allow for outdoor enjoyment…’’
sustainability, it will empower our members to provide products that consumers desire to create outdoor spaces that foster well-being and withstand the challenges posed by our changing climate, ensuring that both our members and the broader garden industry thrive.
New report For this reason, LOFA have commissioned a comprehensive report from Scarlet Opus, designed to transform our members’ understanding of consumer trends for 2026 & 2027. Supported by extensive global research and expert insights, this report provides unmatched clarity in our continuously evolving outdoor leisure market. It will enable our members to offer products that consumers desire and can effectively use in this constantly changing world. By prioritising both innovation and
If you produce outdoor living products and want to take advantage of the report along with various other benefits and services provided by LOFA, please visit www.lofa.co.uk to learn how to become a member.
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Viewpoint
Is this the year of reset and growth? Vicky Nuttall, Director of GIMA
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ast issue I suggested that, with the changes afoot concerning major retailers, we could expect the gardening sector to look quite different by the end of this year. I stand by that belief because – apart from the fact that nothing ever stands still – I see the seismic ripple effect Homebase’s demise is having on others in the sector. The resulting job losses and financial implications for suppliers who had significant contracts with Homebase are going to be felt for a while and I don’t want to play down the impact of this at all. But I do also think these events will play into a reset for the industry as a whole. And, from this reset, I hope we can start to grow again. As with Homease’s closure, the resizing of the Dobbies portfolio is also effecting change, and while it is never great to hear about closures, the news that some branches have been snapped up by other garden centres businesses is positive. If these centres are ready and trading by spring, it’s great news for our sector. It may even bring some stability to the retail landscape for the time being.
Painting positivity Despite the events I’ve mentioned, the overall mood amongst retailers I’ve spoken to is still a positive one. CDS has quickly incorporated the Homebase brand into its portfolio ready to take advantage of spring demand. Having spent time talking to garden centres at gatherings, including the GCA conference, Harrogate Gift
…some bigger stores are reporting their lowest stock levels of core gardening ranges since before Covid. Fair, Spring Fair and through other interactions in my role with GIMA, the picture painted has been upbeat. Retailers had a good Christmas period, with food and catering particularly strong. Even more encouraging is the fact that some bigger stores are reporting their lowest stock levels of core gardening ranges since
2025 Key Dates for Your Diary • Buyer Connect with Robert Dyas: 5th March • GIMA Day Conference: 25th March • Buyer Connect with Blue Diamond: 2nd April • GIMA Charity Golf Day: 5th June • GIMA Awards Judging Days: 23rd/24th June • Glee Birmingham: 16th-18th September • GIMA Awards Gala Dinner: 6th November
before Covid. This is the reset I was talking about, with these centres now ready to start buying. Obviously, that’s a win for our members, who are busy getting stock into centres, ensuring retailers are primed for demand during the peak season. This appetite for new products and dialogue with suppliers is reflected in the number of Buyer Connect events we have in the pipeline, with no less than seven lined up so far for the year ahead. Some of these will, of course, be looking ahead to 2026 but will also have retailers looking for in-season offers. Meanwhile, the Robert Dyas Buyer Connect event in the calendar will specifically focus on drop shipping, so we have a real variety on offer. In fact, GIMA is seeing signs of growth firsthand, having taken on 40 new members since September 2024.
Real or false spring? Dare I tempt fate by saying that the UK weather even seems to be playing ball so far? Apart from a few exceptions, there does appear to be some seasonal normality so far, with bulbs already making an appearance. Or are we in a false spring? I guess there’s still some time to go before we can be sure. Yes, there is still some uncertainty around, compounded by increasing National Insurance contributions and, on the global stage, the threat of looming trade wars and their potential impact. We can never quite know what the year ahead will hold but the signs for our industry going into 2025 are seemingly positive and, if the weather behaves and stimulates buying behaviour, we could be celebrating a good, strong season. In the meantime, our members are striving to keep the innovation coming and will make sure stock is on the ground so retailers are well placed to take advantage of the spikes we all hope are coming.
Find out more
Any businesses interested in joining GIMA can contact the GIMA team at 01959 564947 or info@gima.org.uk. Full details regarding GIMA’s multiple-member benefits can be found at www.gima.org.uk
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February 2025 47
The Greatest Christmas Garden Centre Supplier
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DON’T FORGET G
Our Spring/ Summer ranges
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At the recent Spring Fair, Smart Garden under the Three Kings brand picked up the prestigious gold award in the Greatest Christmas Supplier category – voted for by Garden Centres visited by judges this year.
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GTN’s Greatest Christmas Supplier Gold Award!
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We are absolutely thrilled to have been recognised in such a manner and want to thank all of our customers and staff. The award gives us even more incentive and motivation to keep expanding our Christmas range whilst continuing to deliver Smart service!
Christmas showrooms now open!
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