Features
Turning the Ordinary into the Extraordinary Through Tea, Craft and Garden Sanctuary
To mark its 140th anniversary, British heritage brand Whittard of Chelsea will unveil a specially commissioned garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026, celebrating the brand’s heritage of curiosity, craft and transformation; qualities that have quietly defined Whittard of Chelsea for over a century.
Designed by award-winning landscape designer Ollie Pike, the garden reimagines tea - an everyday ritual - as something extraordinary. Portrayed as a private Chelsea Townhouse courtyard garden, the space…
GIMA has confirmed full details of its 2026 Day Conference and Annual General Meeting, taking place on Thursday 26th March at Stratford Manor Hotel, bringing the garden industry together to examine The Future of the Supply Chain for Garden Products.
Set against a backdrop of changing buying patterns, increasing commercial pressure and evolving routes to market, this year’s conference will unite GIMA members, industry leaders and supply chain specialists for a focused day of insight, discussion and shared learning. Voices from across the sector, including wholesalers, distributors, agents,…
The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) and GIMA are excited to announce the full speaker programme for the Garden Press Event, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.
The must-attend event for garden press and media professionals is held at the Business Design Centre in Islington on 17 February 2026. This year, more than 90 exhibitors will showcase their wide range of gardening products to visitors, making the event SOLD OUT.
Hundreds of members of the press and media have already pre-registered to attend the event, giving them the unique opportunity to meet and connect with…
With just a few weeks to go, anticipation is building as Glee prepares to return to Spring Fair this February, marking its first appearance at the event in six years. Hosted at the NEC Birmingham, Glee @ Spring Fair 2026 signals the launch of a refreshed spring edition – designed to support garden retailers earlier in the buying cycle while positioning garden products firmly within the wider retail landscape.
A curated mix of brands for early season buying
Timed to coincide with early season trading, the new spring edition brings together a carefully curated group of garden and outdoor…
Spring Fair, the UK’s most influential retail marketplace, continues to build momentum around its reimagined fashion offer, revealing a strong and diverse line-up of brands set to power its Fashion destination at NEC Birmingham from 1–4 February 2026.
Designed to meet the needs of today’s fashion buyers, Fashion at Spring Fair brings together proven commercial performers and emerging discovery brands, offering retailers a destination that balances creativity with confidence, and inspiration with sell-through. From jewellery and accessories to gifting-led fashion and lifestyle pieces, the…
Spring Fair and Autumn Fair have announced a series of senior leadership appointments, reinforcing their commitment to long-term growth, strategic focus and delivering exceptional experiences for exhibitors and visitors alike. These appointments come at a time of sustained commercial and community momentum across both events, with strong growth already secured for upcoming editions and well into 2026.
At a time when retailers are navigating continued economic pressure, evolving consumer behaviour and rapid innovation, Spring Fair, Autumn Fair and Glee play a vital role in supporting the UK…
CLIMATE scientist Professor Tamsin Edwards will be speaking at the Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) 2026 Annual Conference at Carden Park Chester on the Tuesday January 27, 2026.
Prof Edwards, who regularly appears on TV and radio, specialises in quantifying the uncertainties of climate model predictions, particularly for the ice sheet and glacier contributions to sea level rise.
GCA Chairman Elect and Operations Director of Haskins Garden Centres, Ben Harrison explains: “The changes in the climate are a reoccurring discussion point for our members, as the weather has such an impact on…
While some birds are bold, brash, and easy to spot, others are much more elusive. Simon Smethurst, who is head of sales at Honeyfield’s, reveals how they can be welcomed into gardens with some clever tactics.
“The nature of the more secretive species makes them challenging to see,” said Simon. “But with a little extra effort you will soon know all the tricks about how to attract them and your garden will be adorned with numerous of the lesser known, but equally beautiful garden birds.”
Wrens, Dunnocks, Treecreepers, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, and other Summer Warblers
Blackcaps and…
As the calendar turns, the arrival of a new year is always a very exciting time for the team at Enesco, as invariably it brings with it a surge of energy, renewed purpose, and most importantly, fresh and exciting opportunities. 2026 is no exception.
Demand for unique, thoughtful and high-quality gifts is always evergreen. Birthdays will still be celebrated, babies will still be born, spontaneous acts of appreciation and “just because” will always be in the fore front of gift givers minds 365 days a year.
Looking for a gift supplier with an extensive breadth of product to offer whilst…
The UK’s leading garden retail showcase makes a welcome return to Spring Fair, creating an essential early-season touchpoint for garden buyers and retailers
Glee is set to return to Spring Fair in February 2026 for the first time in six years, taking advantage of Spring Fair’s unparalleled scale, cross-category audience and influential position in the early retail calendar. Hosted within the UK’s most comprehensive sourcing event, the Glee at Spring Fair concession show will strengthen Spring Fair’s garden and outdoor offering bringing the very best in garden, outdoor living, decorative…
Q&A “Felix et Compagnie”, 13.11.2025
What is Felco KIDS?
Felco KIDS is a new educational and intergenerational initiative from FELCO, designed to introduce children aged 4 to 12 to the joys of gardening. It consists of two complementary elements: an illustrated book and a specially designed range of ergonomic tools and accessories for children. Both are inspired by FELCO’s founder, Félix Flisch, and reflect the company’s longstanding commitment to transmission, craftsmanship, and closeness to nature. Through storytelling and hands-on practice, Felco KIDS helps children take their first…
Hornby George PR is proud to announce that it has been named the winner of the inaugural GIMA Associate of the Year Award at the unforgettable GIMA Awards 2025, held last week at the Celtic Manor Resort.
The Associate of the Year category is voted for exclusively by GIMA (Garden Industry Manufacturers’ Association) members, making this accolade especially meaningful for the Hornby George PR team. Having worked closely with GIMA and its thriving community for many years, the agency is deeply committed to supporting the association’s work, raising the profile of its members and amplifying…
Europe’s number one watering and hand tools brand, GARDENA, has been awarded the Sword of Excellence for its AquaBloom L, Micro-Drip technology that keeps up to 30 plants thriving without an outside tap or power supply.
The win highlights the brand’s commitment to innovation, sustainability and product quality in the garden and consumer products industry.
GARDENA also celebrated a double win at this year’s awards, taking home top honours in two key categories.
Securing the title for Growing, Planting Equipment & Sundries with the innovative AquaBloom L, the brand was recognised for its…
Garden birds have established territories and rely heavily on a regular supply of available food and water on ‘their patch’ during the winter months, when natural foods are scarce. Honeyfield’s resident wild bird expert Simon Smethurst, who is head of sales at Honeyfield’s, has produced some tips to help your garden bird loving customers attract and support the many species of bird spending winter in the UK.
“During winter it’s vital to provide a regular food supply for your feathered garden friends,” says Simon. Higher fat feeds, will keep energy levels up to help them through the long…
The countdown to Christmas has officially begun and this year, Glee’s Event Director, Matthew Mein, will be donning his most festive knitwear to take on the 2025 Most Jumperful Challenge in support of the Greenfingers Charity.
Following in the jingly footsteps of last year’s jumper champions, Kimberley Hornby George and Chris Moncrieff, Matthew will be wearing his Christmas jumpers every single day in December, all to help raise vital funds for Greenfingers, the charity that creates magical gardens for children’s hospices across the UK.
Since its launch, The Most Jumperful – founded by…
A member of the leadership team at Google’s Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) HQ in Dublin will be speaking at the Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) Conference at Carden Park Chester (January 26, 2026).
Edoardo Bortolato, who heads Google’s Large Customer Sales Team for Italy, Spain and Portugal, is speaking at the GCA’s 60th anniversary year event in a personal capacity about AI.
GCA Chairman Elect and Operations Director of Haskins Garden Centres, Ben Harrison explains: “We’re delighted that Edoardo has taken time out of his busy schedule to be able to join us on Monday, January 26…