Features

A LEADING UK commercial grower has been unveiled this month as the sponsor for the Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) annual Ruxley Rose Award (December 2023). The garden centre with the best overall plantaria will be presented with the accolade at the GCA’s 2024 annual conference in January. Managing Director, Andy Johnson says: “As a keen GCA Associate Member and a key supplier to garden centres nationwide, we’re delighted to be sponsoring this prestigious award, which highlights not just garden centres with top quality, interesting plants, but those who take the trouble to display them…

Having successfully introduced the Cramer brand of professional battery-powered tools to the UK, British garden equipment manufacturer and distributor Handy has revealed that substantial investments are set to be made in Cramer by its parent company Globe Technologies, who will take this innovative brand to the next stage. Mark Moseley, Handy Sales and Marketing Director, states: “We enjoy an excellent working relationship with Globe Technologies, which began – and continues - with the Greenworks brand, and has seen us effectively pave the way for the Cramer brand in the UK. The future of…

Looking to the 2024 season, garden retailers can step up their sustainability game and enhance their outdoor offer with Primeur’s brand-new recycled planters designs and colourways. If you are keen to stay ahead of the curve and meet the increasing demand for environmentally friendly gardening solutions, Primeur's latest offerings are a necessary addition to your product line-up. New designs Primeur’s newest containers still stay true to the company’s award-winning portfolio of landscaping and decorative products, using recycled materials in their manufacturing process. The British supplier…

GLOBAL Consultancy Director Josh McBain will be offering Garden Centre Association (GCA) members an insight into ‘The Future of Garden Retailing’ at its 2024 Conference in January (January 28 until 31, 2024). Josh is the first speaker to take to the podium on Monday, January 29 and will illuminate attendees with his predictions for garden centres – the main theme for 2024’s event. Chairman Elect for 2024/25, Will Blake, explains: “Josh is Global Consultancy Director at Foresight Factory and led the research for the Ornamental Horticulture Roundtable Group’s ‘Growing a Green Economy’ report…

Pink Pig’s ‘Three Up’ card range is proving ultra popular with stockists, and new designs are being continually added New to the range is the option to personalise the designs with your own text: i.e “To the best fisherman in Torquay’  There are over 55 designs featuring both male and female hobbies and pastimes, including cycling, wild swimming, golf, gardening, and more! Cards are 150x150mmsquare, on beautiful high quality FSC 350gsm card – sold in packs of 6 with eko clsp, naked or cello wrapped.  Pink Pig also design beautiful high quality giftwrap with bold florals, contemporary on…

As the days get shorter and the garden starts to wind down in late summer, September is the perfect time to prepare your lawn for winter if you want to get great results next year. After summer's temperamental weather that couldn’t make up its mind if it were warm or wet, and increased foot traffic and use during the school holidays, it's time to give the lawn a boost so it's looking its best next spring. Johnsons has identified five signs that your lawn needs some love over autumn. 1.         Lumps and bumps caused by uneven ground and compaction 2.         Weeds and moss  3.         Poor…

Top Drawer, the UK's premier design-led trade show will be opening its doors this Sunday at Olympia London till the 12th September. Curated with retailers in mind, Top Drawer is THE destination for the best design-led products from an unmissable collection of new and established brands. With over 150 new brands joining the show this season, retailers will be able to explore 9 distinctive sectors offering gifts, homewares, children’s products, candles, Christmas stocking fillers and more!  Buyers will have the opportunity to source customer favourites like Blade & Rose, British Colour…

STAFF at garden centres across the Wales & West region are celebrating after scooping awards during a Garden Centre Association (GCA) presentation evening at Cadbury Garden Centre, on Thursday, July 6, 2023. The Old Railway Line Garden Centre was awarded the title of Garden Centre of the Year in the Destination Garden Centre (DGC) category and Pugh’s Garden Village, Wenvoe received the accolade in the Garden Centre (GC) category. Peter Burks, GCA CEO, said: “Our Wales & West regional awards meeting was a huge success and I’d like to thank all those who attended. It was great to hear…

What if your space could enjoy all the environmental, health, and aesthetic benefits of a natural hedge without the associated investment in time, effort and expertise required to grow and nurture it? With the use of green screens, this is no longer an issue.  Mobilane Green Screens are an instant green hedging screen which can be installed with the ease of a fence to create a natural, green setting. Whether in smaller private spaces such as gardens or in larger-scale developments in the public realm, green screens offer instant privacy and nature-inspired impact.  Easy installation with…

Forklift trucks have come a long way since their inception, with significant technological advancements being made in recent years. By embracing new technologies and innovative manufacturing processes, HELI has been able to stay ahead of the curve, making its forklift trucks a popular choice among businesses that require a reliable and cost-effective materials handling solution. All HELI forklift trucks are built from the ground up, meaning that every component is designed and produced in-house. By controlling every aspect of the manufacturing process, HELI can ensure that each forklift…

Tuesday 11July – 5.30pm – 7.30pm  Are you ready for an evening filled with delicious food, refreshing drinks, and great fun?  Look no further than the Fire Food and Outdoor Living Evening at SOLEX 2023. On July 11th from 5.30pm to 7.30pm, come join us for the BBQ Hero competition in partnership with BBQ magazine and mingle with industry experts. Plus, enjoy drinks tastings from Powder Monkey Brewing Co, Tidal Rum, and Beefsteak Club wine.  Do you have what it takes to be crowned the BBQ Hero? Put your skills to the test as you compete head-to-head with other attendees. Impress our judges…

As we start to consider who might be crowned a GIMA award winner this year, the judging panel with the hard job of choosing the deserving brands has now been confirmed. Once again, GIMA has secured an impressive line-up of judges, with garden centre and multiple retailer representatives, trend experts, leading buyers, plus trade and consumer editors bringing their experience to the role. Confirmed judges are Gary Carvosso, Coolings Garden Centre; Shelley Bou Chrouch, Scarlet Opus; Mairi Devlin, B&Q; Ian Hodgson, Garden News; Trevor Pfeiffer, Garden Trade News; Michelle de Lavis-Trafford…

Biofertiliser what is it? Over many years the team at PlantWorks Ltd have educated UK gardeners to the value of mycorrhizal fungi in the form of rootgrowTM, more recently we have introduced beneficial soil bacteria into our ranges, these microbes are adopted from our extensive research into increasing nutrient use efficiency in plants for farming and in food production. More frequently growers are referring to these products as BIOFERTILISERS which defines a new method to deliver plant nutrition. Biofertiliser is used to define a product that: Contains living micro-organisms which, when…

With just over a week to go, walkers and cyclists from across the garden retail sector are busy limbering up as they prepare to tackle the 2023 Garden Re-Leaf Sponsored Walk and Cycle Challenge (24th March 2023).   This year, walkers will be taking on one of two walks, with the new-for-2023 north walk having a handful of spaces left for those walkers based in the north of the country. Organised by long-term Greenfingers ally, Jane Lawler Associates, and supported by Will Armitage, Jenny Douthwaite and Martin Cowell, this 12-mile circular route will take in ‘Last of the Summer Wine’ country…

The technology that powers our smartphones is also driving electric vehicles, including materials handling equipment.  Terry Andrews, National Sales Manager at Grant Handling takes a look at Lithium-ion battery powered forklifts to discover why more businesses are making the switch to the Heli Lithium Lite range. When you rely on your electric forklift for loading, unloading and transporting goods over short distances, in warehouses or yards, you need maximum availability, reliability and convenience.     Over recent years, the cleaner, greener and quieter electric-powered forklift has…

Hillier has unveiled its garden design for the 2023 BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair. This year’s design is an interactive, walkthrough garden enclosed in high hedges and wildflower turf. Inspired by The Secret Garden, the design will encourage visitors to get up close and personal with the plants displayed. There are three main areas in the garden for visitors to experience. On the right-hand side and flowing around the garden will be a stunning colour-coordinated display of herbaceous perennials and shrubs, beginning with cool whites and purples through to fiery reds and oranges. Moving…