Features


Dog receiving grooming treatment
When Crufts airs on our televisions this year (5th-8th March), some of the best-groomed pooches in the nation will be gracing our screens. Grooming treatment is not just for the dogs taking to the stage next month, though; it also plays an essential part in keeping them healthy overall. From clipping their nails to brushing their coats, a bit of pampering is an essential part of maintaining your dog’s overall health. Regardless of whether your dog is best in show, or prefers to stay at home, care, attention and careful grooming treatment can prevent a range of health issues, such as…

Teak furniture
Teak is a product of natural beauty and as such, no two examples are ever exactly the same. The unique blend of grain and colouring can vary from light to dark brown. Occasionally you may see a pinkish tint which is due to the kilning process and is particularly apparent on items that have been stored in cartons. On exposure to natural light, any colour variations will steadily even out. With time teak wood will gradually weather to a soft, silver grey. Once teakwood has weathered, the colour will be enhanced by an annual scrub with soapy water to remove accumulated dirt. Alternatively, you…

New Century Glasshouses - large glasshouse
New Century Glasshouses Ltd is a family run business specialising in the supply and erection of second-hand refurbished Venlo glasshouses. The Managing Director, Ken Sharpe has over 50 years experience in the horticultural supply business and he leads a small team of dedicated staff to ensure the services provided are of the highest quality. The Company employs its own Site Team of specialised and experienced erectors, led by the Site Manager Graham Dixon, who has worked with Ken for over 30 years. Based in Lincolnshire, the experienced and friendly staff, handle work across the UK…

Streetwize Accessories garden accessories
The Ace Supply Company Ltd (trading as Streetwize Accessories), who are now in their 34th year of trading, are expanding their Gardenwize range with the introduction of decorative planters, a new solar light range and soft garden furnishings which include scatter cushions, ottomans and seat cushions. The new decorative planter range by Gardenwize are all made from fiberstone to withstand various weather conditions and are ideal for both flowers and plants. They’ve been elegantly designed to add character and reinvigorate your garden.  The solar light range brings your garden to life during…

red squirrels in the garden


The red squirrel population is rapidly declining, but if you're not ready to say goodbye to these beautiful creatures just yet, there are plenty of ways you can encourage them into your outdoor space. Here, Kathryn Eccles from pet supply specialist Millbry Hill, discusses how to attract red squirrels to your garden.  Red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) are hard to miss with their characteristic fiery red fur, bushy tail and large ear tufts. And, while these remain among one of our best-loved woodland animals, the reality is that the red squirrel population is depleting rapidly. In fact,…

Jostaberries
With the new Confi®Berries from Lubera, the essential characteristics of jostaberries have been decisively improved, growth has been significantly reduced in two varieties, and the fertility has been considerably enhanced in all three varieties so that the new Confi®Berries now come much closer to the original vision: • The Confi®Berries are thornless • Two new varieties, Jodeli and Jofruity, have reduced growth and much better fertility. Although Jogusto still grows slightly stronger; the fertility is also significantly increased • Jodeli and Jogusto have huge berries measuring up to 1.8 cm…

New Horizon peat-free compost
Westland Horticulture will launch the biggest ever advertising campaign for peat-free compost this spring, investing £1.5million in a New Horizon™ TV campaign. Westland’s New Horizon campaign, developed under the theme “Greatest Grow on Earth”, is a celebration of growing. The campaign, which is set to reach 20 million households from April this year, forms part of Westland’s commitment to lead the move towards more sustainable growing media products and promote peat-free or heavily peat-reduced products across all its communication channels in 2020. As part of its peat reduction strategy,…

Poddy & Black garden footwear
Started by sisters Vanessa and Justine in early 2019, Poddy & Black is the modern woman’s answer to stylish garden footwear.  After years spent in the fashion industry and frustrated by the lack of choice, these 2 decided it was time to start a brand that gives confident creative women the opportunity to express themselves and have some fun  - even when its muddy or raining! The young business currently offers 3 styles with cheeky names ( the Clever Clog, the Bossy Boot, and the iconic Half Cut) with new styles and colours coming for 2020. Made of natural rubber and lined with recycled…

Thermacell Halo Mini turn on over garden
Are your Summer days ruined by those pesky mosquitoes and midges?  Enjoy the outdoors and your garden midge free thanks to Thermacell’s Halo Mini.  Standing at only 16cm tall, the Halo Mini sits discreetly on your garden table, on a wall or anywhere near where you are based.  It will silently create a dome of protection measuring approximately 20m².  Anyone inside the protected area will be safe from midges and mosquitoes, even your pets are protected!  One major benefit of the Thermacell units is that nothing is in direct contact with your skin, so no messy sprays or oily lotions – perfect…

Gima Day Conference logo
GIMA’s forthcoming Day Conference - open to both members and non-members - will be a must-attend for any supplier wanting to hear from two of the UK’s leading garden centres.   Headlining the Day Conference will be British Garden Centres’ Phillippa Stubbs – who, along with her husband Charles, is certainly in demand having recently acquired the Hillview Group and took advantage of the Wyevale dispersal to create a 57-strong portfolio of stores. British Garden Centres is now the UK’s second largest garden centre chain, and Phillippa will be using her time at the GIMA Conference to talk to…

Dog eating No-Hide® Chews - a healthy alternative to rawhide
Revolutionary dog chews launched in the UK - No-Hide® Chews are the first healthy alternative to rawhide Earth Animal’s range of revolutionary dog chews — which are already a huge hit with US canines and their health-conscious ‘pawrents’ — are now available to our four-legged friends in the UK. The award-winning No-Hide® Wholesome Chews are the healthy, hand-rolled, and heavenly alternative to rawhide. They’re made with just six simple, natural ingredients: brown rice flour, organic eggs, olive oil, banana, pineapple stem and agar-agar (vegetable gelatine) — plus, one flavour-bursting…

Valentine's Day dangers for cats and dogs
Valentine’s Day is a wonderful time of year, when tokens of love are shared by romantic partners and friends alike. Unfortunately, in all the excitement, we can often forget how toxic human treats can be for our furry friends, and distractedly leave them within the reach of our pet’s inquisitive noses! Dr Jessica May, lead vet at digital vet service FirstVet, sheds light on the romantic foods, flowers and trinkets that are dangerous for our pets.  Scented candles and essential oils  Why they are dangerous Scented candles often contain chemicals and essential oils that can be harmful for…

With Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Easter all on the horizon, providing retailers with an opportunity to create some fabulous displays, we take a look at some stand-out pieces on the market. From gorgeous collectibles to trend-led planting, there are plenty of new products on the market which will refresh your stock and enhance the shopping experience for your customers. Garden Trade Specialist editor Victoria Galligan reckons these spring gifts will have everyone reaching for the chip and pin this spring…   1. Famed for creating the Liberty Christmas Bear, Grin & Bear London’s…

Emma Bryan Greeting Cards
Emma Bryan is an independent greeting card publisher supplying contemporary paper goods to businesses around the world.  Emma’s hand-painted illustrations and distinctive colour palette are at the heart of her business and her designs are full of pastel hues, hand-painted florals, and inspiration from the natural world.  “I’m surrounded by British birdsong and flowers all day in my garden studio, so it is no wonder they find their way into my designs but I enjoy exotic flora and fauna too.  I live in an area of Surrey which has the largest population of wild parakeets in the UK, and they…

Deko-Pak Nestbox for National Nestbox Week
The BTO’s National Nestbox Week, a highlight of the ornithology calendar, returns on February 14th – 21st February and leading garden decoration specialist, Deco-Pak is encouraging customers to get their gardens, yards and balconies ready for our feathered friends.   The RSPB recently reporting that the song thrush population has plummeted by 76% in 40 years, and house sparrows along with other small garden birds are also witnessing a similar decline as hedgerows and woodland habitats are continuing to be lost. With the loss of natural places suitable for nesting increasing,  it has never…

Henry Bell new nest box for national nest box week
LEADING QUALITY WILD BIRD FOOD MANUFACTURER - HENRY BELL - CELEBRATES NATIONAL NEST BOX WEEK WITH A WIDE RANGE OF BOXES AND CARE ADVICE Ahead of National Nest Box Week (14–21 February 2020), leading quality wild bird and pet food producer, Henry Bell & Co, is focusing on nest box education with advice on how to select and care for the right nest box this spring. The Henry Bell range of Nest Boxes are specifically designed to encourage different bird species, including Robins, Blue Tits, Great Tits, House Sparrows and Wrens. They are all crafted to provide adequate insulation from the…