Features
THE GARDEN Centre Association (GCA) is encouraging its members to do what they can start reducing waste and the amount of plastic going to landfill (August, 2019).
Two of its member centres recently worked with Herefordshire and Worcestershire authorities to get non-black PP plastic pots and trays accepted in household and kerbside recycling bins.
Will Blake, Director at St Peter’s Garden Centre in Norton, Worcester, said: “There has been a lot of discussions among GCA members about how we can help reduce plastic waste, especially as there is a large amount of it in the garden centre…
Employees working at Haskins in Ferndown completed a charity Static Bikeathon in aid of Faithworks Wessex.
Staff from all departments in the garden centre and restaurant took part, making a total of 25 riders, aged 17 to 67. Each rider completed 15km on the static bikes which were positioned outside the garden centre.
Haskins raised a total of £320 for Faithworks Wessex via individual sponsorship and bucket collections. Donations can still be made via www.localgiving.org/fundraising/Haskins-Static-Bikeathon. Representatives from other charities also attended, including Poole Foodbank,…
Garden Trade Specialist editor Victor Galligan spoke to Farr North Christmas Trees’ owner John Junor about his farm and supplying the Christmas tree to 10 Downing Street…
John Junor has been in the Christmas tree business for over 30 years now, and from his 450 acre-farm in Farr, Inverness-shire, he is currently operating his business alongside his livestock farming role.
John says: “We have sheep and cattle here too, and the trees grow alongside them.”
With a plantation of 250,000 Norman Fir, Norway Spruce and Alaskan Pine trees, Farr North’s main buyers are wholesalers and John is keen…
ONE OF the UK’s leading water garden product companies has launched a series of ‘how-to’ videos to support retailers selling its new Liberty 200 pump while also attracting a younger social media-driven audience (August 2019).
Blagdon says it isn’t just launching its easy-to-install Liberty 200 mains-free, solar-powered pump, but is also suppling retailers with the means to educate and pull-in new markets too.
Development Manager at Blagdon, Andrew Paxton explained: “To help our retail partners inspire new consumers and, also, to provide an easy-to-use, step-by-step guide for users to follow…
Weed, feed and control brand Neudorff will launch a new Vegan Society Accredited range of products at Glee 2019.
Neudorff’s range already focuses on products that use natural active ingredients where possible with many products certified by the Organic Farmers & Growers Association.
Vegan approved products have been included in the product line-up for a number of years and the brand has now been given the vegan stamp of approval across new and existing products.
“Demand for vegan growing products has grown massively in the past few years thanks to a new generation of gardeners and…
Vegepod, the Australian manufacturer of innovative raised garden beds, will be showcasing its range at GLEE 2019.
At the show the company, which launched in the UK in spring 2018, will be focussing on sustainability. In the midst of the “war on plastics”, Vegepod will be highlighting that its polypropylene beds are indeed eco-friendly, particularly when compared to timber or iron raised alternatives. With a minimum 10+ year lifespan they outlive untreated timber counterparts five fold without the need for harvesting and deforestation. Additionally, the Vegepod eco-covers manage the climate…
STAFF at garden centres across the Wales & West region are celebrating after scooping awards during a presentation evening at Castle Gardens this week (Tuesday, July 23, 2019).
Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre was awarded Garden Centre of the Year in the Destination Garden Centre (DGC) category and The Old Railway Line Garden Centre scooped the award in the Garden Centre (GC) category.
Iain Wylie, GCA Chief Executive, said: “Our Wales & West regional awards meeting was a huge success and we’d like to thank all those who attended. It was great to hear our GCA Inspector, Michael Cole…
Leading environmentally-friendly plant care brand ecofective® will feature its rapidly expanding portfolio at Glee 2019, showcasing the latest generation of natural feed, weed and pest control products that cater for the UK’s growing band eco-friendly consumers and organic gardeners.
Ecofective® has experienced strong demand throughout 2019, with sales driven by consumers seeking effective green alternatives to conventional fertilisers and pesticides. The retail ban on metaldehyde-based slug pellets has strengthened the market for natural slug controls, with the company poised to showcase…
Haskins launches colouring competition of garden scene to encourage children to enjoy gardening
Leading garden centre group, Haskins Garden Centres, is delighted to announce the launch of a new Garden Gang colouring competition in time for the summer holidays.
The colouring sheet template can be downloaded and printed for free from the Haskins website www.haskins.co.uk/garden-gang or picked up in any of the Haskins centres from Monday July 15. To enter the competition, the sheet needs to be coloured and submitted via email to yourphotos@haskins.co.uk or posted on Facebook with the tag @…
In the digital age, sending personalised messages in the form of cards and letters is becoming more important. There is something special about receiving a handwritten card or letter: An experience that cannot be replicated through an electronic message, email or social media.
Launched back in 2011 by Keith and Rachel Dickson, award winning Zaquarella have been designing and manufacturing a range of stunning greeting cards of the highest quality.
Initially the company began by providing artwork on a commission basis but they came to wider prominence when they were involved in the…
Garden design is a fascinating and complex job with extensive knowledge required of plants, hard landscaping, irrigation, lighting, soil and micro-climates, and of course, a flair for design is essential.
The use of colour in garden design creates a space unique to the owner, whether it be the use of soft pretty pastels for a country cottage feel, or cool greys for a more modern look. A country cottage theme can be enhanced by painting garden sheds or objects in pretty pastel wood paint shades.
Planting will obviously provide the basis for a colour palette but painting boundary fencing,…
One of the biggest challenges for greenhouse gardeners in the summer months is regulating the temperature inside. Ventilation is the key – and it is made much easier with Bayliss Autovents.
When the sun is shining, temperatures inside the greenhouse shoot up, sometimes to 40-50°C if left unchecked – far too hot for most plants. Ventilation the greenhouse by opening the door, louvre and roof vents stops the interior temperature rising too high by encouraging air circulation. When temperatures fall again, on cloudy days or during cooler evenings, close the vents to help maintain the warmth…
Formbar are trolley and basket specialists – it is all we do.
We know it is the last task on your list but if you don’t have the right solution to suit your store and brand then your customers can not bring their purchases to your till. The better the basket or trolley the more the customers buy as they fill it to the top. So call us today to discuss your specific needs and we will have the right solution for you.
When speaking to Garden Centre owners and managers I realised they have a unique set of concerns when compared to other retailers.
Indoor and Outdoor sales areas with a variety…
Sarah’s interest in pattern and design goes right back to her childhood when living in the sleepy Cotswold village of Naunton where she’d draw and create clothing to keep herself amused. She made a pencil skirt at the age of about seven that her parents allowed her to wear on the train to visit her grandparents. By the time she arrived at Temple Meads Station, to the horror of her rather posh Grandma it had fallen apart !“
Undeterred and with the encouragement of her family she carried on making. A seminal moment was when a Junior School teacher, Miss Pentecoste, chose the bookmark Sarah…
Power of One is a new initiative being adopted by Glee to highlight the impact we each have on the environment. Supporting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, the campaign seeks to demonstrate how a combination of small, individual changes can create a more sustainable future for all.
At Glee, exhibitors and visitors will be encouraged to make a pledge, committing to making one small conscious change to reduce their impact upon the environment and the world in which we live. Pledges could include anything from promising to recycle more, choosing…
How much fun can you pack into an indoor playground just 7.5-metres long and 1 metre deep? Leaps and bounds of fun, if you’re Playscheme!
We created the Leaping Platforms Play Centre at Nailsworth Garden Centre in Gloucestershire to include loads of smart interactive sensor features.
Light, sound and sight are key elements of this bespoke indoor playground, and we worked alongside Sound Leisure on features that help children aged two to 12 explore their senses through their imagination and creativity.
Star of the show is a large interactive Perspex®light and sound “waterfall”, complete…