2018 is set to be a strong year for the UK’s leading manufacturer of fences, sheds and quality wooden garden products, with a focus firmly on investments, innovative product design and the nurturing of strong relationships. Central to the business strategy for 2018 will be expansion of its Home Delivery offer. Many of the retailers Forest Garden supply require the company to deliver direct to their customers. This change has become more apparent in recent years and the market shift from store to home deliveries looks set to continue. Forest Garden run a fleet of up to 120 vehicles and are heavily investing in operations and driver training as well as technical changes which allow customers to pick delivery slots so they get their order at a time that suits them.

The Group has also invested more than £5m to guarantee its supply chain, in response to the increased demand for new fencing panels, which booms after major gales and, with storms becoming increasingly frequent and more severe this to looks set to increase. 

In terms of manufacturing the panels, Forest Garden’s production facility at Hartlebury in Worcestershire can produce up to 10,000 panels a day, 4,000 of which being produced using the latest state-of-the-art machinery that was commissioned shortly before Christmas.

When it comes to processing the raw timber, investment in Hartlebury is in tandem with its Lockerbie saw mill that has benefited from a capital investment of £2m in new rounding line, kilns and planing line, so from the forest floor to the factory, the business has a guaranteed supply chain.

Another part of the Forest Garden Group is M & M Timber which operates from a different site also in Worcestershire.   It is the UK’s leading manufacturer of machine rounded timber products for use in the agricultural, utility/amenity, landscaping and the play markets.   The company has recently installed a new £2m expansion to its production to meet growing demand from across the sectors it serves.  The Forest Group has signed a long term trading agreement with Mole Valley Farmers to supply all their agricultural fencing and garden timber products.

The company has also put significant investment in new product development and design, with its completely redesigned new range of small storage launching this year.

“We have to future-proof our business and these investments provide us with the security to meet future demands,” says Forest Garden’s chief executive Guy Grainger. 

In terms of nurturing relationships, Forest Garden will continue to support the national charity Thrive, that enables positive changes to the lives of disabled and disadvantaged people through gardening and horticulture. The company is also working closely with the charity Hope For Justice which actively campaigns against all forms of human trafficking and modern slavery, two areas which Forest Garden is whole heartedly committed to ensuring do not take place within its business or supply chains.

All Forest Garden products are available nationwide from high street multiples and garden centres.  To view the entire range please visitwww.forestgarden.co.uk