Blog
Lockdown lesson is that growers and garden centres need to communicate on availability
Communicate with us and we will buy more British plants, says an influential garden retailer. Source: Garden1
Online garden retail sales almost double in July
The warmer weather and increased amount of time outdoors has triggered sales in gardening in July to soar to +96.9% year-on-year. Source: Garden1
Fires hit garden centres
Fire crews from Methwold, Swaffham and Watton in Norfolk attended Didlington Nurseries garden centre after being called shortly after 1.20am on 9 August. Source: Garden1
Macpac in demand by growers in ecommerce-driven climate
In March there were dire prospects for the horticultural sector, with projected losses of £687m by the end of June and £1.2bn by Christmas 2020 Source: Garden1
Quantil £2m CBILS loan helps tide grower over post-coronavirus crisis
Sales at garden centre young vegetable plant supplier Quantil have done better than budget in 2019 and better than expected during 2020. Source: Garden1
Top chef backs Suttons after 15 million beetroot seeds sell during coronavirus lockdown
Suttons Seeds sales during lockdown (March 23-July 4 2020 inclusive) show sales of 100 million lettuces, 25 million herbs and over 15 million beetroot seeds. Source: Garden1
Garden centres restaurants: 88% now open post coronavirus crisis
A Horticulture Week survey of 300 leading garden centres has found 88% now have their restaurants open. Source: Garden1
Porters Fuchsias identifies gardener of the future and urges customers to buy British this autumn
Porters Fuchsias’ Nat Porter said gardeners can help by keeping gardening in September and checking labels for Union Jacks or UK plant passport symbols to make sure they buy British. Source: Garden1
Poplar Garden Centre's David Little says 20 years as MD 'meaningless' when making plans post-coronavirus crisis
Poplars will have a separate Christmas shop, no grotto and will reopen the restaurant on 1 September with some trepidation. Source: Garden1
Garden centres continue with development plans despite coronavirus lockdown
Many garden centre owners are taking a positive view on developments. Source: Garden1
Coronavirus crisis causes another garden business to close
Another horticulture outlet is being forced to close. Source: Garden1
Eat Out to Get Out takes off at garden centres
Diners used the Eat Out to Help Out scheme 10.54 million times in its first week, the Treasury has said, costing £50m by 9 August. Source: Garden1
Greengage searches up 134% at Waitrose
This week the British greengage crop will be arriving in Waitrose shops, with the favourable weather bringing the fruit to retail week earlier than normal. Source: Garden1
Garden centres seek the secret to profitable restaurants to maintain uplift going into autumn
Garden retailers are looking towards late 2020 with hope of meeting budgets but are still looking for the perfect recipe for making catering profitable. Source: Garden1
National Trust plants orders down but nursery sales in general improving
Horticultural consultant Will George says mail order nurseries he is in touch with has done extremely well during coronavirus lockdown and since garden centres have reopened “they have come back “really strongly”. Source: Garden1
Office for National Statistics shows July reopening levels
The ONS Business Impact of Covid Survey (BICS) shows closure, supply and other percentages. Source: Garden1
Garden centre soft plays begin to reopen
The first children’s soft play areas, which have been installed in many garden cenres in recent years have reopened. Source: Garden1
Gardening sales soar in July
New figures show July retail sales were strong. Source: Garden1
Garden centre pioneer Ernest Wertheim dies aged 100
Wertheim was a pioneer of modern garden centres design. Source: Garden1
