from the editor News brief...
ASSOCIATED LIGHTING GROUP
IN ADMINISTRATION Lighting and electrical distributor, Associated Lighting Group has entered administration, appointing Hunter Kelly and Charles King of Ernst & Young as joint administrators. 58 jobs have been axed at the company’s subsidiaries, Ring Lamp Company and Trident. Ernst & Young's Mr King commented; "Management has been working hard to integrate both businesses, but surplus stock, pressure from creditors and difficult market conditions earlier in the year have ultimately led to our appointment.”
‘LAS VEGAS’ IS
DAFFODIL OF 2010 The flower bulb industry has selected the daffodil variety Las Vegas as the 2010 UK Daffodil of the Year. It will be used in promotional campaigns to raise the profile of daffodils in the UK in a joint initiative by charitable organisation Springfields Horticultural Society, the South Holland Horticultural Association and the British Flower Bulb Association. Las Vegas is an ideal choice for garden planting and gives a long lasting display.
HOSPICE GARDEN
TRANSFORMED Rowlan has donated its Medallion turf and Turf & Lawn Seeding topsoil to Acorns Children’s Hospice in Birmingham, through its association with the Greenfinger’s Charity. The garden at Acorns was transformed ino a stunning area that children and their families can enjoy. Dee McCann, volunteer manager at Acorns in Birmingham commented: “The new garden would not have been possible without generous donations from supporters such as Rolawn. It is a fantastic addition to the hospice that will make a huge difference to our children and their families.”
Development delight for Dobbies! New Carlisle store is set to be open by spring 2011.
Dobbies is celebrating the news that its plans for a Carlisle-based centre have been given the go-ahead.
L
ocal councillors formally approved the proposal for an eco-friendly Dobbies Garden
World in Dalston on August 16. The project will cost around £8 million and will be constructed from sustainably sourced timber as well as other natural construction materials. In a bid to keep the 50,000 sq ft operation as ‘green’ as possible, a number of features are in the pipeline including
energy-efficient lighting and rainwater recycling. Stuart Wright, Dobbies director
of property, enthused, “We’re delighted to be a step closer to opening a Dobbies Garden World in Carlisle. We plan to open our doors to customers in Carlisle in spring 2011 and we are looking forward to starting construction to start on site soon.” He continued: “We want to thank the individuals involved in our Carlisle planning application which will allow us to bring a new generation of garden centre to customers in the Cumbria area.”
The development will create 120 full and part-time jobs supported by formal in-house training programmes meaning that 50 per cent of staff will have specific horticultural knowledge. On offer will be more than 10,000 plants, shrubs and trees, as well as extensive outdoor areas, a specialist aquatics department and a Farm Foodhall selling locally grown produce. A top-quality restaurant with home baking and freshly prepared meals is planned, with Dobbies hoping to appeal to the growing number of shoppers enjoying leisurely visits and family
Movers and shakers
Ramsgate Garden Centre has appointed a new manager in Jim Ashby. He will take charge of day- to-day management of the centre, which is part of The Garden Centre Group. Ashby takes over the position from Paul Dye, who has been promoted to regional manager for Kent and East Sussex. Dye has worked in the industry for more than 30 years
and will now oversee 11 garden centres across the two counties. Staff at another of The Garden
Centre Group’s stores recently celebrated a special achievement in the branch’s 50th anniversary. Bridgemere Nursery & Garden World near Nantwich turned 50 on July 16 and the occasion was marked with a garden party and the cutting of a celebratory cake
(pictured). Marc Haigh, the centre’s manager, commented: “We hosted a special garden party at the centre to celebrate our golden anniversary. More than 180 people attended the event including regular customers, local dignitaries, suppliers and staff from our sister garden centres and head office. The garden centre’s founders, John and Elizabeth Ravenscroft, who were appointed as Life
4 Garden & Hardware News
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