from the editor


excursions to garden centres. The retailer is certainly wasting no time in making the most of recent consumer trends which have seen gardening shoot to the top of the UK’s leisure activities. The Carlisle development is just one of a number of new sites envisaged across the nation, including a centre planned at Nether Alderley and proposals for Liverpool, Peterborough, Ashford, Braehead, and Houston Mains in West Lothian. excursions to garden centres. For more information visit www.dobbies.com


Images below: the Carlisle development will look similar to the Dobbies Garden World in Aberdeen


Experts to advise on bedding plant issues at specialist conference


October brings the premier Horticultural Trade Association conference specifically for the bedding plant industry, Bedding Focus. Initiated by the HTA Bedding Plant Group, which formed earlier this year, the event will take place on October 28 at Ball Colegrave, near Banbury, Oxfordshire. According to the HTA it is set to be a key event for the industry, and will incorporate a range of features such as insight into consumer behaviour from Pippa Goodman, of The Future Foundation. Visitors will also hear from bedding expert Garry Grueber of Cultivaris on ‘the bedding plant of the future’ as well as retailer expectations from Boyd Douglas-Daves of Webbs of Wychbold. Peat alternatives is a


further topic that will be central, with Charles Drewe of New Lead Sustainability Partnership lined up to outline the current positions, where the issue is headed and options for the industry. Afternoon sessions will cover logistics and efficiency improvements with HTA Lean Consultant, Neil Fedden who will be discussing the benefits of Lean for bedding producers, focusing on a case study of bedding grower, Ornamental Plants. Trends in garden use will also be covered, such as the use of bedding, grow-your-own and smaller gardens. HTA’s director of business development, Tim Briercliffe will conclude the conference, outlining what needs to be done to support the sector in the future. www.the-hta.org.uk


diary dates


September


7 – 8 SEPTEMBER Four Oaks Trade Show www.fouroaks- tradeshow.com


MACCLESFIELD, CHESHIRE Four Oaks is a key date for the nursery sector and combining plant displays by suppliers from all over the world, as well as associated supplies and services such as production and POS.


20 – 22 SEPTEMBER Glee www.gleebirmingham.com BIRMINGHAM, NEC A key event for every retailer in the industry, Glee offers a wide selection of brands in a central location. Get your fill of garden, outdoor leisure and pet products in one place.


28 – 30 SEPTEMBER China International Hardware Show www.hardwareshow- china.com NEW INTERNATIONAL EXPO CENTRE, SHANGHAI In its 10th year, this show describes itself as “Asia’s top trade fair for the hardware and DIY sectors”.


12 – 13 OCTOBER HTA Garden Futures Conference www.the-hta.org.uk BARBICAN CENTRE, LONDON


Presidents of Bridgemere Nursery & Garden World during the celebrations, helped cut our 50th birthday cake.”


David Fitzgerald has been


promoted to operations director at Tile Depot. Fitzgerald joined the company three years ago and will now be responsible for all store operations including personnel management and design/merchandising. Two further head office appointments have


Image: Marc Haigh, manager of Bridgemere Nursery & Garden World, founders Elizabeth and John Ravenscroft, and Hedley Triggs, manager of Horticulture at the centre.


also been made; Rhonda Partridge has joined the company and will look after HR, and Leslie Dupree joins as compliance controller.


‘Evolution or Revolution?’ is the theme of the 2010 Garden Futures Conference. The line up includes retail expert, Mary Portas who will be visiting UK garden centres and reporting back on her finds. Pippa Goodman, of the Future Foundation will be returning to report on consumer trends, and delegates will see the results of new research by the HTA.


To publicise your event, please send details via email to naomi.davis@onecoms.co.uk.


Garden & Hardware News 5


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