Contents


The future looks brighter


Welcome to the latest issue of Garden Centre Update and my first as editor again after a few years away. Quite a lot has changed since I was last involved in 2013, but it’s great to be back on board this title and I’m looking forward to reacquainting myself with this interesting and vibrant industry. This is usually the time to look forward to the year ahead with hope and optimism about what it


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Neil Mead, Editor nmead@datateam.co.uk


@ GCUpdateUK News


@ GCUMagazine 8


Association Comment: GIMA DIY Week Awards 2021


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10 Association Comment: GCA 11 Industry Insight 12 Association Comment: BHETA 13 Association Comment: HTA 14 Company Focus: Keter 16 Garden Power 21 Landscaping 22 Product News 24 Housewares & Giftware 27 Pest Control 30 Gardening 32 Supplyline


GCU February/March 2021


may bring, but unfortunately it seems like for the next few months at least, we are in for more of the same precautionary measures against Covid we’ve had in place for much of the last year. But there is a light at the end of this long tunnel in the form of the government’s roadmap that leads to the gradual reopening of all business sectors by June, that will come as a welcome relief to many. As far as our business is concerned, garden centres in England have been lucky, as the government has continued to classify them as providing essential goods and services. Sadly, however, the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have had a different approach and our colleagues in these parts of the country have had to remain closed for far too long. The GCA and HTA are lobbying these governments on the issue, so hopefully they will see sense and allow their garden centres to open again soon. With lockdown easing, this would seem like a sensible approach.


One good thing that has come out of the enforced lockdowns is a renewed interest in gardening from people of all ages, so hopefully this will continue as we get back to some kind of normality. We have to remain positive and with that in mind it’s time to look forward to the spring and much better times ahead.


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