Industry News James Parr joins


Smart Board Smart Garden has announced the promotion of James Parr to its Board as National Accounts Director. Parr, 41, joined Smart in November 2013, soon


after Paris Natar acquired the business. “I knew where this was going,” said Parr, “so was over the moon when invited to join the team. As a former garden centre retailer myself, I relished the challenge of helping to build a vibrant garden centre business for Smart. The rest is history.” Jonathan Stobart, MD, commented: “James is universally liked and respected by customers and colleagues alike. He has consistently shown commercial insight, strategic thinking, energy, perseverance and, above all else, a fantastic sense of humour! This promotion forms part of our Company’s strategy to develop the next generation of Smart’s leaders.”


Wyevale Nurseries donates new Mangave range to


RHS Garden Wisley Wyevales Nurseries has donated a collection of new Mangave succulents to the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) Garden Wisley in partnership with Plantipp B.V.


The ‘Mad About Mangave’ range has been assessed by Wyevale Nurseries, managed by Plantipp B.V, for the past few years and the donation will help extend plant research. Wyevale Nurseries’ production manager, Kyle Ross, explained: “In cooperation with Plantipp, we agreed to donate a selection of


Consumer demand for landscaping products


continues to rise Consumer demand for garden


landscaping products has remained high through the lockdowns and the team at Kelkay expect this to continue when restrictions are lifted. Despite all the challenges associated with operating in a Covid-secure way, the team at Pollington have increased manufacturing capacity significantly, and have higher inventory on hand than ever before, approximately 50 percent more than the prior year. Additionally, the team at Kelkay have signed a longterm lease for additional land in Pocklington which will expand inventory holding capacity by a further 25 percent.


the new succulents to RHS Garden Wisley. The plants will be displayed in both indoor and outdoor beds, where further winter hardiness evaluation will continue. “These very impressive plants are now sitting in 10 litre pots and are looking absolutely monstrous!”


Mark Tuson, team leader welcome & riverside at RHS Garden Wisley, was thrilled with the delivery of Mangaves he received from Wyevale Nurseries last month. He said: “We’re very excited to be assessing the Mad about Mangave range. We’ll be checking on their hardiness, using winter protection, in the sandy, free draining soil around the sun trap of the Stone Pine Café at RHS Garden Wisley. We’d like lots of people to come along and see the madness of the Mangave in person this and next year!” Peter van Rijssen from Plantipp B.V. hopes that by having the succulents on show in the


“I’m so proud of the team,” said Jon Wilson,


operations director at Kelkay. “In November last year we set a new record for manufacturing output in a single month, and we are continuing to outperform prior year performance by investing in more resources and productivity. Our pre-season customer commitments are in many cases more than double last year, and so we are doing all we can to respond to extraordinary additional demand.”


To find out more about Kelkay go to www.kelkay.com or e-mail the general enquiries office on salesenquiries@kelkay.co.uk or call to speak to us on 01405 869333.


garden the visiting general public will also have a chance to learn about the Mangaves and the trial.


He said: “I’m very proud of our plants being on show at RHS Garden Wisley and with Wyevale Nurseries for making this donation of our revolutionary collection of Mad about Mangaves. They are wonderful to see and I think they will be a great talking point for RHS staff and visitors.”


Wyevale Nurseries is one of the UK’s leading commercial nurseries. Its main business is to supply garden centres, landscape contractors, local authorities, foresters and landowners with a comprehensive array of trees, shrubs, hedging, herbaceous and specimen plants.


For further details about Wyevale Nurseries, which is based in Hereford, please call 01432 845 200 or visit www.wyevalenurseries.co.uk


HTA Chairman calls on industry to celebrate efforts of 2020


James Barnes, Chairman of the Horticultural Trades Association has recognised the remarkable efforts of people in Britain’s horticultural industries and committed to getting straight back to business on their behalf in January 2021, urging the trade to do everything it can to be prepared for the year ahead. “The industry has arguably had both the best


and worst of times in one short time period,” said Barnes. “A disastrous start to the spring season, followed by the relief of seeing garden centres classified as essential retail and the huge growth in new gardeners, has been followed by uncertainty and concern as we face post-Christmas lockdown.


GCU February/March 2021


Throughout it all, it’s been heartening to see people pulling together to support one another. “The resilience and agility of the industry to cope with crisis and change has been immense. Notwithstanding the light at the end of the tunnel that the roll out of vaccinations has provided, the post-Covid, post-Brexit world will have brought some fundamental change to the way we all live, work and do business. Although such change may ultimately reveal itself over many months and years, 2021 is likely to require an even greater level of agility, resilience and innovation.


“Sustainability, the environment and climate change will regain their prominence on the


agenda going forward and the HTA will be at the forefront of promoting the industry as a key deliverer of the ambitions here and as an engine for economic growth. “I think we can take confidence that the future of our industry is bright and that we can have the plans, the resourcefulness and determination to capitalise on this, ” Barnes concluded.


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