NEWS


Chelsea success for Hillier and Greenfingers


Hillier has extended its incredible world record, winning a 74th consecutive gold medal at this years’ RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The latest accolade maintains the company’s status as the most successful exhibitor in Chelsea history. The gold medal-winning ‘The


Stihl Hillier Garden’ was designed by Lilly Gomm, who made her Chelsea debut with the exhibit. It also marks her first RHS gold medal, having previously taken home a silver-gilt for her garden at Hampton Court in 2018.


Understandably Hillier and Ms


Gomm were delighted with the win, particularly as she told DIY Week on press day: “Everyone has been talking about the risk this year where we are taking the garden in a different direction, with Hillier using a new, young designer, and the desire to maintain Hillier’s gold- winning streak.” But, despite the pressure, the risk paid off, RHS judges were impressed by the floral exhibit, which features thousands of beautiful plants complemented by a unique and striking water feature designed


by Ms Gomm. Hillier director of property


and fifith generation family member, George Hillier said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have received yet another gold medal. We get asked if we get complacent about getting gold - if anything it’s the opposite. Each year, nerves and anticipation seem to run higher than ever. Thankfully we have a fantastic team and are incredibly fortunate to be working with our new designer, Lilly. Everyone at Hillier works so hard all year round to make Chelsea happen and this


Retailers, including Tesco, Amazon and Argos caught selling knives to underage shoppers


of 10 retailers – three bricks- and-mortar businesses and five online retailers - sold knives to a 16-year-old. Meanwhile, a company director has been ordered to pay more than £5,500 after a store employee illegally sold a pack of 13 knives to a 14-year-old girl, following a test purchase prosecution by Croydon Council. The employee who sold the


As many as six in 10 retailers in some UK areas were found to be breaking the law and selling knives to children as young as 14, whilst Tesco, Amazon and Argos were also caught out by a BBC Watchdog. A test purchase operation


by North Yorkshire County Council revealed that six out


knives was given a four-month prison sentence suspended for 12 months, ordered to pay £315 in costs and given a community order. It was revealed police had previously given a verbal warning to the shop for selling a two- piece cutter set to two 13-year- olds in school uniform. Most shocking of all was


that, despite having signed up to a voluntary code in 2018, Tesco and Argos were found


Westland partners with the British Trust for Ornithology


As a key partner in the supply of bird care products to garden centres, Westland has said it is committed to driving the sector and educating the public. And to further this, the company has announced a new partnership and has joined forces with the British Trust for Ornithology (The BTO) as part of an ongoing strategy to bring education and quality to the sector. The new partnership will


re-invigorate the existing relationship that the BTO had with Gardman (which Westland acquired in 2018) and set it on a new path. The partnership will enable Westland’s retail partners


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to be able to access BTO data as well as using the charity’s considerable knowledge and expertise to inspire consumers, educate staff and engage through social media. The BTO and Westland will also create new standards in bird care products, ensuring rigour in testing and design. A key aim of the partnership


is to boost education around birds and bird care, whilst also delivering a greater understanding of the role that wild bird feeding has in the 24 million gardens across the UK. To deliver this there will be a series of events and activities taking place throughout the year


to be selling knives to 16-year- olds without making proper ID checks, according to a recent BBC investigation. Cllr Simon Blackburn, chair


of the LGA’s Safer and Stronger Communities board, said: “Rising knife crime is causing horrendous destruction and grief in our communities and councils are uncovering some shocking cases of illegal knife sales which risk fuelling this tragic epidemic. “The retail supply of knives


and acids needs to be managed robustly across all sales points, and retailers must ask for proof of age if they suspect the buyer is under 25. “The Prosecutions Fund announced in the Serious Violence Strategy has helped some councils prosecute retailers for blatant breaches of knife sale laws.”


is a truly wonderful recognition of that.”


Meanwhile, Greenfingers


charity made its Chelsea debut this year and was awarded a silver-gilt medal. The striking show garden was designed and built by Kate Gould Gardens and funded by a private donor, with a view of using the world- famous flower show as a platfor


to raise awareness of the charity. The brief for the garden was to provide a peaceful and uplifting space for life-limited children, their families and carers to spend time playing, relaxing or reflecting, and key parts of the exhibit being sent straight to the garden at Richard House Children’s Hospice once the show closes.


Indie hardware shop owner closes doors at 84


Bedlington, Northumberland. For four decades the business


saw a continued period of growth and expansion, resulting in a move to larger premises next door, a transformation from a small DIY shop to a builder’s merchants and the employment of a large number of Bedlington workers.


A shopkeeper who has worked in the same hardware shop for more than six decades is hanging up her apron for the last time to enjoy retirement, as the shop closes its doors after almost a century of service. Eighty-four-year-old great grandmother Joan Muter, from East Sleekburn in Northumberland, is closing the door on hardware store, R & L Keenleysides, that has seen generations of families come and go in


Tech guru helps Brits get smart home savvy


and the BTO will be providing educational content. The BTO is a leading scientific organisation researching bird activity in the UK and offers a vast pool of information, expertise and knowledge that will become more readily available to the public through working with Westland.


To mark the beginning of Smart Home Week, tech guru Jason Bradbury hosted a pop-up tech clinic at Charring Cross Station in Central London ahead of the week on Saturday 18 May. From 11am – 3pm inquisitive consumers dropped into the pop-up tech clinic, met Jason Bradbury and discovered more about the benefits of smart home technology. For those who wished to find out more about the advantages of introducing smart tech into their homes, the pop-up clinic provided the perfect opportunity to ask questions, find out how to create


a tech smart home and uncover the best products suited to their lifestyle. TV presenter, author and


ultimate tech guru, Jason Bradbury had been enlisted to share his knowledge with the nation at the Smart Home Week clinic. An expert in the technology industry, Mr Bradbury is known for hosting the tech savvy TV show, The Gadget Show UK and US as well as for his astonishing inventions.


24 MAY 2019 DIY WEEK 5 Keenleysides opened


another branch in Front Street Bedlington in the early 80s, which was a mini version of the original but without the heavy building materials. Mrs Muter said: “I will miss


the shop, our staff and all of our loyal customers. I’d sincerely like to thank all of the dedicated staff who have been employed over the past 60 years and most importantly our loyal customers of Bedlington and beyond who have supported the business.”


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