Seed mat specialists BeeMat have announced two new ranges, both of which they will show at Glee (hall 19, stand H60).

EcoMat Companion Planting mats complement BeeMat’s existing pre-seeded, biodegradeable growing mats, which currently include BeeMat™, Butterfly Mat™ and Bird Mat. Using the proven companion planting approach, EcoMat features two salad varieties — Oriental and Mediterranean — and a vegetable mat, which includes carrots, sage and spring onions.  Each mat uses marigolds and other herbs as companion planting to deter aphid and slug damage.

Like the existing ranges, EcoMat range will be supported by informative point of sale.  Holding 108 mats and featuring a video screen, the display stand has already proved popular with UK retailers.  An additional counter display will be supplied free with orders of 36 mats or more, boosting the ranges’ gift and impulse purchase potential.

The unique new Living Tiles range offers ready-planted sedum trays for instant garden colour as edgings for paths or flower beds.  The product will appeal to architects, contractors, developers and garden designers as well as plant retailers.

BeeMat’s Nigel Clarke says more than 150 new independent garden centre customers have signed up since the launch at Glee 2013, in addition to new business from mail order, supermarkets and multiple retailers. “We are looking to build on this, and develop even more retailer relationships for 2015 and beyond,” he added.

The BeeMat was designed in response to the dramatic decline in the UK bee population. A pre-seeded, biodegradable growing mat that also controls weeds, BeeMat™ enables gardeners to bring bee-favourite wild flowers to pots, beds, troughs or allotments.

ButterflyMat and Bird Mat are designed to either attract or control insects and pests.

During trials BeeMat™ has been shown to improve plant establishment number by 90 per cent compared to direct seeded plots and to increase the number of flowers per plant by 40 per cent.

Information: beemat.com Or call 01476 530374