Ground-breaking new garden and pet products have been confirmed as the winners of the coveted Glee New Product Awards 2022, run in association with GTN. The Overall Best Glee New Product went to Westland Unwins for its FloPro Can-Can.

The winning products were chosen by an expert panel of judges representing independent and multiple retailers, consumer gardening media and trade media.

After initial judging of the new products entered, the judges selected finalists in each category. Then those finalists had the opportunity to meet the judges, answer questions and make a pitch to be chosen as the winner.

The results:

Wild Bird Care and Wildlife Products

Winner: Bermuda – My First Pond Kit

Garden Leisure & Entertaining

Winner: Zest – Garden Bar and Two Stool Set

Homewares, Giftware, Toys & Games, and Clothing

Winner: Plantsmith – Houseplant Care Set    

Garden Tools & Machinery

Winner: Westland Unwins – FloPro Can-Can

Garden Decoration

Winner: Hydria Life – Hydria Fountain Kit

Garden Growing Containers

Joint Winners: Barrus – Tiered Planters; Woodlodge Products – EcoMade Ocean Reclaimed Planter

Landscaping & Garden Buildings

Winner: Meadow View Stone – Alpine Collection in Large Bags

Retail Services & Experiences 

Winner: Westland Unwins – Westland Live

Pet Products

Winner: PARK LiFE PET LIMITED – PARK LiFE Fris-Bix

Growing Accessories

Mayhem UK Ltd – Wicked Waterer LED Moisture Sensor

Growing Materials

Winner: Sipcam Home and Garden – Peat Free Compost Booster & Organic Superfood

Plants, Seeds and Bulbs

Winner: Golden Grove – Cryptomeria jap. 'Kyara Gold’

Best of British Award

Winner: Airflow Ltd – Bertie

Sustainability Award

Winner: Wildlife World – 30 cell natural rubber seed cell tray

Best in Show

Winner: Westland Unwins – FloPro Can-Can

The judges were: Mel Livingstone (Fron Goch); Andy Bunker (Alton Garden Centre); Ian Hodgson (Garden News); Neil Gow (retired garden centre owner); Gill Ormrod (Rosebourne Garden Centres); Elliott Kirby (RHS, YPHA member); Lilidh Matthews (Primrose.co.uk, YPHA member); Roger Crookes (Pughs Garden Centres). GTN editor and director Trevor Pfeiffer directed the awards judging process.

The Glee New Product Showcase, in association with GTN, has generated huge interest as Glee. After drawing up their shortlisted products for the New Product Awards, the judges listened to pitches from exhibitors...

The final winners were announced at 5pm today (Wednesday).

Wild Bird Care and Wildlife Products

Bali Island Range – Wildlife World

Bermuda My First Pond Kit – Bermuda

Flo Festival – Jacobi Jayne & Company

Garden Leisure & Entertaining

Garden Bar and Two Stool Set – Zest

Garden Pizza Oven Table – Zest

Iris Bistro Set – Streetwize Accessories

Homewares, Giftware, Toys & Games, and Clothing

Bertie – Airflow Ltd

Plantsmith Houseplant Care Set – Plantsmith

Primus Mini Wallace & Gromit Garden Sculptures – Primus

TP Wooden Deluxe Potting Bench – Mookie Toys

Garden Tools & Machinery

Burgon & Ball 9L Waterfall watering can, charcoal grey – Burgon & Ball

FloPro Can-Can – Westland Unwins

Greenworks 24V 33cm Cordless Lawnmower & 25cm Line Trimmer Lawn Starter Kit – Handy

Retail Services & Experiences

Compost Bag Recycling Bin – Evergreen Garden Care (UK) Ltd

Garden Connect AR – Garden Connect Ltd

Garden Essentials Merchandising Solution (GEMS) – Westland Unwins

Refill Stations – Evergreen Garden Care (UK) Ltd

Westland Live – Westland Unwins

Garden Decoration

Hydria Fountain Kit – Hydria Life

Keep Safe Parcel Store – Zest

Smart Solar TriSol LimeLight – Smart Garden Products Limited

Garden Growing Containers

EcoMade Ocean Reclaimed Planter – Woodlodge Products

Clever pots downpipe pot – orchid – Clever Pots

Kensington Double Wheelie Bin Storage – Cotswold Timber Products

Tiered Planters – Barrus

Landscaping & Garden Buildings

Alpine Collection in Large Bags – Meadow View Stone Limited

Potstars Outdoor Living Range – Meadow View Stone Limited

Recycled Rubber Mower Edge Border – Primeur Ltd

Pet Products

PARK LiFE Fris-Bix – PARK LiFE PET LIMITED

Scruffs Classic Long Eared Dog Bowl  Scruffs

Zoon Treat & Seek Farm Friends – Smart Garden Products Limited

Growing Accessories

30 cell natural rubber seed cell tray – Wildlife World

Gro-Sure Visiroot 12 Tray Growhouse – Westland Unwins

Wicked Waterer LED Moisture Sensor – Mayhem UK Ltd

Growing Materials

Harmony Gardens Ericaceous Compost – Southern Trident Limited

Organic Superfood – Sipcam Home and Garden

Byofix – Dyofix

Miracle-Gro 2 in 1 Nourish & Protect Flowers, Fruit & Veg Plant Food – Evergreen Garden Care (UK) Ltd

Plantsmith Fortifying Houseplant Tonic – Plantsmith

Peat Free Compost Booster  – Sipcam Home and Garden

Plants, Seeds and Bulbs

Cryptomeria jap. 'Kyara Gold – Golden Grove

Clematis Lavallee – New Leaf Plants

Unwins Pea and Bean Box – Westland Unwins

The Glee 2022 Show Guide is now available in digital format as well as being a printed version available free at the exhibition. To view the online Show Guide click here

Time to dig out your boldest floral shirt, dainty flowery dress and everything in-between as Floral Thursday is back tomorrow and ready to raise funds for the Greenfingers charity.

Floral Thursday is a special FUNdraising activity where it is hoped that the thousands of visitors and exhibitors at Glee 2022 will come together to show their flower power in aid of Greenfingers’ ongoing fundraising activities.

Anyone that has reached for the floral clothing – from ties to socks to shirts and suits – is invited to purchase a raffle ticket which will enter them into a prize draw to win fabulous prizes whilst, more importantly, helping to top up the fundraising total of the children’s hospice garden charity.

At Westland we are committed to delivering exceptional quality products, that exceed consumer expectations and provide tangible value. Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do, promoting wildlife, boosting wellbeing, and continuing to make our products and packaging more environmentally friendly.

Peckish leads the way in the UK & Ireland and believes in products that are naturally good, both on the inside and out. Through the sourcing of local ingredients to plastic free packaging, we’re committed to a sustainable future. Gardman Wild Bird Care is the expert brand, with 30 years of knowledge & understanding garden bird’s needs. Come and see the updated new-look packaging, 

Today’s consumer is more environmentally aware with 67% seeking more eco-conscious ways to garden.  So, Westland has strengthened its range of child and pet friendly lawncare products. Lawn Revive thickens with added seeds, MossMaster is a non-pesticide solution for moss, with no need for raking, and LawnMeadow mixes lawn seed, soil granules & a blend of 20 wildflowers to attract bees and butterflies.

The No 1 lawn seed just got smarter, Westland Smart Lawn Seed with its aqua gel coated seed now includes feed, seaweed and mycorrhizal fungi for improved germination and a long lasting, healthy lawn. Boxes now feature a smart shaker panel, with 3 in 1 functionality. The precision applicator is ideal for seeding edges, the patching applicator is perfect for patch and repair, and combining the two creates wide application, for overseeding and sowing new lawns.

Westland’s new professional lawn seed range has been created for landscape gardeners. The growing trend for garden services, means this range is targeting a new market. Universal, Ultra Shade, and Fine & Luxurious blends have added mycorrhizal for stronger roots.

Tomorrow, learn more about our innovative new hardware and what’s new from Unwins and Resolva. 

Westland We Are Gardening

Woodmansterne, the leading supplier of premium greeting cards to independent retailers, are delighted to partner with the Greenfingers Charity to create a new range of garden inspired greeting cards.

Funds raised from the sale of these products will help the charity to create more magical and inspiring gardens for children and families who spend time in hospices across the UK. 

The Greenfingers range launches exclusively at GLEE 2022. These stunning new designs use floral imagery, garden scenes and endearing animals to portray the beauty of nature and the importance of our connection with outdoor spaces.

Kate Leach, Head of Marketing at Woodmansterne, said: "We’re absolutely delighted to be working with the team at Greenfingers on our brand new card ranges. At Woodmansterne we’re proud to support many charities through our product and fundraising, but it’s extra special to be supporting such a fantastic charity that sits right at the heart of the garden industry. We look forward to showcasing the new designs over the next few days.”

Like all Woodmansterne cards, these new ranges are made are using sustainable materials and practices wherever possible. As a third-generation family business, they understand the importance of protecting our environment and safeguarding it for the future.

• All their cards are printed by them in Croxley, Hertfordshire
• They print with vegetable inks on paper from FSC sustainable forests
• Their beautiful envelope paper is made from 100% recycled post-consumer waste
• They pack our cards with a simple Smart Seal that saves up to half a million pieces of throw-away plastic being sent to landfill every week
• UK manufacturing and distribution keep their carbon footprint low

Get in touch!

We would love to explore how we can help your business grow, visit us at GLEE in Hall 20 Stand E20-F21 or call us on 01923 200600 or email hello@woodmansterne.co.uk 

Meadow View Stone brings over 25 years’ experience of supplying the widest range of imported and exclusive decorative aggregates, with market leading POS and merchandised displays.

Inspirational product displays are one of the winning attributes of Meadow View Stones offering and these are available in a multitude of styles and varieties, which have proven to significantly increase sales and cross selling opportunities.  

Their stand will feature a selection of four merchandised display gardens, one for each of their product categories, aimed to direct customers to the correct product category in store.  These in-situ product displays also inspire and influence the customers buying decisions by featuring numerous different complementing products and plants if desired.  Creating a touch and feel close up of the products is invaluable for customers, whilst the high-quality lifestyle photography and product displays visually transform the appearance of the centres.

Four further display gardens will also feature, two of which are designed to assist retailers in envisioning how to create instore displays to help generate interest and pull customers to the category outdoors.  Whilst a further two display gardens will showcase the multitude of uses for their new Alpine Collection of miniature gravels. 

The multitude of display options have been widely appreciated by retailers and customers and have proven to increase sales by as much as 27% where installed.  These durable vinyls are also being switched to plastic free material along with their existing Foamex boards to make them 100% recyclable, further enforcing the companies’ ambitions to offer more greener, sustainable solutions.

For more information on how to grow sales with our merchandising concepts, visit stand 6E20-G21

Primeur is thrilled to unveil a host of products that are brand NEW for Glee this year, with fresh additions to its Tierra Verde self-watering planters, EZ Border garden borders, Eco Way stepping-stones and Easy Tile flooring collections.

Leading the charge for this year’s show is an exciting new Mower Edge Border in Earth and Grey, which is also confirmed as the company’s entry into this year’s New Product Showcase, where the team will be hoping to scoop yet another award for its bulging trophy shelf!

New innovation for tidy lawn edges

The innovative new Mower Edge Border is designed to make grass cutting a breeze. The L-shaped design enables a mower to run true along the lawn border, enabling grass to be cut clean against the edge without leaving a line for which a strimmer would be required, meaning lawn care is easier than ever!

Each border comes complete with spikes for installation, and the flexible recycled rubber material – like all of Primeur’s EZ Borders - can curve to fit the shape of your border. The Mower Edge Border will take pride of place on Primeur’s stand and you can also see it on the New Product Showcase in Hall 19.

Newness across the board

Elsewhere at Glee, Primeur’s award-winning Tierra Verde self-watering planter collection will see a new steel grey colourway added to the square Citadelle planter and 15cm trough planter – both designs flying off the shelves during the early 2022 season.

Over in the Easy Tile decking range, new introductions will include extra-large 45x45cm ‘Extreme’ Tiles and 45x45cm Cosmopolitan Decking tiles, plus edging and corners to fit the new extra-large sizes for a seamless fit.

Recycled rubber that won’t let you down

As well as looking great in any garden and giving a great big tick to the eco-friendly box, the recycled tyre crumb material makes Primeur products incredibly flexible and durable (they’re virtually indestructible!), non-toxic, easy to clean and maintain, resistant to mould and mildew, insulating for plant roots during winter, lawnmower and strimmer safe, crack-resistant, UV resistant, lightweight, easy to install and move around in both the garden and retail setting so no more breakage and wastage costs!

Find out more

To get up close and personal with the newest additions to Primeur’s offering please visit the team on stand in hall 6, stand J38-20A39 where the friendly team will be on hand to talk you through the full collection.

As the houseplant sale boom continues to grow, the demand to buy easy plant care products has become essential to many houseplant lovers.

The LAVA-LITE houseplant collection is a range of four 100% natural, sustainable, child and pet safe horticulture products, perfectly suited to support novice or experienced houseplant enthusiasts. From cactus and succulents, to orchids and pest control, our range really gives plants the care and protection they need.

If you're struggling with fungus gnats around your home, then LAVA-LITE No-Gnats will give effective control by encouraging them to set up home somewhere else. For cactus lovers, use LAVA-LITE Cactus-Gro to improve drainage and encourage healthy root systems on all your succulents. Orchid fans will need to try LAVA-LITE Orchid-Gro to boost the health and protection of their favourite flowers.  LAVA-LITE+ is the perfect all-round decorative growing media for many other indoor plants. Brand new LAVA-LITE Composter + can be added to home-made compost or shop-bought growing media to improve moisture retention while ensuring free drainage.

Each product continually offers the same fantastic benefits of moisture retention and control, pH neutral, thermal protection and nutrient boosters to help houseplants thrive, while also not emitting any toxins or contaminants around the home.

Website Link: https://lava-lite.co.uk/houseplants

Email: enquiries@lava-lite.co.uk

Evergreen Garden Care have accelerated their drive to increase sustainability across all ranges, with a new emphasis on peat-free growing media, eco-friendly pest and weed controls – and, significantly, packaging.

The company’s new Refill Stations, currently being trialled at Notcutts Rivendell and British Garden Centre’s PlayHatch centres, are an industry first, allowing customers to refill items like granular fertilisers, grass seed and liquid plant foods from hoppers similar just like those that will be familiar to farm shop wholefood shoppers.

The idea, says Evergreen, tackles the issue of single-use plastic head on.

At Rivendell Garden Centre consumers can purchase Tomorite straight from the machine, using the original bottle or a £1 bottle for life. A 1-litre refill at SRP £3.99 saves £1 on the cost of the original bottle of Tomorite.

At PlayHatch the focus is on Miracle-Gro grass seed and granular plant food. The stand allows consumers to purchase as much grass seed (99p per 100g) or controlled release plant food (67p per 100g) as they need, in their own choice of container, paper bag or jar for life. 

Jane Hartley, Head of Sustainability and Marketing Manager, said there was a growing desire with consumers to reduce the amount of plastic packaging that we use. Evergreen had increased the amount of recycled content in their packaging and introduced clear on-pack recycling information.

“Our challenge at Evergreen is to reduce the overall amount of packaging we produce, and this can only be achieved by looking at alternative and innovative ways of using our products. That is why we’re very excited to have launched reuse and refill schemes in store.”

A full roll-out of up to 80 refill stations is envisaged for 2023. “We shall be watching with interest and hope that consumers engage with the reuse concept,” Hartley added. “As with any trial we have had a few teething problems, yet the research we have generated has been invaluable to develop the concept further."

Hartley revealed that the re-fill strategy could eventually be extended to growing media, too. “It’s the future,” she said.

Another major initiative aims to solve one of the growing media industry’s knottiest problems – what to do with the mountain of used plastic sacks, a large proportion of which cannot be re-cycled. Evergreen’s believe their compost bag recycling project could be the answer. Working with Veolia, customers at 10 Dobbies centres were invited to bring in any brand of compost bag for recycling, with the intention to find an end use for the material collected. The initial batch was made into garden furniture and donated to the Greenfingers charity, but the hope is that the material will eventually become  compost bags once again if material quality isues can be resolved.

Burgon & Ball knows that space in store has to work hard. A good return on space is essential - and flexible, eye-catching display solutions are the key. 

Burgon & Ball has a reputation for coming up with display solutions which deliver an outstanding return on space for retailers. Current creative display solutions from the company include the innovative indoor pots stand, which displays hanging pots at their appealing best – hanging up! Another popular choice is the Mix ’n’ Match Best-seller stand (0.2sqm, castor-mounted) which allows retailers to move popular lines to areas of high footfall to maximise sales.

And now there’s a new display option to be seen for the first time at GLEE this year. An eye-catching free standing display unit (FSDU) is the perfect way to display the top-selling lines from Burgon & Ball’s RHS Gifts for Gardeners ‘British Bloom’ collection. 

The appealing display presents these gifting favourites as a cohesive collection, perfect for easy browsing. Taking design cues from product packaging, the unit makes the most of the beautiful ‘British Bloom’ pattern for maximum impact in-store.

It’s ideal for gifting sales at key times of year, for example pre-Christmas or for Mother’s Day – and with a footprint of just 0.2sqm, it offers excellent return on space.

The new display is part of a new off-shelf programme for 2023, created with the objective of making it easier for retailers to drive sales and increase basket spend.

Make a note to visit Burgon & Ball on stand 6E30-F31 to see the full range of exciting display solutions on offer from this respected name in gardening.

Burgon & Ball

Stand 6E30-F311

T: 01202 684141

E: sales@burgonandball.com

www.burgonandball.com

Following a busy first 12 months for the business, Altico continues to demonstrate commitment to category development in the Garden Centre sector, following the launch of an exciting new water features range at Glee.

With over 15 years of team experience, Altico is confident their approach to the water feature category will excite Garden Centre customers and shoppers alike. The range of 30 products comprises of unique designs, new to market products and proven best sellers to promote retail sales growth.

Bearing the name Drift & Flow, their new category brand has been sympathetically created to suit the changing direction of consumer behaviour, that has seen water features move away from the Landscape products arena to become a firm outdoor living purchase.

Range highlights include:

• New to market, eco-friendly water features made from 55% recycled ceramic materials and with 100% recyclable, polyfoam-free packaging
• New Key Sales Drivers initiative that backs best-selling, volume lines to offer Garden Centre retailers unrivalled value in return for their commitment
• Enhanced seasonal sales opportunities with promotional pallet deals, featuring competitively priced water features in carry handle, gift-box packaging
• Stunning, fret-cut water features that create beautiful light effects day-to-night
• Special Water Feature Aftercare incentive to offer consumers added value 

To find out more, please visit the Altico stand at Glee: 20F20-G21 & 20F30-G31

Media Enquiries: sarah.winn@altico.co.uk

Web: www.altico.co.uk

Head Office Tel: 01302 354500

In the rush to improve sustainability, there’s a huge range of organic materials now being marketed as garden products - from peat free multi-purpose composts to organic fertilisers. There’s a danger that some of the organic substrates being sold to gardeners may not be quite all they appear to be - with mixed results from new compost and fertiliser products reported by some users.

One feature of digestate products like Bloomin Amazing that does make them a good choice for the garden is the fertiliser content. Bloomin Amazing contains robust levels of nitrogen, phosphates and potassium and the organic nature of the substrate gives it super slow-release properties that are much better for the environment and can remain more readily available than conventional chemical fertilisers.

This property makes Bloomin Amazing a great choice for compost manufacturers who are looking for a more sustainable and long-lasting source of fertiliser for their peat free multipurpose compost formulations. 

Nick Finding, Managing Director said, “As well as bagging Bloomin Amazing for consumers, we are also selling large quantities of bulk product to growing media manufacturers who use it in place of chemically formulated fertilisers. They report that it provides a much more stable and readily available source of plant feed which helps improve the shelf life of bagged growing media.”

Bloomin Amazing is also a better way for consumers to feed their gardens, with the slow-release properties giving months of plant feed instead of the limited few weeks from a conventional chemical product. On top of which it adds bulky organic matter to the soil, keeps weeds down, helps retain moisture, encourages worms and deters slugs!

The team from Bloomin Amazing are on stand 6A25

Bloomin AmazingSoil Enricher is available in 50L bags with a suggested retail price of £6.49.

To find out more about Bloomin Amazing go to www.bloominamazing.com or e-mail Nick at nfinding@bloominamazing.com or call head office to speak to us on 01305 889525

All gardeners want bigger, healthier, and better-yielding plants. But how can they get maximum growth and be kind to the environment? 

Apsley Farms’ Natural Plant Food is the solution many are looking for. Our new formulation provides outstanding nutritional support for plants, but with a minimal environmental footprint. 

Our liquid plant food is derived entirely from plant material, using the natural process of anaerobic digestion. It’s produced during manufacture of green biomethane from crops, a low carbon process that currently heats 8,500 homes — as well as providing sustainable electricity for the UK grid. 

Natural Plant Food is certified for organic use by the Soil Association, and, of course, it’s provided in a recyclable bottle, made from 100% recycled materials.

What this all adds up to is a truly sustainable way of feeding plants which also supports green energy production.

“That’s great news — but does it actually work?”

Yes! Natural Liquid Plant Food has been extensively tested and shown to support plant growth, vitality, and yield. As our customers testify, it provides everything gardeners want from a great quality plant food.

The fastest growing gardening brand in the UK comes to Glee as Greenman will be showcasing their wide range of products under the umbrella of their parent company, hardware giant, Eliza Tinsley.

Greenman Garden Tools are 4th generation family run business who take pride in the manufacture of a range of artisanal tools that match quality with superior style.

Since being acquired by Eliza Tinsley in 2019, Greenman has gone from strength to strength, now appearing in garden centres all over the country and providing our customers with the level of support that is unrivalled by the competition.

At Glee, there will be new ranges on show as well as the all-new agricultural range, due to be launched in 2023 under the Eliza Tinsley banner.

Come and see us on stand 6C66 so you can see for yourself all the wonderful products and how the marketing support can help elevate you to the next level.

Join us on stand 6C66 to see how becoming a Greenman partner can help revolutionise your business.

https://youtu.be/nEJXbHqHRFU

www.greenmangardentools.com

www.elizatinsley.co.uk

EASYCare Wood Revive is an easy-to-use solution to refresh and restore both softwood and hardwood. Remove silvering caused by UV damage to restore natural tones, ready for wood to be over-coated or refinished. Available as a ready-to-use solution in a 750ml trigger spray and a 3-litre bottle.

EASYCare Rattan Revive is three products in one! Clean, restore, and protect synthetic rattan furniture in one simple application. Special ingredients bond to the surface to protect from weather damage. Available as a ready-to-use solution in a 750ml trigger spray.

Enhanced Listing

At Azpects Ltd, we specialise in developing and manufacturing products to create and maintain outdoor living areas. From hard landscaping to garden furniture care, Azpects have you covered.

Our mission is simple - to deliver products that make hard landscaping EASY!

Our comprehensive range includes products to help complete patios, paths, and driveways and clean and protect those surfaces - including garden furniture, decking, and ornaments.

We’ve developed unrivalled experience within our sector by listening to customers and answering their needs.

Our team employs extensive skills developed within the chemicals industry to formulate solutions that solve our customers’ challenges quickly and effectively.

Well known for bringing to market the advanced RHS endorsed organic-based Viano fertiliser range, DJ Turfcare is pleased to now be offering even from the Viano stable, including Organic Plantfood – available to order at Glee 2022 (stand 6H02).  

With consumers more aware than ever of the possible harmful effects of using chemicals around the home and garden, chemical-free or, even better, organic has become the order of the day. With Viano Organic Plantfood – available in 10kg bags or 4kg boxes – retailers can rest assured that they are offering gardeners something that delivers enviable results without compromising on important environmental protection.

Specially developed to promote healthier and better-tasting fruit and vegetables, Organic Plantfood overs long-lasting fertilisation – up to four months. Plus, with the inclusion of a wide range of essential elements Organic Plantfood also enhances soil life, improves soil structure and increases nutrient concentration in the soil.

Supplied as easy to spread fertiliser crumb, this plant feed can be added prior to planting or sowing or used to boost fruit and vegetables during the growth phase, with application required only once every eight to 10 weeks after initial application. Suitable for all leaf and root crops, including all fruit crops, and with a compound NPK of magnesium 6-5-10(+4), this feed is packed full of vital elements to grow healthier, greener plants with stronger roots and tastier crops.

Like all products in the DJ Turfcare portfolio, Organic Plantfood is safe to use around pets, children and wildlife. 

DJ Turfcare specialises in organic-based products to be used commercially and at home. The RHS-endorsed range includes six chemical-free fertilisers - MO Bacter Organic Lawn Fertiliser, MO Bacter Instant, Bio-Lime, Recovery, Lawn Boost and Autumn Lawn Treatment.

Find out more

To find out more about Organic Plantfood and DJ Turfcare’s wider organic-based offering please join the team on stand at Glee (6H02) or visit  www.djturfcare.co.uk

The V&A is renowned for its award-winning licensing programme, creating beautiful products inspired by the museum’s rich archive. 

Bulldog Tools are proud to launch the new Pedigree V&A Collection, a hand trowel and fork manufactured in lightweight, easy to clean, stainless steel and FSC accredited Ash. Both tool designs bear beautifully etched patterns from the V&A archive on their blades, which with use collects the soil to make the pattern even more prominent. 

Packaged in sustainable, hard wearing, quality gift boxes, encased in beautiful eye-catching heritage patterns these boxes are designed to be retained and loved much like the tools that are housed within that carry a “Lifetime Guarantee”, as standard. 

Stuart Elsom, Managing Director of Bulldog Tools comments: 

“We are very proud that Bulldog Tools, with a 240-year UK manufacturing heritage, is partnering with the world-renowned V&A museum, celebrating designs from their wonderful fabric archive, precisely etched on to our quality gardening hand tools. Presented in stylish and sustainable V&A ‘design led’ packaging, these tools are the perfect gift for any gardener.” 

Retailing at £28.00 each (RRP), the tools make a wonderful year -round gift for any budding gardener. 

Please come and view the range on Stand 6j42-20a43 at the show.

What a great start to Glee yesterday and we’re looking forward to welcoming you all to our stand today too.

Clever pots products support the whole growing season, from propagation to plant care.  

Whether you need to cover an old fence, an unusable space at the bottom of the drainpipe or even to cover the drainpipe itself with colour, clever pots decorative pots are cleverly designed to transform your outdoor space, however large or small.

This year clever pots will be showing its decorative pots range in two new colours – sage and orchid – in addition to the current charcoal range.  Chosen by clever pots consumers these 2 contemporary colours enhance and complement any garden design scheme.

clever pots hanging pots RRP £5.50

• perfect for brightening up fences, railings, or even balconies to maximise outdoor growing space
• no need to attach any fixings, it’s ready to hang up once you’ve added your favourite plants and flowers
• includes a small reservoir in the base to enable the plants to remain watered for longer without over watering

clever pots drainpipe pot holder RRP £3.50 clever pots 20cm round pot RRP £1.50

• brings drainpipes to life with a burst of colour 
• attaches to standard UK downpipes (68mm)
• use with clever pots 20cm round pots 
• it’s up to you how many you put on one drainpipe
• add a reservoir to the bottom of the pot to enable the plants to remain watered for longer without overwatering

clever pots downpipe pots RRP £7.50

• hides outside drains and transforms otherwise unusable areas to maximise growing space
• designed to fit around the base of standard UK downpipes 
• includes a reservoir in the base to help plants remain watered for longer, without overwatering.

Come and talk to us at Glee about the clever pots range of products and find out more.  You’ll find clever pots in Hall 6 Stand A60.

It was a ‘close shave’ but the team from Primus has pulled out all the stops to create a really ‘baa-utiful’ addition to its much-loved Wallace & Gromit range with the final missing piece of the puzzle – Wallace himself! 

Joining his lovable friend, Gromit; youngest of the flock, Shaun the Sheep and dastardly criminal, Feathers, the new Wallace ornament completes the Aardman range which is now also available in a smaller size.  Available alongside the three original larger ornaments, the smaller option of all four sculptures offers an attractive price point for the collection which is perfect for both indoor and outdoor use.

The Wallace & Gromit phenomenon continues to grow in popularity and these lovable characters are set to be another sure-fire winner for the brand.  With some ‘woolly’ good offers on the branded merchandiser units too, the licensed Aardman range will look striking in store. 

To further complement the licensed range, five new pieces of metal wall signs also depict iconic movie posters from the Wallace & Gromit films so don’t put on ‘the wrong trousers’ at Glee and have a ‘grand day out’ as you head to the Primus stand to see all these new products first hand!

Henry Bell is pleased to announce new product additions to their Wild Bird Table range. The new 2022/23 Wild Bird Tables deliver various innovative solutions for wild birds to feed safely.

The new collection includes six new Wild Bird Tables - each sturdy and strong, reasonably priced, and hand-crafted in the UK, from FSC sourced wood. The tables have been designed with garden bird wellbeing at the forefront - offering a covered environment and ultimate visibility for them to safely feed.  

The collection includes traditional yet innovatively designed tables, such as the Welby Mounted Table (RRP £55.99) that features a traditional pent roof on a beautifully constructed bird table - designed to be fixed to a wall or other vertical surface. Alternatively, the beautifully made Spalding Ground Bird Table (RRP £49.99) is ideal for the smaller ground feeding birds to feed under a covered roof and protected from the elements.  

At Glee 2022, AMES UK, with its La Hacienda and Apta brands, is calling upon the elements as it showcases a stunning new line-up of fire, water and ‘earth’ products.  To find out more, visit the team on stand at the heart of Glee (6C40-F41) where a first look at these carefully curated additions will be available to see.

LA HACIENDA – THE HOME OF FIRE & WATER

Always at the forefront of trend-led outdoor heating solutions and stylish water features, the La Hacienda offering has been updated ahead of the 2023 season to help retailers maximise the ongoing demand for products that enhance the outdoor living experience. 

Fire

New firepits draw upon current interior aesthetics to create an offering that seamlessly blends the indoors and outdoors. Sleek new designs further enhance the La Hacienda better/best offering, whilst new globe designs offer a fresh look at this popular outdoor heating category. A total of six new designs join the 2023 line-up, which will total 65 SKUs.

In electric heating, La Hacienda has brought to market several new styles in anticipation of a significant consumer shift to this style of heating as gas heating solutions becoming more expensive consumers are looking for more cost-effective solutions. Featuring state-of-the-art technology, La Hacienda’s electric heating offering stands out in the retail environment thanks to multiple user benefits such as heating efficiency, the safety of use, portability, and minimal heat loss through directable heat administration.

From a folding parasol heater to portable table heaters, six new designs have passed the AMES UK ‘go to market’ process, providing retailers with the confidence that these products fit current and future trends whilst offering sales and profit longevity. 

Water

Made up of three sub-categories – Easy Fountain, Impressions and the RHS range – La Hacienda’s water feature portfolio has something for every garden, from traditional cottages to sleek, urban spaces. The expectation is that water features will continue to grow in popularity as consumers are increasingly searching for simple ways to create an atmosphere of tranquillity outdoors, with water features taking centre stage within this.  From increased awareness of the benefits of being surrounded by the gentle trickling sounds of water, to achieving instant garden art, water features are fast becoming a must-have.

La Hacienda has added seven new designs for this season, including one inspired by the bestselling Apta Granito planters, in a move to create more cohesion across the full brand portfolio. This approach to echoing designs across multiple collections can also be seen within garden décor, where new mirrors will reflect the lines of bestselling firepits, helping consumers to ‘buy the look’ from across the full portfolio.

APTA – A RENAISSANCE IS COMING

Pot brand, Apta, is witnessing a renaissance this Glee with nine new products entering the market across multiple SKUs to fit a wide range of price points. Amongst the new introductions will be Olympia, Seagrass Boule and Lariat within the lightweight collection, together presenting hyper-realistic weave, rattan and stone textures. 

In Apta’s glazed offering the existing Laura Ashley range will be replaced with the two-tone Evora and Lisbon models. Created in soft muted colours of biscuit, duck egg blue and grey, these exclusive designs will appeal to the traditional Laura Ashley customer whilst allowing Apta greater flexibility to develop the range in coming seasons. Traditional customers will also be catered for within the new J C & Co Walworth sub-brand. These collectable planters are inspired by Farrow & Ball colours and mainstream changes in front door décor, providing strong impulse buy potential when displayed in-store.

One of the most exciting developments for the Apta brand will be the introduction of Apta Innovation, a unique collection that offers innovative, functional products to support the consumer in the quest for gardening success. In an AMES exclusive, Apta Innovation has officially launched the Modular Planter at Glee 2023.

This collapsible, stackable, modular planter benefits from multiple configurations, enabling consumers to create a unique look for their garden space, including the ability to wrap around corners to maximise every inch available. Perfect for growing plants, vegetables, fruit and herbs, the Modular Planter is suitable for year-round use or seasonal grow-your-own projects. Four designs and two colourways make this a highly flexible planter, and one that will stand out in the retail environment.

Paul North, Managing Director at AMES UK said: “When you have heritage brands such as La Hacienda and Apta in your portfolio you know that exciting things are going to happen. With these new collections we are looking to the future and plugging the gaps to ensure that our retail partners are armed with the best quality, trend-driven products to be found on the market today.”

Find out more

Further details about AMES UK can be found at https://ames-uk.com/

As well as having traditional garden furniture favourites, EKJU have innovative products for more modern tastes. One of the more contemporary product options available from EKJU is the V-FRO collection, a designer garden furniture range like no other.

Ergonomic Garden Furniture

Designed by gardening product designer Matthias Froböse, all the seats feature tilted inverted seat boards which create a bowl-like support for users to sit into and relax. All furniture sets are space efficient being well suited to modern homes that are now typically built with smaller gardens or balconies.

With the curved base seats and sturdy V shaped legs, this collection provides a combination of ergonomic design and solid craftsmanship. V-FRO provides the user with a supremely comfortable experience with the bonus of having a uniquely stylish look. The range is finished in a stained grey paint which is applied to durable FSC Pine and Spruce.

The V-FRO Garden Table can be accompanied by any of the benches in the range. This modern-looking table is lightweight yet robust in its design. Featuring a 28mm thick table-top, the garden table is a perfect family outdoor dining table for use during the spring and summer months.

The table is especially complemented by the V-FRO Large Bench which provides a deep two-seater garden bench with three angled timber boards to make an ergonomic curve base seat. This seat makes for a very comfortable bench seat to accompany a dining table, ideal for alfresco entertainment with loved ones. With a sturdy build, the bench comes flat packed with an easy to assemble design.

For a handy seating solution, the V-FRO Chair is a functional take on a classic design. With a solid back support, the base seat boards are curved inwards which offers extra stability and comfort to users. Its small footprint also makes it a very space-efficient item that can easily be moved around the garden wherever it is needed.

Ready to go sales solution

EKJU make huge efforts to ensure the product is not just consumer ready but also seller friendly. This is why the V-FRO collection is supplied in a ‘ready to take home’ and ‘ready to home deliver’ format. This is achieved by using compact packaging, clear product labelling and easy to assemble products. It doesn’t matter how you sell, because EKJU ensure the product is ready for you and have the sales solution available for your retail requirements. To tailor a range suitable for your business, speak to EKJU today. EKJU are celebrating their 30th birthday at Glee now on stand 6H40-J41. Visit the stand today or for further info, contact Austris Intenbergs austris.intenbergs@ekju.lv.

As demand for greener products, less waste and the protection of important natural resources increases, Durstons Garden Products (Hall 20 C02) put exciting new peat-free launches front and centre at Glee 2022, allowing retailers to tap into a comprehensive offer that will satisfy the needs of their eco-savvy customers. 

Buyers welcomed the new opportunities Durstons’ peat-free collection presents and the chance to build consumer confidence in peat-free growing media, with products that are incredibly easy to use and that deliver consistently great results.

Durstons new multi-purpose peat-free compost and Organic Multi-Purpose Compost Peat Free has already generated a lot of interest on the first morning of the show. Both are produced entirely from renewable sources and provide excellent nutrient content. Good drainage and aeration, plus a wetting agent, helps nurture healthy root systems and keep plants thriving. Durstons’ unique GRO BOOST additive provides plants with a long-lasting nutrient boost throughout the growth cycle and helps maintain outstanding growing performance, reducing users’ reliance on peat.

The latest exciting addition to Durstons’ expanding portfolio, Peat Free Grow in the Bag, has also been extremely well received by the industry and has had a lot of enquiries from buyers who feel it plugs a gap in the peat-free market. The extra-large grow bag is the same size as Durstons’ Vegetable Planter and is perfect for growing a wide range of fruit, vegetables and salad crops. 

Durstons’ recent decision to revamp all product packaging has paid off, as visitors have praised the new look, with its eye-catching imagery and clear, concise messaging. Another big plus is that the packaging of all of Durstons Garden Products composts and grow bags is 100% recyclable, while 30% recycled material has also been incorporated into the polythene of their compost bags.

Find out more

Durstons have been established for over 150 years.  Find out more at www.durstongardenproducts.co.uk or call 01458 442688.

Leading sustainable plant pot manufacturer, elho, is committed to creating products with nature in mind. This will be at the forefront of its stand when the company returns to Glee for the first time in four years. elho has made its mark as a leader in the synthetic pottery market for nearly 60 years, thanks to its stylish designs and its eco-friendly credentials. 

As a Certified B Corporation, elho understands the importance of being surrounded by nature and is dedicated to encouraging as many people as possible to connect with the world around us and to introduce it into their lives.

The company has also recently become the first in Europe to be certified by TÜV, a technical inspection association that ensures products are safe and comply with regional, national and international regulations. 

Following a successful audit by TÜV Nord, it was officially certified in Category A of the accreditation, showcasing that its products are made from at least 97% recycled materials, a first for the company and for the garden and flowerpot market.

Doing good the environment has been in elho’s DNA for many years and it permeates every aspect of the company to make sure it creates little or no environmental impact, a philosophy that has led to these unrivalled credentials.

elho’s production process is run entirely on wind energy that is generated by its windmill located at its offices in Tilburg, Holland. The site is also home to two million bees, with their vital role in the health of the planet being recognised by the plant pot manufacturer.

At the show, elho will be unveiling its newest indoor range, made from an innovative way of using waste material to create homes for plants. The stand will also be home to array of elho’s sustainable and stylish indoor, outdoor and grow your own collections – all made using 100% wind energy, are 100% recyclable and are made from 90% recycled plastic.

Celebration is at the heart of everything we do. Our vibrant tea revolution celebrates our global community of farmers, blenders and producers. Together these wonderful people create our unique range of Fairtrade and organic teas.

At English Tea Shop, we work closely with everyone in our value chain to make our planet a better place for all living beings.

We want to be part of creating a world that’s both environmentally secure and economically prosperous for generations to come. A world where all people are treated fairly and given the chance to grow and develop. English Tea Shop organic is an independent speciality tea company with a global presence in over 45 countries.

Celebrating the world we live in, English Tea Shop puts sustainability at the core of all activities and only uses 100% organic ingredients, predominantly sourced from small scale organic farmers in Sri Lanka.

Its purposeful tea revolution celebrates its community from farm to cup by empowering its farmers and employees while offering consumers tantalising blends crafted with love and care. 

Being a significantly employee-owned business, the brand’s philosophy of Prajãva – meaning community – forms the basis of its brand purpose that drives all activities: Love & Prosperity through Community.

At Fandango Fire Tools we’re very excited. That’s because we’ve brought the Kindling Cracker™ to the UK. 

The Kindling Cracker is the patented, cast iron, Australian made wood splitter. Users love that it is safe and easy to use.

It was invented by New Zealand schoolgirl Ayla almost 10 years ago. We're very proud to help spread her story around Europe.

We started selling the Kindling Cracker in the UK in November 2021. This was after huge success in mainland Europe. We’ve been selling over 50,000+ per year there for the last five years. 

We’re delighted with the reception in GB. We've sold over 6,500 in the UK since we opened our Manchester warehouse. Customers seem to love their Kindling Crackers!

There has been an increase in homeowners looking to wood as a fuel source. The outdoor living boom means more gardens have fire pits, pizza ovens, wood fired hot tubs and grills. Rising energy prices have seen more homeowners install log burners indoors. 

There are more applications for firewood in the UK home than ever before.

In May 2021 the legislation around the moisture content of firewood that can be sold changed. Homeowners should be aware of the legislative changes. The sale of wet wood (where moisture content is over 20%) was banned.

Fuel that isn’t dried is particularly bad for the environment. Burning dry wood is far less polluting. Less nasty particulate matter is released into the atmosphere.

Oh, and it takes a lot of thermal energy to boil off the moisture in wood – energy that could be heating your home!

The Kindling Cracker lets you prepare this wood at home. Safe. Easy. Smart.

Web Links

https://fandangofiretools.co.uk/

https://www.espegard.com/

Stand at Glee

Fandango Fire Tools - Hall 8-20 19A07

See the video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPkb51UtwJ0

Barnsley based Yorkshire Flowerpots is the UK’s only volume producer of ceramic flowerpots, producing in excess of 200,000 pots per year. It is part of the 4th generation Naylor Group of Companies, a family business which has been making ceramic products since 1890.

Yorkshire Flowerpots are pleased to be attending Glee for the 27^th year. Yorkshire Flowerpots will be showcasing their range of British made terracotta planters at Glee 2022. To find out more about the Yorkshire Flowerpots range visit stand 20C20-D21.

We are also excited to be launching our new range of glazed Naylor Patio Pots at Glee.  Four new styles, in seven vibrant colours.  A total of 119 new pots with matching saucers.

As well as our British made Yorkshire Flowerpots range, we will also be exhibiting our range of Naylor Lime Tree Mediterranean handpainted glazed wallpots, wall decorations and planters and the Naylor Clough Mill glazed range of planters.

We have exclusive Glee deals available for visitors to our stand at the show.  Don’t miss out – visit Yorkshire Flowerpots on stand 20C20-D21.

We look forward to seeing you.

Yorkshire Flowerpots

Clough Green

Cawthorne

Barnsley

South Yorkshire

S75 4AD

Tel 01226 794059

Fax 01226 794130

Email info@naylor.co.uk

Web www.yorkshireflowerpots.co.uk

Barrus will be unveiling a range of over 60 new and exciting products under brands Town & Country, Wilkinson Sword, WOLF-Garten, and Velcro at this year’s Glee.

The Barrus stand will showcase the product innovation and development that continues to take place across the brands, as it enters new areas of the industry and develops engaging customer solutions.

The unique and interactive stand will invite visitors to explore the vast range through a variety of different zones, including a greenhouse which takes centre stage on the stand, a planting and propagation area, and a Christmas section, to help promote its innovative products and displays, and support the ongoing movement towards sustainable living.

Propagation 

A first for Town & Country as they take propagation by storm with multiple new products on display at this year’s GLEE. Buyers interested in propagation will be spoilt for choice, with new Grow Bag & Utility Trays, Potting Trays, a Garden Sieve and Electric Greenhouse Heaters on display in the exciting new greenhouse area including the current range. The new and innovative stand design shows the forward thinking of the brands. The sectioned stand will allow you to get up close to the products in a lifestyle setting. As a heritage brand with over 60 years of bringing innovation to UK consumers, Town & Country knows how to engage and attract shoppers and has launched an exciting range of new point of sale concepts to help do just that.  Each British-made stand has been developed with a commitment to quality, functionality, and exceptional value for money in mind, to improve the customer journey through exciting visuals and easy product interaction.

Town & Country will also be showcasing an eye-catching display of the exciting Pluma range, which takes inspiration from the feathers to decorate the popular Cloggies™, the luxurious Lux-Fit Gloves, the Memory Foam Kneeler and a new addition to the range, the Double-Wide Kneeler. A great selection of gardening essentials to bring the perfect gifts. 

Stand - 20D40-E41

Plastics and recyclables

Town & Country has launched a Planter range to make it easier for everyone to feel the benefits of nurturing and growing plants, even those with small balconies or courtyards with the launch of the Tiered planter range, allowing new and keen gardeners to take planting to the next level and grow up. They provide a great way people to mix and match plants for dramatic, or complementary effect within the separate tiers, meaning gardeners with any size outdoor space can essentially create an entire garden in a small area, simply by planting up. Alongside the tiered planters Town & Country are launching an expanded range of planters including a beehive shape, square and trough planters in several sizes to give end user to the right choice for them. 

The UK, recycled material made and 100% recyclable planters, benefit from integrated drainage holes to ensure plants don’t sit in water-logged soil following heavy rain or an over-enthusiastic watering session. 

To support the sell through and to expand the key message of planting up, both planters can be displayed in two display Free Standing Display Units.

The small version holds 50 of the tiered planters and the large display holds 40 planters per display. They are informative and eye catching, depicting the many uses from strawberry planters, herbs and flowers to succulents and the ever-wonderful chilli plants. 

See stand 20D40-E41 for a full blooming display.

Door Mats 

Town & Country understand the growing industry of home and garden and know the importance of sustainability.  At GLEE 2022 the brand is launching a new range of door Mats including a selection made from 100% recycled materials such as plastic bottles and old car tyres to ensure a positive environmental effect. 

The Town & Country door mats are high quality, functional doormats which come in a range of sizes and designs from, boot cleaners, to runner matts in a complete FSDU system. The range is tailored to be functional with textured Cross patterns on the trellis mat to enhance scraping and boot cleaning and the luxury door mat is machine washable.

We understand finding the right doormat can be a challenge for a busy home, but our versatile collection allows your customer to make the right choice, using a specific stand which draws attention and educates the end user to the individual merits and product benefits.

Stand - 20D40-E41

Family-run decorative aggregate business, Deco-Pak, is already seeing its stand (stand 6G50-H51)  buzzing with customers both old and new as the company - led by brothers Craig and David Hall, alongside General Manager, Rod Slater - showcases its now enhanced ‘retail theatre’ merchandising innovations, expertly designed to help consumers ‘get the look’ through informative and aspirational point of sale material. 

Talking about the new developed concepts, Marketing Director, Craig Hall said: “We pride ourselves on leading the way when it comes to merchandising and know that when merchandising displays are done right, they can engage with consumers in a unique way and can showcase the product or lifestyle benefits within a matter of seconds. Consumers will not only be able to identify how they can “get the look” but they will also be shown how easily and quickly they can transform and enhance their garden with our product range. It is this that we have worked hard to capture within our new and improved point of sale, and something that we hope demonstrates our commitment to innovation and supporting of our retailer partners.”

Ahead of the 2023 season, Deco-Pak has developed the success of its “Retail Theatre” concept with new and enhanced displays that benefit from more inspiration and new imagery to create specific visual triggers for the ever-changing consumer needs.

Updates to Deco-Pak’s merchandising displays include:

• Robust framework constructed from long-lasting pressure treated timber 
• Visible sustainability logo to entice environmentally conscious consumers
• Interchangeable pricing boards, all backed by Deco-Pak’s sustainable logo
• Retro-fit sample trays
• Flexible, customisable module displays
• Inspirational imaginary POS

Product specific updates include Deco-Pak’s Rockery offering which now feature removable collars for easy access, whilst Handy Packs now come as complete palletised pack stands with concealed stock storage for easy replenishments.

What else to see at Glee from Deco-Pak

In addition to the updated merchandising support, Deco-Pak has added over 25 lines to its water gardening collection and new sustainable products have been introduced across the full Deco-Pak offering. 

An on-stand professional barista will also be enticing customers to spend more time with the Deco-Pak team during the show. So grab a coffee and find out more about how Deco-Pak can support retailers in all things landscaping, sustainable gardening and well-being water features.

Find out more

To find out more about Deco-Pak’s leading product portfolio please visit www.deco-pak.co.uk or call 01422 204 394.

Woodlodge has strengthened its core gardening category by bolstering its product offering in five of its key outdoor planter brands at Glee for the year ahead.  Each of the well-loved ranges has expanded to create products that are high in demand, on-trend but also unique to the Woodlodge brand.

New to the Heritage Garden range for 2023 are new fibreclay Regent Squares planters, complementing Woodlodge’s existing market-leading line-up of ultra-lightweight containers.

Visitors to Glee can also catch a glimpse of some of the new items from the Blossom range of premium glazed terracotta garden planters, including new Face planters, available in brown, and white, a new Speckle design that comes in white or green glaze and Duple is a new two-toned pot in a green and blue glaze which will add light to shady areas and provide a striking contrast against the colourful blooms.

The new Bee Kind terracotta planters showcase a refresh of the iconic bee design and are available in shades of green and white with an eye-catching glazed or unglazed base, whilst new Chelsea Terrace planters play on the nation’s love of all things gardening with the squares featuring ornate floral, insect, grass and lion head designs.  

The William Morris collection now includes new glazed fibreclay squares boasting the famous Willow Bough detailing, in green and white with a high-quality finish.  The new outdoor ranges can be seen on the Woodlodge stand in Hall 20.

As a business, Flat Pack Sheds' lifeline is dependent on customers new and old, however new customer acquisition on the battlegrounds of Facebook, YouTube, magazines, email marketing, and those economic down pressures can leave you 'battle fatigued'. Possibly, the ever-increasing pressure on buying stock with prices skyrocketing means you have to look at radically inferior products, or maybe you've tied up your cash in stock and could will take months to realise the profits. 

So, imagine having a product that everyone knows about  

• that is in high demand 
• You never stock it 
• There's Zero Admin 
• Simple Marketing 
• And generate ‘Pure Profit’ 

Well, that is exactly what our Flat Pack Shed (FBS) partners profit from.

Our FPS Partners don't hold any sheds on-site, they don't have to have showroom space, and our ‘done-for-you’ marketing makes selling easy. Imagine offering your branded Sheds, Summer Houses, Outdoor Offices, Gyms, Kennels – even an Out-Door Man Cave! (or a Wife’s personal no-man space!) to your customers. 

Our unique Partner Platform holds done-for-you marketing strategies from customer converting emails, images for Facebook Ads, Google Ads, Youtube, and TikTok, and branded videos with your company logo. Your personalised platform never loses a sale, all commissions are recorded, payments are made, and your company-branded e-brochure does all the heavy lifting. 

Flat Pack Sheds are part of the DIY SHEDS Group, the largest manufacturer of flat-pack sheds. Our quality standard surpasses that of any shed company in the UK. See for yourself at our stand. 

What makes Our sheds the best out there?

• Modular shed design product ‘one size fits all’ with zero waste is a first in the U.K. 
• Are fully pressure treated meaning a longer product lifespan 
• Flat Pack means fewer transportation costs, reducing vehicular carbon footprint 
• timber is pre-cut at the sawmill reducing waste and off-cuts, and energy costs 
• Recycle sawdust for use in paper and cardboard  
• We use FSC Timber and responsibly sourced

Would like to know then please visit https://lp.flatpacksheds.co.uk/glee

Whilst interest in The Real Soil Company’s original SuperSoil has remained strong, response to its brand-new SuperLawn, a peat-free lawn topsoil, has been overwhelmingly positive, with buyers excited that the product has created further potential in organic, peat-free gardening.

As sustainability and responsible gardening climb higher on consumers’ agendas, garden centre buyers are actively on the lookout for true innovation in the category and premium products that deliver on their promises. It’s little surprise then, that The Real Soil Company has had such a great Glee, as the brand showcases its flagship SuperSoil, Vegetable & Fruit Topsoil and now its latest lawn care innovation, SuperLawn. 

New SuperLawn – one product is all you need

New SuperLawn - exclusively available for pre-season orders at Glee 2022 - is a rich blend of natural topsoil, soil improver and horticultural sand.

Packed full of slow releasing nutrients, trace elements and minerals, this all-in-one product helps lawns to thrive by improving the soil type and structure to give lawns the healthiest start. Like all products in The Real Soil Company portfolio, SuperLawn does not feature any artificial fertilisers or added chemicals, making it a natural and environmentally-friendly choice for both retailers and consumers alike. PAS100 certified and screened to 3mm, this uniform texture helps to create a perfectly level lawn and is the ideal choice for both experienced and amateur gardeners.

Like SuperSoil and Vegetable & Fruit, which together created a new chapter for topsoil, plugging a gap at the high-end of the market, retail buyers are excited that SuperLawn has further opened up a new category, created more opportunities in peat-free, organic gardening, and helped extend the lawncare sales period into the autumn months.

The Real Soil Company has strived to create a standout brand that competes within a highly-saturated marketplace. Featuring bright colours and hand-drawn illustrations, all packaging is informative, friendly and inspirational; helping to draw the consumers eye and making it easier for them to understand the application of each product. The quick explainer information on each pack also cuts through to the heart of the science, working to educate the consumer whilst increasing confidence in their purchase.

To find out more about The Real Soil Company please visit www.therealsoilcompany.co.uk or email info@therealsoilcompany.co.uk

Coco Burn from Southern Trident is a unique new fuel for barbecues. It is made from recycled coconut shells.

This coconut shell BBQ charcoal is supplied as compacted briquette blocks that are extremely suitable for barbecues, providing several benefits to the barbecue owner. They produce more energy than standard wood charcoal, which in turn produces higher heat, and they are slow burning and long lasting with a much longer burn time. Coco Burn briquettes burn for at least three hours and are easy to light with a quick ignition time. Being dense, compacted blocks, they are 40% more efficient than firewood.

Coco Burn also solves two long-standing problems of grilling and basic barbecue cooking – it is smokeless and virtually ashless, eliminating these hassles from the cooking process. 

The briquettes are 100% natural, which are, like all Southern Trident’s growing media products, made from the by-product/waste of the coconut industry. Wood charcoal, on the other hand, is made from and harvested from virgin wood. The coconut shells would otherwise go to waste if not recycled into new products, making Coco Burn highly environmentally responsible and a guaranteed renewable and sustainable energy source. This ensures that Coco Burn conforms to the company’s sustainable philosophy – Green Today, Greener Tomorrow.

Coco Burn is suitable for use on charcoal and gas/charcoal hybrid barbecues and is available in three sizes, 3kg, 5kg and 10kg.

Coco Burn joins the growing range of environmentally-responsible products, all sourced and created from recycled raw materials and by-products from other industries.

This year at Glee, Red Gorilla is showcasing its new Tidee™ Garden Companion Set, that was launched this year on 14^thFebruary. The Tidee™ Companion Set is designed to make cleaning and picking up ground-level debris easy for its users, an essential garden and home product to reduce the need for bending and kneeling.

Red Gorilla^® products are made in UK and Europe using the best and often recycled materials and sold to over 50 countries worldwide. Our range of products are built to last and made to the highest of standards.

Visit the Red Gorilla team at Glee on Stand 20J54

Website: www.redgorilla.red

Email: sales@redgorilla.red 
Phone: 01455 848 184     

Tildenet are back at Glee with a dramatic new stand bringing new product, creative POS solutions and refreshed packaging to highlight an environmentally conscious approach to the development of ranges across all brands including stylish 100% recycled pots and planters.

As the UK’s leading independent specialists, Tildenet Gardenware have invested heavily in new teams dedicated to transforming the look of some of the most well established ranges as well as making sure new products have immediate ‘shelf appeal’ to help drive sales.

Sales Manager, Lee Hamber and the Tildenet team are looking forward to meeting customers after a little while away:

“The whole business has got on board with the change to a summer date Glee for this year and our operations, sales and marketing teams have all been working flat out to deliver our best show ever for 2022 – we’ve missed being able to shout about all the great work that goes on at The Home of Quality Brands!” 

Highlights include the newly designed ULTIMATE PROTECTOR outdoor covers from Bosmere - The range is the most comprehensive in the industry and new packaging and POS solutions make the categories eye catching and easy to navigate – an outstanding premium product from the industry experts.

Haxnicks – champions of invention and sustainability - will launch new growing solutions aimed at boosting performance by up to 70% for small space gardeners and a totally new category for the brand giving you all you need to create an environment enhancing wildflower meadow no matter how small your space.

Tried, tested and trusted products have been given a facelift to exceed consumer expectations - Tildenet are always seeking to improve without compromising quality. Visit the Tildenet team to lean more and pick up your welcome gift on Stand 20F22-G23

Above: Zest 4 Leisure's design team leader Neil Sholes with the new Garden Pizza Oven Table.

Day one of Glee saw timber garden furniture, grow your own and decorative garden structure specialist, Zest, unveiling on-trend new products for the 2023 spring season, as well as exhibiting top-selling lines.  

The new Zest collection made its debut alongside a new Zest trade and consumer website, and all under the banner of its new consumer-facing brand positioning: Zest Outdoor Living – The Natural Choice.

Zest has invested significantly in understanding what today’s consumers want from their outdoor space, and the new products reflect the importance of wellbeing and a sustainable life outdoors.  The in-house product design team has been focusing on contemporary garden dining and entertaining, including the new Garden Bar and 2 Stool Set (pictured below), a space saving storage solution for entertaining, and the contemporary Freya dining and furniture range, planters (pictured left) and parcel delivery storage, all acknowledging consumer desire for ease and convenience when it comes to achieving their vision outdoors. Zest’s product are handcrafted from slow-grown softwood, sourced from responsibly managed Forestry Stewardship Council® (FSC®- C114990) forests. The furniture and decorative range is pressure treated and comes with a 10 year guarantee against rot.

Designed for ease of manufacture and assembly, many Zest products now have fewer components with the minimum possible number of straightforward stages to complete the finished item.

Zest’s helpful video and image library is available to Zest customers to use in their own marketing. 

Visit www.zestoutdoorliving.co.uk or email sales@zestoutdoorliving.co.uk

More and more of us are looking to make our homes and gardens that bit smarter. But that doesn’t have to mean complicated costly technology. For Link2home it means taking the electrical products we use every day and improving them. 

With our range of devices, you can switch on and off your pumps and water features, illuminate your garden with up 16 million colours and keep an eye on the local wildlife and check your home, sheds and outbuildings are all secure with our cameras and security systems all under one easy to use app. 

What if all the devices in your home and garden could connect to the Internet? Not just your smart phone or tablet but everything: Speakers, lights, doorbells, cameras, sockets, window blinds, appliances, heating, alarms, you name it. And what if all those devices could all communicate, send you information and take commands all under one application. It’s not science fiction: it’s the Link2Home solution and it is becoming a key component in home automation and smart homes.

Smart home is not just about turning your lights on and off through an application, a truly smart homes focus is on home automation. Home automation does exactly what it says: it is the ability to automate things around the home, garden and office at the push of a button, voice command or better yet automatically.  There are many smart home product solutions available on the market but what there is not, is a one app solution for everything that brings it all together and allows your devices to interconnect and talk to each other. This is where Link2Home’s focus lies in bring everything together under a one app solution and enabling smart automation without serious investment of time and money.

Find Link2home at stand 7C57.

The Patio Black Spot Removal Company Ltd, manufacture and supply a unique range of  premium  garden cleaning solutions, for restoring old, or maintaining new patios, pathways and garden ornaments.

The Patio Black Spot Removal System ® is not just a patio cleaner; it’s a complete garden stonework restoration system, that gives both stunning and virtually instant results!

Following awards at RHS Chelsea 2020, GLEE 2019 and at the Garden Retail Awards 2015, 2016 and 2017,  The Patio Black Spot Removal Company Ltd has become synonymous with the Garden Retailing market as a manufacturer of Premium garden stone cleaning products, producing stunning results, within a matter of hours.

Their flagship product range , the three different Patio Black Spot Removers, have been further improved by the addition of  Unique Euchan2® Technology. 

Based on the addition of Euchalyptus, its interaction ensures that the Lichen absorb the solution completely. 

Thus , by penetrating the root, which anchors the Lichen to the stone, this releases their limpet-like adhesion, allowing both the surface, and subsurface growth to be easily removed, without damaging the stone, using water to irrigate the dead root from the surface.

Removing the root prevents the regrowth of the black lichen spots, removing the need to retreat the area.

This new technology separates The Patio Black Spot Removal System , completely,  from other patio cleaners, currently available,  for the following reasons:

• It doesn’t rely on acid burning or bleaching of the surface ,or the use of pesticides. The former will dissolve limestone and stain sandstone orange, not to mention destroying surrounding plants
• As the product does all the work, it reduces the need to over pressure wash, thus reducing damage to surface of the stonework.
• Multi-layers of both black lichen and white fungi , that have accumulated over 70 or 80 years, can be readily removed.
• By reducing the reliance on pressure washing, the system increases the longevity of garden stonework, preserving both the appearance and the value of investment.

See us at Glee 2022.  Stand 6A80-B81

Order now at https://www.patioblackspotremoval.com

Or call 0800 500 3032

Trolleys, shredders, spreaders, blowers, log splitters and tillers from The Handy brand will be exhibited, which are proving highly popular in the retail sector. The Handy features a range of affordable and reliable garden and DIY tools that include petrol-powered devices as well as those powered by electricity or simple hand-operated tools.

Handy’s opening price point brand, Q Garden will also be making an appearance in the form of lawnmowers, hedge trimmers and line trimmers. 

Q Garden serves two purposes, firstly to capture sales where customers wish to simply purchase a low-value item on a budget or for infrequent use and secondly, to help trade customers up into products that deliver higher specification and performance more fitting for the customer’s desired application.

Handy’s stand is located In Hall 8-20 Stand 20G30-H31.

For further information 

Visit: https://www.handyonline.co.uk/blog/news/handy-returns-glee

At UK Greetings, we don’t believe one size fits all, that’s why we carefully curate our product displays specifically to cater for consumers differing needs and voices.

Our homegrown initiative is a perfect example of how we have done this, specifically tailored for garden centre shoppers.

Homegrown offers a comprehensive display planning service including product brokerage, a quick and easy one stop solution ensuring your displays are filled with the most sought-after designs, full display sales analysis and an excellent merchandising service! Its modern and stylised display units offer a perfect showcase solution for our distinct and established brands which have been developed with the differing consumer lifestyle choices in mind, as well as offering a differentiated retail solution.

We are committed to playing our part to help secure the future of our planet for future generations and in doing so we are constantly introducing initiatives to reduce waste as well as reusing and recycling as much as possible.

If you’re visiting Glee, be sure to join us on stand 7D42-E43 to discuss how we can help grow your sales. Plus, you could enter our free prize draw for the chance to win a Fortnum & Mason Hamper worth £100 (T&Cs apply)

Michelin starred chef Galton Blackiston (pictured) was at Glee yesterday (Tuesday) to promote the new Norfolk Grills range from Norfolk Leisure (19C50/D61).

Norfolk born and bred, he has maintained his Michelin star for the past 22 years at Morston Hall in Norfolk, where he is owner and chef patron.

He says the quality of the entire range is impressive but reserves special praise for the Infinity gas BBQ grill, which he uses at Morton Hall. He says it cook as well as anything to be found in a kitchen. “The features and functionality make it a joy to use and the accuracy of the thermostat, which is important to a chef, is outstanding.” At SRP £1,399, it also offers impressive value for money at this quality level.

Galton also offered glowing words of praise for the top-end Absolute and Absolute Pro models in the range, in effect promising to turn an outdoor space into a premium kitchen.

The range is complemented by a full range of accessories, from the usual tools to burger presses, chicken roasters and grill mats.

As DIYers look to make the most of their gardens this summer and spruce up their tired looking garden sheds and outbuildings, Onduline is helping retailers to make that as ‘easy’ as possible by creating an attractive free standing display showcasing its popular EASYLINE roofing sheets.

Complete with accessories and fixings, it is ideal for garden centre and other leisure retailers.

At 100cm by 76cm, EASYLINE is a compact roofing system that is perfect for sheds, studios, pet shelters and other garden buildings and annexes.

Easy to stock, easy to transport and easy to install

As a retail-friendly standalone pallet, it is simple to stock on a shop floor or in a trade store, and the EASYLINE sheets are lightweight and can be easily fitted into the boot of a typical family car.

EASYLINE, which can be seen on the Onduline stand (7F42) is available in several bright colours and compares favourably to traditional shed felt thanks to its 10-year waterproofing guarantee and ease of installation.

Each sheet is made of 50% to 60% recycled fibres and contains no hazardous substances, making it completely safe for people and family pets.

Nisha Kumar, Head of Marketing for Onduline Building Products, said: “DIY is still extremely popular, and with summer on the horizon, homeowners are looking at how they can revamp their outdoor space and refurbish that tired old shed which is letting the garden down. We’re keen to provide retailers with a solution that makes it easy to increase sales and give the purchasers what they want, and EASYLINE does just that.”

The display also includes a QR code that, when scanned, leads the customer to a simple-to-follow installation video. 

For more information visit www.onduline.co.uk.

Niall Reynolds and John Paul Gilroy of Soilworx welcome visitors to their first Glee stand.

Soilworx description is a new natural organic fertiliser producer and supplier from the Island of Ireland.

Soilworx nurtures garden soils with a natural fertiliser that cultivates a holistic eco-system that will thrive on nutritious materials and enable your plants to prosper. Healthy Soil is the starting point for successful gardening.

Soilworx’s Chicken Manure pellets are 100% chemical free. Made from a rich source of local farm manure, which we heat treat to produce a safe, easy to use pellet. Soilworx has the ability to blend a number of organic fertilisers (Seaweed, Bone Meal, Blood Meal) into our pellets. We also offer these organic fertiliser packaged by themselves.

With a large scale manufacturing facility opening in June 2022, Soilworx offers natural and organic fertiliser and lawn feed solutions for home garden and professional growers. Soilworx can also provide custom solutions for private label brands.

More info on www.soilworx.co.uk.

Soilworx is at stand 7D67.

Join the Sipcam Home & Garden team on-stand (6G20-H21) at Glee 2022 as they officially unveil two new products designed to create happy plants and a happy planet!  

Organic Superfood

The first of Sipcam’s newest innovations - joining the ever-popular ecofective® portfolio of pioneering bio-technology garden care products - is all-new Organic Superfood.

Taking inspiration from the nutritional superfood market and the power of superfoods for positively impacting our wellbeing, ecofective® Organic Superfood is designed to make plants thrive by providing a complete package of essential nutrients. 

With an NPK of 5-4-3, pelleted Organic Superfood is packed full of natural biostimulants, magnesium and organic matter. Each 800g box will help up to 40 plants, seedlings and potting plants thrive no matter the soil type or external condition with six multi-actions designed to give the plant whatever they need to thrive:

• Crop yields are doubled and benefit from bigger, brighter blooms
• Strengthens against disease attack
• Supports plants during stressful conditions including heat, drought and over watering
• Controlled release of nutrients for long lasting support
• Improved water retention
• Improved root development 

Peat-Free Compost Booster

Also boosting the ecofective® portfolio ahead of the 2023 season, and further strengthening Sipcam’s commitment to helping gardeners make better choices for their plants and for the planet, will be Peat-Free Compost Booster.

Created to partner with peat-free compost suppliers and to drive up the average basket spend and increase consumer engagement and confidence with peat-free growing media, this carefully balanced compost booster is full of all the essential nutrients plants need to grow within peat-free compost, including an NPK of 5-4-3 to enable greater growth and strong plants. Available in powder form, gardeners can easily mix into the compost.

Like the all-new Organic Superfood, this Peat-Free Compost Booster will offer six multi-actions for greener, healthier plants; a fact which will be labelled more clearly on all packaging to help consumers at the point of sale. With weather-proof packaging, the Sipcam team has created something which can be quickly and easily cross-merchandised alongside their existing peat-free compost ranges.

Talking ahead of the launch, Nigel Thompson, Head of Sales at Sipcam Home & Garden, said: “We are very proud to be playing our part in the protection of our planet and to be creating products that make it easier for gardeners to also make the right choice for both their plants and the environment. Our latest additions are demonstrative of this fact, and we have no doubt they will appeal in the retail setting as the benefit for both plant and planet are clearly communicated.”

Like all ecofective® products, all-new Organic Superfood and Peat-Free Compost Booster are child and pet safe. Both products are also made using a sustainable process that reduces Sipcam Home & Garden’s carbon footprint whilst also avoiding harmful gas emissions such as methane and ammonium.

Find out more

To find out more about the leading product range from Sipcam Home & Garden, visit www.sipcamhg.co.uk.

Wild bird care brand Honeyfield’s have launched new bird feeders to complement their already established bird feeder range. known for their Fair to Nature wild bird care blends, Honeyfield’s have four new innovative feeding products sure to be popular with UK bird watchers.

Feed Seed, Fat Balls and Water with the Honeyfield’s Multi Feeder

A complete feeding solution in a box with three feeders that are easy to assemble. Featuring a Seed Feeder, Fat Ball Feeder and a Water Drinker, the Multi Feeder offers a way to feed the three core needs of wild bird. They are available in attract bulk display in quarter, and half pallet display sizes that can be located anywhere in store. This clever feeding solution also has an instore video and wooden display unit to house a screen in order to display the video showing the benefits of the feeder.

Give the birds shelter when feeding with the Honeyfield’s Little Lodge Feeder

A high proportion of recycled plastic is used in manufacturing process of the Little Lodge Feeder. With a stylish grey roof, this feeder offers a canopy over the feeding tray. Ideal for involving children in the joys of bird feeding, the lodge detaches easily for easy cleaning. It features useful holes on the bottom that can be strapped to a pole or balcony. Available in quarter pallet display units which offer attractive bulk displays, which can be located anywhere in store.

Feed the birds in style with the Honeyfield’s Saturn Feeder

A stylish feeder that will be the envy of your visitors! The Saturn Feeder can be strapped to a balcony or hung from a dining station or tree. With a simple, modern design it is built with components that can be detached for easy cleaning. Merchandising is also easy with attractive half pallet display units available that can be installed in a high footfall area in store.

A feast for kings with the Honeyfield’s Orbit XXL Feeder

A unique looking seed feeder that holds over 1kg of seed. With a globe like design, it is very modern and manufactured out of recycled plastic. The feeding area offers birds shelter from predators. Due to the size, it is particularly useful and larger gardens or gardens popular with birds. It is also available in high impact quarter pallet display units that can be located in areas for impulse purchase opportunities.

See the best new feeders on the market!

The new Honeyfield’s bird feeders are being showcased now on the WHM Pet stand (Hall 8-20 Stand: 6F50-G51) If you have not done so already head over there now to see these for yourself and browse the 2023 product range.

Zero In Summer Insect Control is a complete range of more than forty poison-free products designed especially for use outside. From excluding wasps from a children’s party to keeping flies away from the barbecue, during the day and into the evening, there’s a perfect Zero In product.

Outdoor living and entertaining have become huge trends over the past two years, whilst travelling further afield for socialising with friends and family has been restricted. However, warm weather and long evenings outside are also the perfect conditions for invading insects. Wasps, mosquitos, flies and ants can all spoil a perfect outdoor party if they get out of hand. So, it’s not surprising that the market for specialist outdoor insect control products seems to have grown rapidly over the past few years too.

To take advantage of this rapidly growing demand, STV will be show casing their new adaptable display solutions designed to make it easy to locate ZeroIn close to other outdoor leisure categories. Volume lines are also available in the unique ‘stack-a-pack’ format which makes it easy to create instant displays wherever they are needed.

Nick Hood, Marketing Manager said “We think there’s a big opportunity for more sales of outdoor insect control products. Displayed close to the outdoor living category, these products present a great impulse purchase opportunity. That’s why we’re investing in new merchandising equipment, and we’ve made all the volume lines available in our new Stack-a-pack bulk displays that are quick and easy to position when needed.”

The new Zero In Outdoor Insect Controls and Merchandising will be shown on STV’s stand 19E40 

STV International Ltd Forge House, Little Cressingham, Thetford, Norfolk, IP25 6ND, GB

Phone 01953 881580                

Email info@stvuk.co.uk

Gardeners and customers looking for products with recyclable packaging, will now be able to add Vitax’s popular specialist feed range to their wish list.

Previously available in weatherproof pouches to protect against the elements, the new pouches will have all the weather protection as before, but with an OPE/PE film – a sustainable alternative to PET/PE laminate.

A single polymer solution approved by all major retailers, once empty the pouches can now be recycled at supermarket collection points.

The roll-out of the new pouches will start with Hydrangea Feed, Buxus Feed, Olive Tree Feed and Acer Feed, with other products to follow.

The move to OPE/PE packaging is part of Vitax’s overall commitment to delivering positive change through long-term investment across all its operations – from products to packaging to machinery and the way it works with its partners and supply chain.

Vitax continues to work towards removing single-use plastic through new designs and innovative packaging which is either recyclable or reusable.

To find out more about the new recyclable pouches, visit Vitax in Hall 20, E40-F41.

E: sales@vitax.co.uk

T: 01530 510060

W: www.gardenworld.co.uk

The winners of the Glee Buyers Power List were revealed yesterday. The Glee Buyers Power List was set up to recognise the individual buyers and buying teams who have gone above and beyond to make a difference within the garden retail industry this year.

The Nominations and Winners 2022

Plants buyer/buying team of the Year 

Winner: The Bourne family @ Perrywood

Second: Choice Marketing Team

Third: Plants Team @ Hillmount

Nominations: Choice Marketing Team; Glen Sheldrake @ Burford Garden Company; Matt Shorter @ Longacres; Nick Chutter @ Summerhill Nurseries; Plants Team @ Hillmount; Taylor Baines @ Blue Diamond; The Bourne family @ Perrywood.

Garden Care buyer/buying team of the Year 

Winner: Matt Shorter @ Longacres

Second equal: Bryn Saysell @ Blue Diamond,  Amy Green @ British Garden Centres

Third: Jackie Cook @ Notcutts

Nominations: Aaron Saunders and Matthew Ball @ Stax Trade Centres; Adam Szabo @ Charlies Stores; Amy Green @ British Garden Centres; Bryn Saysell @ Blue Diamond; Jackie Cook @ Notcutts; Kevin Beckett @ Yarnton Home & Garden; Liz Brennan @ Dobbies; Matt Shorter @ Longacres; Mike Cook @ Choice Marketing; Robin Mercer @ Hillmount; Terry Head @ Stewarts Garden Centres.

Outdoor Leisure buyer/buying team of the Year 

Winner: Nigel Gates @ Gates Garden Centre

Second equal: Jay Bunker @ Alton Garden Centre, Keith Wiblin @ Downtown Garden Centre, Nick Haydon @ Fakenham Garden Centre

Third: Gemma Mercer @ Hillmount Cheshire

Nominations: David Hibbert @ Stax Trade Centres; Gemma Mercer @ Hillmount Cheshire; Jay Bunker @ Alton Garden Centre; Keith Wiblin @ Downtown Garden Centre; Kevin Beckett @ Yarnton Home & Garden; Nick Haydon @ Fakenham Garden Centre; Nigel Gates @ Gates Garden Centre.

Landscape buyer/buying team of the Year

Winner: Andy Wrightson @ Webbs

Second equal: Andy Harris @ Haskins, Dan Kirby @ British Garden Centres, Keith Wilbin @ Downtown Garden Centre

Third: David Danning @ Blue Diamond 

Nominations: Andy Harris @ Haskins; Andy Wrightson @ Webbs; Dan Kirby @ British Garden Centres; David Danning @ Blue Diamond; John Birch @ Baytree Garden Centre; Paul Smith @ Chessington Garden Centre

Home & Gifts buyer/buying team of the Year 

Winner: Kati Taylor @ Fron Goch

Second: Gates Garden Centre

Third: Rosebourne Garden Centres 

Nominations: Edith Mercer @ Hillmount; Gates Garden Centre; Glen Sheldrake @ Burford Garden Company; Kati Taylor @ Fron Goch; RHS Wisley; Rosebourne Garden Centres.

Pet buyer/buying team of the Year

Winner: The Old Railway Line

Second: Paul Williams @ British Garden Centres

Third: Polhill Garden Centre

Nominations: Dan Reep @ Squires; Emma Bostock @ Pets at Home; Knights Godstone; Paul Williams @ British Garden Centres; Planters Tamworth; Polhill Garden Centre; Sue Shaw @ B&M; The Old Railway Line.

Retail Food & Drinks buyer/buying team of the Year 

Winner: St Peters Worcester

Second: Garsons Esher

Third: Bents Home & Garden 

Nominations: Barton Grange; Bents Home & Garden; Garsons Esher; Gates Garden Centre; Hannah Warr @ Laylocks Garden Centre; Pughs Garden Centres; St Peters Worcester.

Christmas buyer/buying team of the Year

Winner: Squires Badshot Lea

Second: The Old Railway Line

Third: Bents Garden & Home 

Nominations: Alan Mercer @ Hillmount; Andrew Porwal @ Sapcote; Andrew Wood @ Silverbirch; Bents Garden & Home; Squires Badshot Lea; The Old Railway Line.

On-Line buyer/buying team of the Year 

Winner: Crocus

Second: Dani Loftus @ Marie Curie

Third: Primrose.co.uk

Nominations: Crocus; Dani Loftus @ Marie Curie; GardenSite LLP; Hillier on-line; Primrose.co.uk

Overall Multiple Retailer Buyer/Buying Team of the Year – (hardware, DIY, high street)

Winner: Dani Loftus @ Marie Curie

Second: John Lewis

Third: B&M

Nominations: B&M; Dani Loftus @ Marie Curie; John Lewis; Kevin Jones @ Poundland; QD Stores; Robert Dyas; Wilko.

Overall Multiple Garden Retailer Buying Team of the Year – 6 stores or more

Winner: British Garden Centres

Second: Blue Diamond

Third: Choice Marketing Team  

Nominations: Blue Diamond; British Garden Centres; Caulders Garden Centres; Cherry Lane Garden Centres; Choice Marketing Team; Hilliers; Klondyke; Squires; Stax Trade Centres; The Prosper Group.

Overall Independent Garden Centre Buying Team of the Year – up 5 stores 

Winner: The Mercer family @ Hillmount

Second: Longacres

Third equal: Aylett Nurseries, The Bourne family @ Perrywood

Nominations: Aylett Nurseries; Chessington Garden Centre; Kevin Beckett @ Yarnton Home & Garden; Longacres; The Bourne family @ Perrywood; The Mercer family @ Hillmount

Another year and another highly deserving winner of the GIMA Innovators Seed Corn Fund (GISCF). For 2022 it is the team at Qwickhose that reigns victorious, having impressed the judges with its remarkable solution to the common issues associated with hose pipe connectors. Here we find out more about this year’s winners and those that just missed out on the coveted prize.

Qwickhose was borne during lockdown when a portfolio of previous concepts was turned into a reality. As outdoor living stole the focus when millions of people turned to their gardens for entertainment, the team at Qwickhose put their hearts and souls into the creation of this simple yet effective solution to hosepipe connector issues.

Recognising the issues that come from standard hosepipe connectors breaking under force, popping off mid-use or simply taking too long to install, Qwickhose is designed to alleviate all these frustrations.  Built to be long-lasting and robust, the Qwickhose Hose Connector uses a unique winged clamping system for quick and easy connection. Simply push the hose onto the inner tube, clamp the wings shut and secure them with the nut. The extra-long connector then acts as a handle. Unlike traditional hose connectors, there are no breakable teeth, making it more reliable, longer-lasting and leak-free.

Beating off stiff competition and judged by a panel made up of both Glee and GIMA representatives, Qwickhose will now receive support up to the value of £6,000 to help with development and marketing costs associated with entering the UK garden retail market. This includes a year of full GIMA membership and a wide range of business support tools.

In addition to choosing a winner, the panel also selected two shortlisted companies – Cheeky Charlie Ovens and Seedbooks. The first is a new concept in charcoal cooking which takes the principles of professional ovens to create an exciting new chapter for al fresco dining, whilst each of the Seedbooks combines up to six different seed varieties, supported with recipes and growing tips.

GIMA Director, Vicky Nuttall said: “We are so pleased to name Qwickhose as our eighth GIMA Innovators Seed Corn Fund winner.  Not only does the Qwickhose offering provide an alternative to existing hosepipe connectors, but it is clear from the design and construction that this is a product that has been passionately and carefully designed. I am sure this is one product garden and DIY retailers will want to see.”

To find out more about the GIMA Innovators’ Seed Corn Fund please join GIMA on-stand at 7G40-6A41. 

Qwickhose can be found at Glee within Hall 19 Stand H58

Glee returned to the NEC Birmingham in style today (Tuesday) with the exhibition halls a hive of activity as soon as the doors opened at 9am.

An impressive list of suppliers were joined by UK and international key decision makers, buyers and trend setters, to showcase the future of gardening.

This year’s show has brought together hundreds of brands and thousands of exciting products under one roof, providing garden buyers with an ideal opportunity to ‘shop’ new ranges to boost their retail offering.

There are still two days to go – Wednesday and Thursday – to see all the latest new products so if you’re still planning your trip make sure you register for free entry. Click here to register now.

Glee 2022 took shape on build-up day as exhibitors put the finishing touches to their stands in halls 6, 7, 19 and 20 of the NEC. Glee Daily News photographer Paul Webb captured all the action to give you a clear picture of what to expect over the next three days. The exhibition is open from 9am until 6pm tomorrow (Monday).

See the picture gallery below...

Gardenex will again be hosting the International Buyers' Centre at Glee, which takes place at the NEC Birmingham, starting tomorrow (Tuesday, June 28).

The International Buyers' Centre can be found in Hall 7, stand E80, where Gardenex will provide business support to the international buyers visiting the show. The Federation will also look forward to welcoming both members and potential members to the Centre to provide export advice and market information.

Gardenex has been actively encouraging international buyers to visit the show and some will be participating in introductory meetings with Glee exhibitors through the initiative International Buyers' Connect. These meetings are free, but subject to a selection process by the buyer.

Gardenex members have been the first to receive the profiles of the companies participating so that they can apply for meetings at the show but please note, they are only open to Glee exhibitors. Each session, lasting 10 minutes, will take place at the International Buyers' Centre.

The buyers have selected the suppliers they wish to meet based on the company website content and on their own product priorities and Gardenex has co-ordinated the meetings.

For the companies that are selected, it is a good opportunity to meet with key international distributors and retailers of garden products, and the buyers have the chance to visit your stand following the introductory meetings.

PetQuip will also be operating an industry information stand (7A33) within the PAW section of Glee and looks forward to seeing member companies and potential members there.

For more information visit www.gardenex.com and www.petquip.com.

If you sneak a peek at the long-term weather forecast you might see a glint of sunshine on the horizon for the first-ever June edition of Glee (28th – 30th June, NEC Birmingham) - no doubt music to the ears of Glee’s organising team who are currently finalising details for its new Fire, Grill & Chill area, which is dedicated to demonstrating the best that Glee’s Outdoor Entertainment exhibitors have to offer.

Located at the rear of Hall 20, this new-for-2022 area will see leading brands such as Landmann, Kadamo Joe, Fandango Fire Tools, Cheeky Charlie Oven Company, Northwest Asia and Kadai come together to showcase their latest barbecues, grills and pizza ovens. This mouth-watering display is set to open up new exhibiting opportunities for outdoor entertainment brands, and to showcase products in a way never before seen at a trade exhibition of this kind.   

Joining in the fun will be some special additions, including a drinks truck, ice cream van and daily live music and DJ sets to help add to the summer vibes.

The annual ‘Glee Party’ will also be hosted within this new area on June 28th at 5pm, with exhibitors and show visitors invited to join together for some more informal networking opportunities.

Talking about Fire, Grill & Chill, Glee’s Event Director, Matthew Mein said: “Traditionally at Glee, outdoor entertaining brands have been able to display their products on stand but being able to fire them up to truly show what they are capable of has always been more of a logistical challenge. Gone are those days however, as our new June timing enables us to make the most of the warmer summer weather and take these demonstrations to the great outdoors, enabling retail buyers to truly understand the functionality of the products on offer. What’s more, Fire, Grill & Chill will provide a unique and fun way for the garden retail community to come together to network whilst at Glee. We’re excited to see our vision become a reality at the show!”

Entry is free of charge to all pre-registered visitors. Register here: https://www.gleebirmingham.com/visitor-registration

The horticultural hub of Glee, the Green Heart is THE place to see the latest indoor and outdoor plant varieties from a range of leading growers.  

An integral part of the show each year, the central atrium location makes Glee Green Heart one of the best attended parts of the show, as buyers and owner/operators from across the garden retail sector flock to this dedicated showcase to optimise the ever-growing popularity of green living. 

Get ready for bulging order books

Taking place in late June (Tuesday 28^th – Thursday 30^th), Glee 2022 and the Green Heart are set to benefit from increased transactions taking place, as buyers confirm the importance of placing orders at this time of year. What’s more, with houseplants continuing to drive sales and capture a new gardening audience – latest Euromonitor International data shows houseplants saw the biggest year-on-year sales uplift at 25% - there has never been a more important time to ensure your latest houseplant offering is front and centre.

With order books poised to be filled, the show organisers have made it easier than ever to be part of this must-see section of Glee. All participants have access to high-quality merchandising display units, providing them with a blank page for displaying their latest varieties and showcasing the trends that will shape the 2023 season. As taking part within the Glee Green Heart is also heavily subsidised, participating growers can access Glee’s unrivalled audience without the expense so often associated with trade events, there is still some space available to exhibit  . Like all exhibitors, those in the Green Heart can also enjoy an unrivalled portfolio of marketing, PR and social media support, helping to announce their presence to thousands of horticultural buyers.

Showcase your best side

The light filled atrium space allows all plants to be displayed at their best, with a dedicated Green Heart ‘Best Merchandising’ award adding a touch of friendly competition. Last year the award was won by Hills Plants, which not only made its debut at Glee but at exhibitions in general.

Talking at the awards ceremony in 2021, Hills Plants’ Assistant Production Manager, Laura Marner, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to receive the award. It means so much to get this kind of recognition, especially during our debut year at Glee, and it has certainly helped us to generate conversation with those retailers that have visited the Green Heart.”

It wasn’t just Hills Plants that recognised the value of the Green Heart. New Leaf Plants called the 2021 event its ‘best-ever Glee’, whilst Golden Grove Nursery, a Glee exhibitor for over 30 years, saw new and existing customers, all of whom placed orders for the year ahead.

Matthew Mein, Glee Event Director, said: “The Green Heart is a really important part of Glee and is designed to put plants right at the centre of the show but, more than this, we want to arm retailers and growers with a platform to communicate – whether in regard to what’s new or how to better drive sales in-store. 

“After a significant period of growth for plants, this year’s Glee Green Heart will be more vital than ever. This year’s event will provide plant suppliers and growers with a cost-effective solution for showcasing their latest ranges, to owners and buyers from an unrivalled selection of UK-based independent garden retail businesses, as well as from many of the chains, multiple groups and complementary garden retailers.”

Plants will also be celebrated through Glee’s New Product Showcase with the dedicated Garden Plants, Seeds and Bulbs award, which last year was scooped by MNP Flowers and its Granvia^® Pink Flame Imp – a crispy Xerochrysum.

How to exhibit at the Glee Green Heart 2022

Growers interested in exhibiting at Glee’s Green Heart can find out more at www.gleebirmingham.com or by calling +44 (0)203 3545 9752.

This year’s edition of Glee will be home to the show’s biggest contingent of global brands since 2019, bringing together a spectacular showcase of European design and a window into how gardening is developing in international markets.

Leading the way will be the Netherlands contingent. Featuring a host of prominent Dutch gardening brands alongside emerging names, this strong international launchpad will rival mainland European events which often play host to these bellwether companies. Look out for Elho, Kaemingk, Capi Europe, Kapiteyn B.V., Edelman, Madison B.V., Impulse Plants B.V., Bonfeu, JAVADO, 200 Fahrenheit, Plenty Gifts, Green Inspiration Plants, and Smiemans Projecten B.V.

French suppliers, including Forest Style SAS (Soulet / Cerland), Vertiable SAS, Paysagea SAS and Hareau (Weenect), will similarly see their exhibition presence increase thanks to Glee’s new partnership with Team France Export, Business France and the Choose France™ initiative, which has been set up to shine the spotlight on the uniqueness of French design to a wider global audience.

Also, joining the Glee 2022 exhibitor line up will be key suppliers from Germany - including Scheurich and Burstenhaus Redecker Gmbh - as well as Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Moldova, Norway and Poland, completing the European lineup. Canada, India, Korea and a small Chinese delegation will similarly be showcasing new products and services from these unique consumer markets.

Matthew Mein, Glee Event Director, said: “It’s great to see so many more European and global brands joining us at Glee this June. There is no question that our new dateline position has opened up the potential of Glee to a much wider audience, enabling them to access Glee’s platform at a more convenient time within the buying and events calendar. 

“We’re excited to host these important brands onsite at the NEC and welcoming back a selection of leading European companies that have not presented their ranges at Glee for some time. I have no doubt that visitors will welcome the variety of products and international trend insight that this portfolio of companies will together provide.”

Find out more 

To keep up to date on the latest Glee news visit www.gleebirmingham.com.  To enquire about exhibiting at Glee 2020 call +44 (0)203 3545 9752.

Register now!

Registration for free entry to Glee 2022 – 28th-30th June – is now open. 

Simply visit www.gleebirmingham.com to secure your ticket and get ready to connect with quality exhibitors, nurture existing relationships and grow new ones at the UK's leading garden and outdoor living trade show.

Glee will welcome a number of new initiatives, all designed to help the show’s exhibitors and visitors to “give back” and protect the planet, reduce waste and raise vital funds for the industry’s charity, Greenfingers.   

Grow My Tree

With sustainability no longer an option but an imperative, this year Glee is on a mission to help everyone at the exhibition to fight climate change by planting trees with its official climate partner, Grow My Tree. 

Every attendee at Glee 2022 will be able to plant a tree free of charge.  Grow My Tree will work in partnership with one of its local operators within the global south (Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania), where the environmental, social and economic leverage is greatest, and the impact of each tree planted will take effect quickest. A code to access this ‘free tree’ offer will be provided to all attendees post-event.

Exhibitors will also be offered the opportunity to purchase up to 440 trees at a discounted rate, helping to offset almost 100% of their annual CO₂ emissions* with every tree absorbing upwards of 22kg of CO₂ per year. Further details on how to purchase these trees can be found in the E-Zone. 

Show your love for Greenfingers

Time to dig out your boldest floral shirt, dainty flowery dress and everything in-between as Floral Thursday is back and ready to raise funds for the Greenfingers charity.

Taking place on Thursday 30th June – the final day of Glee 2022 – Floral Thursday is a special fundraising activity where it is hoped that the thousands of visitors and exhibitors at Glee will come together to show their flower power in aid of Greenfingers’ ongoing fundraising activities. Anyone that has reached for the floral clothing – from ties to socks to shirts and suits – will be invited to purchase a raffle ticket which will enter them into a prize draw to win fabulous prizes whilst, more importantly, helping to top up the annual fundraising total of the children’s hospice garden charity.

Last year, at Glee 2021, Floral Thursday raised over £2,000, and an even larger total is hoped for this year.

Further supporting the Greenfingers charity, entries into the Glee New Products Showcase in 2022 can help to raise much needed funds. Any brand that enters the awards can donate their product sample, where it will be auctioned by Greenfingers’ Bedford-based auction partners, W&H Peacock. Similar auctions have raised thousands for the charity, funds which help Greenfingers to continue to build therapeutic gardens in children’s hospices throughout the country.

Taking steps to reduce waste onsite

Becoming more sustainable is a key part of the development of Glee, which is why the organisers will be working closely with the NEC and all of their suppliers to ensure that steps are taken to reduce the potentially negative environmental impact that each event cycle can have. Guided by the ‘NEC Sustain’ Policy – an all-encompassing sustainability programme that focuses on the different elements that make up the reality of an exhibition including energy, waste and food – Glee will look to minimise everything from a reliance on plastic to introducing more water fountains, and even sourcing catering from local suppliers to minimise food miles.

Glee will also be working with Event Cycle to help exhibitors remove and repurpose any items that otherwise would have been thrown away. Event Cycle help reduce waste from events and create a positive social impact in the process. 

Item donated by exhibitors are given to charity and community groups, as well as back into the events industry. Exhibitors can find out more about this initiative by visiting the Exhibitor Manual.

Introducing onsite welfare rooms

New for 2022, anyone present at Glee will be able to access a dedicated onsite welfare room. It will provide a quiet place to take a break or give additional support to anyone that needs it, no matter the reason. 

Not only have many of the UK’s garden centres become amongst the most successful destination retail outlets in the country, but gift stores have also seen their audience increase as consumers look to source, more than ever, unique and heartfelt gifts for loved ones and to mark special occasions.

As the most important trade event for the gardening, leisure and outdoor living sectors, Glee brings together the whole of these vibrant and eclectic industries under one roof and serves as the central hub for face-to-face trading, networking, and the growth of new ideas across eight dedicated show sectors.

This year Home, Gift & Clothing will take pride of place alongside Garden Care, Landscaping & Garden Decoration, Food & Catering, Retail Experience & Services, Outdoor Entertaining, Plants and PAW (Pet and Animal Wellbeing). This year’s show is set to welcome over 400 exhibitors, of which an estimated 40% never before seen at the show, making this year’s event bigger and more vibrant than before.

Giftware buyers will be able to access a wide range of brands offering everything from outdoor clothing ranges and picnicware to seasonal decorations, games, toys and books, as well as complementary brands and products from Glee’s wider offering. All these brands are keen to do business with gift buyers from both garden centres and gift shops, with a combined offering that is designed to work both this season and beyond, thanks to new dateline which has positioned the show within a more convenient time within the annual buying cycle.

Brands returning to the Home, Gift & Clothing sector will include Woodmansterne with its new plastic-free range of beautiful, artistic greetings cards; APAC, distributor of leading home fragrance brand, Bolsius Candles; sock specialists, HJ Hall; Tilnar Art, which has a beautiful range of environmentally friendly and fairly traded gift and homeware products; and the multi-award-winning publisher, Willsow, with its range of plantable children’s books.

New brands set to make their debut in the Home, Gift & Clothing sector of Glee this year include Vent for Change, with its high profile range of ethical and eco-friendly stationery; organic tea suppliers, English Tea Shop; the sustainable ladies’ fashion experts, M&Co; indoor play specialists, Kidzplay; Summit/PMS International with an excellent and broad-ranging selection of camping equipment and the biggest publisher of greetings cards in the country - UK Greetings - with its huge range of award-winning greetings cards, gift dressing and social expressions.

This year’s edition of Glee will have a real summer festival feel and promises to be an enjoyable event for visitors, as well as offering a superb product sourcing platform. Making the most of the summer weather will be a new outdoor demonstration area – Fire, Grill & Chill – which will do exactly what the name suggests whilst giving outdoor entertaining brands a chance to show what they’re made of!  

As ever, Glee will continue to be a hot bed for all the latest product innovations to hit the market. Whether it’s new additions for the autumn sales period, updates to bestsellers or even trend-led innovation set to shape spend in 2023, Glee will be home to it all. Don’t forget to also make a beeline for the Glee New Product Showcase where the newest inventions and novelties will be on display, providing retailers with unrivalled inspiration and the chance to grab the something unique for their 2023 retail offering.

Find out more 

To keep up to date on the latest Glee news visit www.gleebirmingham.com.  To enquire about exhibiting at Glee 2020 call +44 (0)203 3545 9752.

The team from GTN are proud once again to be the official media partners for Glee producing the Glee Planner, the Glee Show Catalogue and the Glee Daily News.

After this launch issue we will be publishing further Glee Daily News issues as follows:

• Glee Preview - 21st June
• Glee Build-up LIVE! - 27th June
• Glee Day 1 LIVE! - 28th June
• Glee Day 2 LIVE! including Glee New Product Award results - 29th June
• Glee Day 3 LIVE! including Floral Thursday for Greenfingers photo gallery - 30th June
• Glee 2022 Omnibus issue - 28th July

Exhibitors should contact Alan Burdon, alan@pottingshedpress.co.uk, or 07939 048899, for advertising details. 

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CasusGrill achieved an SBID Award for the best Outdoor product at the inaugural SBID Product Design Awards for 2020. This award-winning product can been seen on the CPL Distribution stand (19G01).

The sustainable BBQ innovator was awarded this accolade for its eco-friendly single-use grill. The winners were revealed online on Friday 23 October alongside this year’s eagerly anticipated SBID International Design Awards winners in a combined celebration of interior design excellence, showcasing the exceptional designers of interiors, and the inspiring products that go in them!

The Outdoor category is solely for outdoor products for either residential or contract use ranging from outdoor furniture, outdoor lighting, signage, garden furniture, sun protection, fire pits, BBQs and grills. CasusGrill is a world patented redesign and green transformation of the aluminium disposable single-use grill. It is only made of sustainable materials such as cardboard, natural bamboo, lava stones and bamboo charcoal briquettes without the use of any metals.

More efficient, less waste, safer to use and makes GREAT food. All materials are biodegradable except the lava rocks. The lava rocks can be returned to nature and even used as soil treatment and 100% pure growth medium for plants. CasusGrill is ready to cook within 5 minutes and retains heat for more than 60 minutes.

No fossil fuels are used, no large flames and emits minimum smoke when starting. The insulating lava rocks make it possible to reduce the risk of burn damage and forest fires, and uses less resources, more efficiently. For comparison, CasusGrill uses only 265 grams charcoals against the aluminium grill, which uses up to 600 grams of charcoal. This reduction has a large direct impact on the CO2 emission, which is reduced by up to 50%.

Despite the unprecedented challenges facing the industry this year, the SBID Awards 2020 have been the most globally represented edition to date. With industry talent hailing from 49 countries across the world, the results are a testament to the profession’s extraordinary resilience, demonstrating a world-wide determination to continue to celebrate the achievements of the design profession at large.

Now in its eleventh year, the GOLD-rated awards programme is recognised for its transparency, as well as its professional and ethical standards by The Independent Awards Standards Council. With all categories assessed by panels of leading industry experts who look for outstanding examples of technical content and aesthetic creativity, as well inviting the public to cast their votes, achieving an SBID Award is an unparalleled marque of industry excellence for the deserving winners.

Judges this year included a host of top tier professionals from global design businesses such as Karim Rashid Inc, Unilever Prestige, Zaha Hadid Architects, Wanda Hotels and Resorts, HOK London Studio, Katharine Pooley Ltd, and the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG).

SBID Founder and CEO, Dr Vanessa Brady OBE comments: “We have all been struggling to cope with the broad effects caused by Covid-19 - as individuals, as well as a community. So the Awards this year, whilst very different, have been particularly inspiring to review. It just goes to prove the importance of our surroundings and how the way we feel and act within them is directly impacted by it. It’s been an important reminder to business owners that good design is not just about its aesthetic and functionality, but particularly in commercial space, it’s also about the intrinsic value great design adds to business.”

In line with its mission to promote and elevate talent and creativity with fairness and equality, the annual event will continue to reward outstanding projects and products as it looks to 2021 with a new optimism in this rapidly evolving industry.

Each SBID Awards winner will receive a bespoke crystal trophy designed and crafted exclusively by Sans Souci glass deco. The winners from each category can be viewed at www.sbidawards.com.

Candidates from this year’s Rising Stars programme sponsored jointly by Westland Horticulture and the Garden Centre Association spent time on the Westland stand at Glee yesterday gathering ideas and information for their 2022 workshop projects.

Around a dozen of the 16 entrants were joined by members of the Young People’s Horticulture Association (YPHA), an ideal opportunity to swap notes and share views.

The Rising Stars programme, which is designed to challenge trainees to develop their knowledge of the garden industry and think outside the box, is based on a series of workshops, after which entra.nts are assessed and a shortlist produced.  The finalists present their finished projects to GCA members at their annual conference to find the Rising Star of 2023..

Previous workshop events included visits to Westland’s Peterborough facility and to NIAB, Westland’s research and development partner.

Sustainability features prominently in this year’s workshop programme – so the tour of Westland’s stand will have given the candidates plenty of material to work with.

Here is the list of candidates, centres and their individual projects.

Louise Oaks                  Bents                                    Home composting

Jennifer Ind                 Webbs of Wychbold             The environmental benefits of plants through companion planting

Pip Bransfield -Garth     Ruxley Manor                        Bug Buffet

Victoria Taylor               Barton Grange                      Integrated Pest management

Lauren Bell                     Millbrook                               Wildlife Garden 

Matt Carr                      Barton Grange                       Water sustainability - small changes to make a big difference

Ashley Baines                Barton Grange                       Bringing wildlife home

Gus McWilliamSilk         Monkton Elm                         Solar powered self contained flood benches

Natalie Gray                  Monkton Elm                         Growing Biodiversity

Mia Crawford                Poundbury Gardens                Planting for wildlife in small spaces

Harry Ridgers               Haskins Forest Lodge             Environmental education

Ella-May Bradshaw        Bosworths                              Bees Needs Week

Mary Quennell               Bents                                     Sensory Garden

Jo Adderley                   Bents                                     Plastics recycling

A new launch from first-time Glee exhibitor Kink Out (19 H60) solves a problem faced by gardeners the world over – kinked hoses.

Professional gardener Racquel Milan came up with the idea after years of frustration with persistent kinks which obstruct the flow of water to the hose end.  Kink Out is in effect a splint, made of recyclable plastic, which clips on to the weakened kinked section, strengthening it and restoring full flow.  It is presented for retail in packs of three. Even the card is innovative – it is impregnated with summer wild flowers so the packaging itself can be planted to benefit the environment.

Although the launch product involves virgin plastic, it is 100% recyclable and Racquel is working towards using recycled material in the long-term.

Racquel sat on her idea for 10 years before finding a way to bring Kink Out, now patented, to market. Now she is working on versions for larger-bore hose, pressure washer hoses and even cabling.

She used her Facebook page and Instagram account to launch Kink Out – and Glee has given her a platform to engage with the wider garden retail industry.

Outdoor living suppliers Tramontina UK are wooing Glee visitors with a live cooking demonstration and an innovative selection of garden furniture.

Take in the smell of delicious food as you visit the stand (19 F20) and admire the inviting curves of a new range of garden furniture in strong, durable polyethylene. On a more conventional note, there are wooden furniture lines, too, but equally distinctive in their designs.

Tramontina’s BBQ grills cover span affordable price points, while there is a comprehensive range of barbecue accessories and quality cook’s and kitchen knives.

Information: tuk@tramontina.com

Hydria from Hydria Life (hall 6) is a rechargeable water fountain kit offering unlimited versatility in an easy-to-use design.

It can run for up to 2 months on a single charge. Just place the Hydria kit in your pot or container and enjoy multiple options for fountain height, timer and light colours to quickly and easily create an oasis of calm and wellbeing, indoors or out, day or night.

Coloured LEDs mean that Hydria looks great at night on a deck, balcony – or even in bathroom for those relaxing home spa days!

A remote control allows users to change the colours of the lights.

Hydria fits any pot of 30cm diameter or more, so you can Use your container of your choice, upcycle an old pot or replace a neglected plant.

Jozsef Lakatos gave up his career as a chef to become a supplier of garden ornaments.

His 2021 Nottingham-based start-up, Hellostone, is now going from strength to strength selling attractive cast ornaments in a growing number of designs.

If you’re looking for an alternative distinctive supplier for your outdoor ornaments section, Jozsef would welcome your enquiry.

You can find him at Glee in Hall 7 (F35).

Information: hellostone.co.uk