With just a few days to go until the doors open on a refreshed and revitalised Glee 2014, the show’s organisers, i2i Events, give Glee Daily News a ‘first look’ at what you can expect to see in the new showcase for UK growers – the Green Heart of Glee.

Bringing together some of the biggest and most respected brands, Green Heart will be the place to view 2015 plant ranges, as well as accessing exclusive, show-only deals from UK growers. Housed in the Atrium area outside of Glee’s new location within NEC halls 17 to 20, this exciting new area will be bringing plants right back into the heart of the show. Every single visitor to Glee will be exposed to a truly eye-catching display of everything from herbs and bedding plants, to trees, shrubs, alpines and even houseplants, upon arrival to the show.

Key names set to help launch the Green Heart include Gardeners Kitchen, New Leaf Plants, Kilworth Conifers, Gedney Bulbs, Golden Grove Nurseries, John Woods Nurseries, Lovania Nurseries, Hawkesmill Nurseries, Garden Centre Fresh, Chapel Cottage Plants, Chamberlin Nurseries, Viking Nurseries, Morley Nurseries, Beaver Plants, Whartons Roses and Darby Nurseries. Joining this incredible list will be the recently confirmed Oakgate Nurseries, Tamata, Piccoplant, The Anglia Group, John Richards Nurseries, KinderGarden Plants, Laurica, and Quantil.

Javado will also be making their home there. Having launched at Glee back in 2011, scooping the Glee New Product Plant Award in the process, Javado have had a remarkable journey. This year look out for the company’s stunning ‘living statues’.

Another company with some exciting plans to reveal include Anglo Aquatic Plants who will be using the Green Heart to showcase a new range of ‘grab and go’ water garden plants.

Neil Gow, Glee’s special project manager, said: “The response to the Green Heart of Glee has far exceeded our expectations, and I’ve no doubt that those exhibiting in this area will create a truly inspiring showcase. Plants are the cornerstone of the garden retail industry, so it’s great to know that this year they’ll be taking pride of place at the front of the show.”

How the Industry has responded

David Higginson, sales manager at New Leaf Plants: “When Neil first talked to me about the idea of The Green Heart it seemed a bit of a no-brainer to be able to get our plants in front of so many key buyers and at minimal cost, so we booked our plot straight away.”

Helen Boers, sales director at Gardeners Kitchen Nurseries: “We have always found Glee one of the most successful shows we do because we can get to speak to the business owners and senior managers as well as the plant buyers from right across the country. The Green Heart concept seems just brilliant to us and being able to show off our production in good light conditions to so many key retailers means we did not need to do too much thinking before we booked up. The low cost, with so much done for us by way of benches and signage, will make this a very cost effective event for us.”

Peter Burks, general manager of Trelawney Garden Leisure: “I am a big fan of Glee and I think it is essential the industry has one big trade show that attracts as many businesses from all areas of the industry as possible. To do this it needs to have significant representation from all key areas of business, and plants is the number one. Whilst I also believe it is quite right that each sector has its own show, e.g. plants, furniture, pets etc, the overriding need for all is one major show covering everything. So I think pulling a good selection of growers back to Glee is a great move and it will certainly make it a much more enjoyable show for me as a result.”