Free sustainability webinar for members Our members will hear from a trio of sustainability experts during a free webinar this month (June 2024). We’re hosting the online event on June 26 from 3-4.30pm and it will cover water conservation and how to navigate environmental policies and initiatives in what is potentially a ‘green minefield’. Expert…
We’ve launched a hunt for a new inspector We’re launching a search for a new inspector to help our members retain the very highest of standards in service and expertise (May 2024). This follows an announcement earlier in the year from our inspector Gordon Emslie that he is retiring from his GCA role. Big shoes…
Clothing & catering style it out and serve up good BoT figures in April Our Barometer of Trade (BoT) for April is out today (May 21, 2024) and shows clothing and catering leading the way when compared to the same month last year. There was also a positive, 3.77%, year-to-date variance, but 10 of our…
Plants to stimulate the senses We’re talking about stimulating the senses once again today, but this time we’re concentrating on incorporating plants that are great for sight, sound and taste. If you missed our previous blog on this, please click here. Plants for sight The sight of a colourful garden is something to behold and…
Sense and sensibility Spending time in the garden has proven physical health benefits and can help reduce stress too. Gardens can be visually stimulating thanks to all the different colours but there are lots of plants you can introduce to help your garden reach all of the five senses. Sensory gardens have a great therapeutic…
If you’re still looking for a May garden job… Then here are a few more suggestions from our CEO, horticulturalist, Peter Burks. Harvest rhubarb, unless you had an early variety and have already been eating crumbles and pies! Make sure any tall plants are given supports Ensure climbing plants are tied down as they will…
Time to clip… May is definitely a month for plenty of garden activity, so fingers crossed for good weather, grab your tools and let’s get out there: Prune After flowering cut back any early flowering shrubs such as forsythia and flowering currant At the end of May trim box for shape and keep an eye…
Jobs to do in the garden in May As the trees continue to blossom and the garden becomes more colourful, May is a month when everything really seems to come to life. Insects will begin to look for flowers and early butterflies will add some more colour. Hopefully, the sunny days will give you time…
Hedgehog Awareness Week The British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) is hosting its annual Hedgehog Awareness Week from May 5-11 this year to highlight the problems hedgehogs face and how we can help them. This year the charity is asking people to welcome wildlife by creating space for it in their own gardens or green spaces…
Our Garden Retail Online Workshops (GROW) e-Learning platform was presented with a ‘Highly Commended’ at the recent Totara Awards (April 2024). GROW received the accolade in the ‘Best Extended Enterprise Solution’ category and was given a special mention during the awards ceremony too. ‘Extremely proud’ GROW’s Instructional Designer, Antony Snow says: “These awards recognise the…