Tag Archives: gardening

News

Lawncare giant unveils £100m nationwide growth plan at conference

A LEADER in lawncare is preparing for take-off after unveiling a £100m growth plan.

More than 140 franchisees from branches across the UK joined GreenThumb CEO Stephen Waring, Managing Director Paul Edwards, and special guests at the St Asaph-based company’s annual franchise conference.

Held at the Concorde Conference Centre in Manchester, Mr Edwards revealed their target of doubling turnover to £100m.

Continuing their innovation of market leading products and technology – with 40% of new customers coming from word-of-mouth referrals – his and the whole leadership team’s focus is on keeping the customer experience at the heart of GreenThumb’s continued growth.

Mr Edwards said: “Our vision is to build a nation of lawn lovers, making the UK greener one lawn at a time.

“Throughout the pandemic, when we were still serving our customers, we’ve been able to lay the foundations for expansion – as so many more people realised the true benefit of their lawn and gardens – so there is scope for us to continue that trend.

“Importantly, we have researched just how pivotal their outdoor space has been to the physical and mental health of lawn lovers and that’s reflected in all our plans going forward.”

He added: “Our purpose is wellbeing, not just for customers but for our staff and franchisees, so we will continue to work in partnership to innovate and explore new products, treatments and services that will keep GreenThumb at the very pinnacle of the lawncare industry.”

Among the speakers on the day was inspirational British campaigner, fundraiser and former competitive event rider, Claire Lomas MBE.

Claire spoke of the challenges she has faced in the 15 years since she became a paraplegic, following a riding accident in 2007, and how that eventually inspired her to go on and raise tens of thousands of pounds for charities – including the Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation – even completing the London Marathon while wearing an exoskeleton ‘ReWalk’ suit.

She urged those in attendance who have set goals to reach even higher and continue to grow, adding: “The harder the struggle the more glorious the triumph.”

Finally, GreenThumb CEO Stephen Waring – who founded the company in 1986 – made his keynote, reminding all in attendance to be “hunter gatherers”, delighting the existing national customer base whilst converting the lawn lovers next door.

GreenThumb employs more than 100 staff at its Denbighshire headquarters and delivers more than three million lawn treatments every year.

For more news and information, visit www.greenthumb.co.uk or follow them on social media at @greenthumblawns. Alternatively, call 0800 0111 222.

ENDS

News

Lawncare giant key to 20-year restoration of 16th century landmark

RESPECTED landowners are working in partnership with a leading lawncare business to redevelop a stunning 500 year-old property and gardens.

John and Vicky Gardner began restoring Grade II-listed Groes Hall, near Denbigh, more than two decades ago.

The buildings were in a state of disrepair but following significant investment are edging closer to completion, leaving them to focus on land around the 16th century former manor house.

Now – with the support of St Asaph-based GreenThumb – former accountancy director John is renovating the stunning lawns he says are the “centrepiece” of the project.

“We’ve done a great deal to the house itself and have now turned our attention to the gardens and primarily the lawns,” he said.

“It has been a huge task but with the help of GreenThumb we have made a lot of progress, the lawns are looking so much better.”

John added: “When I first visited the property it was the garden I fell in love with before the house itself, the incredible plants, trees, flowers and of course these beautiful lawns.

“With any property, especially one with a history such as this, you feel like a curator in some respects, a custodian as one of many generations to have lived here, so bringing it back to its former glory gives us great joy.

“The lawn is the centrepiece of that, for my grandchildren to play on, for our family and as a place of sanctuary and peace – I could not recommend GreenThumb enough for the part they’ve played.”

GreenThumb is the market leader for lawn treatment services with 220 branches nationwide.

Founded by CEO Stephen Waring in 1986, the business employs more than 100 staff at its Denbighshire headquarters, including Alasdair Boyes, Branch Operations Manager for North Wales.

Having spent more than 30 years with the organisation, Alasdair has worked on thousands of lawns across the UK, and says this project is one of the biggest he has come across.

“When I first visited, the lawns were in a very poor condition and more than 100 years old, with a lot of weeds, moss and damage,” he said.

“In partnership we have seen a huge improvement thanks to the treatments introduced, the aeration and scarification and as John is a keen gardener and mows the lawns himself, he is able to let us know of any issues or concerns.

“I always feel a great sense of pride when I return to see a customer and the results are so positive, most importantly their expression and delight because of what it means to them.

“There is still some work to do but we are certainly moving in the right direction and the lawns will soon be at the heart of one of the most stunning landmarks in this region.”

For more news and information from GreenThumb, visit www.greenthumb.co.uk and follow them on social media at @greenthumblawns. Alternatively, call 0800 0111 222.

Customer Service, Gardens

National lawn care giant sows seeds for future growth with post-pandemic vision

A GIANT of the lawn care industry is sowing the seeds of future growth with plans to expand further post-pandemic.

GreenThumb is the market leader for lawn treatment services with 220 branches nationwide and a network turnover of more than £48million.

Founded by CEO Stephen Waring in 1986, the business employs more than 100 staff at its St Asaph headquarters and is now led by Managing Director Paul Edwards, who took the helm just months before the onset of Covid-19 in the UK.

A former lawyer, he is focused on further improving the customer experience and building on the solid foundations which have positioned GreenThumb as one of the country’s most reputable, sustainable, and responsible organisations.

“Like all industries we faced challenges over the last couple of years, but our incredible team and service operatives worked hard to ensure health and safety were paramount, and that the standards we set were as high as ever,” said Paul.

“As a result, we managed to keep growing and have invested heavily in the wellbeing of our staff and the culture of GreenThumb, which is, and will always be, about people.”

Servicing more than three million lawns every year, operatives were able to continue working when other sectors ground to a halt, and Paul says they received many letters and messages from customers, thanking them for their support and reassuring presence.

“During lockdown, a lot of more vulnerable householders were in isolation and didn’t see anyone for days or even weeks, so having our vans in their local area helped them return to some semblance of normality,” he said.

“That feedback makes us proud and spurred everyone on to look at the long-term vision of the company, where we are heading and what our priorities are.

“More GreenThumb franchisees and the unveiling of new machinery and treatments will ensure we remain at the forefront of advances in lawn care.

“When we connect our people with great products, equipment and new technology it will take the experience of our customers to a whole new level.

“That will be pivotal, as is the continued development of our service to our customers.

“Ultimately it’s about continuing to enhance and improve the customer’s end to end journey, from booking a consultation to treatment of their lawns.”

Paul, an ex-semi-professional rugby player who lives in Cheshire with wife Nicole and son Harry, added: “We have plans to streamline our commercial and scheduling processes online, including a self-service portal that will make a big difference in terms of flexibility and efficiency.

“It will be more personalised, make recommendations and be tailored to their needs; it’s not about sales it’s about striving for an even better experience, something GreenThumb is renowned for.”

A winner of countless awards, the firm is also looking to forge new partnerships over the months ahead.

“I have an ambitious plan for the business, supported by what is a strong and experienced leadership team,” said Paul.

“We are already trusted by hundreds of thousands of people across the UK and want to see that rise further, so there is an opportunity to attract new franchise partners who can see the benefits of being part of what is an established, successful working model.

“The GreenThumb culture is also a major USP, our operatives are fantastic ambassadors and have long-standing relationships with our customers, they genuinely care and that’s why we continue to grow and improve.”

He added: “The main thing for me is keeping our promises and coming from a legal background the integrity and attitude we display is crucial to our success.

“Every day is something new, we want to keep delighting our customers and that involves significant investment in the development of our products and our workforce, so they continue to see even better results.

“Lawns are living, breathing things and with proper care they will thrive; that’s our ethos for the service we provide and the people who represent GreenThumb – long may that continue.”

For more news and information from GreenThumb, visit www.greenthumb.co.uk and follow them on social media at @greenthumblawns. Alternatively, call 0800 0111 222.

News

Pollination experts create a buzz in farming with Dyson Farming installations

AgriSound, a company specialising in insect conservation and pollination, has installed a number of its innovative listening devices at Dyson Farming’s Carrington site in the UK.

The biodiversity experts, who are based in York, support the conservation of bees and other insects through the use of specially developed devices which combine acoustic technology and environmental sensors to monitor bee and other pollinator populations remotely through an app available on any smart device.

These innovative, low cost monitoring systems have been developed by scientists to interpret nature’s noises to help maintain and maximise pollination, necessary for the survival of future pollinators, farms, gardens and the wider planet.

AgriSound has installed a number of new trial devices on the Carrington site, which will feature in Dyson Farming’s industrial scale strawberry glass houses and across their outdoor fields as part of the farming expert’s own biodiversity objectives.

As part of the trial, AgriSound will be working closely with Dyson Farming over the next few weeks to monitor the presence of bees and other pollinators on their site, with the view of expanding operations moving forward.

This is another significant step forward in AgriSound’s activity, widening their influence in the UK having recently completed the installation of a number of devices in Spain as part of a wide-ranging project with Innocent Drinks.

Edward Ford, Technical Agronomist of Dyson Farming, said: “As soon as we spoke to the team at Agrisound we were impressed by their passion for tackling the challenges of biodiversity and by their innovative methods of achieving this, it very much aligns with our ethos.

“We see farming as an investment back into the world’s natural assets and advanced methods of agriculture is the key to a sustainable future. These innovative devices installed at Carrington will act as a valuable tool for us to learn about the health of the environment in our greenhouses and fields for pollination, which remains a vital cog in helping our ecosystem thrive. We also look forward to contributing to the future development of this technology”.

Casey Woodward, Founder & CEO of AgriSound, said: “It’s terrific to be able to partner with Dyson Farming and trial our devices on one of their sites. Dyson Farming shares our passion for promoting the merits of the natural environment and implementing the monitoring technology will help us gain a good understanding of the health of pollinators on such big commercial landscapes.

“I have no doubt that this will be hugely beneficial in helping us understand the optimal setting for pollination in a farming environment, which, in turn, will play a big part in our wider efforts to protect our declining insect population and boost biodiversity.

“This is another exciting project we’re a part of and we’re looking forward to seeing the results and increasing awareness of the wider challenges facing biodiversity around the world.”

For more information on AgriSound’s products and how they can help you boost your biodiversity efforts, visit: https://www.AgriSound.io/

News

Innovative horticultural products set to boost UK biodiversity efforts

The UK’s first ever range of self-contained, integrated eco-systems and associated products have launched to help boost biodiversity and conservation across the country.

The range of landmark habitats has been created by BioScapes®, a new business under the Rolawn Group, one of the country’s longest established and leading suppliers of topsoil and turf in a bid to become a leading voice in finding solutions for the challenges facing biodiversity in the UK and around the world.

BioScapes® has launched with two different products within the range, the BioCube® and NatureArk®. The products will help to directly offset the negative impact of biodiversity loss, such as by consequence of the construction of housing developments and commercial property.

With fifty years’ worth of experience in innovation in the field and the help of expert ecologists to call on, BioScapes® has conducted extensive research and made significant investments over the course of four years to produce this range of products that responds to new targets set by Government within the Environment Bill from the 2019 Spring Statement.

The Chancellor indicated it will be mandatory that new English planning developments will be required to demonstrate a 10% increase in biodiversity on or near development sites and deliver a ‘Biodiversity Net Gain’ with the legislation set to officially come into effect in 2023.

Globally, investors have committed £3.6bn to nature restoration and conservation as part of the 30by30 initiative, which aims to protect 30% of the planet’s land and water by 20301.

The BioScapes® products are suitable for installation in both commercial and residential environments such as, private gardens, new housing developments, local authority projects, roof gardens, commercial sites, retail parks, orchards and general landscaping schemes.

The BioCube® provides a combination of wet and dry habitats, supporting process of rewilding through the development of ecosystems which encourage small mammals, amphibians, insects, invertebrate and plants to thrive.

It has been launched alongside the NatureArk®, which delivers a similar suite of benefits, and has been specifically developed for implementation in smaller community environments, such as schools, as well as commercial construction projects. The BioCube® is priced at £2,950 and the NatureArk® at £399.95 and have already been successfully implemented by Believe Housing Association, Durham, major housebuilders Persimmon and Taylor Wimpey, as well as six primary schools in Yorkshire and northeast England.

Terry Smithson, biodiversity manager and expert ecologist at BioScapes®, said: “Biodiversity is vital to our future and is the fundamental contributor to processes such as pollinating our food, providing clean water and filtering the air we breathe. We upset these systems at our peril.

“The loss of woodland cover, and the destruction of peatlands and saltmarshes could render our homes and businesses more vulnerable to flooding.

“But no matter how much space you have, you can always make space for wildlife, and the BioCube® provides the perfect solution in this respect by creating a self-contained area, which can be used in a range of environments, and that will support wildlife.

“We recognise that developers, architects, business owners and other key decision makers acknowledge the importance of biodiversity, but that many struggle to implement a practical solution – and particularly this is what has led to the creation of the BioScapes® products.”

BioScapes® chairman and managing director, Paul Dawson added: “There is no doubt that the natural habitats of the planet are under threat like never before, which makes it more important than ever to educate our stakeholders and the public on the importance of biodiversity and making a positive impact.”

“We believe that this innovation will offer housing developers, property planners, builders’ merchants and others a simple, self-contained solution to make a tangible, positive impact on biodiversity, the likes of which we’ve not seen before.”

For more details of the range of biodiversity products visit: https://bioscapes.co.uk/

 

News, Retail, Sales

Record demand for rattan furniture

A Leicester-based garden centre has seen online enquiries and sales for its rattan garden furniture double during the past twelve months. Sapcote Garden Centre reported the record figures as part of an overall upward trend, with visitors to its website reaching an all-time high during the period.

Rattan furniture is made from a man-made fibre and doesn’t require upkeep or maintenance, meaning it can be left outside and uncovered all year round. The synthetic rattan is wrapped around a rust-proof aluminium frame, making it ideal for the UK climate.

The centre has suggested that the increase in interest may be linked to the pandemic.

A spokesperson from Sapcote Garden Centre said: “Our website has never been busier and rattan furniture is proving particularly popular. Comfy outdoor garden furniture was a must-have when we couldn’t mix indoors, and the added bonus with rattan is its longevity. It lasts incredibly well, with next to no maintenance required, meaning it will be in prime condition to use in the future when we can socialise with friends and family once more.”

The centre has a range of rattan furniture available including sofa sets, hanging chairs and day beds.

For more information go to www.gardencentreshopping.co.uk