Garden Press Event Newseltter

GREEN IS THE NEW BLACK!!
As consumers move away from buying material goods and purchasing ‘stuff’ there is a strong desire to use
their disposable income to do and experience more. This is good news for the garden industry on several
different levels. Consumers are interested in doing more with their outdoor space (no matter what size)
and getting back to nature. They are also keen to learn new skills, get creative or simply just enjoy their
environment as an escape from the pressures of modern life.
Millennials are certainly instrumental in the healthy growth of the houseplant market in recent years. Not
only do the plants look good but they have the added benefit of working as individual air filtration units.
Gardens and gardening have so many health and wellbeing benefits, as outlined in the HTA’s Gardening is
Good for You campaign (which you can find out more about at the Garden Press Event).
Garden centres play a natural role as community hubs and once again this has come to the fore in recent
years as people move away from the high street. The environment of the garden centre is friendly and
inviting and attracts people for all sorts of reasons from buying plants, to visiting the cafes and restaurants,
to attending creative classes or just to meet with friends. Supporting local businesses and the community
is also a strong driver amongst consumers.
We have also seen an increase in peoples’ desire to lessen their impact on global resources – from plastic
use to growing their own. Aligned with this is the whole idea of provenance and consumer interest in
finding out where the things they buy are from. Many growers and garden centres shout about where
their products originate, especially where their plants are grown, often supplying back stories of the
growers themselves. This also links in with plant health and the biosecurity agenda which the HTA is
working hard with government and other organisations on.
Exciting times for the garden industry who are well placed to meet the needs of today’s consumers. There
are so many great stories to tell and the Garden Press Event is just the start!!
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