21.01.10
- ALAN TITCHMARSH TO B&Q IT -
Let’s Get Gardening as 36 per cent of us are set to grow our own
2009 was the year that Britons turned to their back gardens and green spaces in the face of recession; growing your own and spending more time in the garden became cool. GIY became the new DIY and this year B&Q is, with the help of Britain’s number one gardener, Alan Titchmarsh predicting that green will continue to be the new black, and together will be helping the nation to develop green fingered know how.
B&Q polled its customers to find out who they would most like to advise them on their garden. Over 88 per cent questioned said that they would trust Alan more than any other well known gardener and home improvement specialist, citing professionalism, down to earth, friendly, likeable, helpful and straightforward as key attributes of the nation’s favourite gardener.
This poll coincides with the trend that Britain is digging for victory as gardeners are more active in their gardens than two years ago and growing fruit and vegetables is on the rise, driven by a desire to grow more vegetables at home and the motivation to save money.
In a report by the Future Foundation, commissioned by the retailer last year, 36 per cent of us said that we plan to grow our own fruit and vegetables, up from 25 per cent last year. People can save over £200 a year* on their grocery bill by growing their own produce, and B&Q saw overall sales of vegetable seeds rise 30 per cent year on year in 2009, with B&Q seed kits up 225 per cent and sales of strawberry plants up 80 per cent
Grow Your Own enthusiasts don’t want to stop at growing fruit and vegetables, 17 per cent would like a chicken coop, seven per cent dream of starting a vineyard and four per cent are considering keeping pigs which has led to the retailer selling pig arcs on line this year.
Top ten Grow Your Own essentials on allotments and in vegetable plots in
the UK
1. Tomatoes 47% (percentage of plots grown in)
2. Lettuce 23%
3. Potatoes 23%
4. Strawberries 22%
5. Carrots 20%
6. Basil 19%
7. Chives 19%
8. Parsley 18%
9. Beans 14%
10. Onion 14%
Alan Titchmarsh will work with the retailer to give his expert advice to keen and novice gardeners in a campaign designed to get more Brits gardening. Alan will provide regular tips and advice through in store communication materials and online at www.diy.com helping gardeners to know what to do in their gardens and when.
Alan says of the partnership, “I am passionate about getting Britain gardening – it’s a practical way of doing our bit for our own health and that of the planet. My partnership with B&Q as the UK’s largest garden centre means that we have the opportunity together to reach as many people as possible and get everyone – young and old, keen and novice having a go in their gardens.”
Euan Sutherland, CEO of B&Q and Kingfisher UK says; “We asked our customers who they trusted most for gardening advice and Alan tops all the polls. Bringing Britain’s number one gardener together with Britain’s number one garden centre gives everyone, no matter what their level of confidence in the garden, the advice, products and inspiration they need to garden for Britain.”
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