Date set for 2011 Garden Retail Awards

The date and venue have been confirmed for the Garden Retail Awards 2011.

Run by Horticulture Week sister magazine Garden Retail, the awards, which will take place on the evening of 31 October London's prestigious Grosvenor House, recognise excellence across the UK garden industry.

The latest sponsors to sign up for the awards include Bayer Garden and Landgard UK. Bayer Garden marketing head Steve Mead said: "I am delighted to be sponsoring the Best Environmental Policy category within the Garden Retail Awards this year. The decision was not a particularly difficult one having attended the awards ceremony for the first time in 2010 and witnessing at first hand the depth of experience within the hall that represented the garden industry.

"I was impressed particularly by the high attendance of key retailers. This event was indeed a really important date in their diary.

Landgard UK managing director Richard Egerton said: "With regard to sponsorship of the Best New Plant, Landgard considers that our future growth will be driven by the product range and service that we offer our customers.

"The innovation and promotion of new plants is key to all these areas and any opportunity for growers to highlight the developments made is truly worthwhile."

Last year's winners included Scotsdale, Sidmouth and Whitehall Garden Centres as well as Dobbies and the Garden Centre Group.

Source : Matthew Appleby - Horticulture Week