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JCB is getting into the festive spirit with the launch of its annual toy appeal to bring Christmas cheer to children. The JCB Christmas Toy Appeal got under way with the setting up of 14 special collection points at the company’s factories in Staffordshire, Derbyshire, and Wrexham where employees can donate new and unused toys and gifts. The appeal culminates on Thursday, November 30th, when the gifts will be handed over to three charities: the NSPCC, the Stoke-on-Trent Hubb Foundation and Wrexham-based Yellow and Blue. At JCB’s World HQ in Rocester, a special JCB Christmas digger collection point has been set up in the reception area so employees - and members of the public - can drop off their festive donations. Employees at JCB’s other factories in Uttoxeter, Cheadle, Hixon, Foston and Wrexham are supporting the appeal and organisers are aiming to top last year’s donation of 1,000 gifts across the company. JCB Group HR Director Max Jeffery said: “The JCB Christmas Toy Appeal is a real team effort which will make a huge difference to children in the communities in which we live and work. Our appeal last year was a resounding success with more than 1,000 gifts donated by employees across all our UK sites.” JCB apprentices Abbie Graham, 22, of Uttoxeter, Ioan Evans, 21, of Rocester, Lisa Gamble, 22, of Stone, and Luke Zona, 21, of Ashbourne, are helping to co-ordinate the appeal. Ioan said: “It is a real privilege to help organise this event for such a great cause. The gifts are for children who may get nothing, or very little, at Christmas so every gift will truly make a difference.”

A farm shop in the Meon Valley has warned geese is off the menu for families across Hampshire this year because local farmers have not been able to source traditional British festive birds. Westlands Farm Shop near Wickham has expected turkeys orders to outstrip last year because of the shortage of geese and has urged customers to place their Christmas meat order in good time ahead of the Yuletide festivities. Local farmers have struggled to supply farm shops and supermarkets with traditional British geese this year because of the largest ever outbreak of avian flu, with more than 140 reported outbreaks in England alone. Suzi Howard, Head Butcher at Westlands Farm Shop, said they have already seen a high demand for turkeys this year because some of their customers can’t order their preferred festive bird. She added: “We’ve seen brisk trade in the shop, with turkeys being the most popular Christmas meat order this year. Because we have no geese available, it is more important than ever for customers to place their meat order early to secure their Christmas lunch centrepiece." “Despite there being a higher demand for turkeys, we’re confident we will be able to supply orders to all of our customers because we source our festive birds from a local farm on Portsdown Hill - as long as orders are placed as early as possible." “This year we’ve got a great range of meat to choose from including turkey, chicken, lamb, duck, ham, beef, pork and plenty more. But please remember to place your order sooner rather than later."

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt must do everything he can to unlock urgently needed business investment in the Autumn Statement, says Hampshire Chamber of Commerce. The county’s ‘voice of business’ believes targeted tax cuts for firms are the best way to stimulate investment and boost growth amid continuing economic stagnation and uncertainty. The call follows data from the Office for National Statistics that confirmed zero growth in gross domestic product in the third quarter of the year and a similarly constrained forecast for the coming three months. Among the factors to dent economic confidence and momentum are high interest rates, inflation, subdued consumer confidence and pressures around energy costs. Ross McNally, Hampshire Chamber Chief Executive, said: “Across many industry sectors, our members are facing significant challenges to their immediate working capital and longer-term trading activities. After three years of economic shocks, they are now having to deal with the corrosive drag of inflation, interest rates and rising energy bills." “High borrowing costs create a double whammy. It means more expensive operating costs just at the time when demand is dampened from customers feeling the squeeze too. Coupled with this, recruitment challenges persist because of labour skills shortages, so adding further to the costs of trading." “While inflation must be tamed, the Chancellor should be bold and take targeted steps to ease the tax burden on business. We call on him to extend the capital allowance scheme that allows firms to deduct the full cost of investments in IT equipment, plant and machinery from their profits, the so called ‘full expensing’ regime. Mr Hunt could extend this by a year or longer, or make it permanent. Any move in that direction would be welcome as a way to incentivise business investment." “At the same time, he could announce more help on business rate relief, take steps to tackle delays in the planning system and provide more support measures for training and recruitment, and employees’ occupational health." “For those Hampshire businesses selling into overseas markets, the government needs to champion the prospects for a globalised UK through a long-term export drive." “The Chancellor must encourage more mid-size firms to aim for the opportunities that become available in global markets. That will require a major shift in support for exporting now and in the years to come." “Another key national and regional priority is infrastructure. Business does not operate in a vacuum so the more that government can do on critical infrastructure such as transport, housing, energy, waste management, utility services and broadband, the better the trading landscape is." “We need to see a clear, long-term growth strategy from the Chancellor that tackles weak economic performance, builds climate resilience, encourages global trade and improves the overall outlook for firms." “Encouraging investment and supporting the environment that businesses operate in, is central to achieving that.”

The Corporate Recruiters Survey provides annual insights on hiring trends and skill demands, and the latest report focuses on future workplace skills employers see as growing in demand, and how current global trends are affecting hiring decisions worldwide. The report surveys leading global firms, with over half of the sample of employers coming from Fortune 500 companies. Employers who were looking to hire tech-focused graduates stated AI and Machine learning were vital competencies to have. Surpassing the demand for AI, a remarkable 80 per cent of companies are actively searching for candidates with technical expertise in Web3, blockchain, and virtual reality skills. Additionally, 75 per cent of these companies emphasise the importance of proficiency in operating cloud-based technology. Other findings in the report highlight communication, data analysis, and strategy expertise as the most essential skills for graduates according to surveyed employers. Moreover, they anticipate that these proficiencies will gain even greater significance in the future, which is characterised by increased global connectivity through even more diverse mediums than at present. As a result, multilingualism, active listening, and cross-cultural competence are also underlined by surveyed employers to become increasingly indispensable over the next five years. "We are witnessing a significant transformation in the hiring landscape, with a clear shift towards the prioritisation of cutting-edge technologies in recruitment," says Nalisha Patel, Europe Regional Director at GMAC. "As technology continues to shape the future workplace, it not only changes how we work, what skills we need to be successful, but also it impacts with who we work with too.” Indeed, in both the technology and consulting sectors, employers highlighted the significance of cross-cultural competence and multilingualism for recent graduates; while just over 50% of tech employers believe candidates are well-prepared in multilingual skills, fewer than half felt the same about cross-cultural competence. Employers in the consulting industry, on the whole, consider graduates to be sufficiently prepared in most aspects. Nevertheless, specific concerns among employers in Western Europe and the Middle East, particularly regarding cross-cultural competence and nonverbal communication skills, were underlined. In contrast, employers in the United States express a more critical stance on graduates' preparedness, particularly in essential communication skills like active listening, negotiating, and conflict resolution. Similarly, US employers also expressed lower confidence with how equipped graduates were in technology, software, and programming skills, which 62% of the sample overall found to become even more important over the next 5 years. Founded in 1953, GMAC is a non-profit organisation that serves as a global association of leading graduate business schools. For over 20 years now, The Corporate Recruiters Survey has been providing data and insights to graduate business schools and employers. This year, the report came from over 1,000 surveys conducted between January and March 2023, with 34 nationalities represented.

Despite continued pressure on costs, leading Yorkshire-based temperature-controlled food storage and distribution business Reed Boardall has put in a strong performance, seeing profits before taxation rise to £1.4m for the year ending 31 March 2023. The group, which provides storage and logistics services from its single site in Boroughbridge, Yorkshire, to many of the UK’s leading food manufacturers and retailers, achieved a £5.5m uplift in profits year-on-year. In 2021-2022, a number of adverse conditions, including Covid lockdowns, a cyber-attack and spiralling fuel and energy costs, resulted in the company sustaining a £4.1m loss. Marcus Boardall, chief executive of Reed Boardall, said: “Given global uncertainty as the Ukraine conflict continues, together with ongoing inflation, pressure on our costs has been unrelenting. In such a challenging environment, the group has once again put in a strong performance, based on its longevity, outstanding reputation in the sector and the skills of our highly trained team." “We were pleased to see labour shortages having a smaller impact last year than previously, largely due to initiatives we have undertaken to ease the industry’s recruitment issues, including our ongoing investment in training and improving working practices. By the end of the financial year, we had succeeded in training over 50 new recruits via our in-house driver academy, enabling them to become qualified HGV drivers, as well as having set up a number of administration and technician apprenticeships.” Mr Boardall continues: “Having already weathered one of the toughest years in our 30-year history, we are pleased that our latest financial results show the strength of the business as we look forward to further growth. The year ahead looks positive as we continue to prove the success of our single site strategy which enables us to provide an efficient and reliable service to our customer.” Group finance director Sarah Roberts adds: “It is great news that despite market turmoil, the business is back on track with both turnover and profits increasing. Some of the positive trends we saw included higher average store utilisation than the previous year, and the recent extension to our 168,000 pallet cold store running at very high capacity." “The group prides itself for being at the forefront of the cold storage and distribution sector and we plan to continue to innovate, for example, by seeking to further reduce our carbon consumption, water usage and waste production; and by investing in new technology and practices to drive additional operating efficiencies." “Our can-do attitude, long heritage and financial strength, put us in a strong position to continue to support some of the leading names in the UK food industry.” Based on a dedicated 55-acre site operation in Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire, Reed Boardall has grown to become one of the largest temperature-controlled food distribution businesses in the UK. With a fleet of 200 vehicles operating 24 hours a day, year-round, it delivers 12,000 pallets of frozen food daily from manufacturers across Britain, Europe and further afield to all the UK’s best-known supermarkets. It also provides blast freezing, picking and packaging services.

In an era defined by unprecedented challenges, the spotlight on sustainability has never been more crucial. As the global community grapples with climate change, resource depletion, and environmental degradation, the call for sustainable practices resonates louder than ever. Sustainability, at its core, is the conscious effort to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This multifaceted concept extends beyond environmental concerns, encompassing economic stability, social equity, and responsible governance. One of the pillars of sustainability is environmental conservation. The escalating threats of climate change and biodiversity loss necessitate urgent action. Companies and individuals alike are increasingly adopting eco-friendly practices, from embracing renewable energy sources to reducing waste and promoting circular economies. Economic sustainability is another dimension that demands attention. Businesses are recognising the long-term benefits of incorporating sustainable practices into their operations. Not only does this enhance efficiency and reduce costs, but it also caters to the growing consumer demand for ethically produced goods and services. Social sustainability involves fostering inclusive societies where everyone has access to opportunities and resources. Initiatives that prioritise fair labour practices, diversity, and community engagement contribute to the overall well-being of societies. Governments worldwide play a pivotal role in shaping sustainable policies and regulations. By incentivising environmentally friendly practices and penalising unsustainable ones, policymakers can steer societies toward a more sustainable future. Education is a key driver in fostering a culture of sustainability. As awareness grows, individuals become empowered to make informed choices that align with a sustainable lifestyle. From conscious consumption to advocating for policy changes, the collective impact of informed citizens is formidable. The urgency to address sustainability is not just a moral imperative but an economic and environmental necessity. Embracing sustainability is an investment in resilience—a commitment to building a world that can withstand the challenges of today and the uncertainties of tomorrow. As individuals, businesses, and governments unite in this endeavour, the promise of a sustainable future becomes not just a possibility but a shared responsibility.

Over 33,000 kids’ toothbrushes and 6,000 tubes of kids’ toothpaste will be donated to help combat hygiene poverty in the UK. Research by charity In Kind Direct found that 1 in 6 (17%) UK adults are living in hygiene poverty.1 Their research also found that 6% of adults say they, or someone in their household have gone without a toothbrush in the last six months because they could not afford it. In response, Tesco has been working with four of its suppliers – Unilever, Kimberley Clark, Essity and Haleon – and In Kind Direct to provide support to people who need it the most. From 23rd August to 3rd October, all four manufacturers have donated one product to In Kind Direct for every two products purchased, in-store or online by Tesco shoppers. This campaign has resulted in thousands of products being donated. In Kind Direct will distribute the donated products to their network of over 6,000 charitable organisations that are the frontline support for families within their local communities. To further support the campaign, Tesco is providing a donation of 33,000 toothbrushes and 6,000 tubes of kids’ toothpaste. Rosanne Gray, CEO at In Kind Direct, said: “Making tough choices every day between food, personal hygiene products and rent is the reality for far too many people. We are delighted to be working alongside Tesco and four brilliant manufacturers; Essity, Haleon, Kimberly Clark, and Unilever to help tackle hygiene poverty. We're looking forward to seeing the impact this partnership will have in communities across the UK.” Claire De Silva, Head of Community at Tesco, said: “It’s really important to us that we are able to support even more people in our communities to get essential items. Our work with our suppliers and In Kind Direct helps get vital support to where it is needed the most.”

Sainsbury’s is donating one million fresh meals to support families in need this winter to mark the launch of a new partnership with FareShare, the UK's biggest charity tackling food waste to support social good. More than one million meals will be supplied by two of Sainsbury’s fresh food suppliers, Greencore and Cranswick, and distributed to families and those in need through FareShare over the winter period. The donation marks the start of FareShare’s Alliance Manufacturing programme which will see Sainsbury’s and the food industry working together to utilise surplus and donated resources of any kind - food, packaging, labour and capacity - to produce more nutritious food to help people in need. The partnership is part of the new Coronation Food Project launched by His Majesty King Charles which aims to address the growing issue of food insecurity in the UK. The one million meals donation builds on Sainsbury’s existing efforts to address food poverty this Christmas, including continuing to redistribute surplus food from its stores through Neighbourly. The retailer is also aiming to raise £3 million for Comic Relief as part of its Nourish the Nation programme, with fundraising activity including donations from the sale of festive sandwiches and selected Christmas decorations, cards and wrap. Simon Roberts, Chief Executive Officer at Sainsbury’s, said: “We believe good food should be for all, but we know the reality for many communities across the UK is they need support more now than ever with access to food." “We will support as many people and families as we can who are facing the anxiety of not knowing how, or when, they’ll next put food on the table. Working together with two of our key suppliers, Cranswick and Greencore, we will donate more than a million meals this winter." “We will be extending the work we already do with Fareshare and the Felix Project in redistributing surplus food from our stores.  Working in partnership with suppliers, we will find new ways to unlock more surplus food upstream in our supply chains and in manufacturing and production that can be repurposed for people who really need it. We’re fully committed to being part of the Coronation Food Project and this important industry-wide collaboration to make a real difference, increasing access to good food for everybody.” George Wright, CEO of FareShare, said: “We are thrilled to have the King’s support for FareShare and our work to tackle the environmental damage of food waste and turn it into a social good. I'm also delighted at the incredible support from the retailers and manufacturers who have adopted our new model to tackle waste of all kinds, and they are already generating significantly more food for our charities as a result."  “This will be shared through our national network of over 8,500 charities and community groups across the UK supporting some of the most vulnerable people in society, such as after-school and breakfast clubs, homeless shelters, older people’s lunch clubs, and many more. " “At a time of so much need, we’re proud to be part of this initiative, joining forces with our partners right across the food industry, to get more good-to-eat food to people that need it.” Dalton Philips, Chief Executive Officer, Greencore, said: "Greencore has a longstanding relationship with FareShare, and this year alone, we have already donated over 1.8 million meals to people living in food poverty. We are delighted to partner with Sainsbury's, Cranswick and FareShare to provide one million additional meals over the winter, to ensure that even more people have access to healthy, nutritious food." Adam Couch, Chief Executive Officer, Cranswick, said: “We are delighted to be working with Sainsbury’s, Greencore and Fareshare to support the launch of the Coronation Food Project; collectively providing enough food to supply over one million nutritious meals this winter.  Cranswick have a long standing relationship with Fareshare, having already donated over three million servings of meat this year to those in need, and we are pleased to add further support to this important cause.” The Coronation Food Project is a visionary new initiative led by the Prince of Wales Charitable Fund and inspired by the leadership of King Charles III. It aims to unite the food industry in the pursuit of reducing all forms of waste in the food supply chain and increase the amount of surplus food that is redistributed to those in need, thereby increasing our collective environmental and social impact. Sainsbury’s is a founding member of FareShare and already works with them to redistribute depot food surplus, supporting nearly 8,500 frontline charities and community projects across the UK.

Plumpton College in Sussex has been awarded the highest National Honour in education, a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for its work in wine education and wider impact on the English and Welsh wine sector. Granted every two years by the reigning Monarch, the Prizes celebrate excellence, innovation and benefit for the wider world in Further & Higher Education. Chair of Governors Julie Dougill and Principal Jeremy Kerswell attended an event at St James’s Palace by kind permission of His Majesty the King where the prizes were officially announced by the Royal Anniversary Trust. The prize recognises the work of Plumpton College as the sole innovator and developer of industry-led training and education programmes for the English and Welsh wine industry since 1985. This progressive employer-college partnership has grown from foundation and degree programmes to an offer including a Master’s programme, industry CPD and more recently introductory-level wine academies and apprenticeships. Ground-breaking work in the late 1980’s and 1990’s helped professionalise the industry when it was fledgling and struggling to produce the quality of vintage that could compete in an international market. In 2006, a period of rapid expansion occurred due to an increasing need for economic diversification on land estates, changing weather patterns favouring grape ripening and an economic push to increase product exports whilst reducing imports. Responding to employer demand for a production process to develop a high-quality English wine, the college’s own vineyard and winery has always been at the forefront of producing internationally award-winning sparkling wines. This resultant expertise, developed amongst Plumpton College graduates, has led the way to create a real competitor to champagne and other sparkling wines. Subsequently, through continual close working with wine employers and employer representative bodies, programmes have been regularly reviewed and updated through the college’s advisory panels with industry to ensure they meet the sector’s emerging technical and business needs. Currently, over 95% of wineries and vineyards across the UK employ staff who have been trained and educated at the college. Principal Jeremy Kerswell shares: “I am delighted to accept this most prestigious award, not only on behalf of Plumpton College, but for all those who have been part of this journey, and those who continue to shape our curriculum today. It’s a story that has been 40 years in the making but is now more important than ever before. Plumpton College continues to meet the needs of the industry by providing sector-leading graduates, with the right skills for sustained growth within the UK’s wine sector and beyond through our vast alumni network.” Chair Julie Dougill shares: “We are deeply honoured Plumpton College has been announced as a recipient of the Queen’s Anniversary Prize. It is the recognition the industry deserves and a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence in wine training and education as leaders in this field.” Nicola Bates, CEO of WineGB, the UK wine industry body added: “Congratulations to Plumpton on this highly prized and special award. Plumpton has contributed significantly to the development of the UK wine industry over the last decades through training, education and knowledge – their graduates make up many of the business owners, winemakers and viticulturists who drive the work of WineGB." “As one of the fastest growing agriculture sectors in the UK today our wine industry offers an extensive and diverse range of highly skilled career opportunities. We considerably value our partnership with Plumpton to help shape the future of our member’s teams.“ Sir Damon Buffini, Chair of The Royal Anniversary Trust said: “The Queen’s Anniversary Prizes for Higher and Further Education are an integral part of our national Honours system, shining a light on the groundbreaking work taking place in universities and colleges across the UK. All 22 Prize-winners demonstrate excellence, innovation and impact, with many tackling some of the toughest problems we as a society face today. They are to be commended for reaching this pinnacle of achievement in the tertiary education sector. Congratulations!” Sam Linter, Director of Plumpton Wine Division “This is a very proud moment for all of us who are and have been involved with the development of Plumpton Wine Division. The culmination of more than 35 years as the UK’s Centre of Excellence in wine education, research and training has been the driving force to lead us to this incredible point in contributing and supporting this innovative and progressive industry.” This is the fifteenth round of the scheme. There were over 100 entries this round and just twenty-two institutions were awarded a Prize. Winners will be presented with a medal and certificate at a formal Honours ceremony in February 2024. The Queen’s Anniversary Prizes are part of the UK’s national Honours system, recognising outstanding work by UK colleges and universities which demonstrates excellence and innovation and delivers real benefit to the wider world. Open to eligible universities and colleges of Further and Higher Education in the United Kingdom, the Prizes may be awarded in any field of study. First awarded in 1994, the Prizes are granted every two years by the Sovereign on the advice of the Prime Minister following a rigorous and independent process of review carried out by The Royal Anniversary Trust, an independent charity.

Christmas is coming early for the UK’s corporate retail sector, with nearly half (49 per cent) opting to display festive-themed goods earlier this year to help their customers spread out the cost of Christmas. In fact, a quarter (25 per cent) now put up Christmas displays as early as September, with the majority (57 per cent) going up by October. A small number of retailers (1 per cent) even started putting up Christmas displays in June. This is according to data from the Barclays Business Barometer, which measures the UK corporate business environment in the hospitality and leisure, retail and manufacturing industries. Retailers are showing strong resilience in the face of a challenging economic environment, with optimism that the coming ‘critical Christmas’ period will deliver a rebound in sales compared to last year’s disappointing season. In addition to selling Christmas goods earlier, the industry expects sales will accelerate in Q4, with retailers anticipating average revenue growth of 20 per cent quarter on quarter compared to 2022. The sector’s optimism is fuelled by expectations that consumers will return to the high street, with three in five retailers (60 per cent) expecting greater footfall in stores this year, compared to online shopping. Santa’s Helpers More than four in five (82 per cent) retailers anticipate relying on a temp workforce during this festive season, with those hiring expecting to expand the size of their current workforce by more than a quarter (28 per cent) in order to meet anticipated demand. The sector’s resilience is further underscored by the fact that 23 per cent of retailers plan to hire more compared to previous Christmases. This is set to impact all demographics of workers, with 43 per cent of large retailers expecting to hire over-50s in order to meet demand. At the same time, employee welfare remains a top priority. More than half of large retailers (51 per cent) stated that they would not be opening for sales on Boxing Day, in order to give their employees an extra day off. Investing In Infrastructure With more consumers opting to do their Christmas shops in person rather than online, over two-thirds (67 per cent) of retailers have invested in better customer experiences at their stores. In addition, 64 per cent have invested in data analytics and other similar technologies in order to improve customer loyalty. Furthermore, the majority (56 per cent) have also invested in their own delivery infrastructure this year, in order to minimise any supply chain disruptions for consumers. Karen Johnson, Head of Retail and Wholesale, Barclays Corporate Banking, said: “After a not-so-festive 2022 season, and amidst widespread concern over the health of the economy, retailers have moved decisively to build resilience. Focusing on Christmas goods earlier, investing in infrastructure and expanding temporary hiring are all positive indicators that the sector is well-placed for what is a critical Christmas." “Though consumer demand has been weak in recent months as warm weather has dampened the Christmas spirit, there are early signs that customers remain committed to Christmas and this year will see strong sales for retailers, benefiting the industry and giving the UK economy a potential boost as the year draws to a close.”

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is delighted to announce that Hidden Valley Gardens, an intimate three-acre cottage style garden in Treesmill, Cornwall, has been voted overall winner in the RHS Partner Garden of the Year Competition 2023. Owners Tricia and Peter Howard have spent 24 years transforming an overgrown ‘pick your own’ into an idyllic and peaceful garden, encapsulating the ‘Feel Good’ theme of the competition. Visitors describe it as “a warm and welcoming garden” and as having “an imaginative design, incorporating flowers and vegetables, with insect and bird life taken into consideration.” The winners said: “We were quite emotional when we had the telephone call to say we won the overall 2023 Partner Garden of the Year. It is a great privilege and honour and lovely to think our visitors have loved the garden as much as we do.” Hidden Valley Gardens was selected from six regional finalists after visitors chose their favourite gardens in each of six regions. The regional winners were: Scotland: Attadale Gardens North of England and Northern Ireland: Holehird Gardens Midlands and East Anglia: Wyken Hall South East and Channel Islands: Denmans Garden South West and Wales: Hidden Valley Gardens Overseas: Brahman Hills Garden Attadale Gardens in Scotland’s Highlands offers meandering paths through water gardens and woodland, with sculptures, a herb garden, sunken garden and Japanese garden, all against the wild backdrop of the mountains and the sea loch. Overlooking Lake Windermere, Holehird Gardens comprises a walled garden with herbaceous borders and island beds, spring bulbs, autumn colours, collections of rhododendrons, hydrangeas, alpines and six National Plant Collections. Nine miles north east of Bury St Edmunds, Wyken Hall is home to a series of old-style gardens to complement the Elizabethan house. These include a knot garden, herb garden, traditional English kitchen garden, wildflower meadows, nuttery and a copper beech maze. Denmans Garden is a tranquil contemporary garden on the southern slope of the South Downs. Converted by plantswoman Joyce Robinson from a post-war market garden to an ornamental garden it features extensive gravel gardens dating to 1970. From 1980 this Grade II garden was taken over and stylized by world-renowned landscape designer John Brookes MBE who lived at Denmans until 2018. Denmans is horticulturally diverse, and comprises a diverse series of spaces connected by curving paths of gravel and mown lawn through rough grass. A new Partner Garden for 2023, South Africa’s Brahman Hills Gardens boasts a formal layout with repeating geometric motifs in circles and rectangles of hard landscaping softened and beautifully contrasted by abundant flowers and plants. Interspersed are oases of water – fountains, ponds, formal pools and the lake beside the Lake House. Helen Feary, RHS Partner Gardens Manager, said: “In this third year of the RHS Partner Garden of the Year competition, visitors have once again touched us by voting in their thousands for their favourite gardens. Their heartfelt comments, describing gardens as ‘magical’ or even ‘balm to the soul’ show just how much good a visit to a garden can do for us.” Details of the 2024 RHS Partner Garden of the Year competition, and how to vote, will be revealed next spring. There are currently 221 gardens in the RHS Partner Gardens scheme, which allows RHS Members to visit non-RHS gardens free at selected times of the year. They comprise some of the most famous gardens in the world as well as privately-owned hidden gems, and beyond the UK can be found in 9 countries across the globe, including Barbados, France, Japan, Singapore, and South Africa. To find out more about RHS Partner Gardens, visit their website here

Six months on from the Farm to Fork Summit hosted by Number 10, the NFU has called for government to deliver on its promises to back British farming by ensuring fairness in food supply chains. NFU President Minette Batters said: “Food security should always remain a top priority for any government. It is not just about sustaining farmers; it’s about safeguarding a fundamental part of our nation’s resilience and stability via a secure supply of homegrown food." “Britain’s farmers and growers have faced a perfect storm of challenges in recent months, including crippling input costs, volatile supply chains and extreme weather events, against a backdrop of changes to farm support and agricultural policy. These have all created unsustainable levels of uncertainty and low confidence across the sector." “After meeting with the new Defra Secretary of State Steve Barclay the day after his appointment this week, I pressed the need for urgent action on the vitally important sector reviews that are taking place. They must have tangible impact on the relationship with farmers and the supply chain. Currently farmers and growers bear the brunt of the risks and cost within the food supply chain and this is unsustainable for all involved." “This reality is playing out in real time with a fractured sugar supply chain – an acute example of the burden put on primary producers. Meanwhile, other sectors such as dairy, eggs and horticulture remain under pressure as Defra conducts the promised supply chain investigations in each one." “It has been six months since I sat down at the Farm to Fork summit3 with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and I appreciate the positive steps that have been made. We called for a national food security summit and a government commitment to work towards 60% self-sufficiency, both of which have happened, as well as the new agri-food attachés to help sell more British food abroad." “But I have urged the new Secretary of State to ensure Defra’s supply chain reviews within the dairy, horticulture and poultry sectors deliver much-needed improvements to the operation, fairness and transparency for all farmers and growers, so we can continue what we do best – provide high-quality, climate-friendly food for the nation.”