Hereford-based Wyevale Nurseries has reported a 15% increase in amenity sales this year, with a rise in demand for trees, hedging transplants, container-grown hedging and specimen shrubs.
Said sales and marketing director Adam Dunnett: "We believe this is partly due to growth in the UK holiday complex markets, new housing developments, the education sector and other areas such as residential care homes.

He said there seemed to be two distinct areas of growth: native trees and the newer ornamental cultivars, such as Betula Shaft and Sorbus Blackberry, which are a little different and are often more compact or upright than more traditional varieties.

"We have also seen a huge demand for specimen shrubs," he went on. "As a result of this we've quadrupled production in this area for 2015. We are also continuing to move towards a greater herbaceous plant offering in both the amenity and retail sectors and have moved a lot of our production to a three litre size, which has been well-received by both markets."