HARTLEY BOTANIC PREDICTS THE GREENHOUSE TRENDS SET TO BE BIG IN 2020

Historic Greenhouse and Glasshouse manufacturer Hartley Botanic has its finger on the pulse when it comes to how gardeners and homeowners are using their Greenhouses, and which designs and styles are most in vogue. The Lancashire-based manufacturer has been making its beautiful and elegant handmade, made-to-order horticultural buildings for over 80 years and offers an incomparable range. Founded in 1938, the company is one of Britain’s oldest and most trusted Greenhouse manufacturers and its entire product range is endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society.

With their unrivalled knowledge and experience, and using the expectations and feedback from their own customers, Hartley Botanic has revealed the Greenhouse and Glasshouse trends set to lead the way in 2020.

1/ CONTEMPORARY DESIGN

In 2020 we will see more Greenhouses and Glasshouses in UK gardens with a contemporary or architectural look. Greenhouse ownership is becoming far more diverse (see point 4 below) and the image of Greenhouse gardening is changing, ushering in additional, less traditional Greenhouse consumers. This is partly down to a consumer zeitgeist which has made grow your own of the moment (thanks to environmental and health concerns) but is also being driven by a more design-led approach to gardening in general. An increasing number of Greenhouse owners are seeing the value of displaying their colourful and intricate plants in structures which offer cleaner lines and larger windows. Tom Barry, Managing Director of Hartley Botanic said; “We launched our Magnum Opus Glasshouse at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, 2019, due to a marked new demand for our Modern Horticulture range which offers customers cleaner lines and concealed engineering. There is definitely a sense that the appreciation homeowners had for design inside their homes is now moving into their gardens too. Their Greenhouses may have a functional purpose but customers also have a very clear design aesthetic with contemporary and architectural styles more popular than ever.”  

2/ GRAPHITE RATHER THAN GREY

In terms of colour palette, we believe that 2020 will see a move away from Greenhouses in light grey and light stone tones, to more darker graphite shades such as Hartley Botanic’s Manganese Graphite (dark grey) and Bronze. Tom Barry said; “Heritage Greenhouse colours such as Forest Green and white will always be very popular, but for those opting for a more contemporary look, grey tones will definitely become much darker.”

3/ LARGER STRUCTURES

Over the last 3 years the average size of structures we have been selling has increased and we expect this to continue into 2020. A trend for larger Greenhouses and Glasshouses has been influenced by the fact that customers are increasingly using their Greenhouses for both horticultural requirements and other ‘lifestyle’ uses. Tom Barry said; “From our conversations with customers, the vast majority are using their Greenhouses for horticultural reasons, as you would expect – for growing edibles, raising seedlings etc. However, many customers, who are still serious gardeners, are using their Greenhouses in a more multifaceted way. We do see customers introducing ‘living’, ‘relaxation’, ‘dining’ and ‘lifestyle’ elements into their Greenhouse use. Most commonly however, we are seeing a trend for Greenhouses to be used for al fresco dining and as a space for morning and evening relaxation.”

4/ MODERN CLASSIC

In 2020, Greenhouse owners will be blending classic, nostalgic looks and styles with modern innovation. Although many Greenhouse owners love the classic look of a period Glasshouse (the Victorian range is still Hartley Botanic’s most popular) they are keen to combine this style with the latest technology to save time and reduce cleaning requirements: “We will be seeing Greenhouse structures that look like they are from the 19^th century, but which have engineering and design features firmly embedded in the 21^st. Think a classic Victorian Glasshouse with ornate finial cresting and decorative spandrels but with self-cleaning glass and automatic roof vents” said Tom Barry.

5/ DIVERSE GREENHOUSE OWNERS

The traditional ‘Percy Thrower’ Greenhouse gardener, with a focus on production, is still very much present but 2020 will see an increasingly diverse range of consumers take up Greenhouse ownership. The burgeoning Greenhouse market amongst families with young children will continue to grow, driven by concerns around air miles, food provenance and organic production – along with the educational benefit of teaching kids about food. A new type of Greenhouse owner will also continue to emerge who is driven by growing, but also by aesthetics and design. These gardeners are styling their gardens like their homes and see a Greenhouse as a perfect centrepiece to their gardens or a way to show-off their stunning plant collections. A trend for secondary ‘lifestyle’ uses will also add to the breadth of the Greenhouse consumer, as they are purchased for a whole host of reasons, in addition to traditional gardening.

6/ GREENHOUSES FOR MENTAL WELLNESS – MANY OF HARTLEY BOTANIC’S CUSTOMERS ARE FROM THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY

The benefits of getting out into nature is well-documented, but in 2020 we will see gardeners investing in Greenhouses as a way to help maximise the mental wellness potential of their gardens. This is particularly apparent amongst the growing number of medical professionals who are investing in a Hartley Botanic Greenhouse specifically for this reason, and who now make up many of their customers. Professors Fiona and Simon Carley, bought a Hartley Botanic Victorian Villa this year to help them switch off from their highly charged daily work as consultants in Ophthalmology and Emergency Medicine at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital and Royal Infirmary;  “We look to the garden very much as a way to switch off after work. It allows us to do something entirely different and, as such, is extremely therapeutic. Our new Hartley Botanic Greenhouse is providing a fantastic motivator to ensure we are drawn into the garden every day. Whether it’s our strawberries, chillies, geraniums or chrysanthemums, there is always something to do and now we can be out in all weathers. We generally have the radio on in the background and have already spent many contented hours peacefully pottering around.”

Why Hartley Botanic?

What makes Hartley Botanic Glasshouses the finest money can buy?

1/ Beauty and elegance

The incomparable range of simply beautiful and elegant structures means Hartley Botanic can create designs that are distinctive and unique. The Victorian, Heritage and Modern Glasshouse ranges mean customers don’t have to go anywhere else to find the widest range of beautifully crafted, high-quality Glasshouses.

2/ Structurally superior

Every Hartley Botanic Glasshouse is handmade in the North of England to customers’ exact requirements. They are made of the finest materials with unparalleled durability, safety and beauty. All of their sections have a structural purpose. They never take short cuts by ‘sticking’ aluminium to glass for aesthetic reasons. They are so confident of the structural integrity of their Greenhouses; they offer a Lifetime Guarantee.

3/ A reputation beyond compare

Hartley Botanic’s brand heritage and reputation has been built on trust for over 80 years. Hartley Botanic has earned an unrivalled reputation for crafting the finest Glasshouses and Greenhouses money can buy through the very highest standards of hard-won experience, craftsmanship and service.

4/ Unrivalled knowledge and expertise

With a wealth of knowledge and expertise built into every Hartley Botanic Glasshouse, generations of customers have put their trust in the hands of the manufacturer’s expert, time served, highly skilled craftsmen. Hartley Botanic creates Glasshouses of distinction from decades of knowledge and care.

5/ Exceptional delivery of service

Once an order has been handmade to customers’ personal requirements, and to Hartley Botanic’s exacting standards, the delivery and installation will be exceptional. The proud team at Hartley Botanic are there to ensure the process runs smoothly, providing customers with the information they need and keeping them up to date throughout.

All Hartley Botanic’s Greenhouses and Glasshouses are handmade, bespoke and made to order. Customers interested in purchasing a Hartley Botanic Greenhouse should visit: http://www.hartley-botanic.co.uk or call 01457 819 155 for more information.