Online app joins support for horticultural industry

Candide, the gardening app is offering its sophisticated technical resources to help independent nurseries, growers and gardens to promote their services, free of charge, to a wider audience.

With an online community of over 300,000, Candide is kick-starting their campaign of support by joining forces with designer, broadcaster and passionate plantsman, Chris Beardshaw, (pictured banner above) who has worked in the industry for over 30 years. Chris has created a video message to plant and garden enthusiasts which highlights how they can support the UK’s growers and nurseries. You can view his message here.

With many horticultural events cancelled and now more rigid closures of parks, gardens and nurseries, the industry finds itself facing a time of great uncertainty. Commenting, Candide’s CEO Andrew Philbrick said that these are obviously extremely challenging times for the horticulture industry and Candide want to do everything they can to keep the season blooming: “We are delighted to offer free support, video advice and creative solutions to help nurseries, private gardens and garden event organisers through this difficult time.”

In a recent survey carried out by Candide it was found that 80% of growers sell their plants at horticultural events and only 40% of those surveyed currently sell online. Candide are supporting these small businesses in taking their sales online, given the UK government is allowing online retailers to continue with deliveries during the Coronavirus lockdown.

Free listing on app

They are currently listing every UK nursery in their app, for free, connecting their 300,000 users directly with those nurseries who have websites and have also opened a free Marketplace enabling nurseries to sell directly to gardeners through the app.

Rosemary Hardy of Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants has created a video guide for nurseries on practical packaging for growers posting plants, using sustainable methods to avoid damage in transportation.

Candide are also supporting gardens which rely on visitors by offering virtual video garden tours which people can enjoy from the isolation of their home. All garden owners need is a smartphone and Candide’s team will send out free equipment, how-to guides and video tutorials to help support and capture footage.

They have also set up an online meeting and event space to allow gardens to run workshops and talks from home.

In these unprecedented times we need to come together as an industry and help each other as much as possible and the initiatives shown by Candide are just what we need at this critical time.

Picture credits: Chris Beardshaw, banner ©Reckless Gardener credit Emma Campbell.