What to expect in 2015

Coming out of one of the wettest winters ever recorded, it was a huge surprise to everyone that 2014 was, on the whole, a good year for our industry.

No-one could have expected that after all the rain, 2014 would have been one of the nicest summers for many years. Sustained periods of warm sun coupled with long days had the desired effect of tempting people back outside to start using their gardens. With the first warmth of spring, everyone jumped at the chance to get outside and, as the heat of the summer began to build, we all started to enjoy being in the garden once again; sitting back with the newspaper and a cup of coffee on the terrace, relaxing in the sun after a long day at work, having family and friends around for a weekend barbecue and not to mention the occasional dinner party or hot-tub drink.

It's hard to imagine that this time last year the BBC gorged itself on endless reports showing the flooding over great swathes of Somerset and the Thames Valley; people's houses and businesses submerged under meters of water, livestock having to be moved to higher ground, whole areas unrecognisable from the air and you'll remember at the time, it felt like the rain would never stop.

Luckily, all the al-fresco living that we enjoyed triggered something of an upsurge in gardens being built and gardens being renovated. Customers really saw the value in spending on their gardens, they saw an immediate benefit of being able to enjoy their outside space. Furthermore, because the summer wasn't a one-week-wonder, customers have continued to spend money on their gardens over the winter with a view to maximising the summertime in 2015.

So, with the forward momentum of 2014 pushing us into 2015, let's all look forward to a busy and buoyant season this year.