Palm sales soar along with the temperatures
When holidaying abroad, many people enjoy the tropical ambience so much they want to bring it home with them – by planting swaying palm trees in their gardens.
According to Dobbies, a leading UK garden centre chain, sales of these tropical plants have soared to 41,000, growing by 68% over the last year. Ranging in size from 18 inches to fully grown 8-footers, varieties of palms have now become hot favourites with customers at all 25 outlets.
Dobbies’ Plant Buyer Andy Smith also reports a sale surge of other Caribbean and Mediterranean plants and trees, especially by people who may not be able to travel abroad this summer yet still want to enjoy the fringe benefits. “They are really craving what they would see if they looked up from their hotel balcony in the South of France or St Lucia” he explained, adding that the recent heatwaves have also been a factor in encouraging people to buy exotic plants such as bourgainvillea, geraniums and every kind of palm tree such as cordyline, trachycarpus and phoenix palms.
Also, mild weather during recent winters has allowed palm trees to survive in Britain, where many more people have opted to remain for the holiday season. Another reason for the palm tree’s popularity may be the recent downturn in overseas holidays. National statistics show that fewer people have travelled abroad recently than any time over the last 40 years, possibly due to the lowering value of the pound against the dollar and euro. This has resulted in higher prices abroad for food, travel and sundries, and a recent survey showed that, at 58.6m, Britons’ visits abroad in 2009 were down by 10.4m from the previous year.
However, by recreating the balmy sway of palm trees here in Blighty, many people can enjoy at least a touch of tropical paradise!
If you are travelling abroad, how about using LCS Parkings Meet and Greet Leeds Airport service.