The continued growth in home ownership and the increased emphasis on leisure and ecology is fuelling increased demand for garden products and landscape services, Teagasc said this morning.
Mr Patrick Gleeson, Nursery Stock Adviser with Teagasc, said that the value of the garden products and landscape services sector amounted to €230m last year.
"At farm gate level, the value of Ireland's amenity sector is now over €50m," he said.
"Employment in nurseries has reached 1,200 with a further 1,500 employed in garden centres. The rapidly expanding landscaping sector now employs 4,500."
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The growth is coming largely from people in the 35-55 age bracket who tend to be cash rich and time poor.