The Met Office today issued the following warning for the southeast ‘Very heavy rain will affect many parts of Southern England during the rest of today. The public should be prepared for surface water flooding and localised river flooding, as well as very difficult driving conditions’. This comes on top of a flood warning from the Environment Agency.

Hosepipe bans remain in place for some areas

Reservoir levels are beginning to recover in the previously drought-hit areas of the southeast, but the Environment Agency has said a wetter than average winter would be needed to begin to recharge groundwater sources. South East Water, Southern Water, and Sutton and East Surrey Water said rain and river water have boosted reservoirs but hosepipe bans remain in place.

Mike Hegarty, Operations Director for Sutton and East Surrey Water, said: ‘We may be experiencing the ‘wettest drought’ in living memory but we are still in drought.’

Hozelock make the most of severe weather

So how is this dramatic weather affecting one of Britain’s favourite gardening suppliers, Hozelock? Hozelock has been developing products since 1959 that help gardeners with all aspects of plant watering and irrigation.

Hosepipe bans together with localised flooding are hardly the best conditions for increasing hosepipe sales! The company hasn’t stood still, but has introduced a number of new products to deal with these climate changes such as water-saving treatments, drip-watering systems and devices to reduce water consumption in times of drought. What’s more it has developed a range of products to store and utilize water in times of heavy rain.

AJS Labels help Hozelock to stay afloat!

AJS Labels has a very long relationship with Hozelock, supplying them with 100% of their labelling requirements. We work to provide technical solutions to some of their more challenging labelling projects, for example sourcing high tactile S8000 rubber-based adhesive to ensure barcodes stays firmly attached to the curved Hozelock pond shells, stored outside in all weathers.

We have just had a visit from Kelly Mills, Category Buyer for Hozelock. Kelly came for an annual catch up meeting and to discuss plans going forward. She also placed an order for a brand new self-adhesive label – Hozelock certainly seem to have got their act together!