Furniture and barbecue sales soared by more than 26% in April, according to the Garden Centre Association’s Barometer of Trade.

GCA chief executive Iain Wylie put it down to the timing of the Easter holidays and good weather on Easter Monday

“The Easter holidays at the beginning of the month had the potential to boost sales as families had the time and opportunity to spend their time browsing at garden centres,” he said.

“The weather was not as kind as we would have wished on the first two days of the Easter weekend and of course centres were closed on Easter Sunday but the fantastic weather on the Monday seemed to make up for any shortfall in earlier footfall and spending.”

Outdoor leisure sales outstripped all other departments at GCA centres, where plants were up 12%, pet and aquatics departments up 7% and catering sales up 10%.

Mark Winchester, managing director of Blackbrooks Garden Centre in East Sussex, said: “April sales were positive and our footfall was up 5%. Most categories reported positive sales growth.“

The biggest category increase by far was garden furniture which was up by 56%. Landscaping, garden sundries and giftware all reported more than 20% increases.

The GCA’s Barometer of Trade reports use actual sales figures and provide an up-to-date trading position statement.