Squire’s includes nature in new play area
Squire’s has opened an environmentally friendly children’s play area at Milford garden centre as part of a major upgrade that completes next spring. Read more - members only
Squire’s includes nature in new play area
Squire’s has opened an environmentally friendly children’s play area at Milford garden centre as part of a major upgrade that completes next spring. Read more - members only
RHS turns to citizen science to prepare for Xylella
The spittlelbug, native to the UK, is the chief carrier of Xylella in Southern Europe. The RHS is asking gardeners and nature lovers to report spittle sightings to understand how Xylella might enter and spread here. Read more - members only
New Wisley plant centre to have biggest range of unusual plants
The new Welcome building that opens next month at the RHS Wisley garden will sell more unusual and rare plants from one place than anywhere else in the UK. Read more - members only
Do the right thing and it will be right for your business
Consumers don’t trust business when it comes to the environment. The HTA sustainability Matters debate heard examples of garden companies ‘Doing the right thing’ but heard warnings of Green-wash and Green-mush. Read more - members only
US Jury finds glyphosate contributed to man’s cancer
US Jury finds glyphosate contributed to man’s cancer. Next it will decide whether Bayer (Monsanto) is liable. Also, the EU has named the four countries that will assess the future of the weedkiller within the EU. Read more - members only
2018 Hot weather brought new bugs into the RHS top 10
The southern green shield bug, pear rust and the woolly aphid were of increasing concern among gardeners calling the RHS in 2018. Read more - members only
Wyevale Nurseries phases in recyclable plant pots
One of the UK’s leading commercial nurseries is now (March, 2019) using recyclable plant pots for all future retail plants that it’s currently potting. Read more - open to all
Bragg is the new chair of the GMA
Neil Bragg from Bulrush Horticulture is the new chairman of the Growing Media Association (GMA) with Ben Malin from Godwins taking on the role of vice-chairman. Read more - open to all
Latest updates and key issues at Healthy Plants, Healthy Business conference
Plant health and biosecurity were the key topics of the day at the HTA Healthy Plants, Healthy Business conference, in association with APHA, which took place at Horticulture House in Oxfordshire on 29 January 2019. Read more - open to all
Chapel Cottage wages war on non-recyclable plastic
During 2019 and into the future Chapel Cottage Plants will be trialling a new kerbside-recyclable carry tray alongside the introduction of new one and three litre pots. Read more - open to all
UN proclaims 2020 the International Year of Plant Health
The AIPH has welcomed the UN’s proclamation that 2020 will be the International Year of Plant Health (IYPH), made by the UN General Assembly on 20th December 2018 in Rome. Read more - members only
Defra bans sale of metaldehyde in 6 months
Defra has announced that the outdoor use of metaldehyde, the active ingredient in many slug pellets, will be phased out over 18 months, with its sale for outdoor use banned from next July. Read more - members only
Met Office projects climate change for this century
The UK’s most comprehensive picture yet of how the climate could change over the next century has been launched today by Environment Secretary Michael Gove. Read more - members only
75% think the amount of plastic used in gardening is a problem
A survey by BBC Gardeners’ World magazine has revealed the overwhelming majority of gardeners think the amount of plastic used in gardening is a problem and believe it is the responsibility of manufacturers and retailers to address the issue. Read more - members only
New campaign urges consumers to buy British Christmas trees
Grown in Britain is launching a campaign to encourage UK consumers to buy more assured British grown Christmas trees, saying many retailers and consumers may be assuming they are buying fresh British grown trees, when they are not. Read more - open to all
Glee looks to a plastic-free future
Green gardening is not a fashion or a passing fad – Glee takes a look at how exhibitors at Glee are planning to reduce dependency on single-use plastics. Read more - members only
Retailers and suppliers meet to discuss responsible knife retailing
Top retailer and supplier brands attended BHETA’s workshop, to discuss its responsible knife retailing campaign. The first actions in the responsible retailing campaign will be announced within weeks. Read more - members only
The plastic pot debate
The HTA’s sustainability matters conference discussed pots. Why Taupe? Is it better to recycle, reuse or are biodegradable pots a way forward? Should there be an industry agreed policy? Read more - members only
Public urged not to bring plant pests and disease into the UK
Government asks public not to bring back any plants or seeds, flowers, fruit or vegetables to the UK Plants as they can carry pests and diseases that would destroy UK plants, trees and crops. Read more - members only
Gardeners invited on springtime slug hunt
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is calling on gardeners to help locate a beneficial garden slug that could be on the verge of extinction in the UK. Read more - members only
Hillier nursery director calls for a plant import ban
Hillier nursery director, Hossein Arshadi, says schemes to halt spread of pests and disease are inadequate and create a false sense of security. He calls for a ban on imports of host plants. Read more - members only
RHS finds new insect British type in Wisley glasshouse
What is thought to be the country’s first colony of a species of webspinners was discovered in the glasshouse at RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey last summer. Further evidence, it says, of the impact globalisation is having on our gardens. Read more - open to all
BALI calls for dialogue to manage turf shortages
BALI calls for dialogue between turf suppliers and users to manage shortages. The turf industry needs a warm, wet spring to recharge stocks. Read more - members only
Website to help fight damaging pest and diseases
The recently launched Plant Healthy website provides a self-assessment tool for business to improve their plant health practises to protect the horticultural supply chain from damaging pest and diseases. Read more - members only
Met office warns cold winter weather is on the way
Following the occasional colder snap so far this winter, The Met Office has detected signs that cold winter weather resulting from a sudden stratospheric warming is on the way for the UK.
Read more - members onlyGardenforum reviews a turbulent year for garden retail
Here’s your chance to catch up with some of the events in the retail garden sector that you may have missed. It was a turbulent year with the collapse of Gardman; around 60 garden centres changing hands or closing, Wyevale, Bunnings, Snow and drought. This is open to all. Read more - open to all
Research to counter threat of emerging rose virus
The RHS and David Austin Roses join new research to fight the emerging threat of the Rose rosette virus, which has been responsible for the destruction of entire collections in the USA and Canada. Read more - members only
Gardeners like wildlife… and wildlife lovers like gardening
It will come as no surprise to hear that gardeners and wildlife lovers go hand in hand. The latest HTA Market Information special feature on wildlife looks at the crossover in demographics and interests between keen gardeners and those who love wildlife. Read more - open to all
Are you ready for the Millennials?
The old ways of doing things won’t open new doors. Cultivating Retail heard how Millennials’ different lifestyle and technology are disrupting shopping. Read more - members only
Plastics and Green issues on agenda for Cultivating Retail
According to the latest HTA trend report (Peak Plastic? Changing consumer perspectives of plastic and recycling) 95% of consumers agree that it’s important for businesses to design products that have less plastic in. Read more - open to all