Bell Plantation joins Prosper buying group

Bell Plantation Garden Centre, on Watling Street near Towcester, has joined the Prosper Garden Centre Buying Group, increasing its membership to ten independent, family-owned businesses. Read more - members only

Bell Plantation garden centre, near Towcester

Tickets now on sale for Poinsettia Conference 2026

Tickets are now on sale for the British Poinsettia Growers Group Conference, taking place on Thursday 19 November 2026 at its new venue, Volmary, Wisbech St Mary. Read more - open to all

LOHAS Fertiliser wins 2026 GIMA Innovators Seed Corn Fund with Steep & Sprout™

Steep & Sprout™, an innovative Shropshire-made plant tea from LOHAS Fertiliser Ltd, has been named the winner of the 2026 GIMA Innovators Seed Corn Fund, securing a package of funding and industry support designed to accelerate the product’s journey into the garden retail market. Read more - open to all

Pleydell Smithyman has strengthens planning team

Pleydell Smithyman has strengthened its planning team with the appointment of Ethan Giles as Planning Consultant, increasing its capacity to support clients. Read more - open to all

Kathryn Farden and Ethan Giles

Autumn Fair opens with strong retailer turnout

Autumn Fair opened at NEC Birmingham with 800+ exhibitors, new brands, product launches, expert insight and a campaign supporting 90 minutes’ free town-centre parking.

Read more - open to all

Garden sector businesses named in Government minimum wage breach list

Leading garden retailers have been named in the Government’s latest National Minimum Wage enforcement round, published on 3 September 2026. Read more - members only

Two new Trustees join plant conservation charity Plant Heritage 

Professor Nicola Spence CBE and Jacob James to join Plant Heritage Board of Trustees as Jim Marshall and Emma Crawforth step down. Read more - open to all

Professor Nicola Spence CBE and Jacob James

3rd Generation family member joins Zest

Sam Morgan has joined Zest Outdoor Living and parent company P & A Group, becoming the third generation of the Morgan family to commit to the business. Read more - open to all

Sam and his father, Steve Morgan

Autumn Fair and Glee open new buying opportunities

Autumn Fair and Glee brought home, gift, fashion, garden and outdoor categories together at the NEC, creating new crossover opportunities for retailers and suppliers.

Read more - open to all

PATS 2026 set to showcase 400+ new products

PATS 2026 will showcase more than 400 new pet products, with 12 New Product Award categories judged by independent retailers at the NEC Birmingham.

Read more - open to all

New Product Showcase

Dobbies cuts losses after restructuring

Accounts for the year to February 2026 show that Dobbies remained loss-making, despite reporting “strong progress” since its restructuring. Read more - members only

Brighton garden centre after refurbishment

Planning changes could open up opportunities for Garden Centres

Favourable National Planning Policy Framework changes may encourage garden centres to revisit shelved expansion and investment plans, says Pleydell Smirthyman. Read more - members only

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