Three mountains in 24hrs – Deco-Pak completes its Greenfingers challenge!

Wind, rain, blisters and UK holiday traffic all attempted to thwart Deco-Pak’s Three Peaks Challenge this past weekend but the team were victorious in their efforts. Read more - open to all

First winners from the GCA Inspections revealed

The Garden Centre Association, representing 200 garden centres, has revealed the first regional Garden Centres of the Year from their annual inspections. Read more - members only

Ruxley Manor

Sunflower seeds grow charity funds

Squire’s Garden Centres raise over £1,000 for 16 local charities with Sunflower Seed Initiative. Read more - open to all

GIMA Charity Golf Day 2022 – the results

Earlier this month 88 golfers enjoyed a fun filled day of golf, networking and fundraising at the 12th annual GIMA Golf Day, with the Graf UK team walking away as course victors! Read more - open to all

British Garden Centre helps the Greenfingers Charity grow

British Garden Centre became a Platinum Partner of the Greenfingers Charity in January 2022, pledging to raise at least £25,000 before the charity's 25th anniversary in 2024. Read more - open to all

Abigail Stubbs, Amy Stubbs, Linda Petrons, David Domoney

Willowbrook Garden Centre gains planning permission in Green Belt 

Willowbrook garden centre in Bromsgrove has had a planning application for a proposed development for the erection of a canopy with a retractable roof and the retention of an ancillary cafe terrace seating area approved by the Bromsgrove District County Council. Read more - open to all

For Sale: The Plant Plot Garden Centre in Lichfield

Savills, on behalf of a private client, has launched the sale of The Plant Plot Garden Centre in Lichfield, Staffordshire. Read more - open to all

Plant Pot Garden Centre

Hillier becomes Government accredited training provider 

Hillier has proudly announced that it has become a Government accredited training provider, helping to further its mission to inspire the future of horticulture. Read more - open to all

Green Light Trust and Notcutts announces Corporate Partnership

Today East Anglian based charity, Green Light Trust (GLT), and Notcutts, the UK’s leading family-owned garden and horticulture business, are delighted to announce an on-going corporate partnership. Read more - open to all

A group enjoying one of The Green Light Trust’s woodland activities.

Greenfingers opens new sensory garden at Tŷ Hafan Children’s Hospice

The 62nd Greenfingers Charity garden at Tŷ Hafan children’s hospice – one of the UK’s leading paediatric palliative care charities, offering care to children with life-limiting conditions and their families throughout Wales – has been officially opened by BBC Radio 2’s resident gardener, Terry Walton. Read more - open to all

Mackenzie & Cruickshank celebrates local award

Moray Chamber of Commerce voted Mackenzie & Cruickshank best SME business 2022. “This is a lovely award to get as it is voted on by our fellow businesses,” says Peter Wilson. Read more - open to all

Trading figures are down for March but up for the year

GCA figures show a fall in March sales, but comparisons can be misleading.  Garden Centres are in a good place says chief executive, Iain Wylie. Read more - members only

GC Customers queuing in the coffee bar

Garden centres making the news locally

A fire at Fletcher’s, a debut book by Perrywood’s HR director and planning approval for Trowell are among recent local news items about garden centres. Read more - members only

Devastating damage to a miniature railway at Fletcher's in Eccleshall

The Frustrated Gardener launches Dan Cooper Garden

A blogger at The Frustrated Gardener and former senior buyer at John Lewis launches Dan Cooper Garden on April 5th to partner the best products and with sound, expert advice. Read more - members only

Dan Cooper

MP Michael Gove hears of challenges for horticulture

North Hill Nurseries in Chobham hosted their local MP and Secretary of State for Levelling Up and Housing and Communities, Michael Gove, this week for a visit that brought to life a range of current issues being faced by horticultural businesses across the country.  Read more - open to all

Poundbury Gardens donates gardening supplies

Poundbury Gardens near Dorchester has donated 30 plant pots, peat-free soil, fertiliser, bamboo sticks and two watering cans to Dorset County Hospital’s Kingfisher Ward, which is growing its own sunflowers to tie in with this year’s Dorset Sunflower Trail at Maiden Castle Farm. Read more - open to all

BBC’s Adam Frosts join Garden Connect 20th anniversary dinner

After the first day of GLEE in Birmingham, Garden Connect celebrated its 20th anniversary at the Genting Hotel. Adam Frost, BBC Gardeners World presenter and 7-time winner of the gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show, joined the dinner to talk about his life in gardening. Read more - open to all

Squire’s turns plastic bag charge into children’s charity cash

Squire’s Garden Centre has donated £3,700 to Greenfingers, a charity which aims to give children in hospices across the country magical gardens, in the most difficult of circumstances.  Read more - open to all

Colin Squire presenting the cheque to Linda Petrons of Greenfingers Charity.

RHS scientists record first rockrose prickly leaf beetle in the UK

The discovery of the rockrose prickly leaf beetle (Dicladispa testacea) is the first time the species has been recorded in Britain. It was identified from adult beetles on its name-sake plant - the rockrose (Cistus) - in a garden in Surrey. Read more - open to all

Rockrose prickly leaf beetles (Dicladispa testacea)

The Gardens Group raises more than £3,500 for charity

Castle Gardens in Sherborne, Brimsmore Gardens in Yeovil and Poundbury Gardens near Dorchester have collectively raised £3,676 for the British Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal since April. Read more - open to all

Fiskars creates bee-friendly garden to mark World Bee Day 2022

Fiskars, one of the UK’s leading gardening tool suppliers, has teamed up with several green fingered influencers to support the vital bee population as part of its Urban Gardening project. Read more - open to all

Studley Grange Garden Centre continues its development

The new owner of the former Wyevale near Swindon, Studley Grange Garden Centre, working with Malcolm Scott Consultants, has planning permission to expand. Read more - members only

Green-tech takes time out to get involved in Mental Health Awareness Week

Landscape supplier Green-tech is a keen supporter of recognising Mental Health and has embraced Mental Health Awareness Week with a series of planned down-time events. Read more - open to all

Garden centres making news this week

Recent local headlines include a garden centre worker 'sacked in row over pink hair', the fight to save Leighton Buzzard Garden Centre, Frosts staff walking 26m in their bras for cancer and a new garden centre. Read more - open to all

Frosts team taking part in The Moonwalk London on May 14.

Labour shadow minister visits Whartons

The HTA invited opposition Minister Daniel Zeichner to Whartons Garden Roses in Norfolk to see their business and highlight several challenges facing the industry Read more - members only

 Daniel Zeichner MP (centre) with Paul Wharton

Garden centre targeted as part of £45,000 fraud

News from around the country includes a garden centre targeted as part of £45,000 fraud, Bloom & Wild’s sustainable scheme to sell tired plants and a garden centre protest by Extinction Rebellion. Read more - members only

Bloom & Wild TLC Plant Kit

Landscape architect students take a tour of Wyevale Nurseries

One of the UK’s leading commercial nurseries recently played host to 60 landscape architect students from the University of Gloucestershire. Read more - open to all

Students from the University of Gloucestershire during the guided tour of Wyevale Nurseries.

Maze expands logistical operations and opens its third distribution centre

Maze, the outdoor furniture creator, has opened a new distribution centre in Peterlee. The 90,000 sq. ft space is the brand’s third distribution hub, and will act as a superb support to local communities and infrastructure. Read more - open to all

The Maze Distribution centre management team

Heavy Plant Crossing

British Garden Centres have had such a successful couple of months that Heavy Plant Crossing signs have been added in front of all centres, as people are leaving with truckloads of plants. Read more - open to all

Entry to the GIMA Awards now open!

After a successful return in 2021, GIMA has confirmed that its annual awards evening will be returning later this year, bringing with it a host of leading award categories, a celebrity host and a glittering night of networking. Entry to this year’s awards is now open at www.gima.org.uk. Read more - open to all

GIMA Awards 2021

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