GCA opens applications for 2023 Rising Stars programme

Garden Centre Association (GCA) members are being invited to nominate staff for the organisation’s 2023 Rising Stars programme sponsored by Westland Horticulture. Read more - open to all

Rising Stars finalists 2022-23

In numbers: Garden Re-Leaf 2023

24th March was Garden Re-Leaf Day and this year the event was bigger than ever!  Here we find out some key stats about the event and the incredible efforts to raise much needed funds for the Greenfingers Charity. Read more - open to all

Garden ReLeaf Day north walkers

Planters buys Brookfields following the deaths of its owners

After protracted negotiations, Planters has acquired the £4m Brookfields Garden Centre in Nottingham and has plans for substantial growth. Read more - members only

Dobbies & Blue Diamond back Radio 2’s Let it Grow

Dobbies and Blue Diamond garden centres are partnering with BBC Radio 2 for Let it Grow by donating 120,000 packets of seeds between them. Read more - members only

HTA highlights outstanding issues with NI trade

Fran Barnes, new chief executive of HTA said, “The Prime Minister’s comments on garden centres when announcing the Windsor Framework were hugely encouraging. We need the words to match the reality…” Read more - members only

New HTA chief, Fran Barnes

Countdown to the 2023 Garden Re-Leaf Sponsored Walk and Cycle Challenge

With less than a week to go, walkers and cyclists from across the garden retail sector are busy limbering up as they prepare to tackle the 2023 Garden Re-Leaf Sponsored Walk and Cycle Challenge (24th March 2023). Read more - open to all

BGC prepares for national Garden Re-Leaf fundraising extravaganza

British Garden Centres has got more than ever planned for Garden Re-Leaf Day 2023.  The family-run group is hosting several special events nationwide to raise funds. Read more - open to all

Boyd Douglas-Davies warms up for Garden Re-leaf Day

Tickets are now on sale for Party for Perennial 2023

Clear your diary and dig out your glad rags! Join friends and colleagues from across the horticulture industry on Thursday 4th May at Core Bar in the heart of the City, for an evening of fun and fundraising for Perennial.  Read more - open to all

Debbie Flowerday confirmed for the Glee Talent Store

It has been confirmed that this June (27th – 29th, NEC Birmingham) visual merchandising expert, Debbie Flowerday, will become a mentor for Glee’s all-new Talent Store - the ultimate industry showcase for emerging retailer and visual merchandising talent.  Read more - open to all

 Debbie Flowerday

Highfield Garden World plantsman prompts Choice Marketing conference fundraiser

A massive sum of £3,500 has been raised for an NHS cancer unit thanks to the generosity of suppliers and buyers at the Choice Marketing annual conference. Read more - open to all

The Greenfingers Wing Walk is back

Following in the footsteps of the 2019 wing walkers – GIMA’s Vicky Nuttall, SBM’s Lowri Walker and Evergreen’s Mark Portman – there is a new group of brave people set to take to the skies strapped to a plane, all in the name of the Greenfingers Charity! Read more - open to all

The brave Greenfingers wing walkers

Supporters out in force to tackle the 2023 London Landmarks Half Marathon

The London Landmarks Half Marathon is now just a few months away (2nd April 2023) with 11 runners from across the garden retail sector and beyond taking part on behalf of the Greenfingers Charity. Read more - open to all

Get ready for Garden Re-Leaf Day 2023!

The Greenfingers charity, organiser of Garden Re-Leaf Day, is calling on every garden centre and industry supplier in the UK to take part in the forthcoming 2023 Garden ReLeaf event (Friday March 24th) to help the charity reach its £60,000 fundraising target set for the 2023 event. Read more - open to all

Klondyke Plantathon team

Greenfingers Challenge Cup to return at GCA Conference

Garden centre and horticultural industry staff can now (January 2023) sign up for a FUNdraising event being held at the Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) annual conference (January 22 until 25, 2023). Read more - open to all

2020 Greenfingers Challenge Cup

The headlines that made 2022 unique - a round-up

2022 was dominated by the recovery from the distortions to trade caused by Covid. It was a year of acquisitions. There were some game changers and sadly we lost some leading characters. Read more - open to all

The YPHA - a game changer for young people in horticulture

Fire closes Staverton Nursery

A major fire has closed Staverton Nursery until further notice.  It broke out before the garden centre was due to open on 12th April. Read more - members only

Garden centres heading the regional news

Garden enterprises making the local news headlines include the biggest plant supermarket in the south West, a garden centre closing its doors and the theft of an 8ft gorilla. Read more - members only

Bramblecrest Charity Walk April 2023

A fifteen strong team of intrepid walkers from Bramblecrest successfully completed a very hilly and extremely muddy 370km charity walk raising just shy of £8,000. Read more - open to all

Tingley garden centre celebrates its first gardening season

Tingley garden centre is celebrating its first gardening season with a celebration launch weekend next month. Read more - open to all

Jamie Maxwell, Paul Adams and Lisa Pallant at Tingley Garden Centre

Bransford Webbs says Biologicals are the future of pest and disease control

Bransford Webbs have been using biological controls for more than 15 years. They have become a fundamental part of our integrated approach to crop protection, and we now invest seven times more annually on biological controls than all chemicals combined. Read more - open to all

Wildflower areas at Bransford Webbs

The GIMA Charity Golf Day

The 2023 GIMA Charity Golf Day will be returning to Belton Woods Hotel and Golf Course on Thursday, 8th June to play the Lakes Course.  Read more - open to all

Graf UK  - Winners 2022  GIMA Charity Golf Day

Frank P Matthews wins RHS Stanley Lord Bowl Award

FPM has won the prestigious Stanley Lord Bowl Award for our exhibit of Autumn Fruits at the Malvern Show 2022. Read more - open to all

Malvern Display

Bradford garden centre wins regional sustainability award

The team at a Bradford garden centre is celebrating after winning a regional sustainability award. Read more - open to all

Sustainability lead, Steph Bates and Head of People and Culture, Neil Barwise-Carr

Garden Re-Leaf supporters unveil plans for the big day

With a handful of weeks to go until Garden Re-Leaf Day 2023 (Friday, March 24th), supporters from across the garden retail sector (and beyond!) are busy getting ready for their day of FUNdraising. What will you be doing on Friday March 24th? Read more - open to all

MP visit to Alban Hill Nurseries

Alban Hill Nurseries in Newport Pagnell hosted a visit by local Member of Parliament Ben Everitt on Friday 3rd February to showcase the business and raise issues impacting the horticulture industry, including the peat ban and the cost of doing business. Read more - open to all

Plant a smile by doing ultra-challenges for Garden Re-Leaf 2023

Garden Re-Leaf Day is the annual FUNdraising event for Greenfingers Charity, which this year takes place on Friday 24th March 2023, to help raise vital funds for the charity whilst also kickstarting the garden retailing season. Read more - open to all

Orchard Park Plantathon

Katie Blake Garden Furniture supports Ukrainian Kids

Katie Blake raised over £2000 with a local raffle selling raffle tickets to help Ukrainian children. Read more - open to all

Topping fronts GCA campaign to raise £100k for Greenfingers

A personal plea from Guy Topping launches the GCA’s bid to raise £100,000 for Greenfingers.  Contributors will be entered into a Grand Draw of amazing prizes. Read more - open to all

Guy Topping with Sue Allen and Ian Flounders raising funds for Greenfingers at the GCA in 2020

Perrywood raises over £45k for the local community

Over the last two years, Perrywood Tiptree and Perrywood Sudbury have raised a grand total of £45,000 for local charities, schools and community projects. Read more - open to all

Perennial continues festive push for fundraising

Horticultural workers and enthusiasts have until the end of this week to order their Perennial Naked Gardening Gardeners calendar for 2023 to receive it in time for the new year. Read more - open to all

To see earlier stories - Look in the News Archive