We asked garden centre owners whether they are more or less optimistic about 2025, after a challenging 2024, and what steps they are taking to offset rising costs. Read more - members only

The Range has opened its first new concept stores which feature Garden Centres by Homebase. Read more - members only

Stratford Garden Centre takes over Dobbies, Stratford upon Avon, it’s the 6^th of the restructured group's sites to have new operators since Christmas. Read more - members only

The weather and rising costs contributed to a challenging year for garden centres, but an ‘OK’ Christmas means sales caught up with last year. Read more - members only

Blue Diamond has revealed that Harlestone Heath garden centre will be the first of the closed Dobbies sites that it will take over. Read more - members only

B&M displayed positive LFL growth December and the trend continued into January with strong customer response to newly launched ranges. Read more - members only

Jeremy Evans passed away on 30th November 2024, aged 65. Jeremy was Retail Director of Flowerland Garden Centres. Read more - open to all

‘Garden Centre by Homebase’ and ‘Kitchens by Homebase’ to be kept as key departments in converted Range stores, reports Steve Collinge of Insight DIY Read more - members only

Yorkshire Garden Centres Group is to operate the former Dobbies Pennine Garden Centre.  This is the first deal to be revealed for a site being closed by Dobbies. Read more - members only

Taylors Bulbs, Vitax and Hillier Nurseries have been honoured with Royal Warrants from His Majesty The King. Read more - members only

Old Railway Line Garden Centre has confirmed the construction of a new entrance and covered plant area. Work begins just after Christmas, on the 2nd of January 2025. Read more - members only

Dobbies restructuring is approved meaning the exit from 12 garden centres.  The company says this will enable Dobbies to return to sustainable profitability. Read more - members only

With suppliers awaiting the imminent news about approval of the Dobbies Restructuring Plan, BHETA organized a Meet The Buyer event with the garden centre group. Read more - members only

Barnsfold Nurseries Ltd, owned by Squire’s Garden Centres, has acquired the business and certain assets of Liss Forest Nursery Ltd. Read more - members only

Chartered surveyors Quinton Edwards is marking 35 years as the UK’s foremost expert in the sale and valuation of garden centres, horticultural nurseries and farm shops - and is forecasting huge opportunities in the sector for investors willing ‘to buy small and build big’. Read more - open to all

Mr Fothergill’s Seeds Ltd has entered a multi-year partnership with a leading international logistics and supply chain solutions provider. Read more - members only

British Garden Centres’ third acquisition in a week is Dobbies' former Gosforth site at Gosforth Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 5EP. Read more - members only

British Garden Centres has today announced the acquisition of two Dobbies Garden Centres in Gloucester and Reading, making it the UK’s largest garden centre operator by number of sites. Read more - members only

Hillier Garden Centres' Retail & Wholesale Director, Chris Francis, will be stepping down from his role in the summer of 2025. Read more - open to all

Squire’s Garden Centres announces the freehold acquisition of Dobbies Hare Hatch Garden Centre, a move that will safeguard jobs and secure the future of the site. Read more - members only

In a £1.5m investment, Hillmount, a family garden business in Northern Ireland, will open their fifth garden centre in Carrick Fergus expanding their brand from East Belfast and beyond. Read more - members only

B&Q is set to acquire five leasehold Homebase stores in the UK, expanding its network and offerings. Read more - members only

B&Q Ireland Limited has reached agreements to acquire three leasehold stores, currently trading as Homebase, in the Republic of Ireland for a total purchase price of ca. £3.2m.  Read more - members only

By Christmas 10 Dobbies garden centres will have closed.  What happens next to those centres and what about those where they planned a rent reduction? Read more - members only

Thetford Garden Centre believes it is the first garden centre in the UK to achieve the prestigious Certified B Corporation (B Corp) recognition, their commitment to doing good. Read more - members only

Construction is progressing on an ambitious new project at Perrywood, Sudbury.  The development represents a significant investment in the area and is set to become a destination garden centre. Read more - members only

Garsons Garden Centre, Esher; Castle Gardens, Sherborne; and Pughs, Wenvoe are the national winners of the Garden Centre Association annual Christmas displays competition. Read more - members only

On 29 November 2024, Scott Murray and Ian Davison of Keenan Corporate Finance Ltd were appointed as Joint Administrators of Mercer Agencies Ltd. Read more - members only

Insight DIY lists the Homebase stores that remain for sale with a deadline of 29th November for interested parties to bid. Read more - members only

Dobbies has published the closing dates for its unprofitable stores, listed for closure as part of the Restructuring Plan.  One of these Antrim will no longer close.  Read more - members only