Dobbies nr Tewkesbury to open early in November

Dobbies is to open its biggest garden centre in the South West early in November.  The new build at Ashchurch is next to Junction 9 of the M5 and alongside the A46. Read more - members only

Greenwood Plants named ‘Sustainable Business of the Year’

Greenwood Plants has been named ‘Sustainable Business of the Year’ at the 2022 Central South Business Awards, held at the prestigious Ageas Bowl in Southampton on 28th September. Read more - open to all

Paul Sinha, Greenwood's Melanie Asker & Ellie Coutts (Marketing Mgr), Hazel Warwick (Business South)

Peace rose raises £20,000 for Ukraine

Blue Diamond offers a big thank you to customers and staff who helped to support the relief effort in Ukraine by purchasing Peace roses. Read more - open to all

The ‘Peace’ rose

Pandemic boom ends sharply for Blue Diamond

Half year results published by Blue Diamond, show trading benefits of the pandemic ended quicker and more sharply than expected. Read more - members only

Simon Burke

Bord na Mona consults on UK closures

Irish compost supplier, Bord na Mona, which trades in the UK as The Greener Gardening Company plans to cease production at two English sites. Read more - members only

Boningale Limited launches Sustainability Plan to make growing ‘greener’

Boningale Limited has signed up to the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) ‘Sustainability Roadmap Supports pledge,’ publishing its own Sustainability Plan in response to climate and biodiversity issues. Read more - open to all

Wyevale Nurseries starts work on new water reservoir

A leading British commercial nursery has this month started work on a new reservoir to help it capture, save and recycle more water (September 2022). Read more - open to all

Steve Reed's dog, Nora inspecting the works as the new reservoir takes shape

Clearance of stock from Lowaters Nursery

Lowaters Nursery has stopped trading.  Stock from the grower at Hook Lane, Warsash, Southampton is being sold off at significant discounts on a first come first served basis.  Read more - open to all

British Garden Centres to roll out rapid EV charging

British Garden Centres has partnered Osprey Charging with to roll out rapid EV charging across its UK stores. Read more - members only

The BGC hub at Carmarthen will be similar to Osprey's 8-charger hub in Brackley

GCA Garden Centres of the Year - Scotland & N Ireland

Klondyke and Creative Gardens dominate the GCA awards following the 2022 first round of judging in Scotland and Northern Ireland.  They are now judged again to find the UK winners. Read more - members only

Klondyke Garden Wise team, Garden Centre of the Year

Monty Don's Appeal for the Soil Association

Horticulturist, farmer and writer Monty Don will be broadcasting a BBC Radio 4 Appeal on behalf of the Soil Association on Sunday 28th August. Read more - members only

 Monty Don - credit Marsha Arnold

Blue Diamond unveils National Trust inspired collection

Blue Diamond Garden Centres announces a 5 year collaboration with the National Trust that will raise a minimum of £180,000 for the charity in year 1. Read more - members only

Notcutts hails 24% turnover recovery

Notcutts delivered a strong trading performance during the year ending February 2022.  Turnover at £79.6m was up 23.8% on the prior year, when it had fallen by -15.6% from £76.1m in y/e 2020.  Read more - members only

Caroline Notcutt, Nick Burrows, Bridget McIntyre

Griffon reviews future of Ames

Griffon Corporation, the ultimate parent company of Kelkay, La Hacienda, Apta and True Temper is reviewing its operations. This might lead to a sale of some or all its businesses. Read more - members only

Celebrity opening for Rosebourne’s extension to Weyhill

David Domoney cut the ribbon to Rosebourne’s 600m2  undercover extension at Weyhill, watched by MD Carol Paris and buying director, Stuart Whalley. Read more - members only

David Domoney cuts the ribbon watched by Carol Paris and Stuart Whalley

BGC South publishes results for 33 garden centres

BGC South, one half of British Garden Centres group has published results for 2021, its first full year trading period since the garden centre acquisitions in 2019.   Read more - members only

Owners of Hare Hatch Sheeplands are seeking an investor

The owners of Hare Hatch, Sheeplands have planning permission to build one of the best located garden centres in the country.  However, they need the help of an external investor or will need to sell. Read more - members only

Tong opens Tingley Garden centre

Tong is opening the £14m Tingley Garden Centre today, 26th September, bringing the number of sites it operates in Yorkshire to 4. Read more - members only

Altnagelvin garden centre goes up for sale

One of the Derry’s largest and best loved garden centres has been put up for sale for the first time, after over four decades of ownership by the same family. Altnagelvin Garden Centre is being marketed by commercial property estate agent Ernest Wilson with an asking price of £1.25m. Read more - open to all

Post pandemic boom ends for B&Q

B&Q pulls down Kingfisher in half year results for the six months ended 31 July 2022, but remains ahead of pre-pandemic levels. Read more - members only

Five Ornamental Growers of the Year

Five winners of the first HTA Grower of the Year Awards were revealed at the HTA conference.  They include Allensmore, Ball Colegrave and Palmstead. Read more - members only

Allensmore MD, Mark Taylor with new HTA President, Alan Down

Garden centres to close as a mark of respect

Many Garden centres are to close as a mark of respect on Monday 19th September, the day of the funeral for the Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 2nd. Read more - open to all

Coolings announcement on Facebook

Increased profits show how garden companies prospered during Covid

Results from 30 companies including Klondyke, Tong, Newey, James Coles & Sons, STV, Westland, Woodlodge, EP Barrus and Hartman show how garden companies prospered during the lockdowns.   Read more - open to all

First Carrick Vets branch opens in Dobbies

Carrick Vets has now opened a state-of-the-art veterinary practice adjacent to Dobbies in Barlborough Links, Chesterfield.   Read more - members only

Dobbies, Chesterfield

New developments at Coles Nurseries 

In late July Coles Nurseries started work expanding the container tree lines at their largest site in Gaddesby. They have added in 7400m of new tree lines. Read more - members only

Hillier launches new Apprenticeships

Hillier is offering Government accredited, bespoke apprenticeships in Horticulture, Hospitality, Supply Chain Operative, Retail, Customer service, or Management. Read more - open to all

Toby Fielding

Adrian Hall Garden Centres close

A failed deal forces Adrian Hall Limited to appoint liquidators.  News broke at the end of last week, with an announcement on the garden centres' website. Read more - members only

Allensmore 50th Anniversary Celebrations 

Allensmore Nurseries will be celebrating 50 years of business on Friday 12th August with a small gathering of past and present employees to mark this very special occasion. Read more - open to all

Brian and Ruth Taylor

Hozelock's multi £m investment in expansion

Hozelock has acquired an additional manufacturing and warehouse facility at its production and distribution base in the West Midlands.  Read more - members only

Hozelock announces new CEO

Hozelock, Britain’s leading watering and plant protection expert, is pleased to announce the appointment of Simon Davies as CEO.  He had been group sales and marketing director.  Read more - open to all

Simon Davies, new Hozelock CEO

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