Expansion plans approved at Derwen Garden Centre
Planning permission has been granted for a new building at Derwen Garden Centre at Welshpool in Wales. Read more - members only
Expansion plans approved at Derwen Garden Centre
Planning permission has been granted for a new building at Derwen Garden Centre at Welshpool in Wales. Read more - members only
Bradford Garden Centre seeks planning permission for a second site
Directors of Tong Garden Centre have applied for planning permission to build a second site in West Yorkshire at the Acanthus Golf Centre, Tingley. Read more - members only
The Internet Gardener is to be revived
ARB & Grounds, a garden machinery business in Derby, is to bring back The Internet Gardener, the online garden furniture retailer that went into liquidation last November. Read more - members only
Half year results from Blue Diamond show great resilience
Blue Diamond has revealed half-year sales down only 5% despite all but one of its garden centres being closed for 1/3rd of the period. Profit before tax declined by only 17%. Read more - members only
Kingfisher adopts a mobile first approach for B&Q
Revealing resilient half year results, Kingfisher has accelerated e-commerce plans, with a focus on fulfilment from stores which it says are integral to delivering a seamless customer experience. Read more - members only
Blue Diamond opens online fashion shop
Blue Diamond has launched an online fashion shop. It will be followed next week by Christmas going live. Read more - members only
Primrose has been put up for sale
Online garden retailer, Primrose, has been put up for sale, reports The Times. This confirms rumours within the trade that the company was looking for a buyer. Read more - members only
Morrisons' acquisition widens range of plants
Morrisons has acquired Lansen Nursery. This, its says, will enable its garden centres to develop further, widening the range of outdoor plants. Read more - members only
Hillier Garden Centre Marlow complete their transformation
A major transformation project at Hillier Garden Centre Marlow that began just before the spring has now been completed. Read more - members only
Evergreen looks ahead to 2021
Evergreen Garden Care says demand continues to be 20%-30% up on last year, but warns about expecting growth in 2021. Read more - members only
Granary Group to re-launch Ladd’s next spring
The Granary Group are delighted with the acquisition of Ladds Garden Village as it continues to expand its garden centre portfolio. Read more - members only
Positive covid-19 test at Dobbies Ayr
Dobbies garden centre at Ayr has asked visitors to its restaurant last Friday to be vigilant after a visitor tested positive for Covid-19. Read more - open to all
Beckworth Emporium to start £2m upgrade
Beckworth Emporium, between Northampton and Wellingborough, is about to start work on a major upgrade that will lift its sales of plants and gardening. Read more - members only
Fosters of Thrybergh is to close
Fosters Garden Centre in Thrybergh, Rotheram is to close at the end of October after 40 years trading. Read more - members only
Tong adds second restaurant
Tong garden centre is to open a second 180 seat restaurant this autumn on the mezzanine of a recent extension at the Bradford site. Read more - members only
Woodthorpe Hall files accounts for BGC
The 2019 results for British Garden Centres have been filed by Woodthorpe Hall Garden Centres. This was the year the group added 41 garden centres from Wyevale and Hillview. Read more - members only
Covid-19 leads to redundancies at Haskins
The reduced capacity in restaurants and an unknown future due to Coronavirus has forced Haskins to consult with employees and call for voluntary redundancies. Read more - members only
Homebase to roll out ‘The Green Aisle’
Homebase is rolling out ‘The Green Aisle’ across its stores and online, showing a range of the most environmentally friendly and energy-efficient products all in one place. Read more - members only
John Lewis launches its ground-breaking 3D virtual Christmas
John Lewis launches its ground-breaking 3D virtual Christmas shop as garden centres report a boost in early Christmas sales and are optimistic for the season. Read more - members only
Store openings to accelerate at B&M
B&M is to accelerate UK store openings after 23% like-for-like growth in the 6 months since end of March, opening up to 45 new stores this year.
Read more - members onlyDobbies reopens 31 soft plays this month
Following updated guidance from the UK Government that soft plays may reopen in England, Dobbies Garden Centres, is reopening 31 soft plays through September. Read more - members only
Perrywood plans major new garden centre for Sudbury
Perrywood is seeking permission to expand and upgrade the Sudbury garden centre it bought from Wyevale 2 years ago, to a size similar to Tiptree. Read more - members only
Online booking for all Dobbies Xmas events
Dobbies has launched its Christmas events programme, with Santa due to arrive at all 68 stores. Safety is Dobbies’ number one priority so booking will be online. Read more - members only
Desch Plantpak acquires IPP factories
Desch Plantpak has acquired all IPP’s commercial activities. This will boost to Desch’s leading position in thermoformed and injection moulded products for the horticultural industry. Read more - members only
Steve Harper leaves The Greener Gardening Company
Steve Harper, sales and marketing director of The Greener Gardening Company (formerly Bord na Mona), left the business last week. Read more - open to all
BGC acquires vacant Thatcham GC
British Garden Centres has acquired the former Wyevale garden centre at Thatcham, which has been closed for several months. Re-opening is planned for October. Read more - members only
Which plant varieties will be hot for 2021?
Which plant varieties will be hot for 2021?... the industry has voted at the Ball Colegrave Trial Grounds at West Adderbury. Read more - open to all
Overhaul of Hay Lane Garden Centre
Landlord Tony Miller has given Wyevale’s Swindon Hay Lane a complete overhaul and renamed it Studley Grange Garden Centre. Read more - members only
Greenfingers Trading is in liquidation UPDATED
Greenfingers Trading Ltd that ran Greenfingers.com was put into liquidation on 4th August. The website however continues to trade. MD 0f M8 Group, Scott Torrens, explains what happened. Read more - members only
Handy Garden Machinery to close retail outlet
Handy completes its transformation to wholesaler as it closes its retail outlet in Swindon. Read more - members only