Mike Burks is soon to pass the chairmanship of the GCA to Tammy Woodhouse.  Before January's conference, he looks back at the association’s achievements through Covid and views the challenges ahead. Read more - members only

B&M like for like UK sales were down -6% in the Golden Christmas Quarter but up +14% on pre-pandemic 2019 showing a strong retention of new customers.  Staff will receive a bonus. Read more - members only

Dobbies has signed up with Gridserve to install EV chargers at 30 stores.  Each will contain up to 12 high power EV charge points. Read more - members only

STIHL GB reveals plans to build a new headquarters and state-of-the-art warehouse facility near its current premises in Camberley, Surrey. Read more - members only

DJ Turfcare’s trading partner Viano confirms an investment of €6million to support business growth. These investments will enable DJ Turfcare to continue to deliver market leading solutions and outstanding customer service levels throughout 2022 and beyond. Read more - open to all

Dobbies Garden Centres suffered an -8% fall in sales due to Covid, leading to a reduced pre-tax loss of £-18.3m.  The directors are confident of refinancing its £225m its term loan by 2023. Read more - members only

Results recently published on Gardenforum show winners and losers.  Companies where performance improved include Decco, Capital Gardens, Doff Portland and Longacres Garden Centre. Read more - members only

Garsons celebrates 150 years and continues to evolve.  It is now run by the fourth and fifth generation of the family. Read more - members only

Dobbies sets opening date for a 110,000 sq ft. store in Northern Ireland, at The Junction Retail and Leisure Park. This will be its second in the province. Read more - members only

Cherry Lane Garden Centres, owned by QD Stores, has worked remotely, ordered earlier, juggled shipping lines and bought more from UK and Europe for Christmas. Read more - members only

Tates of Sussex has revealed plans to develop the smallest of its 4 garden centres, Mayberry on the Old Shoreham Road, Portslade. Read more - members only

Deco-Pak directors Mike Hall and Rod Slater have denied a charge of manslaughter by gross negligence following the death of an employee in 2017. Read more - members only

Dobbies Garden Centres continues investment in little dobbies as it opens the third in London, at Richmond on Nov 4^th. Read more - members only

As part of a wider expansion plan for all their UK based manufacturing, AMES UK will move the Woodshaw manufacturing to a new and larger facility on their Pollington site. Read more - members only

A total of 1167 new panels have been fitted as the next step in Bents’ Garden & Home aims to be over 90% self-sufficient at all times in the coming years. Read more - members only

Blue Diamond has acquired Blackdown Garden Centre near Taunton in Somerset.  This becomes their 39^th site. Read more - members only

Since the lockdown in 2020, The Bransford Webbs Plant Company has continued its nursery development plans to help meet the increased demand for UK grown nursery stock. Read more - members only

As eBay expands its focus on DIY and gardening, BHETA is to host an industry-wide webinar open to all suppliers with the online marketplace. Read more - members only

Owners are optimistic that the Council will accept plans for a new retail garden shop and environmental improvements at Hare Hatch Sheeplands. Read more - members only

Construction has begun on a new flagship Dobbies Garden Centre at Cotswolds Designer Outlet near Tewkesbury.  Read more - members only

The Country House Group, the company headed by chief executive Nicholas Marshall, that became the plant centre tenant at Lavershot Barns has left the Windlesham site suddenly.  Read more - members only

Praise from Prime Minister Boris Johnson for growers from the British Christmas Tree Growers Association as they light up Downing Street Read more - members only

Christie & Co, who built its reputation as the vendor of the Wyevale garden centres, is selling Millbrook Garden Centre near Monmouth in South Wales.  Read more - members only

A study of topsoil in the UK, commissioned by Rolawn, has revealed serious concerns about the standard of the product on sale to the public across the country. Read more - members only

B&M is well positioned to navigate a number of potential cost headwinds and inflationary pressures heading into 2022, although sales are down -9% so far this autumn. Read more - members only

After a delay of a year, plans to build houses at Millbrook’s Crowborough garden centre have been approved. Read more - members only

Highfield Garden World in Gloucestershire is on track to finalise its plant area redevelopment, complete with revolutionary opening roof, before the end of the year.  Read more - members only

Pecent results on Gardenforum show how companies fared over the first lockdown inc: Smart Garden Products, You Garden, The Barton Grange Group, Woodlodge Products, Otter Nurseries, Woodthorpe Hall and Spear & Jackson. Read more - open to all

Evergreen Garden Care has led the first seed investment round in Muddy Trowel, a UK start-up during the COVID-19 lockdow. Read more - members only

Blue Diamond has completed the purchase of Mere Park Garden Centre in Shropshire.  This could be the first of several acquisitions in the coming months. Read more - members only