Wyevale Garden Centres sells remaining trading business

Wyevale Garden Centres today announces that it has sold its remaining trading business to British Garden Centres. Read more - members only

Pennells withdraws planning application after local objections

Pennells has withdrawn plans to extend Four Seasons Garden Centre near Sleaford after objections from residents nearby. Read more - members only

Evergreen Garden Care reconnects with customers

Two years after Exponent launched Evergreen Garden Care, the new management looks to reconnect with customers and grow the overall gardening category with 3 new ranges at Glee. Read more - members only

Mark Portman

Mr Fothergill’s raises £150,000 for charities and looks for growth

At yesterday’s open day Mr Fothergill’s revealed a strong performance from Darlac and that it is ready for further acquisitions. It also launched a sweet pea for next year's celebration of the sailing of the Mayflower. Read more - members only

Tim Jeffries and Jemma Rix of Children in Need

Wyevale sells Findon but closes Rayleigh

The manager of Findon and his partner are the first management team to buy their garden centre from Wyevale.  The group has also announced the closure of Rayleigh GC without a sale. Read more - members only

Tong eyes further expansion with new sites

Sales have trebled since the current owners bought Tong garden centre. Now they have reorganised to prepare for further growth and adding new sites. Read more - members only

Left to right : Mark Farnsworth, David Stanhope, Tom Megginson, Sharon McNair, Charlie Barker

Squire’s includes nature in new play area

Squire’s has opened an environmentally friendly children’s play area at Milford garden centre as part of a major upgrade that completes next spring. Read more - members only

Ricky Bowness, manager at Squire's Milford

Founder of Keydell Nurseries dies unexpectedly

We are sorry to announce John Strange, founder of Keydell Nurseries, unexpectedly passed away at the weekend after many years in the trade. Read more - open to all

John Strange, founder of Keydell Nurseries

Blue Diamond takes another 6 Wyevale garden centres

Wyevale has announced that Blue Diamond is to take another 6 garden centres, bringing their group total to 36 sites. Read more - members only

Profit improves at Notcutts

Notcutts has improved in the year ending February 2019 with operating profit up 52.5% to £1.5m. This represents 2% of turnover which is still low but Notcutts is investing heavily in upgrading its centres. Read more - members only

Booker

No more Wyevale sites for Dobbies

Speaking at the Dobbies Christmas launch, CEO Graeme Jenkins, said that Dobbies would not be buying any more Wyevale garden centres.  But this will not be the end of their acquisitions. Read more - members only

Dreaming of Christmas

New Leaf opens the doors to its new nursery

After 5 years of development Nicky and David Higginson have unveiled the new New Leaf Plants nursery to customers. Read more - members only

Adam Frost and Nicky Higginson cut the garland held by Molly and David Higginson

The 2019 GIMA Award winners are…

The big winners at last night’s Garden Industry Manufacturer’s Awards were the rapidly growing Smart Garden and industry newcomer, Primeur, with its recycled rubber, self watering planters. Read more - members only

ierra Verde Recycled Rubber Planters

Planners turn down plans for housing on Fresh at Burcot

Planners have turned down plans that would have seen Fresh at Burcot garden centre closed and replaced with housing. Read more - members only

Choice Marketing adds 3 new garden centres

Choice Marketing has announced the addition of 3 new garden centres to the Group. This brings the total number of centres within Choice Marketing to 45 and a group retail turnover in excess of £135m. Read more - members only

Michelle de Lavis-Trafford, CEO, Choice Marketing

Stewarts invests £5m at Broomhill to entertain and inspire

Stewarts has started building a state-of-the-art agri-tech nursery, part of a £5m redevelopment at Broomhill garden centre.  It will be as much about inspiring and educating customers as it is about growing. Read more - members only

Martin Stewart surveys the groundworks for the new nursery

What is next for Dobbies? The CEO reveals his plans

Having doubled in size what is Dobbies strategy and is it financially robust? Turnover already matches Wyevale’s before the sell-off. Graeme Jenkins explains his strategy. Read more - members only

Graeme Jenkins

WGC sells Bournville GC and transfers Swindon GC

Wyevale Garden Centres have sold Bournville Garden Centre to British Garden Centres. They will also transfer ownership of Swindon Hay Lane to the landlord in September Read more - members only

Bournville Garden Centre

Hillier grows to 17 with John Browns

Hillier buys a fifth, John Browns, from Wyevale.  The group also reveals that Thatcham garden centre will close at the end of September. Read more - members only

John Browns at 3 Legged Cross

Squire’s takes control of Wyevale’s Heathlands GC

Wyevale’s Heathland garden centre has become Squire’s in Wokingham following the completion of the purchase announced last month. Read more - members only

Graham Carter (Centre Manager), Martin Breddy (MD) & Sarah Squire (Chairman)

Stax Trade Centres purchases MP Smith

Stax Trade Centres has announced the purchase of hardware and ironmongery manufacturer M.P. Smith and Co. Ltd, maker of security products under the SECURIT® brand.  It has been a supplier to Stax for many years. Read more - open to all

Mike and Gloria Popek Smith, with David Hibbert (first left) and Eddie Brady (second left) of Stax

Longacres and Maidenhead buy from Wyevale

Wyevale has announced the sale of 2 further garden centres: Springfield to Longacres and Par to Maidenhead Aquatics. This leaves 32 remaining to be sold. Read more - members only

B&M continues solid growth

A quarterly trading update from B&M shows +14% revenue growth, with 12 stores added. Seasonal products performed particularly well. Read more - members only

Wyevale announces the closure of Chichester GC

Wyevale has emailed customers to say Chichester Garden centre will close on August 4th, a little earlier than expected.  Read more - members only

Woods of Berkhamsted under closure threat

Woods of Berkhamsted, a garden centre in the Capital Gardens group, claims it is facing the threat of closure because of the predatory practices of the neighbouring Waitrose supermarket. Read more - members only

Swan Retail announces acquisition of Touchretail

Swan Retail have announced the recent acquisition of Touchretail, a provider of retail systems that will further extend the scope and range of solutions provided by Swan’s group of businesses and grows its customer base beyond 500 companies. Read more - members only

Squire’s buys Wokingham Garden Centre

Squire’s is buying its first garden centre from Wyevale, Heathlands at Wokingham. Read more - members only

Hillier Nurseries switches to contract growing

Hillier Nurseries has written to customers saying it will not accept any new orders for delivery after December 2019, from non-Hillier garden centres unless through a contract growing agreement. Read more - members only

Award for New Leaf, 4 years after it faced closure

New Leaf Plants has been named Nursery Stock Grower of the Year 2019, 4 years after it was on the verge of closure with the land being sold by the previous owner. Read more - members only

Smart Garden is “1 in a 1000”…..

Smart Garden Products has been identified as one of London Stock Exchange Group’s 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain 2019. Read more - members only

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