Ownership of New Hopetoun Gardens transfers to employees

Directors, Lesley Watson and Dougal Philip have transferred New Hopetoun Gardens to an Employee Ownership Trust. The moves secures the future of the business they have build over 40 years. Read more - members only

Lesley Watson and Dougal Philip with Morag Macrae

Wyevale sells 11 more centres 

Wyevale Garden Centres is selling 11 more garden centres in four separate transactions to British Garden Centres, The Plant Area Limited (t/a Clandon Park Garden Centre), Coolings Garden Centres and Maidenhead Aquatics. Read more - members only

Spate of thefts hits garden centres

Garden centres in West Yorkshire, the Midlands and Northumberland have been hit by a series of break ins, where goods are being stolen to order. Read more - members only

Photo: Northumbria Police

Mill Race Garden Centre and website is for sale

Swallow Aquatics has announced it is to sell Mill Race Garden Centre and website as a going concern with Swallow remaining as a tenant. Read more - members only

Syngenta acquires of Varinova’s cyclamen business

The acquisition of Varinova’s cyclamen business is a strategic move for Syngenta Flowers that aims for a stronger position in the cyclamen market. Read more - members only

Contemporary sculptures mark opening of new Wisley garden centre

A 5m high Giants Chair dominates a sculpture display at RHS Wisley Gardens that coincides with next week’s opening of its new garden centre, restaurant and Welcome building. Read more - members only

Locking Piece by Henry Moore

B&M reports strong demand for garden and outdoor products

Annual results published by B&M see an opportunity to grow market share in gardening, outdoor products and Christmas as it targets another 45 stores for the current year. Read more - members only

Dobbies wins at Chelsea as it prepares to add 31 Wyevale stores

Dobbies wins 'Best Trade Stand at Chelsea.  Its floral map highlights the 31 Wyevale Garden centres that are about to join the group in batches.  Read more - members only

Marcus Eyles

2018 was a dramatic year for Blue Diamond

“By any standards, 2018 was a dramatic year for Blue Diamond,” said chairman Simon Burke as accounts for the year show sales grew 32%.  Turnover should approach £200m within 5 years. Read more - members only

Wyevale sells another GC and calls time on Central Distribution

Wyevale Garden Centres has sold Worthing Ferring to Cobbins Nursery.  It is also to end its central distribution contract with XPO. Read more - members only

Creditors agree CVA for owner of Cotswold Outdoor

The parent company of Cotswold Outdoor, a concession holder on several of the largest garden centres, has agreed a CVA. Read more - members only

Notcutts cut ribbon on refurbished Booker

Andrew and Caroline Notcutt cut the ribbon on the refurbished Booker garden centre.  Two thirds of the groups’ centres have now been refreshed in the £40m upgrade programme. Read more - members only

Stuart Blight, Nick Burrows, The Mayor, Caroline and Andrew Notcutt and Steve Baker MP

Peter Beales Roses opens £750k development

Peter Beales Roses celebrates the opening of a new restaurant at their garden centre in Attleborough East Anglia and the launch of the Thorncroft clematis collection. Read more - members only

Martin Davies buys back Raglan from Wyevale

4 years after selling their garden centre to Wyevale, Martin and Jean Davies are to buy back Raglan Garden Centre, through Coldbrook Ventures Ltd. Read more - members only

Martin and Jean Davies

Bicester – “It seems we may have unleashed a beast”

Bicester Avenue takes off under Blue Diamond.  Commenting on close to 6-figure sales on Easter Monday, Alan Roper says, “It seems we may have unleashed a beast.” Read more - members only

For the Bathroom

Dobbies almost completes onboarding the 31

Dobbies has almost completed the purchase of the 31 Wyevale garden centres announced in May. We list the 43 Wyevale sites that remain unsold. Dobbies are said to be in discussions for more. Read more - members only

Wyevale's Blooms Worcester, that is yet to be sold

Capital takes control of Sherfield on Lodden

Capital Gardens took control of Sherfield On Loddon garden centre from Wyevale last Friday, promising the most exciting range of indoor and outdoor plants in the area. Read more - members only

Stephen Reynolds and Colin Campbell-Preston

Warren Haskins looks ahead as he celebrates 50 years in garden centres

Warren Haskins celebrates 50 years in garden centres and explains how he has secured the future for Haskins garden centres. Read more - members only

Steve, Warren, Sally, Becki and Jamie - 25 years ago,

Highfield plans further expansion

Following its 2014 developments, which proved an unmitigated success, Highfield Garden World is finalising plans for a further extension. Read more - members only

Dobbies ‘On-Boards’ 11 Wyevale garden centres

Dobbies has taken control of the first 11 of the 31 Wyevale garden centres it agreed to buy in April.  The rest will follow in weeks as Dobbies looks to buy further sites. Read more - members only

Dobbies has taken control of Andover garden centre

Notcutts Woodbridge reveals plans for restaurant transformation

Work will begin next month to build a new larger and brighter restaurant at Notcutts Woodbridge Garden Centre, as part of an ongoing redevelopment programme across the company’s 18 garden centres nationwide. Read more - open to all

An artist’s impression of the restaurant at Notcutts Woodbridge Garden Centre once redevelopment w

Wyevale sells 3 more garden centres

Wyevale has announced the sale of Hastings, Lower Dicker (Hailsham) and Sherfield-on-Loddon garden centres to two separate buyers. Read more - members only

Lower Dicker

Wyevale calms fears of administration

Wyevale yesterday calmed supplier fears that the sale process could end in administration for the rump of garden centres. Read more - members only

Kingfisher unwraps GoodHome, its future for DIY

CEO, Veronique Laury has unveiled GoodHome, the project driven future for B&Q in the UK as part of the unified, digital Kingfisher. Read more - members only

New unified outdoor range helps B&Q growth in first quarter

Kingfisher reports that first quarter sales of unified ranges continue to grow ahead of non-unified ranges. The new outdoor range was rolled out to all markets with a global marketing campaign. Read more - members only

Denia ‘unique’ outdoor furniture range

Klondyke resilient despite Stokesley fire

Accounts just published show how the Beast from the East and the fire at Stokesley hampered Klondyke Group sales in an otherwise successful trading year. Read more - members only

MBO at GroWell

The management of GroWell, a leading online supplier of hydroponics equipment with stores around the country, have completed a management buy-out. Read more - members only

Dobbies releases capital from Northumberland garden centre

Dobbies has sold one of the Wyevale garden centres it bought last year to LXI, a property investment company, in a 30-year sale and lease back deal. Read more - members only

Plans submitted for two 2 massive garden centres

Plans have been submitted for an 8500 sq m. Blue Diamond garden centre on the Elveden Estate, while further plans have been submitted for the 53 acre outlet village and garden centre near Tewkesbury. Read more - members only

Tewkesbury visuals

Wyevale changes Garden Club (UPDATED)

Wyevale is changing its Garden Club from a points based reward scheme to instant rewards with 5% discount at the till or online. It will also stop selling its own branded gift cards. Read more - members only

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