Best 2024 garden centre Christmas displays

Garsons Garden Centre, Esher; Castle Gardens, Sherborne; and Pughs, Wenvoe are the national winners of the Garden Centre Association annual Christmas displays competition. Read more - members only

Phil McCann GCA Inspector for Christmas

Mercer Agencies appoints administrators

On 29 November 2024, Scott Murray and Ian Davison of Keenan Corporate Finance Ltd were appointed as Joint Administrators of Mercer Agencies Ltd. Read more - members only

List of Homebase Stores up for sale

Insight DIY lists the Homebase stores that remain for sale with a deadline of 29th November for interested parties to bid. Read more - members only

Dobbies publishes stores closing dates

Dobbies has published the closing dates for its unprofitable stores, listed for closure as part of the Restructuring Plan.  One of these Antrim will no longer close.  Read more - members only

Homebase to be placed into administration

It is widely reported that Homebase is to be placed into administration later today.  It is understood that The Range has agreed a pre-packaged sale of approximately 75 stores… Read more - members only

Stratford Garden Centre joins Prosper Buying Group

Stratford Garden Centre has joined a list of distinguished members (see list) of the Prosper Buying Group. Read more - members only

Sipcam and Westland top the GIMA Awards 2024

Over 400 guests watched as Sipcam retained the GIMA best product award from last year, while Westland was voted supplier of the year by GCA members. Read more - open to all

Sipcam wields the GIMA Sword of Honour

Planters acquires Pacific Nurseries

Planters has added a 5th garden centre, with the purchase of Pacific Nurseries in the West Midlands.  UPDATED Read more - members only

Staverton Nursery rises from the Flames

Staverton Nursery, near Lewes in East Sussex, has been rebuilt following a fire in April 2023 which destroyed half of their retail space, coffee shop and offices. Read more - members only

Squire's Martin Breddy sets retirement date

The Board of Directors of Squire’s Garden Centres has announced that Martin Breddy, managing director since 2016, has decided to retire next summer. Read more - open to all

Martin Breddy

Growers recognise need for automation, but how?

Popularity of HTA’s first FutureGrow Expo has demonstrated growers’ need for information and support when planning mechanisation and automation. Read more - members only

Notcutts invests in Mental Health First Aid training

On World Mental Health Day (10 October 2024), Notcutts is celebrating its commitment to wellbeing after 25 colleagues have successfully qualified as Mental Health First Aiders this year. Read more - open to all

Amy Fuller, Restaurant Manager; Ali Davis, colleague; and Stuart Blight, General Manager at Notcutts

Dobbies reveals restructuring plan

Dobbies Garden Centres has published its restructuring plan that involves the closing of 11 sites and impacts 465 colleagues.  The aim is to ensure a return to sustainable profitability.  Read more - members only

New HTA president presents HTA Awards

Will Armitage succeeds Alan Down as HTA President with Jane Lawler becoming vice president.   There are awards also for Mike Burks and Majestic Trees. Read more - members only

Mike Burks and Will Armitage

Trade rebounds for Notcutts in 2023/24

Trading has begun to rebound says Notcutts as it reveals headline figures for 2023/24, when it was voted Best Employer in the East of England in retail and hospitality. Read more - members only

Nick Burrows, Notcutts Chief Executive

BHETA’s Meet the Buyer event with Dobbies

With suppliers awaiting the imminent news about approval of the Dobbies Restructuring Plan, BHETA organized a Meet The Buyer event with the garden centre group. Read more - members only

Barnsfold and Liss Forest Nurseries merge under Squire’s

Barnsfold Nurseries Ltd, owned by Squire’s Garden Centres, has acquired the business and certain assets of Liss Forest Nursery Ltd. Read more - members only

Quinton Edwards celebrates 35 blooming years

Chartered surveyors Quinton Edwards is marking 35 years as the UK’s foremost expert in the sale and valuation of garden centres, horticultural nurseries and farm shops - and is forecasting huge opportunities in the sector for investors willing ‘to buy small and build big’. Read more - open to all

Simon Quinton Smith

Catering Group of the Year

British Garden Centres and Yorkshire Garden Centres are celebrating after winning two of the main Garden Catering categories in a national trade magazine. Read more - members only

British Garden Centres wins Group Catering Award

Mr Fothergill’s announce partnership with The Children’s Society

Mr Fothergill’s are very excited to announce our new partnership with The Children’s Society, a charity dedicated to supporting vulnerable children and young people across the UK. Read more - open to all

Willington becomes Blue Diamond’s 46th garden centre

Blue Diamond's purchase of Frosts’ Willington Garden Centre completed slightly later than expected, on 18th October.  This follows the group's acquisition of Woburn Sands in August. Read more - members only

Birdworld’s multi-million-pound redevelopment gains planning approval

Birdworld, owned by Haskins and on the same site as Forest Lodge Garde Centre, near Farnham, Surrey has been granted planning permission. Read more - members only

Blue Diamond acts to secure plant supply chain

Blue Diamond agrees strategic partnership with European Group to ensure plant supply chain keep's pace with the continued expansion.  Read more - members only

Westland awarded the Peter Wilson Cup by Choice Marketing

The supplier of the year cup has been renamed the Peter Wilson Cup, in honour of the director of Mackenzie & Cruickshank who died earlier this year.  Read more - members only

Harry Wilson presents the Peter Wilson Cup to Westland watched by Terry Maywood

December deadline for Dobbies survival plan

More information has leaked out about the proposed Dobbies restructuring plan, the garden centres involved and its timeline for approval. Read more - members only

New leadership team for Mr Fothergill’s

Following the appointment of Michael Yates as its new CEO earlier this year, Mr Fothergill’s today, announces three new executive appointments. Read more - open to all

 Michael Yates, CEO at Mr Fothergill's

Katie Blake rises from the ashes of Glencrest Seatex

Jack Whiteley, the founder of Glencrest Seatex that was put into administration last month, has launched Katie Blake Limited. Read more - members only

Profits rise at Woodthorpe Hall

Results from Woodthorpe Hall Garden Centres, half of British Garden Centres group, show a rise in sales and profit but warn of the challenges from rising costs. Read more - members only

Perrywood Garden Centres purchases Buckhatch Nursery & Garden Centre

Perrywood Garden Centres has today announced the purchase of Buckhatch Nursery & Garden Centre, located near Chelmsford in Essex. Read more - members only

Alan Bourne, Simon Bourne, Barrie Mortlake, Lynda Mortlake, Hannah Powell and Tristan Bourne.

Scandinavian acquisition for Evergreen Garden Care

Evergreen Garden Care acquires Econova’s gardening business and strengthens its presence in Scandinavia. Read more - members only

Mark Portman, Jeanette Trettan, Alan Bergin (Evergreen CFO) and Ted Linehan

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