2015 was an eventful year in the garden sector. Here is a round-up of some of the most important stories on Gardenforum throughout the year. This article is open to non-members. Read more

Big losses are all part of the plan as Smart Garden invests in rapid growth, almost doubling sales in 2 years. Read more

Thompson & Morgan has reported a 24% rise in seed sales through September to end of November 2015, compared to the same period in 2014, driven by vegetable seed sales. Read more

Local news sources report how a garden centre manager and a member of his team chased and caught a man they suspected of leaving Newbridge Nurseries with stock worth £500. Read more

Scotts Miracle-Gro says it does not make economic sense to invest heavily in its European business and is in discussions with another party regarding a partnership. Read more

A creditors meeting has been called for Maingate Ltd, supplier of County wheelbarrows and Stylys gifts. Read more

Wyevale has launched a Christmas sale and guarantees to replace live Christmas trees with a new one, right up to Christmas Eve. Read more

Robert Hillier tells his new management team, “You have changed the face of Hillier,” as sales leap by 25%. Read more

Wyevale has submitted a planning application to put 9 houses on land at Beaconsfield garden centre. Read more

When Hillview Group bought Witney Garden Centre they were faced with a challenge. Although surrounded by people, how would they find the centre down a country lane in the middle of the Cotswolds? Read more

Dennis Espley has picked next April as the time to step down as MD of Squire’s, 30 years after joining the business. The group has started the search for his replacement. Read more

Bonnington Plastics offers to share with other manufacturers the tactics it used to beat the substitute sellers who were costing the company £50,000 a year. Read more

Following Tim Woodland’s arrival at Kapiteyn, sales have grown rapidly. As a result the Dutch bulb supplier is moving its UK offices. Read more

Wyevale has completed the purchase of Wych Cross Garden Centre at Forest Row in E Sussex, recognised nationally for its rose collection. Read more

Home Retail warns Black Friday promotions might hit Christmas trading as pundits suggest it could be the biggest ever with more than £1bn spent in a day. Read more

Pennells Garden Centre at Lincoln completed a £2m major extension in the spring and has seen strong growth this autumn. Read more

Daffodils are flowering earlier than ever in the exceptionally mild weather. But how are growers of shrubs and herbaceous plants managing? What happens if we get a cold spell as some watchers of El Nino predict? Read more

Wyevale Garden Centres’ new e-commerce website has gone on test with a panel of existing customers. It aims to be the best gardening website in the UK. Read more

Sheila Hill explains more about Scotts’ new strategy and how it is actively looking at additional investments in Europe. Read more

Dobbies has revised the value of its assets downwards by £54m causing a loss before tax for the year of £48m despite an increase in sales. Read more

Barton Grange and Castle Gardens are national winners of the 2015 Christmas display competition judged by the GCA. Read more

Nicholas Marshall confirms discussions with private equity groups and says something has got to happen to Homebase in due course. Read more

The Garden Media Guild Awards presented a Lifetime Achievement Award to Adrian Bloom and Website of the Year to Richard Jackson’s Garden. Read more

John Woods Nurseries, a buyout from Notcutts Nurseries has been placed in administration. There’s £500,000 of plants and machinery to be cleared with an online auction starting tomorrow. Read more

Notcutts announce improved profits for 2014/15 and Caroline Notcutt says the family remains committed as the company plans to invest £30m. Read more

UK marketing director, Paula Parker, has left as Scotts Miracle-Gro cuts out a layer of management in the UK. Read more

Work has started on Rosebourne’s first food and plant centre at Weyhill, building on the model developed at Beckworth Emporium. Read more

Months after raising £500,000 through a crowdfunding initiative, Shoot Gardening has won £50,000 from MassChallenge UK that rewards entrepreneurial start-ups. Read more

The legal battle between Vivid Arts and Tom Chambers regarding allegations of design right infringement, copyright infringement and passing off has been resolved. Read more

2 years ago In November, Blooms at St Mellons in Cardiff was destroyed by fire. It has been rebuilt and reopened under its former manager. Read more