After a strong March and April, growth all but evaporated, according to the latest GCA figures for 2017, especially in larger garden centres despite healthy plant sales. Growth in catering revenues slowed but remained positive. Read more - members only

As a result of below-expectation trading Bunnings United Kingdom and Ireland (BUKI), the owner of Homebase, is expected to report an underlying loss of £97million before interest and tax in Westfarmers’ 2018 half-year results.

Caulders has received planning permission to redevelop a redundant nursery at Menstrie. Read more - members only

In a trading update Blue Diamond said although the group traded well and delivered growth in 2107, the sales increase had been lower than in previous years and the first half of 2017. Read more - members only

Blue Diamond reports a strong 6 months to June 2017, but cautions that future growth rates may be affected by economic and political uncertainty. Read more - members only

Bents and Cowells top the first day’s awards at the 2018 GCA conference. Also prominent were Fairways of Ashbourne, Stratford and Barton Grange Garden Centres. Read more - members only

Stihl’s sponsorship of Hillier’s Chelsea exhibit underlines their drive to involve garden centres with the new era cordless garden tools, which will shortly be on sale at Hillier’s garden centres. Read more - members only

Dobbies has reshuffled its head office team as Andrew West and Lorrie Robertson leave for personal reasons. Nicholas Marshall remains as chief executive and Andrew Bracey as chairman. Read more - members only

Glendale makes it 13 with the purchase of Harvington nursery in Evesham from Chamberlains on 2^nd of January. Read more - members only

Tildenet has acquired the specialist textiles and netting supplier, Fleximas, based in Burton-on-Trent. Read more - members only

2017 started with a flourish but lost momentum and settled to be an OK year. Suppliers worried about Brexit, the living wage, higher costs and Wyevale. Retailers and growers worried about Xylella. Takeover activity reached new peaks among suppliers, but no major garden centres changed hands. The industry said goodbye to some old friends. Read our review – (open to non-subscribers). Read more - open to all

Bunnings UK continues to experiment with different formats with the imminent opening of a small format store in Bicester. Read more - members only

According to Modern Farmer, Amazon has patented an image recognition service that will provide gardeners with planting advice and a view of what their garden could look like in say 5 years. Read more - members only

The future of horticultural wholesaler, LBS, looks secure as 2 new investors are to take control. The company hopes a CVA will be agreed with creditors next week. Read more - members only

Bents have wrestled the GCA Christmas Display award back from Barton Grange, while Castle Gardens in Sherborne prove invincible yet again in the category for smaller garden centres. Read more - members only

It is too early to judge whether the new Glee at the Spring Fair will become an annual event. Gardenforum believes it has potential, with a change of name and focus. Read our notes from the aisles. Read more - members only

Gardman have taken steps to improve output from its new £30m Daventry distribution centre. Read more - members only

Figures released from Bents Garden & Home’s latest colleague survey show a high degree of satisfaction among the staff. Read more - members only

The 15-strong Squire's Garden Centres group is to lose one of its outlets when Windsor closes later this year.

Bents has pipped Barton Grange and Webbs of Wychbold to be the GCA Destination Garden Centre of the Year. Smart Garden has regained the prestigious Supplier of the Year cup. Read more - members only

Woodlodge turnover has grown from £11.5m to over £20m in the 4 years since Michael Wooldridge took control of the business. Plus, last January, the company won the coveted cup for GCA Supplier of the Year.  Gardenforum paid him a visit. Read more - members only

Two directors are leaving Wyevale as the garden centre group acknowledges challenging trading conditions and reduces head office numbers. Read more - members only

Burgon & Ball has been acquired by Venanpri Tools, the owner of the Bellota and Corona brands.  Heather Culpan will continue to be involved in the business in a role yet to be determined.

Wyevale’s Ashford garden centre in Kent is to close its doors on Sunday to make way for a new junction 10a on the M20. Read more - members only

Christmas buying is getting earlier and overall sales have dropped in many centres, not helped by snow on the peak live tree weekend, closing some centres. Despite this, overall garden centre sales are up for 2017. Read more - members only

furnitureoutletstores.co.uk is one of the first UK websites to offer the furniture outlet experience to online shoppers. Their offer includes garden furniture with a guarantee of the UK’s lowest prices. Read more - members only

A year after its devastating fire Ansell receives planning permission to rebuild. Work starts in January, bigger than before. Read more - members only

Dobbies Garden Centres delayed to the last minute the publication of their first accounts under its new private equity owners. They show how the trading arm has been separated from the properties. Read more - members only

Thetford’s expansion has lifted it into the GCA category for elite destination garden centres.  Further ‘out-there’ expansion is planned including a coffee shop in shipping containers – with a stage.   Read more - members only

Stax has followed up this autumn’s E.P. Barrus deal with a second that will add Flymo and McCulloch to its garden tools range. Read more - members only