Town & Country shakes off its dated image

A year ago, faced with falling sales and a reputation for being dated, Town & Country embarked on a strategic business review. The result is a new vision for the brand. Read more - members only

Next step for Blue Diamond’s long planned Leeds garden centre

Blue Diamond’s long held plan to replicate the octagonal Le Friquet garden centre at Leeds has taken a step forward. Read more - members only

Klondyke quashes Weavervale rumours

Rumours that Morrisons would be buying the Weavervale garden centre in Northwich have been quashed by Klondyke. Read more - members only

Barking for a landscaper or gardening services

Bark.com, the online service to find local services, has announced its launch into the gardening sector.  Gardenforum tried it and raised 3 credible leads in the first hour. Read more - members only

Laury pilots One Kingfisher system in Ireland

Bedding plant sales are up 11% at B&Q. One Kingfisher will lead to a unified garden product range across Europe. Read more - members only

Yorkshire’s Langlands makes it three

Yorkshire’s Langlands Nurseries expands again with the purchase of Garden Style at Rhinegold. Read more - members only

John, Robert, James and Ian Ducker with Kerry and Pat Brears

95% claim they ‘loved’ working at Bents

Matthew Bent, MD at Bents Garden & Home is blown away by the results from this year’s annual colleague survey. Read more - members only

Matthew Bent

Volmary buys Delamore Young Plants

Volmary has acquired the entire share capital of Delamore, following a partnership deal announced in May 2014. Read more - members only

Permission granted for new garden centre near Coventry

Malcolm Scott wins permission for a new garden centre just outside Coventry.  It will, they believe, be the first new build garden centre on a new site in the last 10 years. Read more - members only

Stewart Plastics raises £11m for expansion

Stewart Group raises £11m to build stocks and invest in the latest, more efficient, pot making machines. Read more - members only

Taylors Bulbs invest in seed potatoes

Taylors Bulbs have announced a £200k investment in a new packing line and a further £160k investment in a 1400 tonne cold store facility both primarily for the supply of seed potatoes. Read more - members only

Gardman is sold to a management buy-out

Gardman has been bought in a management buy-out, led by chairman Jonathan Halford and backed by private equity. Read more - members only

Jonathan Halford

Marlows DIY and Garden Centre has been sold

Marlows DIY and Garden Centre is sold after 35 years trading.  It has been acquired by Con Mech Group that already owns a nearby country store. Read more - members only

Two incidents show how watchful garden centres must be

Beckworth Emporium lost cash in a violent break while the phone line of a Walthamstow garden centre was hacked in an elaborate attempt to cash a fake cheque. Read more - members only

Rosebourne secures funding and buys its first plot

A band of industry veterans has come together to form Rosebourne, a vehicle to develop a new style group of food and plant centres. Read more - members only

Jon Kitching and David Brown at the opening of Beckworth Emporium

Report reveals price Westland paid for William Sinclair

Insider Media claims that Westland paid £12.15m on completion for William Sinclair Holdings, with further payments to follow, according to a report to creditors by administrators. Read more - members only

Sinclair goes into administration and is bought by Westland Horticulture

KPMG says there was no alternative to administration for William Sinclair Holdings plc. It was then bought by Westland Horticulture who immediately said it would be ‘business as normal’. Read more - members only

Sinclair suspends shares

William Sinclair Holdings has announced that the Company's shares have been suspended from trading on AIM pending an announcement. Read more - members only

What impact will the management buy-out have on Gardman?

Chairman, Jonathan Halford, says he will use Gardman’s new stability to introduce a stock availability guarantee and is planning acquisitions. Read more - members only

Jonathan Halford

Bush Tucker Bent celebrates new look centre

Matthew Bent took first prize in the Bush Tucker Trial at a party to celebrate the new look Bents Garden & Home. Read more - members only

MD Matthew Bent (R) tucks into the Bush Tucker

3 more garden centres join the GCA

Three garden centres have joined the Garden Centre Association, swelling the association membership to 180. Read more - members only

Summer at Orchard Park

Wyevale Nurseries re-opens Management Trainee Programme

Wyevale Nurseries has re-opened its Management Trainee Programme and is calling for people to apply for a position. Read more - members only

Andy Johnson

Wyevale to launch full multi-channel offering

Wyevale results show how they have introduced a higher level of flexibility in their workforce.Margins and concession income are up, which has impacted the overall sales increase. Read more - members only

Uncertain future for Sinclair

Costs incurred during the commissioning of Ellesmere Port have led to a significant requirement to raise funds in the next few weeks.  The company is in discussion with third parties and major stakeholders.   Read more - members only

The Newey Group acquires Eagle Plants Ltd

The Newey Group managing director, Alex Newey, today confirmed the group’s acquisition of Eagle Plants Ltd. The business will relocate the short distance from Banbury to the Young Plants Limited HQ. Read more - members only

Jason Eagle and Alex Newey

Hillier’s new garden centre team gets results

There has been a transformation at Hillier's garden centres in the last 18 months. Seven have a new look and feel and there is a new confidence in Hillier’s plant heritage. Read more - members only

Chris Francis with Hillier Heritage plants

Garden centres are up 10.5% in May

Garden Centre sales are up 10.5% in May and 5% for the year so far according to the GCA.  It appears some garden centres are recovering their confidence with garden furniture, but not all.  Plants and garden sundries continue to lose share. Read more - members only

Monkton Elm Restaurant

French minister calls for ban on over-the-counter sales of Roundup UPDATED

French minister has called for a ban on over-the-counter sales of Roundup after an agency affiliated to the WHO classified glyphosate as a probable carcinogen to humans. Read more - members only

Somerset garden centre seeks alternative use

A North Somerset garden centre is asking planners for permission to replace its buildings with houses, blaming competition from Cadbury for years of slow trading. Read more - members only

Shoot Gardening raises £500,000 to fund ambitious expansion

Shoot Gardening promises an ambitious fast-track expansion having raised £500,000 through the crowdfunding platform, Crowdcube. Read more - members only

Nicola Gammon

To see earlier stories - Look in the News Archive