2013 results from The Garden Centre Group show a big increase in gross margin while like-for-like sales were static. One of the core strategies is to drive consolidation via acquisition. For key figures and analysis, see more... Read more - members only

A joint-venture between Tesco and Dobbies, the first in Scotland, has finally got the go-ahead from planners at East Kilbride. See more… Read more - members only

Quinton Edwards has announced the sale of Styles Garden Centre to Otter Nurseries. See more... Read more - members only

Dog Rocks joins the list of suppliers delivering direct to garden centres following the appointment of administrators at Solus Garden & Leisure. See more… Read more - members only

Mr Fothergill's has acquired the intellectual property and trading assets of GroBox Ltd. See more... Read more - members only

Former Morrisons operations controller, David Haycox, joins QD Stores in a series of management changes as the group adopts an omni channel approach to retailing. See more… Read more - members only

Plans for a new out-of-town shopping centre at Newnham Court in Maidstone that would have included a new garden centre for Notcutts have been rejected. But other plans go ahead. See more… Read more - members only

The Garden Centre Group has opened a new concept restaurant at the Brighton garden centre. See more… Read more - members only

PwC, the administrators of Solus Garden & Leisure have announced the closure of the Edinburgh Regional Distribution Centre, but says trading holds up well. See more... Read more - members only

B&Q’s Sir Ian Cheshire stepped into the debate about Scottish independence, with several publications reporting his warning that investment would be put on pause if Scotland voted in favour of independence. See more... Read more - members only

Kingfisher has released trading figures showing 10.5% growth on last year. Pack bedding, fence panels, rattan and resin furniture showed strong growth. See more... Read more - members only

Compass Group’s Instore has secured a new five-year partnership with Homebase to install 30 coffee shops. See more... Read more - members only

Notcutts has put 445 acres of Suffolk farmland up for sale. The money raised will allow further investment in the core garden centre business. See more... Read more - members only

Administrators from PwC have announced 91 redundancies at Solus so the business can continue trading while discussions with interested parties continue. See more... Read more - members only

Rob Hunt and Tony Barrell of PwC have been appointed joint administrators of Solus Garden & Leisure Limited today, 15 May 2014. The company will continue to trade while a buyer is sought. This story is open to all See more... Read more - open to all

William Sinclair stays positive despite a price rise in the professional sector which had damaging long-term consequences for sales. Sales since the end of March have also not been as strong as expected. See more… Read more - members only

In 18 months we have achieved a lot, said Kevin Bradshaw, but there is still a lot of work to do. The new CEO of The Garden Centre Group and his chairman have been telling Gardenforum about their vision for the future. See more… Read more - members only

Nick Davies’ new venture, Crest Garden, has named the agents that will make up the sales team to cover the UK. See more… Read more - members only

Having closed its garden centre in Bagshot for a joint redevelopment with Waitrose, Notcutts has decided against opening a new garden centre in Bagshot. See more… Read more - members only

Strong performance from smaller garden centres in May pushed GCA sales figures ahead of last year. Garden furniture sales have been particularly strong. See more… Read more - members only

Bonmarché, the over 50s womenswear retailer, is looking for concession space in more garden centres having had successful trial this year. See more… Read more - members only

Kärcher, dominant manufacturer of pressure washers and inventor of the Window Vac, is to introduce a new range of garden watering products to the UK in 2015, backed by TV advertising. See more… Read more - members only

Six garden centres have been hit by burglars in the last couple of weeks with animal sculptures being a particular target. But in one case a live tortoise was stolen. See more... Read more - members only

Butters Group, a plant leading supplier to UK supermarkets, has formed a partnership with Kebol BV of Holland that should lead to innovation in the UK bulb market. See more… Read more - members only

Shortly before its sale to TGCG, Garden & Leisure completed a deal with Waitrose that would redevelop Percy Thrower’s garden centre. Work has now started on the new development. See more... Read more - members only

As PwC confirms that discussions with interested parties about buying Solus are still ongoing, Edward Conroy suggests this is an opportunity to reflect on our progress as an industry and to consider what still needs to be done. See more... Read more - members only

Which? Gardening calls on compost manufacturers to add a production date to bags of compost as it again finds old stock on garden centres. See more... Read more - members only

Danny Adamson has teamed up with Kärcher as the company seeks to become a significant supplier of garden watering products to UK garden centres. See more... Read more - members only

William Sinclair shares opened 20% lower as the company warned that sales were lower than was anticipated from a return to more normal weather patterns. See more… Read more - members only

Wyevale Containers, Wyevale Trees and Wyevale Transplants in Herefordshire have officially re-launched this month under the generic name Wyevale Nurseries, with Andy Johnson as MD. See more.... Read more - members only