7 million viewers of Countryfile last night, saw the UK’s major peat harvester call for a ban on peat. The programme reminded gardeners that they have a choice whether to use peat on their gardens. See more... Read more - members only

Blue Diamond’s recent acquisitions make it the largest privately owned specialist garden centre group measured by turnover, with further growth to come. See more... Read more - members only

Blue Diamond has bought the Grosvenor Garden Centre business. All staff will be retained by the new owners, who look forward to developing the potential of one of the country's leading garden centres. See more... Read more - members only

The Garden Store has taken over the lease of Burford House Garden Centre in Tenbury Wells that houses the National Collection of clematis. See more... Read more - members only

The Garden Centre Group has agreed to take over the retail plant centre at Westonbirt Arboretum in Gloucestershire. See more... Read more - members only

Dobbies has announced a bursary worth £150k to be shared between schools, charities and community groups around its garden centres to encourage them to get growing. See more… Read more - members only

Next says it has identified 19 sites where it hopes to open mini-department stores. A number of these will have garden centres. See more... Read more - members only

Grafted plants look set to change the way tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers are grown at home. The first stocks from Suttons are being delivered this week to over 500 garden centres. Gardeners seem happy to pay the premium price. See more... Read more - members only

Dobbies is to give away water-wise products worth £10,000 to local community groups around 11 of its stores. Most are in drought affected areas. See more… Read more - members only

Both Dobbies and Haskins open new garden centres today in the South. See more... Read more - members only

B&Q points the way with an IT inspired revamp of its stores. Already 7 million sq ft of outdoor garden centre space has been refurbished. It also believes own-brand is the future. See more... Read more - members only

Amethyst Horticulture has bought Kent based Colourpacks (Newington Nurseries) Limited that supplies pack bedding to garden centres. See more... Read more - members only

Morrisons has submitted an application to change the use of an external walkway at its Scunthorpe supermarket into a garden centre. It appears that over 100 stores may do something similar this spring. See more... Read more - members only

A new garden centre is proposed for North Somerset; Klondyke wins permission to rebuild Wilmslow; a Cornish garden centre is fined for health & safety and food offences; and there’s a public meeting tonight regarding the potential development of Percy Thrower’s garden centre. See more... Read more - members only

Lovania Nurseries, based in Preston, took the top honours at The Grower of the Year Awards held in London last night by winning the Ornamental Grower of the Year title. Lovania will go on to represent the UK at the International Grower of the Year Awards. See more... Read more - members only

Briggs & Stratton is cutting capacity and cutting the workforce by 10%, saying it does not expect demand to return to peak levels in the foreseeable future. See more... Read more - members only

Construction is about to start on a £2.5m garden centre in Dunbar. This will be the second site for Berwick Garden Centre, which is also expanding. See more... Read more - members only

Gardman has announced its move into the pet care market, initially targeting cats and dogs. There will be three brands covering everyday accessories, design led fashion products and a more rugged range for the outdoor dog. See more… Read more - members only

Westland Horticulture has bought Cranswick Pet Products. Cranswick has two leading brands: Bucktons and Nature’s Feast. See more... Read more - members only

William Sinclair’s trading update says that after a slightly later start this year, the important spring sales season is now very much underway. See more... Read more - members only

A matter of weeks after announcing the sale of is gifts division to Interflora, Flying Brands has said it is selling the Garden Bird Supplies, Garden Centre Online and Listen 2 businesses. See more... Read more - members only

Contracts were exchanged over the weekend for Terra Firma to buy The Garden Centre Group. Terra Firma plans to develop the group and has funds available for further investment in the business. See more... Read more - members only

La Hacienda used its membership of ACID to enforce its IP rights against White Stores after discovering the company selling inferior quality chimeneas under the La Hacienda brand name. See more... Read more - members only

Barclays is investing £500,000 in developments at Studley Garden Centre, the first in the proposed chain of Hillview Garden Centres. It appears there could be a second acquisition soon. See more... Read more - members only

Dobbies Garden Centres has submitted an application to place a 40m high wind turbine at Sterling Garden World. Read more - members only

St John's Garden Centre in Barnstaple has unveiled plans to relocate to a new larger green field site to the south west of the town. See more... Read more - members only

The growth of First Franchise Promotions, a sister company to First Franchise, has prompted a name change to reflect more accurately the short term promotions it brings to garden centres. See more... Read more - members only

New owners and £1m investment has brought new life to Living Stone, which manufactures paving products and aggregates for garden centres and other specialist uses. Read more - members only

QD Stores is actively expanding its Cherry Lane Garden Centre group. A recent acquisition in Cromford is likely to be followed by two more this spring. See more... Read more - members only

A few days ago Gardenforum reported that the joint garden centre/supermarket development at Kings Lynn would be the first between Tesco and Dobbies. Now there is a second at East Kilbride, or is it, in fact, the third? See more… Read more - members only