Council serves planning contravention notice on Dobbies

Dobbies garden centre at Livingstone, which opened this spring, has been accused of breaching planning regulations for selling more goods that are unrelated to garden centre retail than is allowed. See more… Read more - members only

Go ahead for new Keydell garden centre expected today

Speculation about the future of Keydell Nurseries looks likely to be ended later today if, as expected, East Hampshire District Council grants permission for a new garden centre a mile and a half away. See more... Read more - members only

Gollies spark race row at Bybrook Barn

A display of black golly dolls has provoked a threat of a mass boycott of Bybrook Barn Garden Centre in Ashford, Kent. See more... Read more - members only

‘These are Testing Times,’ says Ian Cheshire

B&Q sales fell 6.7% in the last 3 months thanks to the weather and the closing down sale at Focus. But shares rose on the news. See more... Read more - members only

Updated: Unfinished roundabout threatens Dobbies’ Carlisle opening

Latest: Carlisle has opened on time after Council approves last minute works... Dobbies had said it was confident that a new roundabout would be ready for Council approval on Thursday night, hours before the official opening today. See more... Read more - members only

Garden retailers hit the headlines around the UK

A new restaurant for Brigemere, Adrian Hall to close Hampstead GC, M&S to open on Trent Valley Garden Centre, B&Q cleared to buy 30 Focus Stores. See more... Read more - members only

Choice Marketing adds Johnsons then says enough for now

Choice Marketing puts a hold on the addition of further garden centres after Johnsons of Boston joins the group. See more… Read more - members only

Solus closes Newcastle depot

Solus has announced the closure today of its small Newcastle depot. In future customers will receive deliveries from Edinburgh or Birmingham. See more... Read more - members only

B&Q uses TrustMark to reassure customers

Following the demise of Focus and several other retailers, consumers can be wary about paying deposits before delivery. B&Q is using TrustMark to build confidence. See more... Read more - members only

TGCG denies reports that PwC is about to kick-start its sale

CEO Nicholas Marshall says the Mail on Sunday article claiming that PwC are about to sell The Garden Centre Group is a load of old rubbish. See more... Read more - members only

Major fire at Klondyke garden centre

Wilmslow Garden Centre, one of the Klondyke Group, has been destroyed by fire and has closed. See more... Read more - members only

23-acre Bracknell garden centre sold

Oaktree Garden Centre near Bracknell, a 23-acre site, has recently been sold for an undisclosed sum. The purchasers, John & Eve Went, are looking to develop the £1.8m turnover centre over the next few years. See more... Read more - members only

Stephen H Smith is in talks to sell garden centre to M&S

Local sources report that Stephen H Smith is in talks with Marks & Spencer about opening a store on its site on the outskirts of Scunthorpe. See more... Read more - members only

Closure dates set for Focus DIY stores

The administrators have published the closure dates of the Focus DIY stores, with the first 10 closing on June 19th. More than 31 stores have been sold to B&Q and 13 to Wickes. Asda are also taking some. Click on the website button below. Read more - members only

Extension will double the size of Garden Wise

After protracted negotiations, Garden Wise (Dumfries) has won permission to double the covered retail area of the garden centre. Work starts in July. See more... Read more - members only

Next opens first garden centre, next Wednesday

Next is to open its first garden centre on Wednesday in Shoreham. Chief executive Simon Wolfson said this is the logical next step for its homewares business. See more... Read more - members only

Difficult times continue for Flying Brands

Flying Brands blames difficult times and mistakes for first half losses. It has been forced to renegotiate banking terms and will not pay an interim dividend. See more... Read more - members only

Van Hage cuts costs at Peterborough

Van Hage is to close its floristry departments at Peterborough and Great Amwell.  The company is also consulting about redundancies at Peterborough.  See more... Read more - members only

School wins permission to take over Wyevale, Mill Hill

Despite strong local resistance, Barnet Council has granted planning permission for a Jewish free school to take over The Garden Centre Group’s Wyevale Garden Centre at Mill Hill. See more... Read more - members only

Sales of garden furniture fall by 35% in June

A sharp drop in the sales of garden furniture, plants and garden sundries in June means that revenues for most garden centres have fallen below last year. See more... Read more - members only

The Fiskars Weed Puller was a clear winner at the GIMAs

Fiskar’s Weed Puller won the GIMA Sword of Excellence for the best product in the 2011 GIMA awards last night, plus the Marketing Award of Excellence. Solus was named Supplier of the Year for the second year. It was also a good night for the Hozelock Auto reel. See more… Read more - members only

The Garden Centre Group appoints Rothschild to consider strategic options

With sales and margins up, The Garden Centre Group has decided that ‘now it is time for the company to look at the various options going forward.’ See more... Read more - members only

The Garden Centre Group is to buy Country Gardens

The Garden Centre Group is to buy Country Homes & Gardens, whose garden centres trade as Country Gardens. This unifies the two groups that have been operating in tandem. See more... Read more - members only

Sinclair gets bogged down in peat

William Sinclair has been refused permission to continue harvesting peat at Chat Moss on environmental grounds, which it says make no sense. At Bolton Fell where they have stopped production, compensation negotiations are delayed. See more... Read more - members only

The Garden Centre Group is 9% up at the end of June

The drive for excellence has boosted The Garden Centre Group revenue at the half year. Collaboration with David Austin Roses at Syon Park has quadrupled rose sales. ‘Click and Collect’ to be launched in the autumn. See more... Read more - members only

Scotts top the list of garden trade creditors at Focus DIY (Updated)

Figures released today show that Focus DIY owed over £61 million to suppliers. A number of leading companies in the garden sector face substantial losses with 5 owed over £1 million each. See more… Read more - members only

'I don't dig peat' is not industry bashing says Garden Organic

There’s a spat between ex-presenters of Gardener’s World arising from the 'I don’t Dig Peat' campaign launched by Garden Organic. See more... Read more - members only

Garden centre sales fall for the third successive year

Garden centre revenues in May have fallen for the last 3 years and this year they were 15% lower than in April, according to the GCA. Garden furniture sales suffered especially. See more... Read more - members only

Lee Mowle sells Stewart Group to Private Equity

Six and a half years after rescuing Stewart Plastics from administration, Lee Mowle has sold the Stewart Group in a deal valuing it at £17m. The buyer is private equity firm, ECI. See more… Read more - members only

Almondsbury re-development to start as soon as possible

Park Garden Centres are to start work as soon as possible on the first phase of the £5m redevelopment of its garden centre at Almondsbury. See more... Read more - members only

To see earlier stories - Look in the News Archive