Woodthorpe Hall buys Towneley GC

The Woodthorpe Hall Group buys Towneley Garden Centre in Burnley from receivers, making it five garden centres in the group. See more... Read more - members only

Nova re-emerges at Glee

Nova Garden Furniture is to re-emerge at Glee only 11 months after announcing that it would be winding down the business. See more... Read more - members only

Should we feed birds?

More than half of people with gardens feed birds, says Which? Gardening. But are we hindering or helping our feathered friends, it asks. See more... Read more - members only

Sinclair strikes deal with Growing Success

William Sinclair Horticulture has signed an open ended agreement with Monro Horticulture to distribute Growing Success products. The deal takes affect at GLEE. See more... Read more - members only

Most retailers results show profits increased in 2009

2009 saw profit increases for Bents Garden Centre, Otter Nurseries, Polhill Garden Centre and OA Taylor & Sons Bulbs. There was a recovery in profits at Country Homes and Gardens, EP Barrus and Roundstone. See more for a summary of the latest additions to Company Results... (This article is open to all readers)... Read more - open to all

RWAF targets retailers selling ‘cruel’ rabbit hutches

The Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWAF) is running a campaign against retailers who stock rabbit hutches that are smaller than the minimum standard. See more... Read more - members only

Two acquisitions for Flying Brands

Despite a drop in sales, Flying Brands is optimistic. It is to resume the payment of dividends and has announced two more acquisitions to accelerate its transition into an online garden and gift retailer. See more... Read more - members only

New owner has great plans for Tayberry

Clothing and footwear supplier, G. H. Tayberry and Co. has been bought by KSJ Knitwear, an international supplier of women's clothing. See more… Read more - members only

Key garden companies defy the recession

Tools and mower businesses show the effects of the recession in the latest results to be published on Gardenforum. But Westland Horticulture, Webbs Garden Centres and Solus Garden & Leisure grew strongly. See more... (This article is open to all readers)... Read more - open to all

Solus holds first ever sale as profits rise

Solus Garden & Leisure, the country's largest gardening wholesaler, is to hold its first ever end of season sale, starting on August 5th. Latest results show sales and profits recovered last year. See more... Read more - members only

Moss End Garden Centre goes into liquidation

The partnership that leased Moss End Garden Centre was placed into liquidation on Friday. However, the landlord had a new tenant ready to step in and keep the garden centre open. See more... Read more - members only

Hillier embraces new media

Hillier commits to a growing new media. Blogs from Chelsea, online video of new plants and now the webcasting of in-store events is propagating a new crop of customers. See more… Read more - members only

GIMA Sword of Excellence for Patch Magic

Scotts Miracle-Gro and industry newcomer Hug Rug, a barrier mat made from recycled materials shared the limelight at last night’s GIMA Awards. See more… Read more - members only

Fiskars and Sankey operations to merge

Fiskars, the European manufacturer of garden tools, is to merge its Fiskars and Sankey operations in the UK. From November both companies will operate from Sankey's Nottingham site. See more… Read more - members only

Dobbies plans six more garden centres for 2011

The Dobbies' pipeline for new garden centres is growing. Four new garden centres are scheduled to open next spring, with a further two later in 2011. See more... Read more - members only

‘A Great Achievement’ says Garden Centre Group chairman

The 2009 results for The Garden Centre Group Limited have been released and show the extent of the restructuring undertaken in February 2009.  Sales lifted 5%.  See more... Read more - members only

Sinclair invites growers to join peat free trials

William Sinclair is inviting professional growers to join trials of its alternative to peat, made from garden waste, and compare results with their usual growing media. See more… Read more - members only

Dobbies wins public support for Peterborough

A plan to create a new Dobbies Garden Centre at Hampton, Peterborough, has been given overwhelming support by the public. Read more - members only

Dobbies team up with Hire Station

Dobbies Internet operation Dobbies.com has teamed up with leading tool hire company Hire Station to offer over 2000 different tools. See more… Read more - members only

Councillors give go-ahead to Dobbies in Carlisle

Carlisle councillors have approved the scaled down plans for a new Dobbies Garden Centre in Carlisle. It will be one of four new centres to open next spring. See more... Read more - members only

Scotts to return $500m to shareholders as profits rise

Scotts Miracle-Gro doubles its dividend as third-quarter profits beat market expectations. There will also be a $500 million buyback of shares. See more... Read more - members only

Dobbies increases profit to £9.8m

Figures just released for last year show that sales and gross margin increased at Dobbies. Sales reached £104m with pretax profits almost £10m. See more... Read more - members only

Administrators appointed at the Ceramic Gift Company

The Ceramic Gift Company Limited regrets to announce that on July 23rd the company was placed into administration and Baker Tilly Restructuring & Recovery LLP was appointed as Administrator. Read more - members only

Squire's closes Shepperton for winter rebuild

The bulldozers have moved on to the Squire’s garden centre at Shepperton, flattening the old centre in preparation for a major redevelopment. See more... Read more - members only

TGCG continues to strengthen its horticultural credentials

The Garden Centre Group announced a major redevelopment of Bridgemere at a lunch to honour the founders John and Elizabeth Ravenscroft. The group continues to strengthen its horticultural base. See more.. Read more - members only

Lloyds holds on to The Garden Centre Group

Lloyds bank has sold many of its private equity investments, but The Garden Centre Group has been retained. See more... Read more - members only

Marshalls remains cautious despite slight recovery in sales

The results of hard landscaping specialist, Marshalls, give an insight into the fortunes of the landscape sector. There has been a slight recovery in sales in the first half of 2010. Installers’ order books have also lengthened. See more... Read more - members only

Vital Earth to distribute Bord Na Mona compost

Vital Earth and Bord Na Mona have agreed terms that give the UK manufacturer of compost derived from green waste, exclusive rights to distribute GroWise to UK independent garden centres. See more… Read more - members only

Sinclair offers peat substitute to rivals

Freeland has finally perfected the process of creating a peat substitute from garden waste that cannot be composted. Sinclair, its parent company, says this could provide the key to meeting the Government’s 2020 peat reduction targets. It will be made available to competing compost suppliers. See more... Read more - members only

Disappointing May sales fail to recoup spring deficit

According to the GCA, garden centre sales at the end of May remain 2% behind the first five months of 2009. Last month failed to regain sales lost to the cold spring earlier in the year. See more... Read more - members only

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