A bullish William Sinclair has lifted its dividend by 43% after a strong performance last year. The group gained market share from competitors, eliminated debt and is ready for further acquisitions. See more… Read more - members only

According to local reports a well-known Melrose garden centre, 100 Aker Wood, is to close at Christmas. See more… Read more - members only

It is reported that Bay Tree Garden Centre in Stisted, which threatened closure after being fined for trading on Easter Sunday, will close its doors in the New Year. See more... Read more - members only

Shoppers will be paying up to £47 for a 5ft Nordmann Fir Christmas tree, as bad weather makes the shortage worse, according to The Southern Daily Echo. See more... Read more - members only

Kingfisher has revealed a 4.7% drop in sales to £924m at B&Q, but margins recover due to lower shrinkage and more direct sourcing. See more... Read more - members only

R A Meredith and Dobbies’ e-commerce improve their logistics and trim costs as they prepare for expansion next season. See more… Read more - members only

New research from Which? Gardening has found that when it comes to turning your garden into a glittering grotto, solar-powered festive lights are a waste of money. See more... Read more - members only

According to the Independent on Sunday, the high street clothing giant Next, plans to open stores with garden centres as part of a strategy for larger outlets. See more… Read more - members only

Westland Horticulture has announced a series of educational days across the UK for garden retail staff. See more... Read more - members only

DHL, the global logistics group that is exploring with the HTA the idea of a central hub for the distribution of plants, has won a multi-million pound contract to manage B&Q’s distribution network. See more... Read more - members only

Bay Tree Garden Centre in Essex faces a fine and costs of £3450 for trading on Easter Sunday, despite the owner claiming that a council officer had advised 2 years ago that they were permitted to open. See more... Read more - members only

The Observer reports that the owner of debt laden Focus DIY has called in investment bankers to look for radical ways to revive its fortunes. This might lead to a sale. See more... Read more - members only

The next issue of Which? Gardening reveals that Homebase and Argos are badging their own brand mowers as Qualcast and Spear & Jackson. It also reviews spades and garden forks. See more… Read more - members only

Web sales double as Flying Brands makes another acquisition, but it remains tough going in the garden division. See more... Read more - members only

GLG Acamp GmbH, the Austrian parent of Norfolk Leisure that called in an administrator on October 5, is to continue trading having resolved contract issues with its bank. See more... Read more - members only

Here are the highlights of stories that appeared on the Gardenforum Noticeboard in 2010. If there are any you missed, they are all still available. See more... (Open to All) Read more - open to all

Malcolm Scott Consultants have been successful in winning 2 planning permissions for Hawkesmill Nurseries in the West Midlands. This will lead to increased growing capacity and improved despatch. See more... Read more - members only

Scotts Miracle-Gro has agreed to sell its Global Professional business to ICL for $270m. This includes 3 facilities in the UK. See more... Read more - members only

In the next few weeks Dobbies is to start building at Carlisle and expects to win permission for a new garden centre in Liverpool. It has also introduced a kitchen outlet in Aberdeen. See more... Read more - members only

The Garden Centre Group has successfully defended a claim for constructive dismissal by a former garden centre manager, who resigned months after disciplinary action for unacceptable behaviour and joined Dobbies. See more... Read more - members only

Fiskars announces a TV campaign as it completes the unification of its UK businesses on the Sankey site in Nottingham. There is now one central office for all brands including Fiskars garden tools, Sankey, Kitchen Devils and Fiskars Scissors. See more... Read more - members only

Having signed a distribution agreement for Growing Success Organics with Monro Horticulture a short time ago, William Sinclair has now acquired the assets of the business. See more... Read more - members only

Gardman has signed up for a massive new warehouse near to its main warehouse operations in Kings Lynn, Norfolk. It will help ensure that they hold enough stock during what they claim to be a growth phase. See more... Read more - members only

Latest results to be published on Gardenforum include suppliers Gardman, Decco, Europlants, Richard Sankey & Son and Smart Solar; plus the retailers, Coolings Nurseries, Castle Gardens Sherborne, Capital Gardens and Golden Acres. There was a sharp increase in profit for Danning and Symons. A number of garden suppliers are still making losses including Desch Plantpak, Deroma, Fiskars Brands UK, Forest Garden Group and Rowlinson Garden Products. See more... (This article is open to all readers)... Read more - open to all

In January, Farplants will open the biggest plant consolidation and finishing centre in the UK. It will reduce costs and improve flexibility and could become the plant distribution hub for southern England. See more... Read more - members only

Da’core has acquired the trading activities of Harbo Fritid, creating a large European supplier to the outdoor furniture market. See more… Read more - members only

Animal friendly gardeners may be wasting money on ineffective and unnecessary shop-bought homes for wildlife warns Which? Gardening. Read more - members only

Residents have formed an action group to fight Notcutts’ plan to build a 100,000 sq ft central distribution warehouse in Woodbridge to service its garden centres. See more... Read more - members only

Solus Garden and Leisure should no longer be regarded as a wholesaler. They are now a supplier of their own brands and a wholesale distributor for a few targeted manufacturers. See more...
Read more - members only

MWH Metallwerk Helmstadt, part of the Heinz Kettler group in Germany has appointed a provisional liquidator. Kettler GB, a LOFA member, is owned separately and is therefore unaffected. See more... Read more - members only