Bents in Cheshire are the best destination garden centre in the UK for the 3rd year running after rigorous inspection by the GCA. Cowells of Newcastle were judged to be the best smaller garden centre. Solus was voted the best supplier. See more... Read more - members only

David Gwyther, HTA Director General, hailed Farplants’ £2.75m Finishing Centre an example to the rest of the UK nursery industry as he cut the ribbon at yesterday's opening. See more... Read more - members only

Weber-Stephen Products, maker of Weber barbecues has been sold to an American investment group. The founding Stephen family retain a minority stake. See more... Read more - members only

The planned sale of Vermeulens Garden Centre between Woking and Guildford has fallen through. The owners are seeking a new operator to buy or lease the site. See more... Read more - members only

The annual compost trials by Which? Gardening suggest that peat-free composts yield disappointing results when used for sowing seeds and growing-on young plants. See more... Read more - members only

Up-market garden furniture supplier Alexander Rose Furniture has sold a majority shareholding to the Roda Group, which also owns Jensen Leisure Furniture in the United States. See more... Read more - members only

The performance of Marshalls is a good indicator of the state of the landscape industry. Despite the weather, sales to the public and commercial sector increased 6% while the domestic market grew 1%. See more… Read more - members only

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

Firmans Leisure is being wound down as the directors focus on building Firmans Direct. See more... Read more - members only

Dobbies' plans to open 6 new garden centres during 2011 take another step forward as permission is granted for a new development at Peterborough. See more… Read more - members only

Hillier Garden Centres will open its first new-build garden centre next month. The 2000 sq m. development is on the former Glyndley Nurseries on the A27 near Eastbourne. See more... Read more - members only

December snow has severely disrupted some of the most important catalogue mailings for Flying Brands. See more... Read more - members only

The recently announced £2.3m restaurant upgrade at Haskins’ West End garden centre is part of a £16.5 million investment programme by the group this year. See more… Read more - members only

Westland has decided that Unwins should stop producing and selling bulbs and focus on seeds. Taylors Bulbs are to take on the bulb assets and trade. See more... Read more - members only

It is reported that over the next 3 years, Cotton Traders will open up to 15 outlets a year on garden centres. 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