Administrators appointed at Whiterigg Alpines

Lancashire based Whiterigg Alpines Limited are the latest casualty in this recession. They have appointed KPMG Restructuring as administrators. See more... Read more - members only

Shortages after record March sales

The garden industry is buzzing, not just because March sales were 20% to 35% up on last year, but because of what customers have been buying. Already there are shortages. See more... Read more - members only

Nurseries see first signs of re-ordering

Cautious optimism about the state of the liner market; news that Wyevale plans plant production at 13 locations; results from the second British Plant Fair and an update from Hillier Nurseries all feature in the latest round-up of UK growers from Peter Dawson. See more... Read more - members only

Refinancing funds Wyevale for the next three years

Revealing more details of Wyevale’s refinancing, Nicholas Marshall says the position for suppliers has improved dramatically and that some credit insurers are providing cover for them again already. See more... Read more - members only

February snow hit small garden centres

Despite recession, snow and frozen ground, members of the Garden Centre Association will be pleased that sales were only 11% behind last year, which had been 21% up on 2007. Smaller centres were, however, more heavily affected. See more... Read more - members only

Cost cutting at Homebase offsets lower sales and margin

Homebase says sales in garden maintenance and horticulture saw particularly difficult trading conditions in January and February. Home Retail is to reduce store staff by 1000, mainly at Homebase. See more... Read more - members only

Sinclair to continue negotiations over Bolton Fell

William Sinclair has expressed disappointment at the level of compensation proposed by Natural England for Bolton Fell, which is due to become a Special Area of Conservation. See more... Read more - members only

Arthur Bower and Westland growbags are exceptional value

The March edition of Gardening Which? reviews slug and snail controls, tests growing bags and looks at seed mats and tapes. See more... Read more - members only

New Monthly Nursery Round-up by Peter Dawson

Here’s the first round-up of news from British nurseries by Peter Dawson, former editor of Nurseryman and Garden Centre magazine. His new monthly ‘column’ will provide news and views from the growers across the country. See more... Read more - members only

Hurrans unlikely to continue as a group

It is likely that the future of Hurrans Garden Centres will be decided by the end of March. However, it is unlikely that they will remain trading as a group. See more... Read more - members only

Sales grow at Notcutts, Haskins, Forest Garden and Gardman

The latest updates in Company Results include the most recent trading figures for Ball Horticultural Europe, Syngenta Seeds, Alexander Rose, Gardman, Haddonstone, Bents Garden Centre, Country Homes and Gardens, Haskins Garden Centres, Decco and Notcutts. For a summary, see more... (This article is open to all readers)... Read more - open to all

New ‘Frog’ commercial for Evergreen

Scotts Miracle-Gro is to spend £6.3 million on TV and press advertising, the same amount as last year. Among the new adverts, there will be a new ‘Frog’ commercial for Evergreen. See more... Read more - members only

All-In-One acquires land to expand

All-In-One has acquired land that almost doubles the size of the garden centre. Finance director, Jason Stafford, has engaged Ernest Wertheim to advise on extending the garden centre. See more... Read more - members only

Quick rescue for Wolf Garten

The manufacturing arm of Wolf Garten, placed in the hands of an insolvency administrator last month, is to be bought by MTD of the US. See more... Read more - members only

Woodthorpe makes it four with Spring Garden Centre

Woodthorpe Garden Centres Ltd has today completed the purchase of Spring Garden Centre, which lies a few miles north of Hull. See more... Read more - members only

North Wales garden centre reopens

Treborth Garden Centre that closed last month after going into administration has reopened under new ownership. See more… Read more - members only

Ban on sale of mercury filled barometers

EU legislation passed 18 months ago and adopted by the UK government means that it will be illegal to sell mercury filled thermometers after April 3rd 2009. See more... Read more - members only

Dobbies extends pipeline of development sites

It is 18 months since Tesco bought 65% of Dobbies and 8 months since it became the outright owner. Gardenforum asks Chief Executive James Barnes what influence the supermarket has had and about his expansion plans. See more... Read more - members only

Patience pays off for Whitehall Garden Centre

Whitehall Garden Centre has won planning permission, after many postponements, to double the size of its garden centre at Lacock in Wiltshire. See more... Read more - members only

Kitching returns with Beckworth Emporium

Former Blooms of Bressingham chief executive, Jon Kitching, is to launch the Beckworth Emporium with his new partner, David Brown. It will be neither a garden centre nor a farm shop, but the best of both. See more... Read more - members only

Marshalls sees shift to ‘Don't Move, Improve’

Despite seeing a shift to ‘Don't Move, Improve’, Marshalls is closing seven landscape design centres. It will decide on continuing sponsorship of Chelsea, after this year’s flower show. See more… Read more - members only

West Hagley makes it two for Webbs

Webbs Garden Centres has taken control of West Hagley, one of the Hurrans Garden Centres that are in administration. See more... Read more - members only

Wyevale completes its refinancing

Wyevale Garden Centres has tonight completed the refinancing of its business with Bank of Scotland and its major shareholders. “Everyone involved with Wyevale will be pleased to see the financial stability that this agreement brings,” said chief executive, Nicholas Marshall. See more... Read more - members only

Restaurants provide 25% of garden centre income in January

The GCA Barometer of Trade confirms that January was good for garden centres. Overall sales increased by 12.7%. See more... Read more - members only

CX replaced at Flying Brands after 8 months

Tricia Killen, who became CX of Flying Brands last June, has been replaced by Stephen Cook, a nominee of Sir Tom Hunter. Hunter's recent quest to buy the group had been rejected. See more... Read more - members only

New funds for New Era Aquaculture

New Era Aquaculture Limited, whose fish feeds to sell through gardens centres, has raised £300,000 investment to develop the business. See more... Read more - members only

B&Q launches its greenest ever store

B&Q is celebrating the opening of its greenest ever store, at New Malden, Surrey. 50 per cent less carbon emissions and the biggest range of One Planet Home products in London. See more... Read more - members only

Baugur demise delays Wyevale agreement

Nicholas Marshall expects that completion of Wyevale's new financial arrangements will be delayed by a few days only, following the appointment of an administrator for Baugur. See more... Read more - members only

Wyevale refinancing will be completed despite Baugur filing

Rumours that high street stores including Wyevale could be closed following news that Baugur Group has filed for bankruptcy protection, are "silly, ill informed and irresponsible" according to Wyevale CX, Nicholas Marshall. See more... Read more - members only

Wyevale refinancing - almost there

The refinancing of Wyevale should be completed on Tuesday. This, says Marshall, will place the garden centre chain in a better position than any time since the company was taken private. See more... Read more - members only

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