Fallen Fruits UK announce new Company Sales Director

Leading UK garden sundries supplier Fallen Fruits UK has announced the arrival of James Brindle as the company’s new sales director. Read more - open to all

James Brindle, sales director of Fallen Fruits

New steps in Squire's sustainability journey

Squire’s Garden Centres has announced a number of significant changes in its bid to reduce its carbon footprint and the group's drive to be increasingly more sustainable. Read more - members only

Carrier bag

RocketGro agrees partnership with River Cottage

RocketGro is now the exclusive provider of compost to River Cottage HQ, supplying Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s famous smallholding with its organic, peat-free growing media. Read more - members only

Toby Thomas and Jonny Callis

Blue Diamond buys second garden centre in a month

Blue Diamond has acquired Fosseway Garden Centre in Gloucestershire.  This deal is the second in a month after the purchase of Beckworth Emporium. Read more - members only

Tim Godwin

The restoration of Bridgemere Show Gardens gathers steam

Blue Diamond appoints TV gardener, author & chartered horticulturalist, David Domoney, as ambassador to Bridgemere Show Gardens. Read more - members only

David Domoney at Bridgemere Show Gardens

The Times features Blue Diamond’s Newton apple auction

Blue Diamond’s upcoming auction of a limited number of Isaac Newton's Apple Trees have recently been featured in The Times newspaper, (Wednesday 19th April edition). Read more - open to all

Developer hands over The Junction to Dobbies for fitout

The landlord of Northern Ireland’s The Junction retail and leisure park has handed over a 110,000sq ft garden centre to Dobbies to begin fitout work. Read more - members only

Chris Flynn The Junction Centre Director, Lotus Property MD Alastair Coulson with Graeme Jenkins

Potential buyer found for Boningale

Following the February announcement that Boningale Nurseries was to be sold, it has been confirmed by Quinton Edwards that a buyer has been found and the nursery is now under offer.  Read more - members only

Blue Diamond buys Beckworth Emporium

Blue Diamond has exchanged contracts to purchase Beckworth Emporium, the first of two deals expected to complete this month.  Read more - members only

Jon Kitching and David Brown at the 2009 opening of Beckworth

Boyd Douglas-Davies to leave British Garden Centres

Boyd Douglas-Davies is leaving British Garden Centres (BGC) at the end of April to set up his own consultancy business, advising the garden industry and visitor attractions. Read more - members only

Amy Stubbs with Boyd Douglas-Davies at recent industry event

Hyve promotes Nicola Meadows to divisional MD

Portfolio Director for Spring & Autumn Fair and Glee, Nicola Meadows, is appointed divisional managing director for the retail Manufacturing and engineering division of Hyve Group plc. Read more - open to all

Nicola Meadows

Esschert takes control of Fallen Fruits

Fallen Fruits has been acquired by Esschert Design, its main supplier since 1997, with the aim of developing the business in the UK. Read more - members only

Michael Hall & Arend Mosterd

Dobbies & Blue Diamond back Radio 2’s Let it Grow

Dobbies and Blue Diamond garden centres are partnering with BBC Radio 2 for Let it Grow by donating 120,000 packets of seeds between them. Read more - members only

Blue Diamond's new plastic compost bag recycling bins

The Blue Diamond Group, with 42 UK garden centres and sales of £330m, joins Evergreen Garden Care’s scheme to divert 40 million compost bags from landfill. Read more - members only

SBM Life Science launches a new digital platform

“The launch of Seezon™ is a very exciting moment for SBM Life Science.  More than just a new website, we hope it will act as the go-to digital destination for consumers.” Read more - members only

Senior RHS role for Dobbies' senior houseplant buyer

Claire Bishop, Senior Houseplant Buyer at Dobbies, has been appointed as one of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Chairs of Assessors. Read more - open to all

Claire Bishop at RHS Chelsea

Party for Perennial 2023

Industry supporters celebrated at the Party for Perennial in London last week, held at Core Bar, near St Paul's Cathedral. Read more - open to all

 Mona Abboud and Jeremy Storey-Walker

British Garden Centres revamps online e-commerce store

British Garden Centres is targeting the next generation of gardeners through their revamped e-commerce store. The 24/7 online store is accessible from the main British Garden Centres’ website. Read more - members only

Rosebourne gets the Hillier look

The Rosebourne garden centres that Hillier acquired last autumn have been refurbished with changes to bring them in line with the Hillier family. Read more - members only

Hillier Aldermaston

little dobbies shops are getting bigger

At 2,500 square feet the little dobbies newly opened on The Parade in Cheltenham is the biggest yet and over twice the size of the garden shop at Chiswick.  Read more - members only

Nick Anderson with Graeme Jenkins outside Cheltenham little dobbies

Leon Boots in marathon World Record

Last weekend, Becky Lafford broke the women’s world record for a marathon run in wellies, using the same lightweight Leon Boots that claimed the men’s record in 2021. Read more - open to all

Becky Lafford, before setting her World Record

New concessions at Yorkshire garden centre group

Yorkshire Garden Centres welcomes Edinburgh Woollen Mill to Tong Garden Centre and Pavers and Julian Charles to Tingley Garden Centre. Read more - open to all

Elaine Furness from EWM and Sharon McNair from Yorkshire Garden Centres

Positive result for Squire’s in a challenging climate

Squire’s has reported a good performance for 2022, well above pre pandemic levels despite supply challenges in many categories, resulting in higher stock levels than usual. Read more - members only

Chairman, Sarah Squire

James Oakey appointed Buying Director, Hayloft Plants Ltd

James Oakey appointment as Buying Director of Hayloft Plants Ltd will make the retirement of the founders, Yvonne & Derek Jarman, much easier within the next couple of years. Read more - open to all

James Oakey

Planters buys Brookfields following the deaths of its owners

After protracted negotiations, Planters has acquired the £4m Brookfields Garden Centre in Nottingham and has plans for substantial growth. Read more - members only

EOT acquires controlling stake in Bramblecrest

The founders of Bramblecrest have announced the creation of an Employee Ownership Trust that holds a controlling interest in the company for the benefit of its employees. Read more - members only

Hawley Garden centre is for sale

Hawley Garden Centre, in Sutton-at-Hone, Dartford has been put up for sale by its owners for £5m. Read more - members only

Tingley garden centre celebrates its first gardening season

Tingley garden centre is celebrating its first gardening season with a celebration launch weekend next month. Read more - open to all

Jamie Maxwell, Paul Adams and Lisa Pallant at Tingley Garden Centre

Resilient 2022/3 results from Kingfisher

Kingfisher results for y/e Jan 2023 show underlying sales trends remain resilient although B&Q sales fell -8.2% against strong comparatives due to Covid.  Read more - members only

Family-run is important to BGC

Amy Stubbs and Boyd Douglas Davis addressed the GIMA Day Conference to explain how British Garden Centres propose to develop over the next few years. Read more - members only

Amy Stubbs

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