Sir Tom Hunter showed his commitment to play an active role as the new chairman of Wyevale by hosting the launch of Plan Apple, its strategy for sustainable development. Today the group announced a ban on polystyrene trays. See more... Read more - members only

Five northern garden centres have left the buying group Future Marketing with effect from the first of September. They will be working more closely together as the Trans-Pennine group. See more... Read more - members only

It will be several years before William Sinclair loses its supply of peat from Bolton Fell following confirmation by Natural England that DEFRA had submitted the site to the EU as a potential SAC. See more... Read more - members only

Marshalls say that a sharp slowdown in the domestic market for landscape products has offset continued growth in the commercial and public sector. See more... Read more - members only

Having decided not to exhibit at Glee this year, Marshalls has taken the unusual step of criticising the garden industry's largest trade show. See more... Read more - members only

Wyevale Garden Centres Ltd today announced the appointment of Andrew Livingston as Chief Operating Officer with immediate effect. See more... Read more - members only

Further to recent speculation, Flying Brands has confirmed it has received a very preliminary approach from Sir Tom Hunter’s West Coast Capital, which holds a 29.9 per cent stake in the company. See more… Read more - members only

The first area winners have been declared in the competition to find this year's Best GCA Garden Centre. The awards, following judging in the North Thames and South Thames areas, were announced at two recent ceremonies. To see the winners, see more... Read more - members only

Wyevale has reorganised its regional management structure. A spokesman said that the group is turning the screw on overheads given the current economic situation. It has also appointed a new advertising agency. See more... Read more - members only

The weather and rising costs have forced a profit warning from William Sinclair Holdings, despite sales being stronger than last year. Chief executive, Bernard Burns, says the industry should accept that growing media prices will be 30% higher next year. See more... Read more - members only

Laurence-Llewelyn Bowen, star of "Changing Rooms", has joined with the garden furniture team at Suntime to produce a celebrity designer collection for 2009. See more... Read more - members only

The US consumer goods group Spectrum Brands has pulled out its deal to sell its pet group, which includes Tetra Europe, to Salton. See more... Read more - members only

An exciting collection of ‘world tools’ comprising the best ideas from around the globe, including eco-friendly composters with a difference and hundreds of other product innovations are being shown by a group of 30 British companies exhibiting at Spoga Gafa this year. The products on show span almost all aspects of gardening for every season of the year. See more... Read more - members only

Solus Garden and Leisure has acquired the Joseph Bentley garden tool business. It is also inviting retailers to visit the new Denewood display, which shows a clear change of direction for the garden furniture brand. See more... Read more - members only

LOFA, the association for importers and manufacturers of garden furniture, has asked Dr Alan Knight to help establish a LOFAMARK, an environmental and ethical guarantee for garden furniture and accessories. See more... Read more - members only

Spotless UK. until recently known as Guaber, is to change its name again to Spotless Punch and expand its presence in the garden market. See more... Read more - members only

Forest has announced a £2.5m restructuring that will see a major new development at Hartlebury and the closure of Eardisley. See more… Read more - members only

Sir Tom Hunter is to assume the chairmanship of Wyevale with Nicholas Marshall, currently chief executive of Country Homes and Gardens taking over the role of chief executive officer. See more... Read more - members only

July figures from the GCA barometer of trade show that garden centres have clawed their way back to match last year's sales figures by encouraging their customers to spend more. But there has been a change in the sales mix. See more... Read more - members only

The EU is likely to ban the use of sodium chlorate as a weedkiller. The announcement is expected within six months. See more… Read more - members only

NWF is in the process of actively selling its six garden centres and expects to complete a sale later this year as the group looks to rationalise and focus on its three specialist distribution divisions. See more… Read more - members only

Hampshire-based Beefeater Barbecues (Regent Garden Collection) has been hit by a very clever scam involving two telephone orders purporting to be from Bents Garden Centre in Cheshire. See more … Read more - members only

Today's interim statement from Flying Brands, the parent for Flying Flowers and Gardening Direct, shows the size of the problems facing the mail order group and how the new chief executive plans to stem the decline in customer numbers. See more... Read more - members only

The latest company results published on Tradeforum show sales at Draper Tools rising to over £61m while sales at Spread Garden Supplies, which faces possible closure, dropped below £20m. Retailers showing growth include Van Hage, Woodcote Green Nurseries and The Garden Store. Among the nurseries, Europlants (UK) grew 14%. See more... Read more - members only

June was a recovery month for garden centres according to the latest sales figures from the GCA. Outdoor plants and garden sundries showed the best growth. See more... Read more - members only

Solus won the GIMA Product of the Year at last night's Awards with a home composting product from Nortene. Gardman was voted the GCA's Favourite Supplier for the 7th successive year. See more.. Read more - members only

Following news that the National Trust for Scotland is raising £50,000 to prevent Sudden Oak Death killing some of its most precious plants, comes a consultation exercise by the HTA and DEFRA to fight the disease. See more... Read more - members only

Development plans to refurbish and extend much of the retail space at Frosts Garden Centre, Woburn Sands are on schedule. Phase 2 will be completed and open to customers by the end of November 2008. See more... Read more - members only

The HTA has expressed considerable concern at a report from the RHS claiming that pests and diseases imported on exotic plants are threatening those in our gardens and across the countryside. See more… Read more - members only

Shortly after appointing a new chief executive, Flying Brands has announced that it will close the Greetings Direct mail order business and website. See more... Read more - members only