GIMA Charity Golf Day returns this summer
As lockdown restrictions ease and golf clubs reopen, there was no better time to confirm that the annual GIMA Golf Charity Day will be making its return on Wednesday June 9th at the Belton Woods Hotel & Golf Course in Grantham. Read more
Garden centres in Scotland to reopen on 5th April
Scotland’s timetable for easing lockdown will permit garden centres to re-open on Monday 5th April, with cafes, pubs and restaurants following on 26th April. English restaurants must wait till 17th May. Read more
Government unilaterally lifts NI plant soil ban
Action taken by the Government, without prior EU agreement, gives temporary permission to ship from GB to Northern Ireland plants that have been grown in soil. Read more
PetQuip Awards set to reward outstanding achievements during pandemic
The prestigious PetQuip Awards will take on even greater importance in 2021 when it recognises outstanding achievements within the pet industry during the Covid-19 pandemic. Read more
Bitter disappointment at First Minister’s caution
Bitter disappointment follows the First Minister’s statement as Scottish garden centres remain unclear when they can re-open. Director of Cardwell calls for return to essential status. Read more
Bad news as NI lockdown is extended
The Northern Ireland lockdown is extended until the 1st of April. This is very bad news for horticultural businesses, says the HTA, with Mother’s Day a write off. Read more
Richard Jackson, challenges Britain to get ready, steady, grow!
Richard Jackson, the QVC gardening guru, who also sells his own Flower Power product range, has created the Couch to Five a Day Challenge to encourage more people to grow their own. Read more
Garden centres should plan ahead as importers face perfect storm
Just when garden centres expect a buoyant spring from locked down gardeners, suppliers warn of shortages as imports are hampered by a perfect storm. Read more
Growers expect plant shortages this spring
Growers say garden centres are right to fear plant shortages this spring and explain what buyers should do to get the plants they want. Read more
GCA announces virtual regional meetings
Members of the Garden Centre Association (GCA) will still be able to get together for their regional meetings in a virtual capacity this year (2021). Read more
Click and Collect OK in Scotland
The HTA confirms that garden centres in Scotland can continue operation of click and collect, and seeks a date for a review their closed status.
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Final call for scholarship applications
2020 was a challenging year for everyone, so 2021 is the perfect time to invest in personal development and look at developing skills for the future. Read more
What are the prospects for Spring 2021?
2020 turned out better for garden centres than many feared. What about Spring 2021 with lockdown #3 and supply problems through the ports? Read more
Gardenex launches new initiative following Brexit
Following the agreement reached by the UK and the EU, Gardenex and PetQuip have launched an initiative to help UK companies navigate their way around the new rules in 2021. Read more
Where are garden centres open in the UK UPDATED
Following the latest strengthening of Coronavirus restrictions garden centres remain open, with limitations, everywhere but in Wales and Northern Ireland. The DIY stores are open across the UK. Read more
Blocked Suez will mean extra delays in Bank Holiday supplies
UPDATED - There were already shortages of garden products before Suez became blocked. Despite it looking as if canal traffic will resume shortly delivery delays are likely to get worse. Read more
New sponsorship scheme launched by Plant Heritage
Gardening and plant enthusiasts are being invited to sponsor the National Plant Collections, helping to save garden plants today, for people to enjoy in the future. Read more
Welsh Garden Centres can reopen from 22nd March
The First Minister for Wales has announced that while non-essential shops must remain closed until 12 April, garden centres can reopen from 22 March. Read more
The GIMA Awards are to return in November
Having been cancelled in 2020 the GIMA Awards, the main industry social event of the year, is to celebrate its 40th anniversary on November 11th. Read more
GCA virtual area meetings hailed a success
The first regional meetings of 2021 for Garden Centre Association (GCA) members were held online and were hailed a great success by attendees recently (February 2021). Read more
FT highlights plight of UK growers post Brexit
The Financial Times interviews with Alex Newey and Adam Taylor warns that millions of daffodil blooms will go unharvested because of the lack of Eastern European seasonal workers. Read more
Welsh growers and GC’s need a miracle
Welsh growers and garden retailers say they need a miracle if they are to weather a second Springtime lockdown says the HTA. Read more
Risk to Scottish horticulture is growing
The risk to Scottish horticulture is growing as garden centres remain closed. With Mother’s Day approaching, HTA calls for Scottish government to take action soon. Read more
Why can’t garden centres in NI buy plants & seeds from GB?
Why can’t Northern Ireland garden centres get deliveries of many plants and seeds from the rest of the United Kingdom following Brexit? Read more
GC sales fail to recover spring losses
Garden centre sales failed to recover the 8 lost spring weeks with catering revenues and plant sales hit worst according to the latest GCA Barometer of Trade. Read more
Annual GC sales were down 10% says the HTA
The HTA is first out with statistics for 2020. The Market update shows the impact of Covid-19. Overall sales fell 10% but there was strong growth in Gardening. Read more
Customers stay at home
There’s little sign of the casual browser as customer numbers dry up in Lockdown #3. Garden centres say January will be quieter than normal but confidence remains for a buoyant spring. Read more
Begin a green career at an RHS Garden
With 2020 seeing a gardening boom and many forced to consider their career options, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is giving 40 green-fingered applicants the chance to train at one of the charity’s five gardens from 2021. Read more
English GC’s permitted to open during 3rd lockdown
After the PM announced a third Coronavirus lockdown in England, Government guidance confirms garden centres, suppliers of building products and off-licences can remain open. Read more
Coronavirus closes Scottish, Welsh and NI garden centres from Boxing Day
The Scottish Government has today announced that homeware stores and garden centres will close in all the mainland from Boxing Day. Garden centres in Wales and Northern Ireland will also be closed. Read more
