Sales are down but it’s not Doom & Gloom

Both the HTA and the GCA say garden centre sales in the first 6 months are down.  But the GCA insists it’s not doom & gloom. Read more - members only

GCA’s 2025 conference main theme revealed

The Garden Centre Association (GCA) has revealed the overarching theme for its 2025 annual conference ahead of bookings opening for the event later this summer (July 2024). Read more - open to all

MD of St Peters GC/GCA Chairman Will Blake & Chairman Elect for 2024/25, Ben Harrison.

GCA’s regional award meetings to be in new area format

The Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) four newly created member areas will meet for their first regional awards next month (July) to find out who has come top in the organisation’s 2024 annual inspections. Read more - open to all

Phil McCann, Alyson Hayward, Gordon Emslie & Colin Farquhar.

Garden Centres have mixed views of Christmas prospects

It has been a difficult year so far for garden centres with sales flat, down in volume terms, and costs up.  What do garden centres expect from the rest of the year? Read more - members only

Christmas at Castle Garden Centre, Sherborne

Garden centres act to protect their bottom line

Managing a business is more difficult now.  Garden centre bosses explain how they are protecting profits when sales are level and costs have risen?

  Read more - members only

Huge industry support for the YPHA Launch Success Challenge

YPHA reveals details and industry backing for its programme to develop the next generation of leaders in the horticulture industry. Read more - open to all

Natalie Boynton at the Garden Press Event scheme launch

Light touch avoids delays at borders…for now

A light touch by Government has avoided the worst border delays since 30th April, but what will happen when full checks are implemented? Read more - members only

MorePeople has launched The MorePeople Podcast

Whether you’re a job seeker or a hiring manager join us as we unlock the secrets to finding the perfect fit. Read more - open to all

HNS Growers cautiously optimistic for the Spring

An early, wet Easter, potentially holding back garden centre sales, has created some challenges for hardy nursery stock growers. Despite that, they remain cautiously optimistic… Read more - members only

Trees ready for sale at Frank P Matthews

The GIMA Awards are back for 2024 

The GIMA Awards are back for 2024 and we are excited to announce that entries are now open for this year’s edition of the prestigious annual event. Read more - open to all

Sipcam Sword of Excellence Winners 2023

RHS disease ranking highlights top 10 gardening problems in 2023

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has published its annual disease ranking, revealing the top ten problems for gardeners in 2023. Read more - members only

Apple scab

Get Rising Stars nominations in by March 1st

THE Garden Centre Association (GCA) is urging members to get their 2024 Rising Stars nominations in by March 1 to help showcase and develop the industry’s most talented individuals this year. Read more - open to all

Rising Stars

Chairman of Lawn Association Calls for Ban on Lawn Chemicals

David Hedges-Gower, an expert in sustainable lawn care, has made a passionate appeal for a nationwide ban on all pesticides used in lawn maintenance. Read more - members only

David Hedges-Gower

GCA votes to add third tier garden centre category

The Garden Centre Association (GCA) voted at its AGM today to add a third tier garden centre category for members and to reduce its regions to four. Read more - open to all

 Peter Burks, GCA CEO

The YPHA seeks support for its inaugural Accelerator Programme

Following its successful launch and meteoric growth in membership in the past 2 years, The Young People in Horticulture Association (YPHA) is excited to reveal the upcoming launch of “Launch Success”, its inaugural Accelerator Programme, designed to empower and cultivate the next generation of leaders in the horticulture industry. Read more - members only

Christie & Co expect more garden centres to come onto the market

In their latest half year report, property sales and valuation firm, Christie and Co. strike a note of optimism and are seeing continued growth potential for selling Garden Centres sites. Read more - members only

Celebrate a decade of the GIMA Innovators Seed Corn Fund

A celebration of grassroot development and the innovators creating new and unique solutions, the GIMA Innovators Seed Corn Fund (GISCF), created in partnership with Glee, is set to mark its 10th birthday this September, with GIMA issuing a rallying call to those new brands and product designers to submit their entries now! Read more - open to all

Act now: Complete the industry's biggest Wellbeing Survey

Perennial, the charity dedicated to supporting people in horticulture, is calling on everyone in the industry to take part in its largest ever survey. Read more - open to all

Dutch plant lorry drivers to boycott the UK?

Inadequate training and poor facilities at border posts cause damage to products and frustration for drivers. Read more - members only

 picture by TLN

Not enough starts and far too many stops

Leading garden centre bosses comment on the year so far.  “It’s the worst spring weather I can remember in 9 years of being in the trade,”  said one MD. Read more - members only

Plant sales have been down for many

April sales fall for a third year

Despite April sales falling for a third year,  Garden centres were ahead of 2023 at the end of April with catering and garden sundries prospering. Read more - members only

Clothing (+14%) and Catering (+13%) were the bright spots.

The Lawn Association begins training at the University of Oxford

The Lawn Association have started their training sessions at the University of Oxford. This collaborative endeavour between the association and the university signifies a collective dedication to fostering a culture of innovation and sustainability in lawn care practices. Read more - open to all

The GIMA Charity Golf Day returns

Calling all golfers, the annual GIMA Charity Golf Day is set to return to Belton Woods Hotel & Golf Course in Grantham on Thursday June 6th 2024. Read more - open to all

New border charges will undoubtedly increase costs

The HTA expresses frustration at government’s 11th hour reveal of the Common Usage Charge at borders due on plant products from 30th April. Read more - members only

Dutch flowers in St. Peter’s Square in Rome at Easter

Dutch flowers will transform in St. Peter’s Square in Rome into a hugely colourful spectacle during the Holy Mass celebrated by the Pope. Read more - members only

YPHA unveils Launch Success at the Eden Project

Ambassador, Boyd Douglas-Davies, called on more employers to support YPHA members as they visited the Eden Project where the Launch Success development programme was unveiled. Read more - open to all

Applications open for 2024 Rising Stars programme

When Haydon Walters from British Garden Centres’ Thatcham Garden Centre was crowned the winner of 2023’s Westland Horticulture sponsored Rising Stars recently applications also opened for this year’s programme too (2024). Read more - open to all

Rising Stars finalists with their certificates (L-R) Shelly Harrison, Kerry Barrett, Haydon Walters,

A close shave nets £7.5k for charities

Ian Flounders, sales manager at Woodlodge Garden Products, raised over £7500 when he was persuaded to sacrifice his whiskers for industry charities. Read more - open to all

Ian Flounders before his close shave

GCA adds two new awards to 2024 conference schedule

Attendees at next week’s Garden Centre Association (GCA) conference in the Cotswolds will see two new awards added to the roster this year (2024). Read more - open to all

Peter Burks, GCA Chief Executive

New date for the GIMA Awards

GIMA has confirmed that its annual awards ceremony – one of the most anticipated nights of the year – will take place on November 7th at the five-star Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, South Wales. Read more - open to all

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