Budget imposes increased employment costs and rates on companies

Employers will bear the brunt of the £40bn tax rises unveiled yesterday by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves.  Employment costs and rates will rise. Read more - members only

Colegrave Seabrook Foundation - Launch of new scholarship season

Students - Now is the time to boost your learning with scholarship support from the Colegrave Seabrook Foundation. Read more - open to all

BOA British Ornamentals Association presents the BOA Technical Conference 2025

The British Ornamentals Association (BOA) is delighted to invite you to our upcoming Technical Conference on 5th February 2025.  Read more - open to all

Calls for more notice from Government

HTA calls for more notice to enable forward planning after Government confirms seasonal worker visa allocation for horticulture in 2025, slightly lower than this year. Read more - members only

 (Image: OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images)

Last chance to book your place at Horticulture, the Conference

Time is running out to book your place at the Horticultural Trades Association’s (HTA) Horticulture, The Conference on 25 September 2024 at the ICC Birmingham. With only two weeks remaining, don't miss the chance to hear from key speakers and experts at this essential industry event. Read more - open to all

Tom Allen to host the GIMA Awards

Comedian, presenter and Sunday Times bestselling author, Tom Allen, has been confirmed as the host of the 2024 GIMA Awards.

Read more - open to all

Comedian, Tom Allen

B&Q pilots robot deliveries with DPD

B&Q is testing a new means of home delivery for small products using a fleet of autonomous robots. Read more - members only

Image: DPD

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

Average transaction values and consumer confidence fall

The latest Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) Market Update for October 2024 shows that overall garden centre sales in September 2024 increased by +1%. Read more - members only

Most prominent brands within the online plants industry

According to a new report, Bloom and Wild is the most prominent brand within the online plants sector for 2024. Read more - members only

Westland awarded the Peter Wilson Cup by Choice Marketing

The supplier of the year cup has been renamed the Peter Wilson Cup, in honour of the director of Mackenzie & Cruickshank who died earlier this year.  Read more - members only

Harry Wilson presents the Peter Wilson Cup to Westland watched by Terry Maywood

BHETA lobbies government on plans for 887% tax rise under EPR

BHETA is urging members to help lobby Government on the upcoming Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme, that will be imposed on all producers of packaging materials from next year. Read more - members only

‘Baring’ all for a good cause

The 2025 edition of the Naked Gardeners Calendar features the Grubby Gardeners, a spirited volunteer group who have been raising funds for Perennial since 2014. Read more - open to all

Read comprehensive Horticulture Industry Survey by MorePeople

Read the Horticulture Industry Survey by MorePeople with insights into key industry trends, challenges, and opportunities. Read more - members only

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

To see earlier stories - Look in the News Archive