Garden centres are reporting a strong start to 2011. Figures from the GCA Barometer of Trade for January confirm this, with 50 of the 54 surveyed experiencing increased sales this January. See more... Read more - members only

Alan Titchmarsh has signed for a new prime time Gardening Show – on ITV. See more... Read more - members only

Bents in Cheshire are the best destination garden centre in the UK for the 3rd year running after rigorous inspection by the GCA. Cowells of Newcastle were judged to be the best smaller garden centre. Solus was voted the best supplier. See more... Read more - members only

According to a national newspaper, hosepipe bans are possible next summer as low rainfall and burst pipes deplete reservoirs. See more... Read more - members only

Professor Stephen Blackmore, Regius Keeper, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is made CBE, while Bill Simpson formerly principle of Pershore College becomes MBE in the New Year Honours. See more... Read more - members only

With the threat of more snow interrupting last minute Christmas shopping, it appears that sales have so far proved resilient. But suppliers fear that garden centres will be cautious about re-stocking in the New Year. See more... Read more - members only

Latest results to be published on Gardenforum include suppliers Gardman, Decco, Europlants, Richard Sankey & Son and Smart Solar; plus the retailers, Coolings Nurseries, Castle Gardens Sherborne, Capital Gardens and Golden Acres. There was a sharp increase in profit for Danning and Symons. A number of garden suppliers are still making losses including Desch Plantpak, Deroma, Fiskars Brands UK, Forest Garden Group and Rowlinson Garden Products. See more... (This article is open to all readers)... Read more - open to all

The Dorset conservation success of the previously-threatened otter took an interesting turn on Monday, October 18, when an otter calmly wandered into the coffee shop at Golden Acres garden centre at West Parley! Read more - members only

Falkland in Scotland has retained its title of Champion of Champions in the RHS 2010 Britain in Bloom Awards. The awards ceremony, attended by over 450 community and gardening champions, was held on Wednesday at the Centennial Centre in Birmingham, hosted by BBC Gardeners’ World and Edible Garden presenter, Alys Fowler. See more... Read more - members only

Pop-up rain barrel/water butt scoops triple honours in the Glee New Product Awards. For a list of winners see More... Read more - members only

What will the garden of the future look like? According to a former Chair of the Society of Garden Designers, the idea of a garden without plants is a distinct possibility. See more... Read more - members only

More than half of people with gardens feed birds, says Which? Gardening. But are we hindering or helping our feathered friends, it asks. See more... Read more - members only

Tools and mower businesses show the effects of the recession in the latest results to be published on Gardenforum. But Westland Horticulture, Webbs Garden Centres and Solus Garden & Leisure grew strongly. See more... (This article is open to all readers)... Read more - open to all

There were harsh words for UK garden centres from Adam Pascoe and Christine Walkden at Adrian Bloom's conference about getting people switched on to plants. New initiatives from the US show how to remove the barriers for new gardeners. See more... Read more - members only

There was real enthusiasm from leading garden centres and from exhibitors on the first day of the first ever National Plant Show, which continues today. See more... Read more - members only

Moving the May Bank Holiday to October would not be good for the garden industry, according to the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA). The move has recently been proposed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Read more - members only

Garden centres, said Christine Walkden, do a good job, BUT... they intimidate beginners with jargon and the incomprehensible language of staff who are trained in the theory but have never sown a seed themselves. See more... Read more - members only

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has just announced its top ten pest-related enquiries received by its Advisory Service. Read more - members only

Here are the highlights of stories that appeared on the Gardenforum Noticeboard in 2010. If there are any you missed, they are all still available. See more... (Open to All) Read more - open to all

The Government is consulting the industry over a range of targets to accelerate the elimination of peat in UK horticulture. The plan has received a cautious welcome from the HTA. There will be a series of meetings in the spring. See more… Read more - members only

Environment Minister announces a national tree planting campaign and a White Paper for the New Year. He says the garden industry has a key role to play in the Coalition’s promotion of The Big Society. See more… Read more - members only

Overall shop price inflation increased to 2.2% in October from 1.9% in September. Food inflation increased to 4.4% in October from 4.0% in September. Non-food inflation increased to 1.1% from 0.7% in September. See more... Read more - members only

There is to be a new forum to resolve the simmering rivalry between garden centres and their suppliers. Representatives from both sides of the industry are to meet on the eve of the GCA conference to sort out their differences – on the rugby pitch. See more... Read more - members only

According to a report by MTW Research, the share of the garden products and equipment market taken by garden centres is continually being eroded by DIY, the high street and the Internet. As this continues, garden centres are migrating their offer and are becoming day out attractions. See more… Read more - members only

Retailers dominate the latest results on Gardenforum including Dobbies, Blue Diamond UK, The Garden and Leisure Group and The Garden Centre Group, which we have already reported on. Also released are the latest from The Scotts Company (UK). See 'more' for a summary of the latest additions to Company Results... (This article is open to all readers)... Read more - open to all

Glee Garden Angels, hosted by Gardenforum, is an exciting and different event at Glee this year. Based loosely on the BBC's Dragons Den, three Angels will offer advice and perhaps a little more, to companies bringing innovation to the garden sector. We can now reveal the identity of our Glee Garden Angels. See more... Read more - members only

2009 saw profit increases for Bents Garden Centre, Otter Nurseries, Polhill Garden Centre and OA Taylor & Sons Bulbs. There was a recovery in profits at Country Homes and Gardens, EP Barrus and Roundstone. See more for a summary of the latest additions to Company Results... (This article is open to all readers)... Read more - open to all

Tree lovers are being encouraged to join in a major online survey being organised by the Natural History Museum. See more... Read more - members only

Hillier commits to a growing new media. Blogs from Chelsea, online video of new plants and now the webcasting of in-store events is propagating a new crop of customers. See more… Read more - members only

There have been mixed reactions from the industry to a VAT increase to 20% from 4th January. Retailers will have to decide whether to absorb the increase or move to the next price point. See more… Read more - members only