Possible draconian laws to eliminate a wide range of potentially invasive garden plants, and EU pesticide legislation were among the topics discussed by industry leaders at yesterday’s meeting with Hillary Benn, the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. See more... Read more - members only

HTA members who attended this week's business leaders’ conference heard that we are facing the toughest time ever for business directors. Innovation is the key to survival, but this does not come naturally to companies with over 20 staff. Creativity needs to be worked at. See more... Read more - members only

Prices will rise 10% or more next year. Will volumes decrease by an equivalent amount? No, say exhibitors and retailers at Glee, the garden industry can expect some growth next year. See more... Read more - members only

Dudley Transport has suspended deliveries for two weeks while its owner, Kinglea Plants, rationalises its customer base. Uncertainty has also arisen over the financial security of Baugur, a shareholder in Wyevale. See more ... Read more - members only

The new look Ruxley Rose competition will keep garden centres focused on plants at a time when their attention might be diverted by Christmas decorations. See more... Read more - members only

Anyone who knows the enjoyment of gardening and has a visual impairment should sign up now so that their skills can be recognised and celebrated in Thrive's popular annual Blind Gardener of the Year competition. Closing date is Monday 15 September 2008. See more for details... 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

Internal correspondence between GCA members shows that those who are already active in the controversial AIS/GRO buying group are delighted with the results, even before the imminent appointment of a senior garden buyer. See more... Read more - members only

The HTA is surveying its retail members to support its campaign to extend Sunday opening hours for garden centres. The Government appears open to change and has asked for more information. See more.. Read more - members only

Research launched today has revealed that the importance of reducing our gardening footprint still hasn’t resonated with some gardeners, as over a quarter admit to not considering the environment as they garden. See more... Read more - members only

The RHS is using interest raised by the Chelsea Flower Show to launch a petition to reduce VAT on all ornamental plants and seeds to 5%. To sign the petition, see more – open to all readers... Read more - open to all

Friday's House of Lords debate on the HTA’s bill to extend Sunday trading at garden centres was rewarded a positive response from the trade minister. See more... Read more - members only

Efforts to include more planting in new urban developments are bearing fruit with news that a third council has passed a motion put forward by the HTA with 9 more likely to follow soon. See more... Read more - members only

Returning from the World Retail Congress, the CEO of Kingfisher, Ian Cheshire, has commented in The Retail Bulletin that sustainable retail is one of the hottest topics in the industry at the moment and it is here to stay. See more… Read more - members only

The Horticultural Trades Association is continuing to seek support in government for a relaxation of the laws to enable Sunday trading to take place on Easter Sunday. Read more - members only

The latest Mintel report sees signs of a new generation of gardeners with different needs. Garden centre consolidation is slowing, but the long-term survival of the traditional garden centre is questioned. See more... Read more - members only

Phase one of a stunning £25 million Butterfly World Project will open next June with Future Gardens, a series of show gardens launched by Sir David Attenborough and David Bellamy. When completed, the 25-acre site near St Albans will have display gardens in the shape of a caterpillar, a tropical biome and 10,000 tropical butterflies. See more... Read more - members only

The IGCA (International Garden Centre Association) Congress is to return to the UK after 12 years. In 1997 the event was hosted by London, the Southeast and Scotland. In September 2009 it will be the turn of the North West. 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

The HTA is to meet the government in October backed by overwhelming support from its members in favour of exempting garden centres from Sunday trading restrictions. This will add weight to the Bill currently in the House of Lords. 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

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) advisory service continues to receive many calls from gardeners worried that their crops are being damaged by weedkiller residues from contaminated manures or soil improvement composts. See more... Read more - members only

David Domoney and Julie Peasgood return to host the 2008 GIMA awards, which include entries from companies who are participating for the first time. This year's entertainer is to be TV show host Roy Walker. See more... Read more - members only

Last Thursday, a seminar on effective garden centre marketing held by the HTA, gave a valuable insight into how garden centres should use the Internet and focus on providing an authoritative service rather than selling product. See more... Read more - members only

The Barometer of Trade produced by the GCA gives the first indication of how awful sales were in April compared to a year ago. Worst hit were sales of garden furniture and outdoor plants. See more... Read more - members only

For the second time in three years Crocus has constructed the winning Show Garden at Chelsea. The Best Urban Garden was constructed by Adam Frost. To see the medals earned by Hillier, Notcutts, Chessington and Squire's - See more… Read more - members only

Plant sales soared as the temperature rose over the early spring Bank Holiday and brought much welcome relief after a disappointing April. See more… Read more - members only

Poor weather and an early Easter have been blamed for a slump in plant sales in Q1 which has led to B&Q facing losses of over £1m on unsold plant stock. But growers are still hoping for a good season. See more… Read more - members only

Each year Easter is the time for stories from environmental pressure groups. The focus this year is on peat and a report naming companies that sell garden furniture made out of illicit timber from Laos. See more... Read more - members only

At GIMA’s annual meeting last week, Alistair Lorimer predicted fragmentation of the mass market as baby boomers turn 70, Peter Field was elected President for the next year and Jon Whitely warned against poor insurance policies. See more... Read more - members only