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
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
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
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
LOFA warns of cost rises and shipping delays
LOFA warns of surcharges and delays in outdoor living products due to the actions of Yemen Houthis, who have forced shipping to detour around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope Read more - members only
Best Christmas displays in the UK
Castle Gardens and Garsons Garden Centre, Esher have been declared the national winners of the GCA’s Christmas display competition for 2023. See the Regional winners. Read more - members only
New Associate Directors for Pleydell Smithyman
Specialist consultants Pleydell Smithyman have announced the promotion of Kathryn Farden and the appointment of Andrew Burton as Associate Directors. Read more - open to all
Summary and comment on the Autumn Statement
We summarise the main measures announced in the autumn statement with comments from the HTA. Read more - members only
Mixed signals despite October growth at Garden Centres
Although October was a growth month for Garden Centres with strong early Christmas and Gift sales. 40% of sites experienced a dip in sales says the GCA. Read more - members only
The early bird catches...a GCA conference saving!
Delegates booking for the 2024 Garden Centre Association (GCA) annual conference in the Cotswolds in January can take advantage of an early bird discount when they sign-up this month (November 2023). Read more - open to all
Restaurants drive garden centre growth in September
Restaurants powered garden centre growth in September with farm shop and early Christmas sales showing promise. Read more - members only
GCA Conference booking NOW OPEN on GCA website
Booking is now open for our annual conference next January (2024) and we’re revealing our 21st Century themes and top-quality speaker line-up too. Read more - open to all
2024 GCA conference themes & speakers revealed
Booking has now opened for the Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) annual conference next January (2024) and the organisation has also revealed its 21st century themes and its top-quality speaker line-up too. Read more - open to all
Retail crime crisis: Garden centres lost £16m in the last year
The HTA has joined the BRC and other major retailers to call for action on the escalating crisis of retail crime affecting over 70% of garden centres. Read more - members only
Competition to provide Downing Street Christmas tree
The British Christmas Tree Growers Association (BCTGA) will be hosting a competition to determine the supplier of this year’s Christmas tree for Downing Street. Read more - open to all
New top level Environmental Horticulture Group launched
Today’s House of Lords launch of the New Environmental Horticulture Group (EHG) shows the sector’s importance to achieving national environmental goals. Read more - members only
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
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
Garden centres cautious about 2024
Most garden centres were satisfied with relatively strong Christmas trading. But there’s concern about 2024 with rising costs and thefts. We gather the views of garden centre leaders. Read more - members only
2023 news roundup
We highlight the main events of 2023 including the collapse of Wilko, juggling of the trade shows calendar and the deaths of some notable pioneers in the industry. Read more - open to all
Nine finalists 9 named for IGOTY 2024
Nine growers from around the world, including one from the UK, have reached the finals for the AIPH International Grower of the Year (IGOTY) Awards 2024. Read more - members only
Garden Centres an investment opportunity?
A new report by Savills suggests that there is still strong investment potential in garden centres. Acquisition activity is increasing as individual sites are “snapped up”. Read more - members only
Haskins to redevelop Forest Lodge & Birdworld
Haskins has revealed plans to redevelop Farnham and Birdworld, building a new adventure park and indoor play area, creating a year-round destination. Read more - members only
New Plant Heritage website for rare plants
Having just won a top prize at the UK IT Industry Awards 2023, the charity Plant Heritage has unveiled an online catalogue of rare plants. Read more - members only
Evergreen GC calls for compost regulation
Evergreen Garden Care is asking the industry to back an open letter that it plans to present to Defra calling for regulation of peat-free composts to protect gardeners and prevent greenwashing. Read more - members only
Auction of Newton’s Apple raises £30,000
More than 1,800 bids were placed in the auction, held jointly by the National Trust and Blue Diamond Garden Centres, for 10 saplings propagated from Sir Isaac Newton’s apple tree. Read more - members only
Sipcam wield the GIMA Sword of Honour
Top honours at last night’s GIMA Awards were won by Sipcam Home & Garden and Smart Garden Products with many other companies becoming first time winners of the category awards. Read more - members only
Allensmore is HTA Grower of the Year
Allensmore, Majestic Trees and Greenwood Plants led the list of UK nurseries that were honoured at the 2023 HTA Grower of the Year Awards last night. Read more - open to all
Modest growth masks big departmental sales swings
GCA sales figures for the year so far show a little growth, but they mask double digit growth in some departments and similar falls in others. Read more - members only
PetQuip Awards 2023 announces finalists
After a record number of entries, the PetQuip trade association has revealed the list of finalists for the PetQuip Awards dinner on 1 October at Telford International Centre. Read more - open to all
Plant Heritage relocated to RHS Garden Wisley
Plant Heritage, the horticultural conservation charity which manages the National Plant Collections, is now based right next to RHS flagship garden in Surrey. Read more - open to all