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 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

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 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

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

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, 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

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

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, 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

The BALI Chalk Fund are delighted to announce that they have updated their Student of the Year competition to reflect the wider aspect of BALI membership. Read more - open to all

The 2023 GIMA Gala Awards dinner (19th October, Celtic Manor) may yet be seven months away but suppliers who want to be in the running to win one of the highly coveted awards need to start thinking about their 2023 entries. Read more - open to all

GIMA hears good times are ahead for the garden sector as the Covid surge in garden spending is here to stay.  There will also be an Olympic boost for greening. Read more - members only

The Garden Centre Association (GCA) has announced that the location of its 2024 annual conference will be Cirencester in Gloucestershire (March 2023). Read more - open to all

The 2023 Garden Press Event was filled with innovation driven by the quest for greater sustainability; and bloggers feeding the interest of younger plant lovers. Read more - members only

We summarise the main measures announced in the autumn statement with comments from the HTA. Read more - members only

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

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 powered garden centre growth in September with farm shop and early Christmas sales showing promise. Read more - members only

Booking is now open for our annual conference next January (2024) and we’re revealing our 21^st Century themes and top-quality speaker line-up too. Read more - open to all

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

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

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

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

Once again, GIMA has secured an impressive line-up of judges for the 2023 GIMA Awards with garden centre and multiple retailer representatives, trend experts, and leading buyers. Read more - open to all

Although weather dampened March sales, the GCA has “a lot of confidence that customers have not forgotten us”.  But spring 2023 is a late one. Read more - members only

Plants and garden products were top sellers in February, boosting growth in smaller garden centres, according to the latest report from the GCA Barometer of Trade. Read more - members only

Join Perennial in helping create a culture of mental wellbeing throughout the horticultural community by training a Mental Health First Aider in your workplace. Read more - open to all

Members of the Garden Centre Association (GCA) are being urged to put forward their staff for the GCA Trust’s Dick Allen Scholarship Award Scheme. Read more - open to all

The UK’s two largest garden centre chains will both be addressing GIMA members at the forthcoming Day Conference being held on 14^th March at Wyboston Lakes, Bedfordshire.   Read more - open to all