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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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