GCA announces its 2021 winners, remotely
Barton Grange and Old Railway Line win the best garden centre categories and Allensmore is named Supplier of the Year in the 2021 GCA Awards. Read more - members only
GCA announces its 2021 winners, remotely
Barton Grange and Old Railway Line win the best garden centre categories and Allensmore is named Supplier of the Year in the 2021 GCA Awards. Read more - members only
AIPH to reunite at 2022 Spring Meeting in Dubai
Following two years of restrictions and uncertainty, the AIPH announces its first in-person event in two years - the 2022 AIPH Spring Meeting, held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dubai, UAE. Read more - members only
More details revealed ahead of GIMA Day Conference
Ahead of its first Day Conference of 2022, GIMA has revealed more details about what attendees can expect to learn during the one-day event focused on Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations (EPR). Read more - open to all
What are the biggest challenges for Garden Centres?
Omicron, Brexit, inflation, recruitment or will it be the weather? What do garden centres see as the biggest challenges for 2022? Read more - members only
Final call for horticulture scholarship applications
With just three weeks left to apply for a scholarship, the David Colegrave Foundation (DCF) is urging students to take advantage of available horticulture funding. Read more - open to all
Garden centres hold on to post-Covid gains in November
The GCA Barometer of Trade indicates how garden centres have continued to thrive with a big increase in gifts sales (+19%) in November. But growth is not even. Read more - members only
Success for HTA lobbying
Partial success for HTA lobbying… in 2022 Government will allow ornamental and tree growers to join food growers importing seasonal workers. But there's to be no overall increase in the number allowed in. Read more - members only
GCA reveals top 10 Christmas displays in the UK
Past winners Barton Grange Garden Centre in Preston and Castle Gardens at Sherborne, Dorset top the GCA list of the best garden centre Christmas displays. Read more - open to all
Garden centres stay on their growth path in October
BOT figures from the GCA show garden centres have sustained their Covid boost. Revenues were around +30% up on pre-pandemic levels in October. Read more - members only
HTA reports falling consumer confidence
This months HTA Market Update says 2m new lockdown gardeners have been retained but consumers will be more reluctant to spend in the months leading up to Christmas. Read more - members only
Latest garden centre results show impact of 1st lockdown
Pecent results on Gardenforum show how companies fared over the first lockdown inc: Smart Garden Products, You Garden, The Barton Grange Group, Woodlodge Products, Otter Nurseries, Woodthorpe Hall and Spear & Jackson. Read more - open to all
Call to back Hyde Hall growing trials
UK growers and retailers are being asked to join Peter Seabrook and become involved in the UK Floral Fantasia growing trials at RHS Hyde Hall. Read more - open to all
Huge benefits from small changes to SWP scheme
The HTA has called for an extension to the Seasonal Workers Pilot Scheme (SWP) to include plant and tree growers to support the industry in the short term. Read more - open to all
It’s a sell out for the 40th annual GIMA Awards
The hotly anticipated GIMA Awards are set to be a huge celebratory event, especially as it is now officially sold out! Manufacturers and suppliers from across the garden retail sector have been quick to snap up their place at the 40th-anniversary event. Read more - open to all
Blue Diamond does not share suppliers’ optimism over 2022
Alan Roper says that expecting 2022 to be better than the current year is to be too optimistic. And Christmas supplies? “It’s going to be a nail biter.” Read more - members only
Last chance to join GIMA’s forthcoming Day Conference
Last chance to join GIMA’s forthcoming Day Conference focused on Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations. Taking place on February 17th, GIMA’s first Day Conference of 2022, focused on the forthcoming changes to the Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations (EPR), has just a few places remaining. Read more - open to all
HTA agrees with Brexit report – more costs and burdens to follow
The HTA says the British horticulture industry agrees with the Public Accounts Committee Brexit trade burdens report – more costs and burdens will follow they fear. Read more - members only
Horticulture, The conference - save the date
The HTA are excited to announce the return of our annual conference on Wednesday, 14 September at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in central Birmingham. Read more - open to all
GCA postpones this month’s conference because of COVID
The Garden Centre Association’s annual conference due to start on 23rd January has been postponed due to the ongoing spread of Omicron. Read more - members only
Strong Christmas sales for Garden Centres
The HTA reports sales figures in the last four weeks leading up to Christmas Eve up on 2020 by between 10% and 20%. Read more - members only
The Blue Diamond Scholarship
As one of the leading garden retailers in the UK, Blue Diamond is keen to help horticultural students. Up to £2,500 funding is available. Read more - open to all
Sales of Christmas products fall in November
The HTA Market Update reports a fall of Christmas sales in November compared to 2020, although they remain ahead of 2019. Read more - open to all
Over £3m donated by the NGS in a year of continuing crisis
Despite the restrictions through the early months of 2021, severely curtailing garden opening activities, the National Garden Scheme has made donations of over £3m to charities. Read more - members only
Defra's weekly state of the labour market survey
NFU members can help ensure that Defra has regular information on labour shortages across all faming sectors by completing a new weekly survey on staff absences and labour supply in key sectors of the UK economy. Read more - open to all
The 40th GIMA Award winners are…
The best 2021 gardening product is Elho’s Green Basics Veggie Wall. Meadow View Stone is Supplier of the Year. Other multiple winners were Wildlife World and Richard Jackson. Read more - members only
Budget criticism from the HTA
The HTA says the Chancellor’s emphasis on ‘upskilling’ the workforce does not go far enough. Urgent government action is needed to address the lack of colleges and seasonal labour rules. Read more - members only
BHETA advises members re bladed items legislation
BHETA is updating members on the implications of the latest information from Government on the timing and scope of the proposed Offensive Weapons Act (OWA). The proposed legislation affects the sale of bladed items in the housewares, DIY and garden sectors. Read more - members only
Diverted Christmas containers highlight a perfect storm
As The Times reports massive container ships carrying Christmas stock being diverted to Rotterdam, garden suppliers fear massive inflation and continuing delays next year. Read more - members only
Home improvement remains key consumer driver says BHETA
All statistics suggest that the UK consumer focus on DIY, grow your own, garden leisure, etc remains strong beyond lockdown. Read more - open to all
Record year continues for garden centres
Gardening sales fell in August but garden centre revenues continued to grow as restaurant sales recovered, according to August figures from the GCA. Read more - members only