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

Bents became the best GCA destination garden centre, while Klondyke Morton is the garden centre of the year as the group dominates the awards for smaller sites.  Wyevale Nurseries is named best supplier. Read more - members only

2022 turned out better than many garden centres feared, but the outlook for 2023 is uncertain.  “We can’t sit back and let the economy dictate the rate of growth,” said one garden leader. Read more - members only

2022 was dominated by the recovery from the distortions to trade caused by Covid. It was a year of acquisitions. There were some game changers and sadly we lost some leading characters. Read more - open to all

Applications for RHS work-based training positions are open, giving prospective horticulturists and those wanting to progress their career, training with leading experts and the opportunity to learn hands-on skills while getting paid. Read more - open to all

The Autumn Statement by Jeremy Hunt aimed particular support at the much-beleaguered hospitality, leisure and retail sector, meaning that garden centres and farm shops will benefit from increased and extended relief. Read more - open to all

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 are being misinformed about the economy, an independent expert tells the GCA.  We are going to have a recession but it will be mild.  It will not be a problem. Read more - members only

In-person ticket sales for the 2023 BPOA Technical Conference, taking place on Wednesday 1^st February 2023 at the NFU Conference Centre, Stoneleigh, close on Wednesday 25^th January – don’t leave it too late to book! Read more - open to all

The Garden Centre Association (GCA) is reminding its members to book their places at its first face-to-face conference since 2020, which takes place at the end of this month. Read more - open to all

Members of the Garden Centre Association (GCA) are being invited to put their marketing campaigns to the test as part of the organisation’s annual Worrall Cup competition. Read more - open to all

“Put your Christmas sweater on, it's got to be done” are the words of Christmas crooner, Michael Bublé, and who are we to disagree especially when it is for charity? Read more - open to all

Reports earlier this week that the UK had put a total halt to poinsettia imports from Holland have been quashed by Defra. Read more - members only