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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Garden Centre Association (GCA) has announced that the location of its 2022 annual conference is to be Blackburn in Lancashire. Read more - members only

Haskins at Snowhill and Squire’s Hersham are the top garden centres in the GCA South Thames area, while Perrywood, Tiptree and Thurrock win North of the Thames. Read more - members only

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

The Garden Centre Association’s annual conference due to start on 23^rd January has been postponed due to the ongoing spread of Omicron. Read more - members only

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

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

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

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

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 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

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 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

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

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

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

Online retail sales fell by -9.3% Year-on-Year in August but gardening bucked the trend according to the latest IMRG Capgemini Online Retail Index. Read more - members only

Tickets for Glow at the RHS Gardens are on sale now as the world’s leading gardening charity prepares to light up all five of its gardens this winter. Read more - open to all