Trevor Wellington 29/4/47 – 14/5/20

The widely known and well-liked grower and nursery manager, Trevor Wellington, has sadly died aged 73. Trevor contributed much to the growth of Highfield Garden World until his retirement in 2010. Read more - open to all

Trevor Wellington

Carol Paris becomes CEO of Rosebourne

Carol Paris has become CEO of Rosebourne as Neville Prest stands down and becomes a non-executive director. Read more - open to all

Carol Paris and Neville Prest when at Garden and Leisure

John Grayson joins Hozelock

Hozelock announces the appointment of John Grayson as Commercial Director for UK and Ireland, Scandinavia and Southern Hemisphere. Read more - open to all

John Grayson

David Domoney takes on role of Patron for Greenfingers Charity

TV gardening personality, David Domoney, has recently been confirmed as the Greenfingers Charity’s newest Patron.  The role will see David support the charity’s work in building magical and therapeutic gardens for life-limited children in hospices across the country. Read more - open to all

Greenfinger's newest patron David Domoney

Mairi Devlin joins British Garden Centres

Mairi Devlin joined British Garden Centres as their new Trading Director last week. Read more - open to all

Neil Sims joins Natural Grower, the award winning veganic fertilizer

Neil Sims has started working with Natural Grower having retired from Evergreen Garden Care (formerly Scotts Miracle-Gro) last December after twenty years. Read more - open to all

Sarah Gittins, Neil Sims and Charlotte Beaty

Antony Harker confirms his links with BGC

Antony Harker has confirmed that he will not be accepting an offer of a strategic advisory role with AMES UK. He has made a significant investment in and holds an advisory role with in British Garden Centres. Read more - members only

Antony Harker

Bringing the right balance between great genetics and commercial success

Syngenta Flowers announces the appointment of Martijn Kuiper (MBA) as new Head of Product Management  EAME. Read more - open to all

Martijn Kuiper

Triathlete from Mr Fothergill's to make Garden Releaf Debut

Sam Broadway, National Account Manager for Mr Fothergill’s, has been doing some serious training to ensure optimum performamce for her 100km Garden ReLeaf bike ride on 13th March. Read more - open to all

Sam Broadway, National Account Manager for Mr Fothergill’s

Empathy by PlantWorks appoint sales manager for the North

PlantWorks UK, which produces biological solutions for gardening and horticulture, specialising in mycorrhizal fungi, has expanded its UK team ready for a busy 2020. Read more - open to all

Neil Acton joins the team as field sales manager.

Freedom of the City of London granted to MD of Penrith’s Dalefoot Composts

Professor Jane Barker, who makes eco garden compost from Herdwick wool and bracken, has been granted the Freedom of the City of London. Read more - open to all

Professor Jane Parker with Mark Johnson, Master Worshipful Woolmen

Penelope Hobhouse receives SGD Lifetime Achievement Award

Renowned garden designer, plantswoman and author Penelope Hobhouse has been named as the next recipient of the SGD Lifetime Achievement Award at the SGD Awards Ceremony 2020.  Read more - open to all

Gardenex announces Joe Denham as new chairman

Gardenex is pleased to announce that Joe Denham, CEO of VegTrug Limited, has taken over as chairman of the Federation. Read more - open to all

Joe Denham

Phil and Mark join GCA team of inspectors

The Garden Centre Association has today (Monday, January 27, 2020) announced Phil McCann and Mark Taylor will be joining its team of inspectors. Read more - open to all

Mark Taylor

Mike Burks to take over as GCA Chairman for 2020/21

Mike Burks will take over as Garden Centre Association (GCA) Chairman for 2020/21 at the start of the organisation’s annual conference from next week (January 27, 2020). Read more - open to all

Mike Burks

Award-winning Garden Designer Mark Gregory named Vice President of The Yorkshire Society

Multi award-winning garden designer, Mark Gregory, has been given the title of Vice President of The Yorkshire Society, following in the footsteps of Sir Michael Parkinson, Sir Geoffrey Boycott and the Archbishop of York to name just a few.   Read more - open to all

Mark Gregory has been given the title of Vice President of The Yorkshire Society.

Gill Ormrod to leave the HTA

Gill Ormrod has announced that she will be leaving the HTA at the end of the month after 12 years with the association. Read more - open to all

Gill Ormrod

Notcutts’ new chairman becomes High Sheriff of Suffolk

Bridget McIntyre, who became chairman of Notcutts last month, has become High Sheriff of Suffolk for the year from April. Read more - open to all

Bridget McIntyre

Jay Hamlett joins Horticruitment UK Ltd

Horticruitment UK Ltd is delighted to announce the appointment of Jay Hamlett to the role of Recruitment Consultant for the retail sector. Read more - open to all

Jay Hamlett

More names confirmed for GIMA Day Conference

The annual GIMA Day Conference is fast approaching (19th March 2020), and with the latest names joining the agenda it is set to be a valuable day of learning and networking for both members and non-members. Read more - open to all

Phil Pond

BGC shows depth of Stubbs family involvement

Stepping into the limelight at the Garden Press Event for the British Garden Centres Group was Amy Stubbs. With her cousins she represents the next Stubbs generation in the business. Read more - open to all

Amy Stubbs with Boyd Douglas Davies

Forty years on... Neville and Richard go over the edge for charity

40 years after meeting at Pershore, Richard Lawton and Neville Stein are to abseil down the Orbit in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on 28th of March 2020, raising funds for Perennial. Read more - open to all

Neville Stein and Richard Lawton

Adrian Bloom pays tribute to Laurence Flatman

Laurence Flatman died in January, aged 88.  He spent his working life at Blooms Nurseries in Bressingham.  A thanksgiving service will be held on March 2nd. Read more - open to all

Adrian Bloom, Mary Fox, Laurence Flatman, Alan Bloom, Maurice Prichard, Flora Bloom, Robert Bloom.

David Austin Roses appoints Paul Manley as Wholesale General Manager

David Austin Roses is pleased to announce the appointment of Paul Manley to the role of Wholesale General Manager. Read more - open to all

Paul Manley

New international sales director for Landmann

Landmann restructure for ambitious plans for global growth with the new appointment of a new International Sales Director. Read more - open to all

Garden retail expert bolsters Vitax’s sales team

Vitax has recruited a garden centre retail specialist to bolster its sales team as the company appoints a new area sales manager to cover Avon, Wilts, Hants and Dorset. Read more - open to all

(L-r): Ross Baldock with  Vitax’s national sales manager – Mark Butler

Carol promoted to Head of Business Support

Carol Dickinson from Hereford has this month (January, 2020) been promoted to Head of Business Support at Wyevale Nurseries. Read more - open to all

Carol Dickinson Head of Business Support at Wyevale Nurseries

Elizabeth Hayes, doyenne of Hayes Garden World, has died

Elizabeth Hayes, who with her late husband Leith transformed an Ambleside nursery with its small cafe into Hayes Garden World, died earlier this month. Her funeral took place last Friday. Read more - members only

Leith and Elizabeth Hayes.

The most recent addition to the AMES UK Director team

The most recent addition to the AMES UK Director team is Matt Wilson who joined the business in September.  Matt’s confident that AMES UK – before the addition of Apta - will break the £50m barrier in 2020. Read more - open to all

Matthew Wilson

New role for Rachel at Suffolk Seedsman

Mr Fothergill’s are pleased to announce a significant promotion for long-standing and valued member of staff, Rachel Cole. With immediate effect Rachel will be promoted to the new position of Seeds Manager. Read more - open to all

Rachel Cole

To see earlier stories - Look in the News Archive