Entrepreneur & Sewing Bee judge backs creativity at GCA conference

The dapper-suited entrepreneur made famous for his role as a judge on BBC’s ‘The Great British Sewing Bee’ is speaking at the Garden Centre Association’s 2018 conference. Read more - open to all

Patrick Grant

Chris Pateman to be the new chair of the HTA

The HTA has named Chris Pateman as the new chair of the Association.  In this new role Chris will assist the HTA Board in coordinating the activities of the HTA Executive and their teams at Horticulture House. In addition, he will represent the HTA at a senior level to Government and other stakeholders. Read more - members only

Chris Pateman - New HTA Chair

Uffe Kloster, Playmobil and Lechuza Commercial Director, passes away

It is with great sadness and dismay we had to learn that Uffe Kloster, Commercial Director for Playmobil and Lechuza in the United Kingdom and Ireland, passed away over the weekend. We are deeply saddened by his sudden death. Read more - open to all

Uffe Kloster

Hillier celebrates a record year

The Hillier Awards Night celebrated a record year for the group. Suppliers and garden centres collected their awards as Robert Hillier praised the impact Chris Francis has made since taking control in March 2014. Read more - members only

Chris Francis with Robert Hillier, celebrating his 50 years service

New appointment to Klondyke buying team

The Klondyke Group are pleased to annouce the appointment of Dan Lawton to the horticulture buying team. Dan will start on the 22nd January 2018. Read more - open to all

Losses force nurseries to reorganise as costs increase

Results filed at Companies House for 2016 show how Brexit, rising costs, the living wage and tough competition are squeezing margins. Several nurseries are reorganising to stem losses. Read more - members only

T&M's most experienced new product development team EVER!

T&M’s newly formed new product development team boasts over 140 years’ horticultural experience. Read more - open to all

Creator of Fullers Mill Garden, Bernard Tickner dies aged 93

Bernard Tickner MBE, whose home was at Fullers Mill, died peacefully this week. He was 93. Bernard leaves a legacy of achievements in both professional and private spheres which have enriched the lives of those in his local community and beyond. Read more - open to all

Bernard Tickner MBE

Helen MacDonald appointed HTA Council representative for Scotland

We are pleased to announce that Helen MacDonald of Merryhatton Garden Centre in East Lothian, near Edinburgh, has been appointed to the role of HTA Council Representative for Scotland. Helen replaces Simon Fraser who stepped down at the last meeting following his appointment to the Board. Read more - open to all

Helen MacDonald

Geoff gets growing his tash again for Hereford hospice

A member of staff at one of the UK’s leading nurseries is this month (November, 2017) growing a moustache in aid of a hospice in Hereford. Read more - open to all

Geoff Godsall Trading Foreman at Wyevale Nurseries

Zest employees clock up over 3,400 miles for charity

Employees from Zest 4 Leisure, a leading trade supplier of quality timber furniture, have covered over 3,400 miles this year, raising in excess of £15,000 for Cancer Research UK, its chosen charity for 2017. Read more - open to all

Bowles & Wyer announces new employees

Landscape company Bowles & Wyer has secured three new employees as part of its current restructuring programme under the guidance of John Wyer. Read more - open to all

Mark Latchford - Designer

Mark Portman says he joins Gardman at an exciting time

Mark Portman joins Gardman as group sales director after 5 years at Henkel, where he had a succession of roles from head of sales UK to general manager UK, Ireland and the Nordics. Read more - open to all

Mark Portman, Group Sales Director at Gardman

Smart Garden Products appoints new Trade Marketing Manager

Smart Garden Products is delighted to announce that Caroline Holford has joined Smart Garden Products on 9th October as Trade Marketing Manager. Read more - open to all

Caroline Holford, Smart Garden Products

Carol Paris becomes a non-exec director at Briers

Carol Paris has joined Jackie Eades on the board of Briers, the UK’s leading garden glove and boot supplier, to guide it through its next phase of growth. Read more - members only

Carol Paris and Jackie Eades

Visiting economist at Bank of England to speak at GCA conference

World renowned economist Roger Martin-Fagg will be speaking at the Garden Centre Association's (GCA) 52nd annual conference in Warwickshire this January (January 21 until 24, 2018). Read more - open to all

Roger Martin-Fagg

Mr Fothergill's staff showcase their photography skills

This year, staff at Mr Fothergill's were challenged to take their best pictures from our trial grounds and they certainly rose to the challenge! Read more - open to all

Ian Cross' Winning Entry

Mike Rimland from Costa Farms USA joins AIPH board

Members of the AIPH elected Mike Rimland from Costa Farms in Florida, USA as representative of North and Central America to the Board in September. Mike Rimland takes over from Bill Stensson from Sheridan Nurseries, Canada after his term was completed.  Read more - open to all

Mike Rimland

Phil Griffiths appointed sales manager UK & Ireland at Desch Plantpak

Phil joined Desch Plantpak in September 2016 and has been responsible for the North West area. He brings to the role extensive business experience within our industry. Read more - open to all

Phil Griffiths

Former UK Ambassador 1st speaker unveiled for 2018 GCA conference

Former UK Ambassador Charles Crawford has been announced this month (November) as the first speaker booked for the Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) 52nd annual conference in Warwickshire in January (January 21 until 24, 2018). Read more - open to all

Charles Crawford

Herman Hamer, pioneer and driving force of Florensis, has sadly passed away

Herman Hamer, Shareholder and Advisor to the Board of Florensis, passed away on 12 November 2017 following a courageous battle against his illness. He was 60 years old. Read more - open to all

Excellent customer service rewarded

Dealing with tricky consumers can be quite a challenge requiring patience as well as great communication skills and a detailed understanding of the product as well as business relationships. Read more - open to all

Leanne Arrowsmith

EU again fails to agree on the future of glyphosate

With the EU licence for glyphosate set to expire on December 15th, the EU has today failed to pass the Commission’s proposal of a licence renewal for 5 years. So what happens now? Read more - members only

Jason Lock joins Bowles & Wyer as new Head of Design & Build 

Landscape company Bowles & Wyer has announced that Jason Lock, former partner at DeakinLock Garden Design, has been appointed as its new Head of Design & Build. Read more - open to all

Jason Lock

Smart Garden Products expand their award-winning team

In October 2017, due to the continued growth of their rapidly expanding Export business, Smart Garden Products welcomed two new employees to their award-winning team based in Abingdon. Read more - open to all

Left to right: Silvia Staudenmaier, Elvire Beugin and Sabrina Laloui.

New sales & marketing director for Glendale Horticulture

Glendale Horticulture is pleased to announce the appointment of Kersten Catella as Sales and Marketing Director. Read more - open to all

Kersten Catella

North Yorkshire nursery chairman is inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award winner

John Richardson, the chairman of leading horticultural nursery Johnsons of Whixley, has been named as one of the first recipients of a Lifetime Achievement Award in the recent Rural Excellence Awards. Read more - open to all

John Richardson Award

Our Chairman is retiring

The character that is Edward Way is hanging up his boots and retiring from Fordingbridge plc. Read more - open to all

Edward Way

Steve Guy rejoins Kingfisher

Steve Guy, buying director at Dobbies until earlier this year, has rejoined Kingfisher as head of outdoor sales. Read more - open to all

Staff long service awards at Glendoick Garden Service

Fifteen Staff at Glendoick Garden Centre were recognised for their loyalty to the business recently when they were presented with long service awards for 5, 10 and 15 years of service. Read more - open to all

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