HTA Chairman leaves after 2 months

The HTA Board has announced that Chris Pateman has left his post as Chairman of the HTA citing family reasons and the long commute. Read more - members only

Chris Pateman

Deco-Pak gets creative with sales support

Leading decorative aggregates, landscaping and birdbox supplier Deco-Pak has announced three new additions to its creative team to aid both sales support and new product development. Read more - open to all

(L-r): Sami Jackson, Craig Hall, Adele Wynn and Stephanie Swann.

Darlac appoints new agent in Central England

Darlac, the cutting tools experts, are delighted to announce the arrival of Richard Bedingfield as an agent for the Central England area. Read more - open to all

Richard Bedingfield

BGC to make East Durham even bigger

Planners have recommended approval for additional buildings at BGC’s East Durham Garden Centre which will be one of the country’s biggest when it opens next year. Read more - members only

Hozelock announce their saleperson of the year

Adrian Marsh received the Salesperson of the Year Award on Thursday 8th February at the Moxhull Hall Hotel whilst Hozelock also announce details on some internal staff changes. Read more - open to all

Adrian Marsh

Wyevale Nurseries staff celebrate two award wins

Staff at one of the UK’s leading nurseries is celebrating this month (March, 2018) after winning two awards from two garden centre groups it supplies plants to. Read more - open to all

Colin Stanley from Wyevale Nurseries with the Klondyke Group Award

Gardman’s Mark Portman takes over at Scotts UK

CEO Karl Kahofer has named Mark Portman as General Manager of Scotts (UK), filling the role Sheila Hill vacated in February. Portman has been group sales director at Gardman since last October. Read more - members only

Mark Portman

Sheila Hill leaves Scotts

An announcement is expected shortly that Sheila Hill has left The Scotts Company (UK). Also imminent is an announcement about the future of Roundup. Read more - members only

Garden centre master planners MSC appoint ecologist to boost offering

Specialist garden centre planning experts Malcolm Scott Consultants has appointed environmental impact assessment (EIA) coordinator and ecologist Dr Holly Smith to the business to oversee all environmental issues on behalf of its clientbase. Read more - open to all

Dr Holly Smith

Highfield Garden World expands planteria team

Highfield Garden World in Gloucestershire has expanded its planteria team with two experienced new recruits, bringing the team total to 14.  Read more - open to all

From left:Jon Mason, Ian Byrne and Scott Ellis

Zest 4 Leisure announces recruitment drive and the appointment of a new account manager

Zest 4 Leisure, a leading trade supplier of quality timber garden products, is increasing its workforce with the creation of numerous jobs at its warehouse and distribution centre in Saltney, near Chester. Read more - open to all

Jim Brown

Parkwood founder Tony Hewitt has passed away

Tony Hewitt, founder and executive chairman of Parkwood Holdings which owns Glendale Horticulture, passed away on New Year's Eve after being admitted to hospital. He was 68.

Read more - members only

Tony Hewitt

Ivyline announce their 2017 agent of the year!

Leading Indoor Pot supplier Ivyline are pleased to announce their Midlands Sales agent, David Welling, as their Agent of the Year for 2017! Read more - open to all

James Brindle, UK and Ireland Sales Manager (right), giving David Welling his first Prize!

Stax signals declaration of intent in London area

The UK’s largest non-food wholesaler, Stax Trade Centres have recently announced the hiring of Anthony Whitehead to the position DIY Sales Executive at their Bristol Branch. Read more - open to all

Anthony Whitehead

Garden industry mourns Paul Dye (Updated)

Paul Dye, operations manager at Grovewell Garden Centre since 2014, has died at the age of 55 after a battle with cancer. Read more - open to all

Paul Dye

A tribute to John Brookes FSGD MBE

An icon of garden design, it is not an exaggeration to say that John Brookes FSGD MBE has influenced us all as designers. Brookes enjoyed a breathtakingly diverse and broad career from the late 1950’s working until his death last week leading the way forward from traditional to modern garden design.   Read more - open to all

John Brookes FSGD MBE

Kyle creates customer Plant Health Information Pack

THe Plant Heath Coordinator at one of the UK’s leading nurseries has created an information pack on biosecurity to help address the recent concerns related to the topic within the industry. Read more - open to all

Kyle Ross

Smart investment in Sales and Marketing

With a record-breaking start to 2018, it was inevitable that Smart Garden Products would want to expand their Sales and Marketing teams in order to continue providing the award-winning service for which they are known. Read more - open to all

(L-r) Anastasia Le Meme, Nancy Padbury, Hannah Knott and Olivia Vine.

Klondyke bosses prepare for their Plant-athon

Team Klondyke are all set for this Friday 16th March, as six teams take part in six separate 12 hour Plant-athons to raise money for the Greenfingers charity. Read more - open to all

Smart Garden announces winners of the Sales Manager of the Year Award

For the first time in the history of their Sales Manager of the Year Awards, Chairman Paris Natar was able to congratulate more than one winner who will share the trophy over the coming year.  Read more - open to all

Jonathan Stobart, James Parr, Mikki Miller, Stuart Miller, Stephen Kenny, Paris Natar, Paul Knott.

Night Rider from Mr Fothergill's to make Garden Releaf debut

Richard Keegan, National Field Sales Manager for Mr Fothergill’s, began his training for the 100-mile Garden ReLeaf bike ride on 16th March with a 5-mile cycle-ride in the dead of night as he was so embarrassed that someone might see him. Read more - open to all

Matt Jackson ready for anything!

Five new Charity Ambassadors appointed at Garden Press Day

Finding people willing to work for nothing isn’t easy. So it’s astonishing that five important people from the gardening industry signed up as unpaid Ambassadors to Greenfingers Charity at the recent Garden Press Day. Read more - open to all

(LtoR) Peter Seabrook, Guy Burtenshaw and Richard Jackson.

New chairman takes his seat at the HTA

Chris Pateman became chairman of the Horticultural Trades Association earlier this year. Part of his role is to be the new face of the HTA, representing the interests of members to Government and the rest of the garden sector. Read more - members only

Chris Pateman

The Klondyke Group announce appointment of Catering Director

The Klondyke Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Keren Feeney as its new Director of Catering and Food Sales. Keren will step into her new role from 1st March 2018.

Read more - open to all

Keren Feeney

Mike Lind becomes GCA Chairman for 2018/19

Mike Lind, who is the Managing Director of Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre in Somerset, took on the role as the GCA's Chairman elect for 2018/19 during its annual conference, which took place in Stratford-upon-Avon. Read more - open to all

Mike Lind

Bents colleagues happy with their lot

Figures released from Bents Garden & Home’s latest colleague survey show a high degree of satisfaction among the staff. Read more - members only

Glee welcomes new team member to boost UK coverage

The team behind Glee – the UK’s leading annual trade exhibition for the garden retail industry – has recently been expanded with the recruitment of Daniel McAlpin. Read more - open to all

Daniel McAlpin

Expanding the team and knowledge at Provender Nurseries

Provender Nurseries are pleased to welcome the newest members of their team.  Two new members of staff have been taken on at Provender Nurseries adding to a record of great customer service and knowledge. Read more - open to all

Graham Nott

Service pushes Woodlodge sales over £20m

Woodlodge turnover has grown from £11.5m to over £20m in the 4 years since Michael Wooldridge took control of the business. Plus, last January, the company won the coveted cup for GCA Supplier of the Year.  Gardenforum paid him a visit. Read more - members only

Michael Wooldridge

53 for 53 - Helen’s Runaway Success for Greenfingers Charity

A tireless woman has completed 53 runs in one year to raise funds for the Greenfingers Charity, who have opened 53 magical gardens in the grounds of children’s hospices since the charity was established in 1999. Read more - open to all

Helen Barker in action for Greenfingers

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