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
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
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
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
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
Charles Carr joins Hillier as new head of wholesale nurseries
Hillier has recruited Charles Carr to oversee all areas of Hillier Nurseries including technical developments in growing, crop protection and implementing new systems. Read more - open to all
Two exciting developments at Desch Plantpak England to start 2018
We are pleased to announce that Martin Shields has joined the business as Manufacturing Manager from the start of January. Martin has extensive experience in plastics processing and his depth of experience will strengthen the Mundon manufacturing operation. Read more - open to all
Panarama Agencies Ltd new appointment
Panarama Agencies Ltd strengthen their sales team with the appointment of Alan Wood. Read more - open to all
Glendale Horticulture names new Lathom Nursery Manager
Glendale Horticulture has appointed Neil Dudley as manager for its Lathom Nursery, in Lancashire with effect from 02 January 2018. Read more - open to all
New Year OBE’s for Colin Squire and John Athwal
The New Year's Honours list 2018 awarded OBE’s to garden centre owner, Colin Squire, and to the founder and owner of Premier Decorations, John Athwal. Read more - open to all
Former England rugby player Matt Dawson to speak at GCA conference
Former England rugby player Matt Dawson MBE will share his team building and personal commitment expertise with delegates at Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) 52nd annual conference in Warwickshire in January (January 21 until 24, 2018). Read more - open to all
Shark Warrior to get jaws wagging at conference
Following the BBC’s successful Blue Planet II series the Garden Centre Association (GCA) has secured a guest speaker passionate about shark conservation for its annual conference in January (2018). Read more - open to all
Mr Fothergill’s appoints Ken Ross as new territory manager
Mr Fothergill’s Seeds is delighted to welcome Ken Ross to the company. He has joined Mr Fothergill’s as territory manager responsible for looking after garden retailers in an area running from Cambridgeshire to the west midlands. Read more - open to all
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
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
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
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
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
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
BBC comedian to compere GCA awards dinner
Radio and TV comedian Jo Caulfield will be compering the Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) conference awards’ dinner this month (January, 2018). Read more - open to all
Aidan’s charity gloves launch!
Ten-year-old Aidan Parmar saw the realisation of his glove design when he received a surprise presentation of the finished article in front of his classmates and parents at Brocks Hill Primary School’s morning assembly in Leicestershire. Read more - open to all
Squire’s in Long Ditton is Garden Centre of the Year!
Squire’s Garden Centres have announced the winners of their annual garden centre awards. With 15 centres across the South East competition was tough, but Squire’s in Long Ditton came out top and won the double – best Garden Centre and best Café Bar of the year! Read more - open to all
The Tildenet Group appoints James Hollingworth
James Hollingworth has joined The Tildenet Group as Product Development Manager working across all their brands. Read more - open to all
Mark Taylor of Kernock Park Plants has passed away
It is with great sadness to inform you that Mark Taylor passed away on Boxing Day following his diagnosis with advanced prostate cancer in 2012. Read more - open to all
Evergreen Horticulture appoints Stephen Simmons as UK National Sales Manager
Evergreen Horticulture is delighted to welcome Stephen Simmons (formerly Regional Sales Manager, The Scott’s Co. Ltd.), who joins us on 3 January 2018 as UK National Sales Manager. Read more - open to all
A round-up of 2017, a year dominated by Brexit and Xylella
2017 started with a flourish but lost momentum and settled to be an OK year. Suppliers worried about Brexit, the living wage, higher costs and Wyevale. Retailers and growers worried about Xylella. Takeover activity reached new peaks among suppliers, but no major garden centres changed hands. The industry said goodbye to some old friends. Read our review – (open to non-subscribers). Read more - open to all
Riffelmacher strengthen their sales team
Riffelmacher have the pleasure to announce that The Denholm Agency formerly the agents of O. Widmann and Co are taking the helm and their representatives will be at the forthcoming Harrogate Christmas and Gift Fair. The Denholm team will be joining existing sales executive Kevin Sheehan. Read more - open to all
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
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
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
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