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

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

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

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

With the EU licence for glyphosate set to expire on December 15^th, 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 Seed Buying and Quality Supervisor. Read more - open to all

Never has it been more important to stand out from the crowd. On Wednesday 15 November the HTA are holding a one-day Marketing Forum at Horticulture House, Oxfordshire, aimed at all those involved in marketing and public relations in the garden industry, bringing together experts from both inside and outside the industry. Read more - open to all

Broadcaster and presenter Tom Heap will be the after dinner speaker at the HTA Garden Futures dinner. Tom, who is the BBC Rural Affairs correspondent, is well known for presenting programmes including BBC Radio 4’s Costing the Earth, Panorama and BBC Countryfile. He will enlighten delegates with tales from his journalistic and broadcasting career. Read more - open to all

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

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 newly formed new product development team boasts over 140 years’ horticultural experience. Read more - open to all

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

Boyd Douglas-Davies, CEO of Hillview Garden Centres, was awarded the HTA Pearson Memorial Medal at the HTA Garden Futures dinner, which took place at Heythrop Park in Oxfordshire on 4 October. This award, in memory of the HTA’s first general secretary Charles Pearson, is presented annually to an individual for outstanding service to the garden industry. Read more - open to all

Elho welcomes Chris Buck to their UK sales team as representative for the Midlands. Chris joins Elho with nine years' experience in sales and customer development, previously working with the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company.  Read more - open to all

The industry’s leading garden, home and lifestyle PR agency has recently welcomed a new member to the team – introducing Hornby Whitefoot PR’s new Account Director, Cassie King.

After 48 years in the garden trade, Tony Dedman, operations director of Garland Products/Worth Gardening is to retire on 30^th September. Tony is pictured at Glee 2017 with his son Mark, who is sales director of the company. Read more - open to all