Ann-Marie Powell appointed a Patron of Greenfingers Charity

Greenfingers Charity is delighted to announce that Ann-Marie Powell has agreed to be a Patron and to promote the fund-raising work needed to create and build therapeutic and peaceful gardens in the grounds of children’s hospices. Read more - open to all

Anne- Marie Powell (right) is welcomed by Chairman John Ashley and Chief Fundraiser Linda Petrons.

Glencrest Seatex appoint new Sales Agent for the South West

Glencrest are proud to announce that Sue Holden and her two Ladies will be joining the sales force representing the company in the South West of England. Read more - open to all

Sue Holden

More internal promotions and new recruits as Kelkay respond to business growth

Following significant business growth, investment in new plant and machinery, Kelkay has now taken a look at the management and staff they need to secure their long term growth plans which has resulted in a number of new key appointments and internal promotions. Read more - open to all

Jonathan Wilson Operations Manager

Hale Events appoints new Accounts & Office Administrator

Hale Events are delighted to announce that Rebecca Thomas has joined the Hale Events team.  Following their acquisition of the Hotel, Catering & Retail Show last year, they now run 5 successful trade shows, and have expanded their staff numbers accordingly. Read more - open to all

Rebecca Thomas

Jacob Botting takes home Gold at APL WorldSkills UK Final

Jacob Botting of Myerscough College has been announced as ‘Best in the UK’ in landscaping after winning gold at the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) WorldSkills UK final. Read more - open to all

Worldskills winner (centre) Jacob Botting

Ken White takes over chair of the APL

Ken White from Frosts Landscapes was elected as the Chairman at the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) Annual Review meeting which took place at Futurescape at Sandown Racecourse on Tuesday 15 November. Read more - open to all

Ken White on the left presents engraved slab to Mark Gregory.

First winner of the Westland Rising Stars in Ireland announced

Emma Cooke from Springmount Garden Centre has been voted as the first winner of the Westland Rising Stars in Ireland. Read more - open to all

Emma Cooke from Springmount Garden Centre

Levina joins Wyevale Nurseries as an Apprentice

Levina Bromwich has recently started a two-year apprenticeship programme at one of the UK’s leading nurseries based in Hereford. Read more - open to all

Levina Bromwich starts a 2 year apprenticeship at Wyevale Nurseries

Geoff goes tash-tastic for Hereford hospice

A member of staff at one of the UK’s leading nurseries in Hereford is this month (November, 2016) growing a moustache in aid of a hospice in the area. Read more - open to all

Geoff Godsall

Simon Quinton Smith takes on a 23 day trek in Nepal

Would you trek to 6000 metres altitude around the world’s third highest mountain in Nepal for Greenfingers Charity? Most would say “unlikely”. Read more - open to all

New Chairman and new President for Choice Marketing

Choice Marketing has elected Mark Winchester as chairman and Tony Blake as president at their recent AGM. Read more - open to all

Mark Winchester with Tony Blake

It’s a black card for our pesticides Experts

Green-tech’s Chris Swan and Dean Jackson have recently received their Black, management CSCS cards. Read more - open to all

Chris Swan

Thompson & Morgan appoints new National Sales Manager

Chris Holloway has been appointed as National Sales Manager to leading garden centre brand Thompson & Morgan. Read more - open to all

Chris Holloway has been appointed as National Sales Manager.

Perennial CEO, Richard Capewell, to retire in Spring 2017

Richard Capewell, the Chief Executive of Perennial, the charity for all UK horticulturists, has announced his plan to retire in Spring 2017. The charity is currently seeking his replacement. Read more - open to all

Perennial CEO, Richard Capewell

Adam Taylor joins HTA Board

Adam Taylor, Director of Taylors Bulbs, has joined the HTA Board as vice-president elect it has been confirmed today. Read more - open to all

Adam Taylor, Director of Taylors Bulbs

SBM recruits South East territory manager

Committed to strengthening its collaborative relationship with its garden centre partners SBM Life Science has invested in the appointment of a territory manager - Andy Reffold - for the South East region. Read more - open to all

SBM Life Science has invested in the appointment of a territory manager - Andy Reffold.

New sales team member at Provender Nurseries

Ricky Pestana has joined the Provender Nurseries sales team with a focus on face to face customer sales and advice.  With a background in plant sourcing, garden design and customer service Ricky is a very welcome addition to the team.  Read more - open to all

Ricky Pestana

Bill Stewart to retire after 39 years with Klondyke/Strikes

HR director Bill Stewart will retire from the Klondyke board at the end of the year, when Bob Hewitt steps up to become joint non-executive chairman. Read more - open to all

Bob Hewitt and Bill Stewart

Glencrest Seatex new sales representatives in South West

Glencrest Seatex and Katie Blake Garden Furniture have appointed new sales representatives for the Northern Counties in the South West. Neil Bedford and his team of young Ladies will be visiting customers. Read more - open to all

Neil Bedford

Glencrest Seatex and Katie Blake expansion

Glencrest the holding company of Katie Blake Garden Furniture are pleased to announce the appointment of Steven Wain to their sales team. Read more - open to all

Steven Wain - Glencrest Seatexd's new National Sales Manager.

Bonningtons buying team expands to support rapid growth

The category buying team at Bonningtons is expanding to meet the needs of the business as it continues to exceed its range expansion and sales growth targets. Read more - open to all

L-R Alex Aitcheson, Kate Smalley (buying manager), Craig Bethel, Heather Turner.

Andy McIndoe is to become the voice of Vitax Garden World

Andy McIndoe is to be the expert on a new Vitax Garden World website providing ‘how to’ advice with the aim of sending visitors into local garden centres looking for Vitax products. Read more - open to all

Andy McIndoe

Continued business growth prompts internal promotions and new recruits

As Kelkay embarked on their ambitous brand development and expansion programme this year, the East Yorkshire family-run business was also busily engaged in further strengthening the management team to equip them for the further business growth ahead. Read more - open to all

New Production Manager, Mark Murgatroyd

Rising Stars UK finalists announced!  

The 5 finalists of the Westland Rising Stars and Garden Centre Association programme have been announced. Read more - open to all

Colin Hughes to leave Wyevale

Wyevale has confirmed that Colin Hughes, Retail & Operations Director since April 2013, is to leave the group. Read more - members only

High flyers at West End’s Haskins Garden Centre

This month (October), eight employees at Haskins Garden Centre in West End, Southampton passed their Institute of Management Level 4 awards. Read more - open to all

Sam Davis, Louise Welch, Emma Withers, Sarah Austwick, Lisa Waim, Susanne Hansen-Briggs, Kathryn Cro

Clematis champion Raymond Evison awarded Pearson Medal at HTA Garden Futures Dinner

Nurseryman, lecturer, author and photographer Raymond J Evison OBE VMH, was presented with the HTA Pearson Memorial Medal at the HTA Garden Futures Dinner Read more - open to all

Raymond Evison with HTA chief executive Carol Paris.

Ben's Guinness Record bean is longest amid sabotage claim at Mr Fothergill's

What began as a light-hearted staff competition to grow the longest runner bean at a Suffolk seed company, eventually won by Ben Roden with a pod measuring 47.2cm, took a nasty turn when pods with winning potential were mysteriously taken, snapped in half and discovered in a nearby bramble thicket. Read more - open to all

Ben Roden with his winning bean

Keeping it in the family

Antony Harker and his partner Hayley have been running Kelkay for over 15 years and as it’s grown, more of the family have joined the business. Read more - open to all

Retailers join Deco-Pak for first charity golf day

Deco-Pak has just held its first Charity Golf Day playing host to over 35 garden retailers at Crows Nest golf club in Brighouse, 5 minutes away from Deco-Pak’s head office.  Celebrating a successful year in the company of customers old and new, the hard working, fun loving team also managed to raise hundreds of pounds for Greenfingers on the day.

Read more - open to all

Rod Slaters team

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