Princess Royal receives garden seeds at Capel Manor renaming ceremony

When HRH The Princess Royal visited Capel Manor College in Enfield, John Fothergill was on hand to present her with a range of garden seeds from the eponymous company, which has a show garden at the site. Read more - open to all

HRH The Princess Royal and John Fothergill

Mr Fothergill's marks Peter's 80th with painting of Seabrook's Lavender

Suffolk seedsman Mr Fothergill's marked leading garden writer Peter Seabrook's 80th birthday in early November with the gift of a painting of Verbena Seabrook's Lavender by botanical artist Isobel Bartholomew. Read more - open to all

L - r John Fothergill, Peter Seabrook and David Carey

Gardman appoints new CEO

The Gardman Group has announced the appointment of Pete Utting as Chief Executive. Read more - open to all

Dennis Espley is to retire next spring

Dennis Espley has picked next April as the time to step down as MD of Squire’s, 30 years after joining the business. The group has started the search for his replacement. Read more - members only

Dennis Espley

Ken White joins HTA Board

Managing Director of Frosts Landscapes, Ken White has joined the HTA Board as a Director. Read more - open to all

Ken White has joined the HTA Board as a Director

Wyevale confirms the departure of Jason Danciger

Food and beverage director Jason Danciger is leaving Wyevale Garden Centres after 2 years with the business. Read more - open to all

Jason Danciger

Andrew McIndoe to leave Hillier Nurseries

Hillier Nurseries & Garden Centres have today announced that Andrew McIndoe is to leave the company on Friday 23 October for pastures new. Read more - open to all

Andrew McIndoe is to leave Hillier Nurseries

Rising Stars finalists announced

The names of the six finalists of the Garden Centre Association (GCA) & Westland Rising Stars Programme have been announced. Read more - open to all

The Rising Stars, with Iain Wylie (far left) and Ian Boardman (second from the left) at their final

Blue Diamond has a new Chairman

Simon Burke, ex Chairman of Hobbycraft and former CX of Virgin Entertainment is the new chairman of Blue Diamond Group of garden centres.  Read more - members only

Simon Burke

BHETA appoints Grinsell as Home Improvement Director

The British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA) has appointed Paul Grinsell as Home Improvement Executive Director following the departure of Peter Stone. Paul takes up his new role on October 5. Read more - open to all

Paul Grinsell

New general manager role for growing family business – Highfield Garden World

Family owned Highfield Garden World in Gloucestershire has created and filled a new general manager role to help the business cope with recent rapid expansion. Read more - open to all

New President for HTA

The HTA Annual General Meeting took place at Glee on Tuesday 15 September. Adam Wigglesworth from Aylett Nurseries was appointed as President of the Association taking over the role from Stan Green of Growforth who becomes the Immediate Past President. Read more - open to all

(L-R) Carol Paris, Adam Wigglesworth and Stan Green.

Green-tech - Employer of the Year winner at BALI Landscape Awards 2015

Leading landscape supplier Green-tech has been announced as a winner in the BALI Landscape awards 2015 ‘Employer of the Year’ category. Read more - open to all

Chairman Richard Kay with MD Rachel Kay keeping allt he plates spinning.

Steve Harper to work with the magical marketing team at Maryanne Stokes Limited

Steve will work with Maryanne Stokes Limited as an associate business consultant after a career heading up Bord na Mona UK and Vital Earth, driving sales at Gardman and Sinclair and working for various other blue chip manufacturers. Read more - open to all

Steve Harper

Treadstone Products strengthens team with new UK Head of Garden Retail

Treadstone Products has strengthened its UK sales team with the promotion of Matt Thompson to UK Head of Garden Retail. Read more - open to all

Matt Thompson

New Marketing Executive for Town & Country

Town & Country, leading supplier of gardening gloves and footwear to the UK garden retail market, has appointed Andrea Litchfield to the position of marketing executive. Read more - open to all

Andrea Litchfield, marketing executive

Green-fingered great gives back

An Evening with Alan Titchmarsh in aid of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity. Read more - open to all

L-R Richard East, Sue Hardy and Richard Cumming, Alan Titchmarsh and Louise and Mike Burks.

Retail guru from Germany to inspire GCA members

A retail expert will be flying in from Germany to speak at the 2016 Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) annual conference in January and he says the future for garden centres is bright. Read more - open to all

John Herbert

Paula Parker leaves as Scotts reorganises

UK marketing director, Paula Parker, has left as Scotts Miracle-Gro cuts out a layer of management in the UK. Read more - members only

Paula Parker

Conference to get ‘fresh perspectives on leadership’

Delegates attending the Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) golden jubilee conference in January (2016) will be treated to some insider tips on how to hone their leadership skills. Read more - open to all

Lucy Adams

AIPH elects new President

The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) has elected Bernard Oosterom as its new President. The announcement is made following the 67th Annual Congress held in Stresa, Italy, last week.  Read more - open to all

Bernard Oosterom,  new AIPH President.

Conference delegates to be inspired to be champions

A British Olympic Silver and World Championship Gold Medallist has been booked for the Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) conference in January (2016) to inspire attendees to bring out the best in their teams. Read more - open to all

Roger Black MBE, who will be one of the main speakers at the next GCA Conference in January (2016).

New manager at Squire’s Garden Centre in Woking

Squire’s Garden Centres are delighted to announce the appointment of Ed Ridgeon as Manager at their Woking centre. Read more - open to all

Ed Ridgeon – Manager at Squire’s in Woking

Ben wins IPPS International Exchange Award

Product Development Co-ordinator Ben Gregory at Wyevale Nurseries has won the International Plant Propagators Society (IPPS) International Exchange Award. Read more - open to all

Ben Gregory - Product Development Coordinator

New President promises HTA will give change a great big ‘Bear-Hug’

Introducing the Garden Futures Conference, new president, Adam Wigglesworth said “The entrepreneur spirit is as alive as ever. The HTA is giving change a great big bear hug.” Read more - members only

HTA President, Adam Wigglesworth

HTA Pearson Memorial Medal awarded to Colin Squire at
HTA Garden Futures

Industry stalwart and Chairman of Squires Garden Centres, Colin Squire, was presented with the Pearson Memorial Medal at the HTA Garden Futures Dinner, which took place on 30 September at Heythrop Park in Oxfordshire. Read more - open to all

Colin Squires receiving the Pearson Memorial Medal from Carol Paris.

TV star to appear at PATS Telford

Trude Mostue, star of the BBC hit programmes Vet School and Vets in Practice, will return to the UK limelight when her new company Dr Krill Ltd exhibits at PATS Telford on September 27-28. Read more - open to all

Trude Mostue, star of the BBC hit programmes Vet School and Vets in Practice.

The Tildenet Group appoints Edward Cantle as retail sales manager

Edward Cantle has got straight to work in his new role as Retail Sales Manager on the enormous Tildenet stand at GLEE 2015. Read more - open to all

Smart Garden Products strengthens Sales Team

Smart Garden Products have strengthened their sales team with the appointment of Nick Lamin as National Sales Manager to take over from Hannah Beckwith who has been promoted to the role of National Account Manager. Read more - open to all

Fiskars appoint Richard Carr as new Commercial Director for UK

Richard Carr joins brand leader Fiskars to lead the company's growth plans as Commercial Director of the UK business. Read more - open to all

Richard Carr, Fiskars new Commercial Director

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