New CEO for Mr Fothergill’s

Mr. Fothergill’s Seeds Limited has named Michael Yates as new the CEO.  He comes with 25 years of global brand building experience. Read more - open to all

Michael Yates, CEO at Mr Fothergill's Seeds

BEM for Garden Centre owner

British Empire Medal (BEM) has been awarded to Robin Mercer, managing director of Hillmount Garden Centres. Read more - open to all

Robin Mercer

Kate Ebbens embarks on an epic 365-day running challenge

Greenfingers Charity supporter, Kate Ebbens, has vowed to spend her 2024 running every single day with the aim of raising thousands for the children’s hospice garden charity. Read more - open to all

Kate Ebbens

YPHA strengthens member wellbeing provision

The Young People in Horticulture Association, backed by Perennial, has announced the addition of three new Mental Health First Aiders to its member wellbeing provisions.  Read more - open to all

Clockwise from top left: Jess Dabell, George Holmes and Adam Stewart

New three-day PATS gets thumbs up

Award-winning pet retailers have welcomed news that PATS 2024 will be a THREE-DAY exhibition, allowing them more time to see new products from a greater number of companies. Read more - open to all

L-R: Jo Sutton - Discount Foods with husband Rob; Paula Machin - The Pet Stop; and Sammie Hunt -, Re

Wyevale Nurseries to sponsor 2024 GCA Ruxley Rose Award

Regional finalists get second judging for the Garden Centre Association’s annual Ruxley Rose Award, sponsored this year by Wyevale Nurseries. Read more - members only

Andy Johnson, Wyevale Nurseries’ Managing Director

Ian Riggs joins Cocogreen 

The market-leading substrate supplier Cocogreen has appointed Ian Riggs as Head of Business Development UK. Read more - open to all

Rising Stars finalists announced

Five individuals from Garden Centre Association (GCA) member garden centres have reached the finals of the industry body’s Rising Stars programme sponsored by Westland Horticulture. Read more - open to all

GCA Rising Stars programme attendees with Gordon Emslie

Vitax appoints new North West area sales manager

Vitax Limited has appointed a new area sales manager to cover the North West region as it continues with its drive to expand its presence in the area following investment in new products and additions to key brands. Read more - open to all

Chris Hilton, Vitax North West area sales manager

Josh to speak at GCA Conference

Global Consultancy Director Josh McBain will be offering Garden Centre Association (GCA) members an insight into ‘The Future of Garden Retailing’ at its 2024 Conference in January. Read more - open to all

Josh McBain who will be offering GCA members an insight.

A new chapter at Hillier Nurseries

Chairman Robert Hillier will be standing down from his position of Chairman of Hillier Nurseries and will hand the reins of the family-run business to his son, George. Read more - open to all

Robert Hillier photo Michael Butters

Henry Bell appoints new National Sales Manager

Leading pet and wild bird food producer Henry Bell & Co has appointed Andrew Mellowes as National Sales Manager to support the company’s growth in the garden centre sector. Read more - open to all

Andrew Mellowes, National Sales Manager

Squires fills two top appointments

Squire's Garden Centres has announced two internal promotions to succeed Darran Oakley and Andy Bunt, who have already announced they will be leaving their roles as director of purchasing and group operations manager. Read more - open to all

Ross McEwan

Sally Gordon joins BHETA member services team

BHETA has appointed Sally Gordon to its member services team.  Her role will be to focus on member relationships and recruitment, and member services delivery.  Read more - open to all

Saly Gordon

SBM Life Science Ltd announces a new organisational structure

As of September 1st, SBM Life Science Ltd in the UK joined forces with their business counterparts in Benelux, Scandinavia, and Central Europe to create the new North Europe cluster. Read more - open to all

Head of Business - Scott Williams

Hornby George PR officially launches

As 2024 unfolds a new name for all things PR has launched with one of the sector’s longest-serving PR professionals at its helm. Hornby George PR marks an exciting new chapter for the team that previously led the way with Hornby Whitefoot PR. Read more - open to all

Kimberley Hornby - owner of Hornby George PR

New Year Honour for Raymond Evison

Clematis breeder, Raymond Evison, has been appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), in recognition of his achievements and services to the horticultural industry. Read more - open to all

Raymond Evison taken by John de Garis LS

2023 news roundup

We highlight the main events of 2023 including the collapse of Wilko, juggling of the trade shows calendar and the deaths of some notable pioneers in the industry. Read more - open to all

YPHA hold meeting at Coolings as tribute for their mentor Paul Cooling

15 years of Environmental Management Systems Accreditation

The Bransford Webbs Plant Company are proud to announce we have achieved BS855:2016 certification for our Environmental Management Systems for the fifteenth consecutive year, following a recent audit. Read more - open to all

Mark Jenkins, Environmental and Health and Saftey Co-ordinator

Development of roles at Bransford Webbs

The Bransford Webbs Plant Company are very pleased to announce several new appointments on the nursery following changes to the board earlier this year. Read more - open to all

New roles at Bransford Webbs

£10k award for young founder of garden wear business

Feverfew Garden Company, an Orkney-based ladies’ garden wear business, founded by Rachel Eunson, has secured a cash prize of £10,000 from the Scottish EDGE Awards. Read more - open to all

Rachel Eunson

Spring Fair and Autumn Fair strengthens the leadership team

Hyve Group is delighted to announce the appointment of two new leaders to the team, Jackson Szabo as Portfolio Director for Spring Fair and Autumn Fair and Soraya Gadelrab as the new Event Director for Spring Fair and Autumn Fair. Read more - open to all

Jackson Szabo as Portfolio Director and Soraya Gadelrab as the new Event Director.

Monty Don and writer Rona Munro to receive honorary degrees

Gardening expert and broadcaster Monty Don OBE and writer Rona Munro will receive Honorary Doctorates from the University of Stirling next week. 

Read more - open to all

Monty Don

New Finance Director joins the AMES Companies

As the AMES Companies continues on its upward projection, firmly on its mission to being the garden retail industry’s ‘partner of choice’, it has recently appointed a new Finance Director to support this growth. Read more - open to all

John Thompson

New area sales manager for Fallen Fruits

Fallen Fruits are delighted to announce the arrival of their new Northern Area Sales Manager, Robert Greener. This new role within Fallen Fruits supports the growth and investment in the business following the acquisition by their long-term partner Esschert Design BV earlier this year. Read more - open to all

Robert Greener

RHS disappointment at absence of peat ban in King’s Speech

RHS director expresses extreme disappointment that there was no legislation relating to the banning of retail peat in horticulture in today’s announcement. Read more - members only

Alistair Griffiths

Boyd Douglas-Davies becomes Greenfingers Trustee & Chairman-Elect

Boyd Douglas-Davies, industry stalwart and the founder of Garden Re-Leaf Day, was officially appointed as the newest Trustee and Chairman-Elect of the Greenfingers Charity. Read more - members only

Boyd Douglas-Davies

Green-tech announces George Barton is a winner

Green-tech is celebrating after their key account manager has been named as a winner of the Pro Landscaper ‘30 under 30’ - The Next Generation Initiative. Read more - open to all

George Barton

5 half marathons to raise money for Greenfingers

Blue Diamond's Heidi Towse has run 5 half marathons to raise money for Greenfingers charity. “I’ve been training every day since January. Run an average of 5k a day, every day for the past 288 days." Read more - open to all

Most pay increases under 5%

A MorePeople salary survey of garden centres and horticulture shows most had a pay increase of 5% or less and career progression is biggest reason for changing jobs. Read more - members only

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