‘Snow in summer’ wins top awards at Taunton Flower Show

Staff from Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre are celebrating this week (August 5, 2013) after scooping a large gold medal and ‘Best in Show’ for their snow-themed garden at the Taunton Flower Show. Read more - open to all

New appointments at BALI Landscape House

Following a review of the support available to members from the Association, BALI has re-focused its staff resource and recruited three new positions, based at Landscape House in Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, but supporting members across the country. Read more - open to all

Gardman board appointments

Gardman Group Ltd., the UK’s leading provider of gardening sundries and wild bird care products, has announced two strategic appointments to their Board of Directors. Read more - open to all

Bestwick moves to Smart Solar

Smart Solar has announced that Andy Bestwick is joining the company as a non-executive director. Read more - open to all

GCA advertises for permanent Chief Executive

The Garden Centre Association is advertising for a new chief executive. The previous incumbent left suddenly last October after only a few months in the role. See more... Read more - members only

The Garden Centre Group announces two new Executive Appointments

The Garden Centre Group is delighted to announce the appointment of Frank Hayes and Sarah Biggers as Directors, reporting to Group CEO Kevin Bradshaw, with immediate effect. Read more - open to all

Aylett and Simpsons share Garden Re-Leaf ‘Westland Challenge’ prize worth £6,000

This year’s ‘Westland Challenge’ competition offered by Westland Horticulture to find the garden centre that best optimised Garden Re-Leaf Day 2013, has been won jointly by Aylett Nurseries and Simpsons Garden Centre. Read more - open to all

Badger Garden Centre staff cycled 140 miles to raise £1,600 for children’s hospice

It took staff from Badger Garden Centre in Studley 12 hours to cycle 140 miles – and to raise £1,600 for the nearby Acorns children’s hospice. Read more - open to all

Floramedia appoints an image library supervisor

David Wallace from Colchester has recently been appointed as the image library supervisor for Floramedia. Read more - open to all

Maryanne Stokes launches garden sales and marketing company

Former Sales & Marketing Manager for the Vital Earth and Growise UK brands, Maryanne (Maz) Stokes has launched a PR, marketing and training services company aimed at the garden sector.  Read more - open to all

New RHS President elected

Sir Nicholas Bacon appointed President of the RHS Read more - open to all

205 miles of the Pennine Bridleway by bike and by foot in 4 days

Tara Truman from William-Sinclair undertook a 205 mile bike and run challenge to help raise funds for the charity supporting her work colleague and event organiser Steve Chalk who is suffering from the life threatening illness Read more - open to all

Grosvenor pair lose unfair dismissal claim against Blue Diamond

Iain Wylie and Neil Blaxall have lost their case against Blue Diamond for unfair dismissal in respect of redundancy. See more... Read more - members only

Growing with Fleur

Smart Solar has appointed Fleur Hayter-Jose as Product Development Manager. Fleur is an additional member of the NPD team with specific responsibility for the development of new product lines for 2014. Read more - open to all

Marshalls names new CX

Marshalls, the leading manufacturer of paving and landscape materials has named Martyn Coffey as its new chief executive. He will replace Graham Holden who stands down in October. See more... Read more - members only

Managing director role for Mike at Hale Events

Mike Anderson, who completed 20 years service with Hale Events Ltd this June, took on the role of managing director on the 1st August 2013. Read more - open to all

BALI increases technical support for members

As a direct result of members’ feedback, BALI has recently established the new role of Technical Officer, based at the Association’s Landscape House headquarters in Warwickshire. Jonathan Tame BSc (Hons), who started his BALI role at the end of June, is now providing members with technical advice and support ‘on demand’. Read more - open to all

Greenfingers get busy at Little Havens Children’s Hospice

Greenfingers, the charity dedicated to building magical garden’s in children’s hospices around the UK, hosted an event for potential donors and suppliers at Little Havens Children’s Hospice in Thundersley, Essex yesterday. Read more - open to all

Andy Kings quits Notcutts for Tesco Group as Dobbies’ MD

Notcutts’ chief executive has quit the Woodbridge-based garden centre group to replace James Barnes at Dobbies. He joins in September. See more... Read more - members only

New marketing head and agency for Solus Garden & Leisure

Solus Garden & Leisure, one of the UK’s biggest suppliers of products to garden centres and retailers, has appointed a new head of marketing and a brand communications agency as part of an ambitious three-year growth and business improvement plan. Read more - open to all

The Coolings Three Peaks Team arrived safely back in Knockholt

As 2013 is Coolings centenary year we are doing many things in a bigger and bolder way than ever before and one of those things is charity! Read more - open to all

James Barnes leaves Dobbies - UPDATED

Dobbies staff were told yesterday James Barnes, CEO and finance director Sharon Brown have left the business. See more… Read more - members only

Mr Fothergill's appoints Paul Pates as head of direct marketing

Mr Fothergill's has appointed Paul Pates as head of direct marketing, with responsibility for the Mr Fothergill's, D. T. Brown and Woolmans brands. Read more - open to all

Employees clock up 165 years

Long-service awards for dedicated Thompson & Morgan staff. Read more - open to all

Student awarded European study tour by Ball Colegrave Scholarship

David Acock, a student of Writtle College, is the latest recipient to benefit from a horticultural scholarship through The David Colegrave Foundation. Read more - open to all

Chris retires after 25 years at Millbrook Garden Centre

Chris Francis from Crowborough celebrated her retirement yesterday (June 25, 2013) with a special presentation after 25 years of service at a garden centre in the town. Read more - open to all

Martin Cowell's Geordie Jogle

Some people call it an "End to End", some call it "JOGLE", some call it just "a bloody stupid idea". But the basics of it are the same, to start at one end of the UK and ride to the other. Read more - open to all

Craft Advisor has career all sewn up

Chloe Heilbronn from Taunton has recently been appointed as a Craft Advisor at a craft centre in Somerset after successfully completing a 12 month apprenticeship scheme. Read more - open to all

Harper declared head of UK by Bord na Móna

Steve Harper, the former managing director of Vital Earth GB Limited and latterly Business Operations Manager UK at Bord na Móna UK is now to head up all of the Bord na Móna UK (BNM UK) retail business.  He will report to John Corcoran, Head of Retail Sales at Bord na Móna, Ireland. Read more - open to all

Dobbies details its new buying team

There have been substantial changes in personnel in the Dobbies buying team over the last year. Here is an up to date list of buyers and their areas of responsibility. See more… Read more - members only

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