The GCA names its new CEO

The GCA has named its new CEO. Phil Slinger will step into the shoes of Gillie Westwood, who recently announced that she would retire after January’s conference. See more... Read more - members only

Minister rips up prepared speech

Lord Taylor ripped up his prepared speech at the House of Commons last night and promised he would not let the interests of ‘our industry’ go by default. He backed the Localism Bill and the need for ‘near-market research’. See more... Read more - members only

Philip Evason leaves Haskins

Philip Evason has left Haskins after 5 years as buying director. He is planning to stay within the garden industry and is looking for opportunities within the sector. See more... Read more - members only

Gardman announces departure of Founder and former Chairman/CEO

Paris Natar, formerly Chairman and CEO of Gardman, has decided to stand down from his non-executive director post in August this year. See more... Read more - members only

GCA Chairman stands in RHS Council election

RHS members who believe there should be closer links with the business side of gardening, should vote for Dennis Espley, currently Chairman of the Garden Centre Association, in the election for the Society’s governing Council. See more... Read more - members only

Substantial backing for Douglas-Davies’ new Garden Centre chain

Boyd Douglas-Davies, who is shortly to leave Webbs of Wychbold, is to build a new garden centre chain backed by The Hillview Group, an independent merchant bank. See more... Read more - members only

Paul Wright joins The Garden Centre Group

Paul Wright, former managing director of Frosts Garden Centres, has joined The Garden Centre Group to manage 3 of its largest sites. See more... Read more - members only

Opportunity to remember the lives of 2 garden centre pioneers

Arrangements have been announced for the funeral of Bob Bickerdike on March 7 and a memorial day for Bob Gault on March 12. See more... Read more - open to all

Bob Bickerdike dies after balloon crash

Former GCA chairman, Bob Bickerdike, has died following a balloon crash in the Alps. See more… Read more - members only

2010 – The highlights

Here are the highlights of stories that appeared on the Gardenforum Noticeboard in 2010. If there are any you missed, they are all still available. See more... (Open to All) Read more - open to all

New DG prunes the RHS to let in the light

Restructuring at the RHS sees the departure of 3 directors as the new director general, Sue Biggs, streamlines the RHS and seeks to elevate its public profile. See more... Read more - members only

Mary Portas headlines the HTA's autumn conference

Mary Queen of Shops is to visit several garden centres and deliver her views on the state of the sector at this autumn's HTA conference. The presentation will be followed by what is likely to be a lively debate. See more... Read more - members only

Thurlow moves on from Glee

Dan Thurlow, Glee Show Director, is leaving the show and moving to another post within EMAP. He is to become Sponsorship Director for the events business. See more… Read more - members only

RHS finds a new Director General

The RHS has named the new Director General to replace Inga Grimsey who resigned last year. It is to be Sue Biggs, a passionate gardener who was Managing Director of Kuoni between 1999 and 2008. See more... Read more - members only

Roger Aylett Dahlia expert and founder of Aylett Nurseries has died

Roger Aylett, the founder of leading independent garden centre Aylett Nurseries in St Albans, has died. He was a holder of the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contributions to the science and practice of horticulture. See more... Read more - members only

David Gwyther retires from the HTA

David Gwyther retired from the HTA on Friday and has left the association with immediate effect. See more... Read more - members only

William Notcutt is stepping down from Notcutts

William Notcutt is to leave Notcutts at the end of this month to set up his own agriculture and forestry business. He will resign as deputy chairman of the Notcutts board. See more... Read more - members only

ITV v BBC sets Titchmarsh v Monty Don

This Friday BBC Gardeners’ World will air at eight o'clock bringing it in direct conflict with Alan Titchmarsh's new Love Your Garden programme. ITV, which has been working with GIMA, attracted twice as many viewers last week. See more... Read more - members only

Wyevale Nurseries mourns Peter Williamson

Peter Williamson, chairman of the Wyevale Nurseries Group, has died suddenly after a short illness. All who knew him are invited to his memorial service on June 1st. See more... Read more - open to all

Westland strengthens management board with two new directors

Following strong sales growth, Westland Horticulture has strengthened its management board with the promotion of John McDowell and Keith Nicholson. Ken Evans becomes commercial Director at S E Marshall. See more... Read more - members only

Webbs Chief Executive set for pastures new

Chief Executive of Webbs Garden Centres, Boyd Douglas-Davies, has announced he is leaving the business after 20 years service. Read more - members only

Dorothy Gault to chair Klondyke

Dorothy Gault takes over as Chairman of the Klondyke Group, following the death of her husband Bob. The company stresses it will be very much “business as usual”. See more... Read more - members only

Klondyke announces death of Bob Gault

It is with deep regret that the Board of Klondyke Group Limited announce the death of their Chairman, Bob Gault. See more... Read more - open to all

Titchmarsh signs for ITV Gardening Show

Alan Titchmarsh has signed for a new prime time Gardening Show – on ITV. See more... Read more - members only

Hagedorn decides against retiring from Scotts

Scotts has announced that Jim Hagedorn, son of the founder, and chairman since 2003, has changed his mind about retiring this financial year. He’s decided to stay as chairman and CEO but the current COO is leaving. See more... Read more - members only

Dobbies chairman to be ITV non-exec director

Lucy Neville-Rolfe, the Chairman of Dobbies and Tesco’s Director of Corporate and Legal Affairs since 1997, is to be a non-executive director at ITV. See more… Read more - members only

TGCG continues to strengthen its horticultural credentials

The Garden Centre Group announced a major redevelopment of Bridgemere at a lunch to honour the founders John and Elizabeth Ravenscroft. The group continues to strengthen its horticultural base. See more.. Read more - members only

Ransons Garden Centre to open on July 5

Former Notcutts manager Julian Ranson is opening his own centre, Ransons, on July 5 at the Hatton Experience. See more... Read more - members only

Natar assumes Non-Executive role at Gardman

Paris Natar, who started Gardman 17 years ago, completes the hand-over to the new management team by becoming a non-executive director, this week. But it does not mean that he will be any less involved with the company than before. See more... Read more - members only

CEO completes management buyout of Casco

Matthew Bubear, CEO of Casco Europe, has completed a management buyout to acquire the business. This follows the sale of the North American parent company, Casco, which was announced in January. See more... Read more - members only

To see earlier stories - Look in the News Archive