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

Dennis Espley to become next chairman of the GCA

The Garden Centre Association has today announced the names of its next 6 chairmen taking it to 2021. See more... Read more - members only

BALI Chief Executive Sandra Loton-Jones quits her post

The Chief Executive of the British Association of Landscape Industries, Sandra Loton-Jones (LJ), is to leave her post at the end of January. Read more - open to all

2009 Review - Part 2: July to December

With trade strong, attention turned to the battle between the increased number of trade shows in 2010. Many garden centres won planning permission to extend. Corporate activity continued among suppliers. See more... (This article is open to all) Read more - open to all

Brigden to join Focus DIY

Peter Brigden, ex operations director at Wyevale, is to become retail director at Focus DIY in January according to Retail Week. See more... Read more - members only

Mike Gilbert breaks away from Hammond Phillips

Mike Gilbert and 2 fellow directors from Hammond Phillips have left the company to set up their own practice, Gilbert Evans, which is based in Ascot. See more... Read more - members only

Barnes and Marshall to share a platform at HTA conference

Former Lebanese hostage, John McCarthy, leads a list of high-profile speakers at this year’s one-day HTA conference that will look at how the consumer and the marketplace is changing. However, there will be space for only 150 delegates. See more... Read more - members only

Stevenson becomes CX of pawnbroker Albemarle & Bond

Barry Stevenson, chief executive of Wyevale from June 2006 to January 2008, under the chairmanship of Jim Hodkinson, has a new job. He is to become chief executive of pawnbroker Albemarle & Bond. See more… Read more - members only

Ex-garden centre owner becomes a supplier

Former GCA chairman Steve Myatt, who sold his garden centre in April, has started a new business as an importer of barbecues. See more... Read more - members only

New degree course for garden centre managers

There is an important new qualification that garden centre managers and supervisers can work towards. It has been developed by Kingston Maurward College, validated by Bournemouth University and backed by the HTA and GCA. See more... Read more - members only

Stewart to be next chairman of GCA

Martin Stewart is to become GCA chairman for a second time, in January. His aim is to strengthen links with suppliers. GRO will continue but he said there was no logic in it for core gardening. 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

B&Q joint founder dies

Joint founder of B&Q, David Quayle, has died while on a luxury cruise, of a suspected heart attack. He was 73. See more... Read more - members only

Management team takes a stake in the Garden Store group

Management team has bought a stake in the Garden Store group as joint founder, Patrick Pearce, retires. See more... Read more - members only

Alan Titchmarsh and B&Q join forces

Alan Titchmarsh is to work with B&Q as it seeks to cement ‘its position as the UK’s largest chain of garden centres’. He will provide regular tips and advice through in-store displays and on B&Q's website. See more... Read more - members only

2009 Review - Part 1: January to June

There was a nervous feel to the start of 2009.  The Banking crisis was in full swing.  No one knew whether consumer demand would come to an abrupt halt after Christmas and garden suppliers were anxiously waiting for confirmation of Wyevale’s financial restructuring.   This review is open to all. See more... Read more - open to all

Top HTA Board Appointments Announced

The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has announced a number of key appointments following its AGM held on 21 October. Read more - members only

Wyevale CEOs past and present address GIMA

The next GIMA meeting, which is open to all, will bring together the current CEO of Wyevale (The Garden Centre Group) with one of his predecessors, now the CEO of Klondyke. See more... Read more - members only

UK Garden Companies collaborate on first solar powered flight to Africa

Haxnicks managing director Damian Cardozo survived some exciting moments as he flew the world's first electric powered paramotor to Africa powered by panels donated by Smart Solar. See more... Read more - members only

UPDATED - Robbers hold garden centre manager at knifepoint

Armed robbers ambushed the manager of Barton Grange Garden Centre and his assistant forcing them to open the safe. See more... Read more - members only

Weekend news round-up

Read what was said last weekend in the Press. Heinz targets garden centres with BBQ sauces, Dobbies to offer allotments and shoppers flinch at Smith & Hawken closing down sale. See more... Read more - members only

RHS Awards 2009

Twelve heroes from across the gardening world are being honoured by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), in recognition of their contributions to horticulture Read more - members only

Tommy Gill leaves Bayer Garden

Tommy Gill, head of Bayer Garden, is leaving after 7 years. This is the second big departure from Bayer in 12 months. See more... Read more - members only

To see earlier stories - Look in the News Archive