Hillview Garden Centres completes its first aquisition

Studley becomes the foundation stone for Hillview Garden Centres Ltd as Boyd Douglas-Davies completes his first purchase backed by Hillview Capital. See more... Read more - members only

Garden centre values have fallen by as much as 15%

Quinton Edwards says garden centre prices have fallen by between 10% and 15% and continue to fall. As a result it expects fewer transactions next year. Nursery prices, however, appear more resilient. See more... Read more - members only

Building work to start on Longacres redevelopment

The groundwork is about to start on the rebuild of Longacres Nursery in Bagshot, Surrey. See more… Read more - members only

Go ahead for new Keydell garden centre expected today

Speculation about the future of Keydell Nurseries looks likely to be ended later today if, as expected, East Hampshire District Council grants permission for a new garden centre a mile and a half away. See more... Read more - members only

Updated: Unfinished roundabout threatens Dobbies’ Carlisle opening

Latest: Carlisle has opened on time after Council approves last minute works... Dobbies had said it was confident that a new roundabout would be ready for Council approval on Thursday night, hours before the official opening today. See more... Read more - members only

Extension will double the size of Garden Wise

After protracted negotiations, Garden Wise (Dumfries) has won permission to double the covered retail area of the garden centre. Work starts in July. See more... Read more - members only

More Garden Centres to be Leased

Mike Gilbert is predicting that more garden centres will change hands in the coming months, because banks are being more restrictive with their lending criteria. He also believes that leasing is becoming more acceptable to both the freehold owners and operators. See more... Read more - members only

New Garden Centre planned for Rushden Lakes

LXB, shareholder in The Garden Centre Group, plans a new garden centre and retail development near Northampton. See more... Read more - members only

All-In-One adds another

All-In-One has bought the 7-acre Hills Garden Centre near Knutsford. This is their second garden centre and they believe it has great potential. See more... Read more - members only

Large new Garden Centre opens in Blackburn

A new garden centre has opened its doors in the Ribble Valley. Carr Hall Home and Garden Centre occupies 12 acres of a 137 acre site, North of Blackburn. See more... Read more - members only

Squire’s opens Shepperton officially today

Today is the formal opening of the rebuilt Squire’s garden centre at Shepperton, which has been closed since last summer. It has been replaced with a £4.2m new development. See more... Read more - members only

The Garden Centre Group closes Church Lawford

The Garden Centre Group is to close its garden centre at Church Lawford, between Coventry and Rugby. It also moves head office at the end of the month. See more... Read more - members only

Dobbies wins Peterborough approval

Dobbies' plans to open 6 new garden centres during 2011 take another step forward as permission is granted for a new development at Peterborough. See more… Read more - members only

Vermeulens Garden Centre is for sale

The planned sale of Vermeulens Garden Centre between Woking and Guildford has fallen through. The owners are seeking a new operator to buy or lease the site. See more... Read more - members only

Hurrans' Langstone centre goes for housing

The former Hurrans garden centre at Langstone, which closed in January 2009 when the group went into administration, is to be developed for housing. See more... Read more - members only

Toad Hall relocation falls through

The proposed relocation of Toad Hall Garden Centre to the former Wyevale site at Shiplake, south of Henley, appears to have fallen through. See more... Read more - members only

Retractable roof for Planters at Bretby

Planters have started the redevelopment of its garden centre at Bretby, with the installation of a £400,000 retractable roof. See more... Read more - members only

Council serves planning contravention notice on Dobbies

Dobbies garden centre at Livingstone, which opened this spring, has been accused of breaching planning regulations for selling more goods that are unrelated to garden centre retail than is allowed. See more… Read more - members only

School wins permission to take over Wyevale, Mill Hill

Despite strong local resistance, Barnet Council has granted planning permission for a Jewish free school to take over The Garden Centre Group’s Wyevale Garden Centre at Mill Hill. See more... Read more - members only

23-acre Bracknell garden centre sold

Oaktree Garden Centre near Bracknell, a 23-acre site, has recently been sold for an undisclosed sum. The purchasers, John & Eve Went, are looking to develop the £1.8m turnover centre over the next few years. See more... Read more - members only

Almondsbury re-development to start as soon as possible

Park Garden Centres are to start work as soon as possible on the first phase of the £5m redevelopment of its garden centre at Almondsbury. See more... Read more - members only

Wickes to take 13 Focus DIY stores

Having sold 31 stores to B&Q, The administrators of Focus DIY have sold a further 13 to Wickes. See more… Read more - members only

Almondsbury garden centre wins approval to re-develop

Park Garden Centre wins approval for a £5m re-development of its flagship Almondsbury store. See more… Read more - members only

Go ahead for new Dunbar Garden Centre

Berwick-upon-Tweed garden centre has won an appeal to build a new garden centre, 30 minutes away in Dunbar. This will be their second site. See more... Read more - members only

Sussex Garden Centres opens eco-friendly Mayberry

Tates, owners of Sussex Garden Centres, held the official opening of its new, eco-friendly garden centre, Mayberry, at Portslade last weekend. This is the third in the group. See more... Read more - members only

460 seat restaurant for new Roundstone Garden Centre

Haskins has unveiled plans for the new £12 million garden centre at Roundstone, which is planned to open in March 2012. See more... Read more - members only

Toad Hall Garden Centre plans to re-locate

Toad Hall Garden Centre has submitted a planning application for a new garden centre on the former Wyevale site at Shiplake, South of Henley. If successful, Toad Hall will relocate to the site in 2012. See more... Read more - members only

Hillier to open new Eastbourne garden centre in February

Hillier Garden Centres will open its first new-build garden centre next month. The 2000 sq m. development is on the former Glyndley Nurseries on the A27 near Eastbourne. See more... Read more - members only

Haskins to invest £16.5 million this year

The recently announced £2.3m restaurant upgrade at Haskins’ West End garden centre is part of a £16.5 million investment programme by the group this year. 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

To see earlier stories - Look in the News Archive