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

Tesco consults over Churchdown garden centre

Local press reports that Tesco are planning a community supermarket on the former Hurrans Garden Centre at Churchdown, Cheltenham. See more... Read more - members only

Major expansion for Gates Nursery and Garden Centre

Gates Nursery and Garden Centre has won permission to extend the retail area by 2500 sq m, which will include increasing seating in the restaurant to 450. See more... Read more - members only

Planners recommend approval for Dobbies in Carlisle

According to Carlisle’s News & Star, Dobbies is hoping to overturn earlier objections and win planning permission for a new garden centre in competition with Klondyke’s Houghton Hall. See more... Read more - members only

Planning success for Forest Lodge Garden Centre and Birdworld

Malcolm Scott Consultants Ltd has gained double planning permissions for ambitious development at the 14-hectare joint Forest Lodge and Birdworld site. See more... Read more - members only

Fire damages Gordon Rigg

Gordon Rigg Garden Centre on Moss Bridge Road, Rochdale, one of three in the group, was damaged by fire on Saturday night. The centre is trading again, but with no houseplants, pets or aquatics. Read more - members only

Confusion over Canterbury garden centres

Canterbury Garden Centre has become the second independent to challenge The Garden Centre Group (TGCG, formally Wyevale) over its decision to rename its outlets with local names. There was confusion when one of the group's staff appeared at the wrong garden centre for training. See more... Read more - members only

No rebuild for Wyevale Caddington

The Garden Centre Group (TGCG), formerly Wyevale, has sold Caddington garden centre rather than rebuild it, following the devastating fire in July 2008. See more… Read more - members only

Dobbies changes tack at York

Dobbies has withdrawn its planning appeal at York and has submitted an application to develop a Garden World at Livingston, the new town between Edinburgh and Glasgow. See more... Read more - members only

Dobbies go ahead for UK's most eco-friendly garden centre

Aberdeen City Council has granted planning permission for a new Dobbies Garden World at New Park in Lang Stracht, Aberdeen. See more... Read more - members only

Patience pays off for Dobbies in Northern Ireland

After four years Dobbies has won planning permission for a new garden centre at Lisburn, just south of Belfast. See more... Read more - members only

Greenacres changes hands

Greenacres Nurseries in Stapleton, Leics, has been sold for an undisclosed sum. The deal was arranged by Alexander Mackie Associates. See more... Read more - members only

Dobbies reveals first of several new sites

Dobbies have started local consultation for a new 65,000 ft.² garden centre at Nether Alderley in Cheshire. See more... Read more - members only

Garden Store reopens the Pavilion

The Garden Store Ltd has acquired the lease of the Pavilion Garden Centre, near Wolverhampton, which closed at Christmas. The store reopened on Saturday. See more... Read more - members only

New garden centre for Trago Mills

Diarmuid Gavin will cut the ribbon at a new Trago Mills garden centre that opens this Saturday at Newton Abbot. See more... Read more - members only

Dobbies renews plans at East Kilbride

Dobbies has published a new planning application, which includes a supermarket and hotel, at East Kilbride on the south side of Glasgow. Read more - members only

Dobbies strengthens its roots at Braehead

Dobbies has revealed plans for a new garden centre at Braehead in Renfrew – the town where James Dobbie started his horticultural business in 1865. See more... Read more - members only

Carlisle planners refer Dobbies proposal to Government

Carlisle City Councillors voted on Friday to approve Dobbies plans for a new garden centre at Carlisle, but have deferred the final decision until the Government decides if a public enquiry is required. See more... Read more - members only

Garden centre values hold up

Despite the recession, profitable nurseries and garden centres are selling for the same or more than a year ago, according to Quinton Edwards, who have completed a number of sales recently. 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

2 more planning successes from Malcolm Scott

Sefton Meadow and Frosts Woburn Sands garden centres have both been granted permissions to extend their retail area. See more... Read more - members only

Blue Diamond opens Le Friquet

This Friday, Blue Diamond will open one of the most innovative garden centre designs yet seen. It is the shape of an octagonal doughnut, with the plant area filling the middle. See more... Read more - members only

Langlands Arrives in Leeds

The famous Langlands Garden Centre in Shiptonthorpe near York is reaping the benefits of the current ‘Grow Your Own’ phenomenon and is expanding its empire by acquiring the old Hayes Garden Centre site in Leeds. 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

Worcestershire garden centre sold to Australian investors

News comes from Alexander Mackie Associates of the sale, completed last week, of Earls Croome Garden Centre on the A38 near Upton upon Severn. This is an example of rising investment interest from outside the sector. See more... Read more - members only

Novel way to spend a penny at the latest Dobbies' centre

The former Tesco store at Fosse Way, Shepton Mallet officially opened as the latest Dobbies Garden Centre last Sunday. It is the UK's first centre to be converted from a supermarket. See more... Read more - members only

Go-ahead for redevelopment of Sanders

Revised plans for Wyevale’s Sanders Garden World have been approved by the district council in Somerset despite local objections. Work on the 35,000 ft.² extension is expected to start later this year. See more... Read more - members only

Planning success saves Plants Galore

Malcolm Scott Consultants Ltd have won planning permission for Plants Galore that rescues them from closure under an enforcement notice. See more… Read more - members only

Suppliers rally round Ruxley Manor

“It is at times like this that you realise what a fantastic industry we are in," said Richard Evans, managing director of Ruxley Manor Garden Centre, following the fire that destroyed stock worth over £2m. But several customers left without paying. See more... Read more - members only

Massive fire at Ruxley Manor Garden Centre (Updated)

A massive fire broke out at Ruxley Manor Garden Centre yesterday afternoon, closing part of the A20 Sidcup bypass, Kent. See more... Read more - members only

To see earlier stories - Look in the News Archive