Directors to leave as RHS restructures

Changes announced by RHS Director General, Sue Biggs, mean promotion for Jim Gardiner and Hayley Monkton and redundancy for directors James Rudoni and Stephen Bennett with Bob Sweet retiring. See more... Read more - members only

BALI announces 2013 award winners

Judges of the BALI National Landscape Awards praise members’ ability to deliver contracts when budget cuts are having a noticeable impact. Click here to see the winners. See more... Read more - members only

September should be slightly warmer and drier than average

Wiseweather suggests September will start and end with periods of high pressure, separated by a more unsettled spell in the middle. See more... Read more - members only

Garden Futures: How garden centres need to change

James Wong is one of the first speakers to be unveiled for the HTA’s Garden Futures conference that will look at change, multi-channel retailing and challenges in the supply chain. See more... Read more - members only

Garden centres up 14.6% in July

July proved to be good for garden furniture sales but it was too hot for restaurants. GCA figures show that garden furniture and hard landscaping have sold best in the sun. See more... Read more - members only

New fraud warning from GIMA

There’s a warning from GIMA of a new attempt at fraud just at the time when people covering those on holiday may be caught out. See more... Read more - members only

‘Meet the Buyer’ event will add a new dimension to Glee

Senior buyers have said they will support GIMA’s ‘Meet the Buyer’ event that will add a new dimension to Glee as a late surge in bookings for the September show pushes stand numbers over 500. See more... Read more - members only

Imprecise wording of conditions may mean a Garden Centre enjoys A1 retail permission

Malcolm Scott says garden centres may have open A1 retail planning permission without realising it. This is after a recent appeal ruled that imprecise planning conditions can mean a Garden Centre enjoys open A1 retail use. See more... Read more - members only

Still time to attend the GIMA Awards

Judging of the GIMA Awards has been completed and it will be Giles Brandreth who hosts the presentation of the winners on July 18th. A few tickets remain for anyone wanting to join in the industry’s most important awards evening. See more... Read more - members only

Garden Re-Leaf results to be revealed at the GIMA’s

Companies that raised funds through Garden Re-Leaf are being asked to get funds to the organisers so that the total, which looks likely to exceed last years £53,000, can be announced at the GIMA awards. See more... Read more - members only

Bespokeoffers creates additional traffic for garden centres

Barclaycard is encouraging garden retailers to use Bespokeoffers.co.uk to bring in additional customers after the season. See more. Read more - members only

Waitrose creates TV gardening channel

Waitrose is unveiling an on-line TV gardening channel, featuring Alan Titchmarsh and Matt James. See more... Read more - members only

New website for MorePerformance

MorePeople unveils a new website for MorePerformance offering training and development courses for people within the fresh produce, horticulture, food, agriculture and garden & leisure industries. See more... Read more - members only

HTA prepares for change in law on selling garden chemicals

The law has changed. From November 2015, when a retailer sells a plant protection product a certificated member of staff must be contactable at the point of sale. The HTA and the CPA are preparing an e-learning course to meet the new requirement. See more… Read more - members only

Internet sales up 15% as overall sales fall in April

Those wishing to grow at times of overall decline need to have online presence, says GfK. Although total sales were down in April, Internet sales were up 15%. See more… Read more - members only

There’s more to Glee than deal making

While Glee, which starts on Sunday, is primarily for buyers, there are a number of other activities going on that will interest those not directly involved in buying or taking a short break from it. See more... Read more - members only

90% of retailers visiting Four Oaks will go to Glee

As exhibitors prepare for Glee, HTA research into what the garden trade needs from trade shows backs an autumn show, but finds most retailers want to see plants as well as garden products. See more.... Read more - members only

GIMA opens the door with 'Buyer Connect'

Leading retailers are getting behind GIMA’s ‘Buyer Connect’ event at Glee. This is the chance for suppliers to get a face-to-face meeting with buyers who are often out of reach. See more... Read more - members only

BBC coverage of Chelsea Flower Show continues to 2017

The BBC and RHS have agreed that Chelsea, Hampton Court, Tatton and Malvern flower shows will be broadcast exclusively on the BBC until 2017. Gardeners’ World will continue to draw on experts from the RHS. See more… Read more - members only

Ruxley Rose plant area competition gets tougher

The garden centre whose plant area wins the Ruxley Rose competition this year will have proved its excellence in spring and autumn as judging by the GCA becomes more rigorous. See more... Read more - members only

East Malling Research opens doors to public for first time in a decade

East Malling, the centre for fruit research, is to open its doors to public for first time in a decade. 2013 is its centenary. The day will offer tours, a chance to meet the scientists and a visit to the fascinating root laboratory. See more... Read more - members only

Whetmans carries the flag for the UK, in Canada

Can Whetman Pinks be named the world’s best grower at the first congress of the AIPH to be organised by Tim Briercliffe, which will be held in Canada, this Autumn. See more... Read more - members only

Longhorn beetle alert

The Government and health authorities are asking the public to be on high alert during August and September for outbreaks of two species of beetle. The predators are capable of destroying a wide range of trees and shrubs if they become established in the UK. See more... Read more - members only

Outdoor garden categories bounce back after challenging start to year

Every garden category tracked by GfK except for pest and disease achieved value growth in May 2013, helping to offset the significant declines seen earlier in the year. See more... Read more - members only

July is forecast to be warmer and dryer

Wiseweather forecasts high pressure for much of July with lots of warm, dry weather. See more... Read more - members only

Which? praises garden centre advice

Which? Gardening tasked mystery shoppers to see if big garden centre and DIY chains deliver the plant expertise they promise. For their comments, see more... Read more - members only

April and May fail to recoup lost March sales

Despite growth in April and May, average spring takings for the largest garden centres were £55,000 lower than last year according to the latest GCA statistics. See more... Read more - members only

Last Chance to enter the GIMA’s

This is the last week to enter the GIMA awards, which provide a unique opportunity to put products before a panel that includes a number of normally inaccessible senior buyers. See more… Read more - members only

HTA gives state of play for UK Nurseries

Many businesses put 2012 down as a climatic blip but with the 2013 weather being the way it is, it has become apparent that weather patterns are becoming much more volatile. This is a real challenge for our industry says the HTA. See more... Read more - members only

Last chance to enter Garden Re-Leaf Day ‘Westland Challenge’ worth £6,000

Garden centres that took part in Garden Re-Leaf Day in March need to act now to stand a chance of winning the Westland Challenge competition. See more... Read more - members only

To see earlier stories - Look in the News Archive