The Garden Centre Group is re-energising its apprenticeship scheme. At the same time the HTA is looking at apprenticeships to help its members attract more young entrants to the industry. See more... Read more - members only

First Franchise, who place high street brands as tenants on garden centres, is entering new territory with the launch of a recruitment service, FF-Candidate Select. See more... Read more - members only

The GCA reports that customer numbers were up over Easter, but sales were well below what was expected. The HTA says there is pent-up demand but warns that the longer it takes the weather to improve, the smaller the window of opportunity. See more… Read more - members only

The GCA reports that February sales were 5.5% up on the same month last year. But 29 of the 63 garden centres in the monthly survey actually reported a fall in sales. See more... Read more - members only

Faversham House has sold several publications to Datateam Publishing including DIY Week and Hardware & Garden Review. See more… Read more - members only

The GIMA conference and AGM will be held at the recently upgraded Bicester flagship belonging to The Garden Centre Group. Non-members will be welcomed. See more… Read more - members only

There was important recognition for ornamental horticulture yesterday at the launch of HIP, a new body to co-ordinate horticultural research and its funding. See more... Read more - members only

There are two new websites for 2013. The first is new. GreenPlantSwap is a marketplace for nurseries and gardeners to sell or swap plants. The second is a revamp of Scotts’ Love the Garden. See more… Read more - members only

Wiseweather predicts the risk of frost and snow will continue throughout March as high pressure will be nearby for much of the month. See more... Read more - members only

Representatives from the Defra plant health policy team visited Hillier Nurseries to see how their stock of home grown ash trees has become completely worthless. See more... Read more - members only

Gardenforum has completely refreshed its database of company results. Many new companies have been added. Recent updates include the latest figures from Westland Horticulture, Solus Garden & Leisure, DJ Squire, Wyevale Nurseries and Haskins. See more... Read more - open to all

The GCA Barometer of Trade reports that sales fell 8.5% in January, with restaurant sales also down for the first month in over 2 years. The reason – the snow. See more... Read more - members only

What will the consumer gardening press be talking about after visiting the Garden Press Day last week? Here are some of the highlights. See more... Read more - members only

Listen up gardening experts, the David Colegrave Foundation (DCF) is offering multiple scholarships to those who are set on a career in horticulture. But there are less than two months left to apply. See more... Read more - members only

Here’s a summary of the news that has filled the Gardenforum pages in 2012. It is dominated by the impact of the weather and perhaps the economy. The story is open to all our readers. See more... Read more - open to all

Garden Centre Association (GCA) members are being invited to attend a meeting in June (2013) to discuss peat. Read more - members only

GIMA announces new speakers and declares its conference at TGCG's flagship garden centre a sell out. See more... Read more - members only

Wiseweather predicts a month dominated by high pressure with below average rainfall, cold nights but increasingly warm, sunny days. See more… Read more - members only

‘Focus on your point of differentiation’ was the key message from garden retailers at the latest meeting of the HTA Retail Management Group, which took place in London this week. See more... Read more - members only

The GCA has completed its move to the HTA offices and focuses on Grow. Interim CX Iain Wylie tells garden centres to hold their nerve as the cold weather persists. See more… Read more - members only

Boyd Douglas-Davies the founder of Garden Re-Leaf Day thanked the hundreds of garden centres who joined in to start the garden season and raise funds for Greenfingers charity. See more… Read more - members only

The results from the 2013 HTA wages survey for growers of ornamental crops illustrates how the sector is impacted by rising staff costs, attributed largely to the inflated increases governed by the Agricultural Wages Board (AWB). See more...
Read more - members only

As in 2011, honey fungus topped the list of diseases reported to the RHS Advisory Service. The biggest change was a sharp increase in box blight, due to the wet weather. See more... Read more - members only

The trend towards ambient food is especially attractive to the younger consumer. People want to know where food comes from, that it is good for them and the environment. You can make money out of restaurants but... For some notable quotes from Catering 2013, see more... Read more - members only

Andrew Maxted, Director of Marketing, is to leave the HTA as it restructures in order to cut costs. See more... Read more - members only

Scotsdale became Davidson Richards’s 40th independent garden centre client when it implemented the cloud-based OpSuite retail solution at its two garden centres. See more... Read more - members only

The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has announced a new PR campaign, to encourage consumers to get out in their gardens, following the poor weather of last year. See more... Read more - members only

A new television programme and a new way for both novice and experienced gardeners to shop for plants is launching on Ideal World TV. See more... Read more - members only

Garden Re-Leaf is asking companies to post details of their plans on Gardenreleaf.co.uk by 10th February so that details can be given to the national press at The Garden Press Event. See more.... Read more - members only

The Glee trade show dates are to be brought forward by a day in 2013 so that it will run from Sunday to Tuesday. This and other changes follow extensive consultations with all sections of garden retail. There is also a potential venue change suggested for 2014. See more... Read more - members only