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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The RHS is backing UK growers by sponsoring the New Plant Awards at July’s HTA National Plant Show to be judged by five well known experts. See more... Read more - members only

Now’s the time to book places at the GIMA golf day, where suppliers and their customers unwind after the season with a fun round of golf and raise funds for two charities. See more... Read more - members only

The venue for the 2014 GCA conference is to be kept a secret. Clues will be given over the next few months. There are prizes for the first to guess. See more... Read more - members only

The GCA Trust seeks donations as more horticulture students than ever seek financial assistance to complete their courses. See more... Read more - members only

Last night, Greenfingers launched the Rosy Cheeks Appeal to build more gardens at hospices for children and their families. One mother explained what a garden had meant to her, "Two days after my daughter died, sitting in the garden made me think I could cope with things better." See more... Read more - open to all

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Andy Smith, who has left Dobbies to become the new garden plant buyer at Waitrose, is one of three new judges for the GIMA Awards. See more... Read more - members only

A RHS report says the skills gap in horticulture is threatening Britain’s economy, environment and food security. 70% of horticultural businesses cannot fill skilled vacancies and say career entrants are inadequately prepared for work. See more... Read more - members only

Quinton Edwards warns that valuers with little garden centre experience are causing problems for garden centres and horticultural businesses seeking bank funding. See more... Read more - members only

Celebrities join in The RHS Chelsea Centenary Appeal to change the perception of horticulture as a career among young people. See more... Read more - members only

GCA puts figures on the late spring. Sales were down 32% in March as outdoor plant sales fell 58%. Sales for the first 3 months are down 20%. See more... Read more - members only

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