There has been a flurry of high street retailers taking concessions on garden centres as owners look to stabilise their cash-flow. One conspicuous success has been the introduction of Virgin Experience Days, which is now seeking to roll out to all garden centres. See more... Read more - members only

The operations of the GCA are to return to the HTA offices at Theale, 5 years after they moved out. See... Read more - members only

"Any manufacturer that doesn't consider export as part of its marketing mix is missing out," said Amanda Sizer Barrett, during the latest Meet the Buyer day, where UK suppliers had one-to-one meetings with companies from USA, Germany and other European countries. See more... Read more - members only

October failed to deliver the expected autumn recovery. Garden centre sales fell 2% according to the GCA. Plants and gardening categories suffered the most. But sales of Christmas lines have started strongly, almost out-selling plants. See more... Read more - members only

Faced with exceeding its extraction limits, David Austin Roses has installed a system to harvest rain water and recycle the run off from irrigation. The result is that the company will grow faster having tripled its supply of water. See more… Read more - members only

There is no lack of finance to buy garden centres say Gilbert Evans. But it may come from different sources. Hence the introduction of corporate finance specialist Paul Herrington to the team. See more... Read more - members only

There is still no clarity about the spread of Chalara fraxinae, the ash dieback disease. There are still no plans, other than a ban on all tree movements, to prevent it destroying 90% of ash trees in the UK. Now the politicians are playing the blame game, while UK nurseries face huge losses. See more... Read more - members only

The Garden Centre Association has announced the 11 regional winners of the Ruxley Rose, the competition that recognises excellence in the quality and range of plants. See more... Read more - members only

Clearly UK consumers have not lost the gardening habit and this augurs well for next year says the HTA. But there is a big difference between HTA and GCA figures for September. See more... Read more - members only

The major associations within the garden industry are to meet next week to talk about the future of trade shows and specifically Glee. See more... Read more - members only

There are a few places left at HTA Garden Futures conference next week. The line-up of speakers will be a great help to anyone planning their strategy for 2013. See more... Read more - members only

Neil Gow, the director of GIMA, reports that orders have been received from a company purporting to come from Dubai, which could lead to a massive fraud. See more… Read more - members only

Glee was a great show say garden centre buyers. The only problem, say suppliers, was that there were not enough buyers there. Leading exhibitors say there needs to be discussion about the future shape of Glee. See more... Read more - members only

In 2 weeks Glee will be in full swing. There is a new formula for 2012 as it seeks to secure its future as the Garden Retail Show. See more... Read more - members only

The recession and the rising costs of food are leading to more community gardening. In some places it takes the form of guerrilla gardening, in another groups are being supported by retailers such as B&Q. See more... Read more - members only

The GCA gives details of 2 major events for spring: There’s a sparkling array of speakers for the GCA conference and there’s to be a nationwide Celebrity Quiz for Garden Re-Leaf Day. See more... Read more - members only

GIMA is to move its headquarters to the Federation of Garden and Leisure Manufacturers, of which Gardenex and PetQuip are divisions. See more... Read more - members only

An HTA survey of growers says that 8% may go out of business due to Chalara fraxinea and 58% predict cash flow problems. See more... Read more - members only

Nicola Gammon’s Shoot Gardening is opening an on-line marketplace that it claims will ultimately offer a bigger range of plants and products than any other garden shopping destination. See more… Read more - members only

London Tree Officers have written an open letter to Boris Johnson, pleading with him to champion the cause of urban forest. They are finding it hard to protect the city’s trees from ash dieback and other new diseases, while facing cutbacks. See more.... Read more - members only

The GCA’s e-learning project looks set for a full roll-out in the next few weeks. Trials have proved so popular that staff have been choosing to do the modules at home. See more... Read more - members only

Cost cutting will return the HTA to profit this year as the new DG examines more ways to increase the association’s relevance to members. See more... Read more - members only

A free workshop designed to help UK exporters of garden and leisure products reach the massive US market is being organised by the Gardenex export federation on Thursday 15 November 2012. See more... Read more - members only

Carol Paris ended the most successful HTA conference in recent years by saying that there was much that every business could do to adapt and grow in the current economic climate. She is backed by a new, stronger board. See more… Read more - members only

Malcolm Scott says the current planning climate is the most favourable for development it has been for many years.  But it is unlikely to last so garden centres should act quickly. See more... Read more - members only

The GCA executive committee has pledged its continued support for GLEE and hopes to see members there next year. See more... Read more - members only

The sales uplift enjoyed by garden centres in August was enough to lift morale even if it won’t improve the annual total significantly. See more... Read more - members only

The 2011 results from the HTA are soon to be circulated and they will show a significant loss. This is the background to some major changes that are being proposed to members at October’s AGM. One surprise proposal is that Caroline Owen should return as president for another year. See more... Read more - members only

Even the anticipation of the Olympics could not lift garden centre sales. July figures from the GCA show that sales were 5% down on 2011. Plant sales were particularly weak. See more... Read more - members only

The HTA is seeking to raise awareness of Ash Dieback (Chalara fraxinea), after the discovery of the disease at a number of UK sites over recent weeks. See more... Read more - members only