HTA expects significant challenges for the industry with the impending changes on 30 April at Border Control Posts.  March sales were up +22% helped by an early Easter. Read more - members only

The HTA expresses frustration at government’s 11th hour reveal of the Common Usage Charge at borders due on plant products from 30^th April. Read more - members only

Dutch Spring Trials take place in week 18 during week 18, with eight breeders in North-Holland.  Visits held by appointment only. Read more - members only

Credit insurer tells GIMA suppliers the warning signs to look for when a retailer might be at risk of insolvency. Insolvencies are expected to increase this year. Read more - members only

The Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) Garden Retail Online Workshops (GROW) e-Learning platform has launched five new online compliance-based courses covering health and safety this month (March 2024). Read more - open to all

300 members of the garden media visited around 100 exhibitors at a buzzing Garden Press Event. Best new product was a Dipping Tank. Blue Diamond won the Best Stand award. Read the chat. Read more - members only

Those responsible for caring for someone else within the horticultural community can now access a free online tool through the charity Perennial, to help them manage caring responsibilities effectively and give them peace of mind. Read more - open to all

Top economist Mark Beresford-Smith tells the GCA what to expect from inflation, interest rates and consumer demand in the next 6 months. Read more - members only

GCA announces its first awards at the De Vere Cotswold Water Park Hotel near Cirencester, Gloucestershire.  Read more - members only

Garden centres outperformed the retail average at Christmas with big increases in food and restaurants.  Average spends also jumped as annual sales grew. Read more - members only

LOFA warns of surcharges and delays in outdoor living products due to the actions of Yemen Houthis, who have forced shipping to detour around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope Read more - members only

As 2024 unfolds a new name for all things PR has launched with one of the sector’s longest-serving PR professionals at its helm. Hornby George PR marks an exciting new chapter for the team that previously led the way with Hornby Whitefoot PR. Read more - open to all

Nine garden centres and 22 associate members have increased the GCA membership this year, with more awaiting approval. Read more - members only

Westland Horticulture has launched the New Horizon Fund to support community gardening projects across the UK and Ireland in 2024. Read more - members only

A new report by Savills suggests that there is still strong investment potential in garden centres.  Acquisition activity is increasing as individual sites are “snapped up”. Read more - members only

Dobbies Garden Centres joins One4all Gift Cards’ extensive network of retailers that includes Blue Diamond, which is already part of the network. Read more - members only

Ben Harrison, Operations Director of Haskins Garden Centres, has been announced as the Chairman Elect for 2024/25 by the Garden Centre Association. Read more - members only

Wet February sees modest market growth, but the HTA is expecting a challenging Spring. Read more - members only

The HTA has written to PM Rishi Sunak, warning of the risks to Environmental Horticulture from changes in the Border Target Operating Model that are due on 30^th April. Read more - members only

Ambassador, Boyd Douglas-Davies, called on more employers to support YPHA members as they visited the Eden Project where the Launch Success development programme was unveiled. Read more - open to all

The HTA market update shows that garden retail continued to show green shoots in January but cautions about rising wage and shipping costs. Read more - members only

Perennial launches free online tool for those responsible for caring for someone else within the horticultural community, to help them manage caring responsibilities effectively and give them peace of mind. Read more - open to all

Over 200 guests at the GCA dinner witnessed Fairways and Bents claim the coveted Garden Centre of the Year awards, while Woodmansterne was named the Supplier of the Year. Read more - members only

The Garden Centre Association is to change the category structure for members and reduce its regions to four to make their Awards judging fairer. Read more - members only

As the application closing date for Colegrave Seabrook Foundation scholarships approaches see how last year's winners used their awards. Read more - open to all

8th – 14th January is National Houseplant Week and Westland has launched an online educational hub for consumers to find their houseplant advice. Read more - members only

We highlight the main events of 2023 including the collapse of Wilko, juggling of the trade shows calendar and the deaths of some notable pioneers in the industry. Read more - open to all

The Young People in Horticulture Association, backed by Perennial, has announced the addition of three new Mental Health First Aiders to its member wellbeing provisions.  Read more - open to all

Smart Garden Products sponsoring five Student Scholarships for 2024. Horticultural students are encouraged to apply for a range of bursaries and scholarships in 2024. Read more - open to all

Garden centre staff can now gain knowledge to help customers to deter and combat pests in a more natural, sustainable way via the Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) GROW (Garden Retail Online Workshops) e-Learning platform. Read more - open to all