Sales of Christmas goods were 14% up during October according to latest figures from the GCA. But there is a big discrepancy between reports from the HTA and the GCA over whether garden centre sales are ahead of or behind last year. See more... Read more - members only

The HTA is to form a new sub-group to represent Cash & Carry nurseries. The group will encourage comparative benchmarking and develop best practice. See more... Read more - members only

In the current challenging economic environment and with tuition fees set to increase, students are feeling the pinch more than most. This academic year the David Colegrave Foundation has four scholarships to invest in the horticulturalists of the future. See more... Read more - members only

The HTA is exploring the possibility of a central hub for distributing plants throughout the UK managed by DHL, a leading logistics company. See more... Read more - members only

Restructuring at the RHS sees the departure of 3 directors as the new director general, Sue Biggs, streamlines the RHS and seeks to elevate its public profile. See more... Read more - members only

The first details have been announced for the 2011 GCA Conference to be held at the end of January near Chipping Norton. Speakers include the One Show’s Christine Walkden, who fears that garden centres are embarrassed to sell plants. See more... Read more - members only

“I’ve never been to a garden centre where someone educated me,” said Mary Queen of Shops at the HTA conference. There is a new world order in retailing, said Mary Portas and the changes are a big plus for garden centres. See more... Read more - members only

Bedding Focus 2010 - 28th October at Ball Colegrave - seems to be a must attend event for any grower or retailer looking at the future shape of their business. See more... Read more - members only

In the light of falling viewing figures for Gardeners’ World, the HTA and the BBC have discussed new garden programming to appeal to the younger gardener. See more... Read more - members only

Any garden centre or plant manager who can spare half a day tomorrow (Wednesday) and get to London, should visit the RHS Autumn Harvest Show. They will pick up enough ideas for this Autumn and next. See more... Read more - members only

Gardening TV has new owners with ambitious plans to double the number of host garden centres within 12 months. See more... Read more - members only

James Barnes, chief executive of Dobbies Garden Centres, will be the keynote speaker at the GIMA business meeting on 7/10. Other topics include advice on how to succeed with sales agents and TV shopping. See more... Read more - members only

The latest figures from the GCA Barometer of Trade show that it is new areas such as farm shops and garden clothing that are providing any growth there is in garden centres. See more... Read more - members only

Motorists keen to break their journeys to check their emails or use the Internet can now do so at 89 garden centres in The Garden Centre Group. See more... Read more - members only

Wiseweather predicts more rain after a sunny start to September and a chance of ground frosts from the 2nd week onward. Read more - members only

Westland Horticulture has announced a series of educational days across the UK for garden retail staff. See more... Read more - members only

The RHS is hosting the first-ever international conference dedicated to ornamental plant trials. In association with the International Society for Horticultural Science, the International Trials Conference 2011 (July 4-7) will be a global consultation on the assessment of ornamental plants. See more...
Read more - members only

Westland is offering 25 places at the GCA Conference to rising stars who they hope will be the next generation of garden centre managers. See more... Read more - members only

Wiseweather predicts that a succession of low pressures will keep the weather unsettled for most of November, with respite from a couple of short lived highs. Temperatures should be above average, rainfall and sunshine near average for the month. See more... Read more - members only

When judging September’s 4% fall in garden centre sales, as shown in the GCA Barometer of Trade, allowance must be made for last year’s 13% increase. See more... Read more - members only

Such is the threat of the fuchsia gall mite, the RHS is opening its free diagnostic service to non members and has warned gardeners about sharing cuttings. See more… Read more - members only

The boom in TV home shopping, how to succeed with agents, an update from Dobbies, an invitation to the Edible Garden Show and a vote on Glee were topics that filled a fast moving GIMA meeting last week. See more... Read more - members only

It was an encouraging start for Aqua 2010 at Telford. Over 700 visitors attended the first day. See more... Read more - members only

In advance of tomorrow’s GIMA meeting, the Garden Manufacturers Association has reacted to fears of a tough 2011 by freezing membership fees for a 4th year. See more... Read more - members only

Local Internet retailer Garden4Less has been hit by a unique online scam involving the Amazon website. See more... Read more - members only

At Gardenforum's invitation, 6 entrepreneurs braved the stage to ask the Glee Garden Angels how to get access to garden centre buyers. The results were unexpected. As one company said afterwards, "I learnt more in 15 minutes with the Angels than I would have gained in hours with a consultant." See more... Read more - members only

Some of the most innovative companies in the garden industry have been outraged by blatant copying of their products at Glee. See more... Read more - members only

The HTA’s PlantforLife campaign and British Conifer Group have produced banners and a merchandising guide to help retailers build eye-catching displays that will have gardeners up and down the country pining for British Conifers. See more... Read more - members only

Glee Garden Angels, hosted by Gardenforum, is an exciting and different event at Glee this year. Based loosely on the BBC's Dragons Den, three Angels will offer advice and perhaps a little more, to companies bringing innovation to the garden sector. We can now reveal the identity of our Glee Garden Angels. See more... Read more - members only

Dobbies Internet operation Dobbies.com has teamed up with leading tool hire company Hire Station to offer over 2000 different tools. See more… Read more - members only