Demand for horticultural training surges, says RHS

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has reported a 58% increase in applicants for its work-based training programmes in 2021 – the highest in decades – as many reconsider their post-pandemic career options. Read more - open to all

Garden Centres seek additional warehousing to protect supplies

An increasing number of garden centres are seeking warehouse space to take stock control into their own hands following recent supply chain availability issues, says Malcolm Scott. Read more - members only

The HTA launches Inside Horticulture

The HTA has published the first edition of Inside Horticulture, a new quarterly magazine for business leaders throughout the horticulture sector. Read more - members only

Garden centre May revenues +9% on 2019

The latest GCA Barometer of Sales shows garden centre revenues were up +9% over May 2019 and +17% up if restaurant catering is excluded. Read more - members only

LOFA warns that freight problems are escalating

With container costs approaching $20,000, LOFA warns that freight problems are escalating and asks if this is due to the greed of shipping lines and if they are colluding to increase prices. Read more - members only

Thrive helps more people access health benefits of gardening 

Thrive is launching a new training course offering online and flexible learning for those looking to establish services that harness the healing power of gardening. Read more - open to all

Fargro sold to MBO

MD, Richard Hopkins, has announced the successful completion of a management buy-out (MBO) of Fargro Ltd backed by  private equity partner Ashridge Capital. Read more - members only

Ensure you are registered for business rates relief

Malcolm Scott Consultants have issued a reminder to retail, leisure and hospitality operators to update themselves on the various rates relief policies in place across the UK as they attempt to recoup some of the losses resulting from the Coronavirus pandemic. Read more - open to all

Andrew Burton

The Valuation Office Agency has contacted garden centres across the country

The Valuation Office Agency has contacted garden centres across the country to request rental and account information to support the 2023 Revaluation of business rates in England and Wales.   Read more - open to all

Scarlet Opus is to return for virtual webinars

GIMA is pleased to confirm that it has recommissioned its Consumer & Design Trends research for the third year running, once again optimising the leading insight from trend agency, Scarlet Opus. Read more - open to all

The surge in garden centre sales continues

The HTA Market Update report shows that garden centre sales were up +97% in March compared with March 2020 when there were 9 days fewer trading due to Covid-19 and +56% up on March 2019.   Read more - members only

Gardening sales flourished in February

February figures from the GCA show why garden suppliers are struggling to keep up with demand. Garden centre sales of furniture and barbecues were up 142%.  Read more - members only

Dalverton Garden Centre to extend plant area

Dalverton Garden Centre on the Isle of Wight is set to increase its plant sales area by 20 per cent with support of Malcolm Scott Consultants. Read more - open to all

RHS to be peat-free by 2025

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has committed to being 100% peat-free by 2025 as it experiments with farmed sphagnum moss. Read more - members only

The GIMA Awards are to return in November

Having been cancelled in 2020 the GIMA Awards, the main industry social event of the year, is to celebrate its 40th anniversary on November 11th. Read more - open to all

Surge in Garden Centre sales eases in June

The GCA Barometer of Trade shows garden centre revenues up +66% for the first half of 2021, despite growth easing in June. Read more - members only

HTA - The beginning of a new normal?

The latest HTA market information suggests the beginning of a new normal, with garden centre sales for June down just 3% from June 2020, when sales rocketed due to the national lockdown. Read more - members only

Blue Diamond tells BHETA the key qualifications for product listing

A team from Blue Diamond including MD Alan Roper outlined the key qualifications for potential product listing in its garden centres at BHETA’s retailer networking forum. Read more - members only

Alan Roper

Choice holds ‘Meet the Furniture Buyer’ event

Choice Marketing is hosting its own ‘Meet the Furniture Buyer’ event next week in Northamptonshire, where a number of its Associate Suppliers will be exhibiting.  Read more - open to all

Sales decrease in second half of May

The HTA’s Market Update shows garden centre sales were up 30% in May but decreased in the second half of the month as Covid restrictions eased. Read more - members only

How good were garden centre sales in April?

Figures just published by the Garden Centre Association’s Barometer of Trade, show just how good April sales were, with the challenges of frosts, restaurant closures and stock shortages. Read more - members only

Late April Forst protection at Hillier

Will garden centres re-open restaurants in May?

There is caution among independent garden centres over the reopening of inside catering, which is likely to be permitted from 17th May, while there's social distancing. Read more - members only

Preparing for a COVID-secure inspection

Navigating business change in 2021 - are you inspection ready? Despite the roadmap out of lockdown now being well underway, it is still essential for business owners to ensure their workplaces are COVID-secure. Read more - open to all

Latest company results show impact of first lockdown

Sales jumped over the first lockdown at T&M, Hozelock and Crocus.  Others in this report which is open to all include Stewarts, Dobbies, Rosebourne, Tong and The Greener Gardening Company. Read more - open to all

Announcing BALI Chalk Fund Champions

The British Association of Landscape Industries’ own charity, the BALI Chalk Fund, has launched Chalk Fund Champions to help combat the industry skills gap. Read more - open to all

Spring clean your finances take control with help from Perennial

Living with the pandemic has exacerbated the challenging financial position experienced by many working in horticulture. Perennial is addressing some of these money worries by encouraging everyone to check their financial wellbeing. Read more - open to all

Watch Your Back! 21

Watch Your Back! returns with a NEW scheme designed to keep everyone in horticulture sun protected. Read more - open to all

Gilbert Evans clarifies business rates post Budget

Gilbert Evans seeks to resolve the confusion following the recent budget announcement regarding the extension of the Expanded Rates - Retail Discount scheme. Read more - members only

Allen Evans

Consumers looking forward to eating out again

The HTA Market Update report for March shows national sales of garden/gardening categories were +69% up in February 2021 compared to the same month of last year. Read more - members only

Exporting to the EU since the trade deal

Gardenex, PetQuip and the CHA will be hosting a special webinar, ‘Exporting to the EU since the trade deal – impacts and key issues’,  on Friday 5 March. Read more - open to all

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