Colin Wetherley Mein, new president of GIMA, hopes to add services such as a buying group and barometer of trade for GIMA members. He also wants to continue building links with the rest of the industry. Read more

The GCA figures for February shows a good start for sales of seeds, bulbs and plants but the association cautions, “We have no idea what the year ahead is going to hold for us but it looks as if gardeners… are eager to get back into their gardens.” Read more

Online sales of garden products will exceed £3 billion by 2019 according to MTW Research’s new 120-page report published this month, with sales of garden products online having risen by 45 per cent between 2009 and 2015. Read more

Wiseweather suggests that there will be a North / South split in the weather for March.  The South could experience some warm, sunny days, mid month. Read more

The HTA has announced a new out of London venue and shape for its strategic Garden Futures conference.  There will also be changes for the next Totally Shows. Read more

Gardenex gives three reasons why garden suppliers should export and the HTA has created an overseas market tool kit, download it now. Read more

February looks set to be sunnier and slightly colder than average  Although drier, snow showers will often feature in the forecast.  Read more

The Government is proposing legislation that would force Britain’s biggest companies to reveal their payment terms and performance, quarterly.  GIMA welcomes greater transparency saying the garden industry is particularly bad when it comes to paying bills. Read more

LOFA research shows that garden furniture sales grew 18% this year, but online retailers take the biggest share, over double that of garden centres. Read more

Garden centre catering operations face new food labelling regulations which come into force on December 13. Read more

Growers and nurserymen from across the horticulture industry are invited to the biennial Contact 2015 conference ‘Growing Opportunities’ which takes place on Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 January 2015 at JCB Global Headquarters in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire. Read more

The new chairman of Choice Marketing told members that recent supply chain changes had provided an opportunity in what was an extremely challenging year, as a result the independent garden centre group is stronger. Read more

The HTA has teamed up with Garden Retail Success and a former GCA chairman to provide a mentoring and benchmarking service to help garden centres improve performance. Read more

GCA figures for September show that the gardener is back. Outdoor plants, garden sundries and landscape products showed double digit growth for the month. Read more

Longacres have become the UK’s first garden centre to offer an automated “Drive In” Click & Collect service. Read more

Wiseweather predicts April will be sunnier and drier than normal, with warm days and colder nights. However the SE may have more cloud at times. Read more

Although 2 banks have recently backed garden centre developments it seems that a number of deals are falling through because buyers cannot get bank funding because of their inexperienced advisers. Read more

From 26th November most garden retailers will be required by law to have a trained and certificated member of staff available when they sell garden chemicals.  The HTA and Crop Protection Association have a solution. Read more

Darren Mogg is to leave Wyevale Garden Centres at the end of March having managed the development of the company websites for the last two years. Read more

The country’s gardening press converge on the Barbican on Thursday to get fresh ideas to write about this spring.  What will catch their interest at the Garden Press Event? Read more

Garden centres and suppliers have only a few days to promote their activities for Garden Re-Leaf Day before the UK’s national press visit the Garden Press Event Read more

The GCA conference, in less than 2 weeks, will hear from the former top woman in the British army, the ex-head of Porsche GB and there's a report on the world economic outlook.  The world record holder for reciting the value of pi will also take to the stage. Read more

2014 has been dominated by the repositioning of the major gardening goods distributors following the demise of Solus.  The weather for once provided a good news story and towards the end of the year there was a flurry of activity from Wyevale as it picked up eight long established independent garden centres.  See the full review – which is open to all… Read more

Willerby Landscapes took the Grand Award for a record fifth time today at the 38th BALI National Landscape Awards.  For all the winners - See more... Read more

Glee is to be a Monday to Wednesday show in 2015.  Stand bookings are 3 months ahead of last year and a new Glee Advisory Board gets weighty backing from the industry. Read more

A new month brings with it something of a pattern change with much more seasonable, chillier weather seeming likely to develop.  Brief spells of high pressure interspersed with fronts moving SE seems to be the likely pattern for the month. Read more

LOFA has decided to adjust the dates of Solex 2015 so that it starts on Tuesday July 7th.  Read more

The new month brings something of a pattern change early in the month with much more seasonable, cooler weather likely to develop for most parts. Read more

Homeowners and business could be hit with huge fines if they allow Japanese knotweed, Himalayan balsam and other non-native invasive species to spread from their premises. Read more

Quotes from HTA Garden Futures: “I want to create an emotional connection between the consumer and a bag of compost.”   And “Gardening is about partying, entertainment and living outside. It is not about ‘Jobs for the month’.” Read more