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 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

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

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

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

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 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

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 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

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

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

The HTA Market Update reveals that overall garden centre sales were down -46% from January 2020 levels. Seeds and BBQ's increased sales. Read more - members only

GCA has published results of its virtual AGM.  Tammy Woodhouse is confirmed as the next chairman.  Klondyke’s David Yardley joins the executive committee for the first time. Read more - members only

BHETA is lobbying against last minute changes to draft Plastic Packaging Tax legislation that introduce consumer goods to the intended single use packaging. Read more - members only

The HTA explains Defra’s most recent guidance documents that clarify the proposed inspection regime for importing plants after 1 January and what they mean for the industry. Read more - members only

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The boom in home deliveries, stock piling by suppliers and slower recycling from shops has made corrugated cardboard so sought-after it is now being called ‘beige gold’. Read more - members only

Gardening Express boss writes to APHA/Defra re the farce preventing him from sending plants to Northern Ireland and the potential plant health risks. Read more - members only

Joy of Plants has launched a plugin to make its library of plant photos and information available in the industry’s favourite webshop platform, WooCommerce. Read more - members only

Kingfisher, parent company of B&Q and Screwfix, has bought NeedHelp, the French home improvement services marketplace, for roll out in the UK. Read more - members only