Strong start to 2018 for Glee

In a year that sees Glee refresh itself even further for the benefit of the industry it represents, the show organisers have reported that the beginning of 2018 saw the annual exhibition witness an incredible display of support from the garden retail sector. Read more - open to all

Bringing the great outdoors indoors at RHS Malvern Spring Festival

Get your fill of beautiful houseplants and on-trend terrarium inspiration. Enthusiasm for greening up the indoors is growing and the humble houseplant is bang on trend right now. Read more - open to all

Paul Hervey-Brookes is bringing 3 giant 7m terrariums to the show. Right, kokedama displays.

Pats celebrates 10 Years

PATS, The pets trade event organised by Impact Exhibitions, celebrated its 25th show in 10 years yesterday at Sandown Park. Read more - open to all

Gordon Thomas and the PATS team

British Plant Fair closes the door

After nearly ten years, the British Plant Fair closed its door for the final time on Thursday. The British Plant Fair led to the successful launch of the National Plant Show, held every June at Stoneleigh Park Read more - members only

Chat from the aisles of the Garden Press Event

News includes the phasing out of the Viking brand name, unprecedented order levels for Wyevale Nurseries, a new sales and marketing director for Grange and a final goodbye to Paul Hansord, MD of T&M. Read more - members only

Paul Taylor at Grange

How was it after 2 days of Glee at the Spring Fair?

It is too early to judge whether the new Glee at the Spring Fair will become an annual event. Gardenforum believes it has potential, with a change of name and focus. Read our notes from the aisles. Read more - members only

 Andrea and Tony Barnett, whose Potty Feet were named best new product

Flurry to grab the best spaces as Glee relocates

There was a flurry of activity on tuesday night and Wednesday as exhibitors rushed to book the best spaces in the new Glee layout for 2018. Read more - members only

Scoop for the Green Heart of Glee as leading growers return

Hillier and Farplants are returning to Glee after an absence of some years.  They join other top growers at the exhibition’s Green Heart, which will have more exhibitors than ever. Read more - members only

Images and tales from Hampton Court

Eye catching models from Perennial, a cuddly display from Easigrass and literal interpretations on Franchi Seeds' autistic kitchen garden entertained visitors at Hampton Court. Read more - members only

Rachel de Thame with models on the perennial garden

New Halls for Glee 2017 and 2018

Glee 17 extends to an extra hall as it introduces the Retail Lab @Glee and the first Flemish growers pavilion. Ascential Events has also announced a complete new layout for the UK’s biggest gardening trade show in 2018. Read more - members only

Glee to open a spring show in 2018

Glee has announced today that it is to open a concession within the Spring Fair in 2018, focussing on 3 garden categories.  Read more - members only

2016 - a year of change

2016 saw second tier garden centre chains and independents invest as Wyevale consolidated. Homebase and Argos are sold. The HTA moved offices and moved to become the lead association for all gardening related businesses. Glyphosate, Xylella and the weather made frequent headlines. Scotts and Bayer looked for a way out of distributing consumer garden chemicals. Read our review – open to all. Read more - open to all

Bunnings buys Homebase

Why visit or exhibit at spoga+gafa

Spoga+gafa is Europe’s biggest garden trade fair.  With the resurgence of Glee, why should UK suppliers and retailers also consider crossing the channel? Read more - members only

National Children’s Gardening Week – Year 2

Initiated last year, the second National Children’s Gardening Week will take place over the spring half term at the end of May. Read more - members only

Glee recognition for the garden retail’s best buyers

Teams from Blue Diamond, Haskins and Homebase were among the five category winners in the first Glee Buyers Power List. Read more - members only

The Homebase buying team led by Heidi Towse (2nd from left)

Get your 2019 sales rocketing

After another bumper event in 2018, Harrogate Christmas & Gift is now open for booking for its 2019 show which takes place at the Harrogate Convention Centre from 13th to 16th January 2019. Read more - open to all

“Mini Monet” commissioned for limited edition Chelsea Flower Show paintings

15 year old art prodigy, known as “Mini Monet”, commissioned for limited edition Chelsea Flower Show paintings…and you could own one! Read more - open to all

What More UK celebrate partnership with new National Home Improvement Week initiative

What More UK are celebrating their partnership with the National Home Improvement Week. The brand-new consumer-facing marketing initiative is coordinated by BHETA (The British Home Enhancement Trade Association). National Home Improvement Week is set to be a landmark event in the home and garden industry. Read more - open to all

Interest grows in AQUA as dates and venue confirmed for 2019 show

AQUA 2019, the market-leading showcase for the UK’s water gardening and aquatics trade, will be returning to the Telford International Centre on Wednesday 16th and Thursday 17th October, 2019. Read more - open to all

UK to exhibit Beijing Horticulture Expo 2019

The HTA and the RHS are backing a British exhibit at Beijing’s massive Garden Expo, confirmed by the Prime Minister, which runs from April to October 2019. Read more - members only

Topping out the China pavilion of Horticultural Expo 2019

Battery power drives Stihl’s sponsorship of Hillier at Chelsea

Stihl’s sponsorship of Hillier’s Chelsea exhibit underlines their drive to involve garden centres with the new era cordless garden tools, which will shortly be on sale at Hillier’s garden centres. Read more - members only

Gardenforum reports from spoga + gafa

We report on highlights from spoga + gafa, with some hints of what we might see at Glee, plus news of the Westland brand moving into Europe. Read more - members only

Crest's indoor gardening kit with 3 colour light

Glee reveals the short list of top garden industry buyers

Glee has opened the vote to find the UK's best garden buyers. They have revealed a shortlist of 25 buyers across 5 categories: independent garden centres, multiples, DIY / Builder Merchants, online and other. Read more - members only

BBC Gardeners’ World 50th anniversary will be buzzing with celebrities

There will be a buzz of gardening celebrities at the BBC Gardeners’ World Live event in Birmingham (15-18 June, NEC) to celebrate the programme’s 50th anniversary. Read more - members only

Lots for the Garden Press to write about

There was plenty to see and hear at the Garden Press Event including a snail fence, outdoor fragrances, a new urban compost from Scotts and news of some enhanced summer events. Read more - members only

Woodlodge's Dorset rocking chair.

Chairman speaks out to settle Town & Country rumours

Town & Country chairman, Barry Page, has said that rumours of an imminent sale are false and that the company is ready for the season with increased stock levels. Read more - members only

Barry Page

The Four Oaks Show and nursery is for sale

Richard Harding has started the process of selling Four Oaks Trade Show and Nursery.  He is looking for the right buyer to ensure continuity of the event. Read more - members only

Review of 2015 in the Garden Industry

2015 was an eventful year in the garden sector. Here is a round-up of some of the most important stories on Gardenforum throughout the year. This article is open to non-members. Read more - open to all

Bicester, one of the 8 garden centres bought by Black Rock for £112.5m

Glee is back with a vengeance!

For many exhibitors it was the best Glee for several years, although not everyone was as pleased. Read our news from the aisles of Glee. Read more - members only

Glee new product winners announced

Vivid Arts, Wyevale Nurseries, Fallen fruits and Melcourt Industries were among the winners of the Glee new product awards. Read more - members only

Paul Newbitt with Vivid Arts' Miniature World

To see earlier stories - Look in the News Archive