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Dobbies chairman to be ITV non-exec director Lucy Neville-Rolfe, the Chairman of Dobbies and Tesco’s Director of Corporate and Legal Affairs since 1997, is to be a non-executive director at ITV. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 07 Sep 10

Mary Portas headlines the HTA's autumn conference Mary Queen of Shops is to visit several garden centres and deliver her views on the state of the sector at this autumn's HTA conference. The presentation will be followed by what is likely to be a lively debate. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 02 Aug 10

TGCG continues to strengthen its horticultural credentials The Garden Centre Group announced a major redevelopment of Bridgemere at a lunch to honour the founders John and Elizabeth Ravenscroft. The group continues to strengthen its horticultural base. See more..
Byline: George Bullivant 19 Jul 10

Thurlow moves on from Glee Dan Thurlow, Glee Show Director, is leaving the show and moving to another post within EMAP. He is to become Sponsorship Director for the events business. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 01 Jul 10

Ransons Garden Centre to open on July 5 Former Notcutts manager Julian Ranson is opening his own centre, Ransons, on July 5 at the Hatton Experience. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 18 Jun 10

RHS finds a new Director General The RHS has named the new Director General to replace Inga Grimsey who resigned last year. It is to be Sue Biggs, a passionate gardener who was Managing Director of Kuoni between 1999 and 2008. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 10 Jun 10

Natar assumes Non-Executive role at Gardman Paris Natar, who started Gardman 17 years ago, completes the hand-over to the new management team by becoming a non-executive director, this week. But it does not mean that he will be any less involved with the company than before. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 01 Jun 10

Roger Aylett Dahlia expert and founder of Aylett Nurseries has died Roger Aylett, the founder of leading independent garden centre Aylett Nurseries in St Albans, has died. He was a holder of the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contributions to the science and practice of horticulture. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 26 May 10

CEO completes management buyout of Casco Matthew Bubear, CEO of Casco Europe, has completed a management buyout to acquire the business. This follows the sale of the North American parent company, Casco, which was announced in January. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 22 Apr 10

B&Q joint founder dies Joint founder of B&Q, David Quayle, has died while on a luxury cruise, of a suspected heart attack. He was 73. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 19 Apr 10

Dennis Espley to become next chairman of the GCA The Garden Centre Association has today announced the names of its next 6 chairmen taking it to 2021. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 31 Mar 10

Management team takes a stake in the Garden Store group Management team has bought a stake in the Garden Store group as joint founder, Patrick Pearce, retires. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 10 Feb 10

BALI Chief Executive Sandra Loton-Jones quits her post The Chief Executive of the British Association of Landscape Industries, Sandra Loton-Jones (LJ), is to leave her post at the end of January.
Byline: Landscape Juice 27 Jan 10

Alan Titchmarsh and B&Q join forces Alan Titchmarsh is to work with B&Q as it seeks to cement ‘its position as the UK’s largest chain of garden centres’. He will provide regular tips and advice through in-store displays and on B&Q's website. See more...
Byline: Gardenforum 22 Jan 10

2009 Review - Part 2: July to December With trade strong, attention turned to the battle between the increased number of trade shows in 2010. Many garden centres won planning permission to extend. Corporate activity continued among suppliers. See more... (This article is open to all)
Byline: George Bullivant 04 Jan 10

2009 Review - Part 1: January to June There was a nervous feel to the start of 2009. The Banking crisis was in full swing. No one knew whether consumer demand would come to an abrupt halt after Christmas and garden suppliers were anxiously waiting for confirmation of Wyevale’s financial restructuring. This review is open to all. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 23 Dec 09

Brigden to join Focus DIY Peter Brigden, ex operations director at Wyevale, is to become retail director at Focus DIY in January according to Retail Week. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 18 Dec 09

Top HTA Board Appointments Announced The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has announced a number of key appointments following its AGM held on 21 October.
Byline: HTA 21 Oct 09

Mike Gilbert breaks away from Hammond Phillips Mike Gilbert and 2 fellow directors from Hammond Phillips have left the company to set up their own practice, Gilbert Evans, which is based in Ascot. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 20 Oct 09

Wyevale CEOs past and present address GIMA The next GIMA meeting, which is open to all, will bring together the current CEO of Wyevale (The Garden Centre Group) with one of his predecessors, now the CEO of Klondyke. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 14 Sep 09

Barnes and Marshall to share a platform at HTA conference Former Lebanese hostage, John McCarthy, leads a list of high-profile speakers at this year’s one-day HTA conference that will look at how the consumer and the marketplace is changing. However, there will be space for only 150 delegates. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 19 Aug 09

UK Garden Companies collaborate on first solar powered flight to Africa Haxnicks managing director Damian Cardozo survived some exciting moments as he flew the world's first electric powered paramotor to Africa powered by panels donated by Smart Solar. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 17 Aug 09

Stevenson becomes CX of pawnbroker Albemarle & Bond Barry Stevenson, chief executive of Wyevale from June 2006 to January 2008, under the chairmanship of Jim Hodkinson, has a new job. He is to become chief executive of pawnbroker Albemarle & Bond. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 14 Aug 09

UPDATED - Robbers hold garden centre manager at knifepoint Armed robbers ambushed the manager of Barton Grange Garden Centre and his assistant forcing them to open the safe. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 11 Aug 09

Ex-garden centre owner becomes a supplier Former GCA chairman Steve Myatt, who sold his garden centre in April, has started a new business as an importer of barbecues. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 10 Aug 09

Weekend news round-up Read what was said last weekend in the Press. Heinz targets garden centres with BBQ sauces, Dobbies to offer allotments and shoppers flinch at Smith & Hawken closing down sale. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 27 Jul 09

New degree course for garden centre managers There is an important new qualification that garden centre managers and supervisers can work towards. It has been developed by Kingston Maurward College, validated by Bournemouth University and backed by the HTA and GCA. See more...


RHS Awards 2009 Twelve heroes from across the gardening world are being honoured by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), in recognition of their contributions to horticulture
Byline: RHS 02 Jul 09

Stewart to be next chairman of GCA Martin Stewart is to become GCA chairman for a second time, in January. His aim is to strengthen links with suppliers. GRO will continue but he said there was no logic in it for core gardening. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 12 Jun 09

Tommy Gill leaves Bayer Garden Tommy Gill, head of Bayer Garden, is leaving after 7 years. This is the second big departure from Bayer in 12 months. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 30 May 09

ITV & RHS seek the People's Gardener ITV’s Alan Titchmarsh Show and the RHS have launched the search for the People's Gardener. They are seeking nominations for anyone whose passion for gardening benefits their community in some way. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 16 Jan 09

2008 Review Gardenforum reported on 18 garden centres changing hands last year. There was also the demise of wholesaler Spread, and a difficult year for Sir Tom Hunter’s investments in Dobbies, Flying Brands and Wyevale. For a review of 2008 and what to watch in 2009, see 'more'... (This article open to non-subscribers to see what you missed!)
Byline: George Bullivant 05 Jan 09

Lifetime Achievement Award for Whitehall Centenarian Highlights of last night's Garden Retail Awards include 3 wins for the newly refurbished Sidmouth Garden Centre and a Lifetime Achievement Award for Whitehall Garden Centre's centenarian owner Phyllis Self. For all the winners, see more...
Byline: George Bullivant 13 Nov 08

Bestwick to leave Gardman Managing director, Andy Bestwick, is to leave Gardman in January. For the time being, his role will be covered by the company’s new Chief Executive, Mark Pearson, who starts next week. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 31 Oct 08

Shoots Garden Centre boss slams Trading Standards According to the Harrow Times, the boss of Shoots Garden Centre, Stanmore, has accused Trading Standards of entrapment after it sent a child test purchaser into his shop for a pruning saw. See more...
Byline: Gardenforum 29 Oct 08

GRO names its buyer for garden products GRO has appointed a buyer for garden dry goods. He has started to contact suppliers who have indicated their willingness to talk to the new, GCA backed, garden centre buying group. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 30 Sep 08

New realism at Gardeners World Yesterdays interview with new Gardeners World presenter, Toby Buckland, in the Sunday Times should reassure the garden industry. Buckland believes the key to becoming an environmentally friendly gardener is to grow your own food. “If having a successful crop means using non-organic methods, so be it,” he says. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 29 Sep 08

Garden companies show growth in 2007 The latest updates in Company Results show a return to profit for Forest Garden. Smart Solar sales top £10m and Blue Diamond sales reach £19.8m in the UK. See more (this article is open to all readers)...
Byline: George Bullivant 17 Sep 08

New COO for Scotts Miracle-Gro Jim Hagedorn, chairman and chief executive of Scotts Miracle-Gro has appointed a retailer as his new chief operating officer (COO). Mark Baker was president and CEO of Gander Mountain, a leading outdoor retailer in the US and before that he was with Home Depot. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 10 Sep 08

Nicholas Marshall to take over at Wyevale Sir Tom Hunter is to assume the chairmanship of Wyevale with Nicholas Marshall, currently chief executive of Country Homes and Gardens taking over the role of chief executive officer. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 01 Sep 08

Wyevale appoint Andrew Livingston as COO Wyevale Garden Centres Ltd today announced the appointment of Andrew Livingston as Chief Operating Officer with immediate effect. See more...
Byline: Wyevale Garden Centres Ltd 20 Aug 08

Toby to toil in Gardeners' World Toby Buckland is to become the main presenter of the BBC's Gardeners' World programme, it has been announced.
Byline: Sue Knight 14 Aug 08

Leading US garden centre owner murdered at the Olympics Todd Bachman, the tourist killed in Beijing on Saturday, was a leading member of the garden centre industry in the United States. His wife, Barbara, remains in a critical condition after the stabbing. See more…
Byline: Peter Dawson 12 Aug 08

GCA names Best Garden Centres in North and South Thames The first area winners have been declared in the competition to find this year's Best GCA Garden Centre. The awards, following judging in the North Thames and South Thames areas, were announced at two recent ceremonies. To see the winners, see more...
Byline: George Bullivant 01 Aug 08

Salary survey reveals wages of sales managers are forging ahead This year’s salary survey by the HTA shows that garden centre managers continue to be paid more than a nursery manager. The average plant area manager is paid £19,500 and nursery workers in the Southern region remain the highest paid with average wages of £14700. Sales manager salaries have grown 8%. For details see more...
Byline: The Horticultural Trades Association 31 Jul 08

Enhance the competitiveness of your business with Women in Work! Significant training grants are available for HTA members to take advantage of through the Women and Work project, managed by Lantra Sector Skills Council for the environmental and land-based sector. See more...
Byline: The Horticultural Trades Association 29 Jul 08

New CX for Flying Brands Flying Brands has announced that Tricia Killen will replace Mark Dugdale as the Group's Chief Executive. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 02 Jun 08

Hunter: “We are long term investors” This month’s Garden Retail carries an interview with Sir Tom Hunter. He says he is seeking to develop his 124 Wyevale Garden Centres business into a chain of shopping malls for the 60-plus baby-boomer generation. See more...
Byline: Matthew Appleby 28 May 08

Glynn is back as GIMA President GIMA President Glynn Davis, who stood down as the Association's leader shortly before Christmas, has returned to the garden products supply industry and so is eligible to retake his GIMA role. See more...
Byline: GIMA 28 Feb 08

Gows buy Burcot Garden Centre Nicci and Neil Gow have bought Burcot Garden Centre. Nicci will run the garden centre while Neil continues as director of GIMA. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 28 Jan 08

Scotts face HSE probe over tragic accident Scotts Miracle-Gro may face prosecution over the death of a worker at the peat packing station on Hatfield Moor. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 24 Jan 08

Jim Hodkinson takes control at Wyevale Jim Hodkinson takes over as chief executive of Wyevale Garden Centres after the departure of Barry Stevenson. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 09 Jan 08

News Review 2007 Here is our review of the News in 2007. This story is open to all our readers even if you are not a subscriber. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 03 Jan 08

Gardenforum interviews Wyevale chief Barry Stevenson has been chief executive of Wyevale since June last year when the garden centre group was bought by Sir Tom Hunter’s West Coast Capital consortium. Under his control, turnover has increased almost 50%. But many in the trade question the progress Wyevale is making. Gardenforum visited Stevenson at one of his latest acquisitions, Sanders Garden World in Somerset, and asked his view of Wyevale’s progress. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 21 Nov 07

Britain’s oldest garden centre owner is 100 today Gardenforum congratulates Phyllis Self on celebrating her 100th Birthday. With her son and grand sons she runs Whitehall Garden Centre, where she still works a 48-hour week. A full tribute appears in today’s Daily Mail. Click on the website button to read it.
Byline: Daily Mail 09 Nov 07

New fuchsia pest found in Britain The potentially devastating fuchsia gall mite (Aculops fuchsiae) has been found for the first time on mainland Britain in a fuchsia sample received by the RHS Members’ Advisory Service at RHS Garden Wisley. The pest has the potential to spread rapidly, affecting gardens and greenhouses throughout Britain.
Byline: The RHS 19 Sep 07

More changes in top management at Scotts Miracle-Gro Scotts Miracle-Gro is looking for a new COO as Barry Sanders takes control of the North American business. The moves are part of a restructuring to improve long-term performance. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 14 Sep 07

Garden centre group barred from revealing the truth Garden centre group, Garden and Leisure, found itself the victim of an embarrassing exposé in the national press but legally could say nothing, even though the allegations proved quite wrong. The owners also denied rumours of a possible sale. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 29 Aug 07

RHS appoints Head of Community Horticulture The Royal Horticultural Society has appointed Catherine Haynes to lead and develop a new department to encourage community gardening throughout the UK. See more…
Byline: The RHS 19 Jun 07

Jon Kitching is to leave Wyevale For personal reasons Jon Kitching has decided not to accept the role of leading Wyevale’s new Horti-stores. However, there are new roles for Salim Sajid and Adam Dunnett. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 19 Jun 07

Colquhoun to be interim chair of horticultural sector company Andrew Colquhoun has been announced as an interim chair of the shadow horticultural sector company and board member of Levy Board UK, following resignation of the chairman designate. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 15 May 07

Industry loses another stalwart with death of Peter Hayes (updated) Peter Hayes, the sixth generation of the Hayes family whose roots in horticulture can be traced back over 200 years, died peacefully in Ayr Hospital last Tuesday aged 79. His funeral takes place at Symington Church at 12.30pm on April 25 and afterwards at Hayes Garden Land at Symington, Strathclyde. See more….
Byline: Peter Dawson 22 Apr 07

Optimism pushes job vacancies 33% higher Horticruitment, one of the leading recruitment agencies in the garden industry, sees a surge in vacancies at landscapers and garden retailers reflecting increased optimism for 2007. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 02 Feb 07

New MD to transfer Hozelock HQ to Birmingham Following the successful transfer of Hozelock’s Aylesbury manufacturing operations to its main Birmingham factory, Britain’s leading producer of garden watering and aquatics equipment has announced the appointment of former operations director, Peter Rush as managing director.
Byline: Hozelock 24 Jan 07

2006 News Review 2006 was the year when the decline of old order in the garden industry became irreversible. Gardenforum reviews the stories from 2006 and looks forward to 2007. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 02 Jan 07

Mr Smith wins Guild's Lifetime Achievement Award Straight-talking Yorkshireman, Geoffrey Smith, once described as the Geoffrey Boycott of gardening, has won the prestigious Garden Writers' Guild Lifetime Achievement Award for 2006. For all the winners in broadcasting, book, press, photography and multimedia categories, see more...
Byline: Garden Writers' Guild 05 Dec 06

Management changes at Blue Diamond Blue Diamond, the garden centre group that built the award winning Trentham Garden Centre, has tripled UK sales in 2 years. It is shortly to announce management changes as Mike Vaudin retires after 45 years. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 27 Nov 06

John Ashley recognised for Outstanding Achievement A standing ovation greeted an emotional John Ashley, as he accepted the Outstanding Achievement award at what will be the last Garden Centre & Retail Awards hosted by Nexus Media. For the other award winners, including overall garden centre of the year, see more...
Byline: George Bullivant 24 Nov 06

Industry leaders remember David Shaw David Shaw, the former sales director of Gibbs-Palmer, died suddenly last week aged 62. Industry figures remember his tenacious, committed and caring character. See more...
Byline: Peter Dawson 09 Oct 06

Gow succeeds Marsh as GIMA director Neil Gow, former director of garden centres with the Byrkley Park Group, is to be the new director of GIMA. He takes over from Peter Marsh on October 30 but will be at the next GIMA business meeting on October 19. See more…
Byline: Peter Dawson 02 Oct 06

RHS appoints new Director General The RHS is appointing a retailer as its next Director General. Inga Grimsey is to succeed Andrew Colquhoun in November as he leaves to train for a career in counselling after 7 years with the RHS. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 04 Sep 06

Average garden centre manager earns £25,220 The HTA 2006 annual salary survey results graphically illustrate the differing fortunes of businesses in the sector. The differences are particularly acute in the nursery sector, where a number of executive post holders have seen their remuneration remain static or decrease over the past year, an indication of the tough trading conditions. See more...
Byline: The Horticultural Trades Association 14 Jul 06

John Wyatt to leave Scotts John Wyatt is to leave Scotts for an international role with Black & Decker. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 10 Jul 06

Peter Marsh to leave GIMA Peter Marsh, director of GIMA, is to leave once his successor is found. He wishes to devote more time to his own marketing business, Marsh PR, after 10 years in the role. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 30 May 06

Klondyke recruits former Wyevale chief Klondyke Garden Centres, which also operates under the Strikes banner, has recruited Bob Hewitt, formerly chief executive of Wyevale. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 13 Mar 06

Stressed city workers urged to rethink their lifestyle and escape Hadlow College has launched 'The Grass is Greener' campaign aimed at helping unhappy London commuters to realise their dreams for a more fulfilling life. It will encourage them to swap careers from investment banker or PA to a garden designer or owner of a floristry business. See more...
Byline: Hadlow College 17 Feb 06

Wyevale reveals new retail team Wyevale has strengthened its retail operations with the appointment of Mike Haines as Director of Retail Operations and Michael Greenhalgh as Director of Business Development. Both are experienced retailers. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 09 Feb 06

Ex B&Q chief to head Wyevale Jim Hodkinson, the former head of B&Q is Wyevale’s new chairman. He takes over the role as Laxey Partners finally succeed in ousting David Williams, chairman since February, and two non-executive directors nominated by him. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 23 Dec 05

Irrelevant author wins Lifetime Achievement Award He once described himself as irrelevant to the success of his ubiquitous "Expert" series of practical gardening books but his peers have passed their own judgment by bestowing the prestigious Garden Writers' Guild Lifetime Achievement Award for 2005 upon Dr David G Hessayon - the world's biggest-selling non-fiction author.
Byline: Garden Writers Guild 29 Nov 05

Dobbies Appoints Retail Director Gordon Mackenzie, previously with B&Q as a Regional Warehouse Manager, has been appointed Retail Director to manage the visual merchandising and customer service of Dobbies' 18 stores. See more...
Byline: Dobbies 22 Jun 05

David Onslow Dies after a Long Illness After a long and brave fight against cancer, David Onslow, ex-Chairman of Gibbs-Palmer and HART, passed away peacefully last Sunday 19th June. The funeral will be held at St. Peters Church, Petersfield, Hampshire on Tuesday 28th June 2005 at 12:00 Noon. The family hopes that many of David's friends in the garden trade will attend.
Byline: George Bullivant 21 Jun 05

Wyevale's new Chairman is Determined to Deliver “Plants are some of the loveliest things around, but in most centres I go to they are woefully displayed; I have yet to find an industry where the rules… can’t be changed; I don’t know that we have been a good buyer.” Comments made by Wyevale’s new chairman, David Williams, in an interview last week with Gardenforum. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 12 Jun 05

Young Garden Designer of the Year - Winner Announced Following a nationwide search to find the UK's Young Garden Designer of the Year, the winner was presented yesterday, with a cheque of £2500 by Diarmuid Gavin at the contemporary garden show, Urban Gardens at Olympia. The show continues until Sunday 8th May. For photo click on website, for details see more...
Byline: George Bullivant 06 May 05

Alan Bloom has died aged 98 Alan Bloom died at his home, Bressingham Hall, on Wednesday 30th March 2005. Alan Bloom was one of the great British plantsmen of the twentieth century. See more...
Byline: Blooms of Bressingham 08 Apr 05

BALI Appoints new Chief Executive The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) has announced that Sandra Loton-Jones will be joining the Association in the role of Chief Executive, taking over from David Spencer in April 2005. Click on 'website' to see an image...
Byline: Amy Johnson, BALI Communications Officer 03 Feb 05

Founder of Miracle-Gro dies age 89 Horace Hagedorn, the founder and life-long promoter of Miracle-Gro Plant Food has died in his sleep at the age of 89. He was former vice chairman of the board of The Scotts Company and former CEO of its Miracle-Gro division.
Byline: John Clowes, The Scotts Company (UK) Ltd 03 Feb 05

Gov't Gives Gardenex Top Marks as New Chairman Takes Over Tony Hutchinson, export director of Halls Garden Products, has been elected chairman of Gardenex. In his first address as chairman he confirmed that Gardenex has secured funding for exporters at all the events or missions for which it bid for the next financial year. See more...
Byline: Gardenex 14 Dec 04

Lifetime Achievement Award for David Austin Over 400 attended the renamed Garden Centre and Retail Awards last night. Giles Brandreth brought wit and pace to the evening of awards that saw pbi, Apta and Town and Country repeat their successes of 2003. The Young Retailer of the Year was won for a second year by a member of the Stewarts Gardenlands team. Golden Acres Garden Centre was named Gardenforum's Coffee Shop of the Year and Caulders Garden Centre was named Overall Garden Centre of the Year. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 25 Nov 04

(Updated) 5 Appointments Shape Unwins Management Team Westland Horticulture has made its first appointments at Unwins Seeds and Marshalls Mail Order, the brands it purchased in August. Martin Brown, formerly at Lingarden, becomes managing director. He is joined by Paul Allen, also of Lingarden and two from pbi. Update Maxine Chambers has also joined the Unwins team. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 22 Nov 04

Keith Dalton Sets Up New Media Company Keith Dalton, Group Commercial Manager of Highbury-Nexus Horticulture Division, publishers of the Grower, is to leave the company at the end of the year. His departure follows that of Peter Dawson, Pat Flynn and Anisa Gress who have each left Highbury Business since the closure of Nurseryman & Garden Centre magazine. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 22 Nov 04

New Management Line-up at HTA Tim Briercliffe, who has worked closely with the HTA as Senior Horticultural Advisor at ADAS, is to step into the vacancy to be left by Alison Lee, who leaves the HTA and the industry this week. At the same time, Lee Appleyard, head of marketing at the HTA, becomes a director. For the HTA announcement - see more...
Byline: The HTA 01 Nov 04

Jason Lock re-elected APL Chairman The HTA has announced a new look business improvement scheme for landscapers, as Notcutts' Jason Lock is re-elected as chairman of the Association of Professional Landscapers. See more...
Byline: The HTA 24 Sep 04

End of an Era at Garden and Leisure Richard Lloyd, the last working member of the Lloyd family who built Cadbury Garden Centre and formed Garden and Leisure Group, has left the company at the end of August. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 15 Sep 04

Steve Fenton, Director of Polybuild Ltd has died Steve Fenton, director of Polybuild Ltd, has died at the age of 57, following a year long fight against cancer. Steve specialised in the design of new Garden Centre buildings and mobile and static benching. See more...
Byline: Polybuild Ltd 07 Sep 04

Retiring Directors to Boost Retailer Sales Richard Heptinstall-Bolton and Jeremy Crook, respectively former directors of Wolf Garden and Hanson Packed Products, are forming Presenta Connect, a new initiative directed at improving retailer selling skills. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 26 Aug 04

Haskins Appoints New Head of Marketing Dorset garden centre Haskins has appointed a retail marketeer from high street giant Boots as head of marketing to help drive the company through its next phase of development.
Byline: Haskins 21 Jul 04

Gardman Chief shortlisted for Entrepreneur of the Year Paris Natar, founder of Gardman Ltd has been named Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur Of The Year 2004 for the Central region and is shortlisted for the award of overall Entrepreneur Of The Year 2004. See more...
Byline: Ernst & Young 20 Jul 04

Future Marketing appoints Neil Gow to recruit new Members Competition from heavy discounting is the focus of Stephen Spencer who has taken over as Chairman of the Future Marketing Group, the marketing/buying group for independent garden centres. Other changes include Will Armitage assuming the marketing role from Neil Gow, who takes on the responsibility for recruiting new members. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 12 Jul 04

HTA boosts policy team with David Brown appointment The Horticultural Trades Association is boosting its policy team with the appointment of David Brown as a policy consultant. David is well known to the industry from his time at the National Farmers Union, where he was most recently chief policy advisor on horticulture in the NFU London headquarters. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 12 Jul 04

RHS honours Titchmarsh after Vintage Year The RHS President has presented Alan Titchmarsh, Ray Bilton and Professor David Ingram with its highest accolade, the Victoria Medal of Honour. Increased RHS membership leads to £1.9m growth of charitable expenditure. See 'more' for other medal winners and details...
Byline: George Bullivant 06 Jul 04

Gardeners to compete with White Van Man and Models There was a rush for the 40 places offered to people from the garden industry for Saturday's Test the Nation, BBC's national IQ test. Representatives from Hillier Landscapes, the National Trust and Squire's are included in one of six control groups in the studio. Click on the 'more' button to see which companies will be defending our reputation and who the other groups are...
Byline: George Bullivant 19 May 04

BBC Seeks Volunteers for 'Test the Nation' Here's the chance for a bit of fun and for you to participate in one of the biggest TV events of the year? The BBC is looking for 40 people from the garden industry to join the studio audience in this year's 'Test the Nation'. Click the e-mail button to apply, For details see more...
Byline: George Bullivant 23 Apr 04

Sally Makes Miracle Dollars for Charity Sally Spicer, keep-fit fan and Garden Care Buyer at Scotsdales Garden Centre, Cambridge completed the 2003 New York marathon in November and raised more than £3700 for her chosen UK charity 'Dreams Come True'. Click on *website* to see picture...
Byline: John Clowes 30 Mar 04

Klondyke Mourns John Conway Tragic news has been released of the death of John Conway, the respected Operations Director for Klondyke Garden Centres. He was killed in a motor accident on Saturday night. He leaves a wife, Sandie and 16 year-old daughter, Harriet. For Obituary see more...
Byline: George Bullivant 19 Feb 04

Peter Quirk takes early retirement Peter Quirk, Wholesale Business Development Manager for The Scotts Company, has taken early retirement due to ill health. Peter's role has been taken over by Richard Foster who joins Scotts from Norteen. See more...
Byline: John Clowes 11 Feb 04

Two TV Presenters Sought A leading TV company is looking for two charismatic presenters for a brand new garden programme. If you enjoy a challenge, have a sense of humour and are experienced in tackling gardens in any state, then we would love to hear from you!
Byline: Belinda Gregg 25 Jan 04

Pat Flynn to join Garden Radio from Nexus Following the closure by Nexus of Nurseryman and Garden Centre Magazine comes news that Pat Flynn, their Events and Publications Manager has decided to seek a fresh challenge with Garden Radio. Trevor Pfeiffer, once publisher of Gardening and Pets at EMAP, launched the company 18 months ago to provide in-store music in garden centres. See more for their announcement...
Byline: George Bullivant 20 Jan 04

Kenn Lloyd to Retire as Garden and Leisure hits £40m The Garden and Leisure Group, the partnership owned by the Lloyd family (10%) and Truffaut (90%), has announced that Neville Prest is now group managing director while Kenn Lloyd becomes deputy chairman until his retirement next year. Group sales have increased from £26m to £40m in two years - see more...
Byline: George Bullivant 09 Dec 03

Frank Odell, first founder Chairman of LOFA, dies Frank Odell, the first Chairman of LOFA and latterly Honorary Member, died on the evening 26th November. This was almost the 36-year anniversary date since LOFA was formed. In many ways he was the inspiration for the founding of LOFA and a major factor in the development of the garden furniture and barbecue industry in the UK. See more...
Byline: Richard Plowman 04 Dec 03

First Lady of Veg wins Lifetime Achievement Award Judges at the Garden Writers' Guild called for technical improvement in one or two TV gardening programmes, as the doyenne of vegetable writing, Joy Larkcom, won the Lifetime Achievement Award for 2003. Other winners included Mirabel Osler (Journalist of the Year), BBC Bristol's 'How To Be A Gardener 2' (TV Broadcast of the Year). See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 02 Dec 03

Forest Garden Completes its Restructuring Two new senior managers have been appointed by garden timber manufacturer, Forest Garden plc; completing the teams that will drive its recently restructured, customer-focused operations. Graham Pratt takes charge of Larchlap while John Crook joins to manage the Homebase account See more...
Byline: Forest Garden 26 Nov 03

RSA Honours Tim Smit Creator of the Eden Project Tim Smit, creator of the Eden Project, is to be presented with the RSA's premier award, The Albert Medal. The Duke of Edinburgh, President of the RSA, will present the award at Buckingham Palace in recognition of Smit's development of the Eden Project, displaying over 5000 plant species in vast greenhouses built in a disused Cornish quarry. See more...
Byline: The RSA 05 Nov 03

*Peter Weston, editor of Horticulture Week, dies suddenly* Peter Weston, editor of Horticulture Week, died suddenly at the weekend, aged 40. Haymarket chairman Lord Heseltine said: 'This is shattering news. I knew Pete not only as a great pioneering editor but as a fellow enthusiast for everything that grows in the garden." See more...
Byline: Horticulture Week 27 Oct 03

Tony Blake Re-elected Chairman of Choice Marketing Reports from the AGM of Choice Marketing claim a successful first season for all its members with growth into double figures. Commitment to manufacturers has generated good rebates with the overall fund in excess of 6 figures. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 23 Oct 03

HDC seeks Progressive Growers to Steer R&D Programme Enthusiastic growers and technical representatives are encouraged to stand for election to the HDC (Horticultural Development Council) Sector Panels this November, with nominations being sought from large and small growers. See more...
Byline: Horticultural Development Council 14 Oct 03

OBI Chief to Speak at London DIY & Garden Show Manfred Maus, chairman of OBI, Germany's biggest, and Europe's second biggest, DIY retailer, is to make a keynote address at a special conference titled 'DIY Retailing - the next 10 years', being held during the DIY & Garden Show in London in January. See more...
Byline: DIY & Garden Show 10 Oct 03

Jason Lock is New Chairman of APL Members of the Association of Professional Landscapers have elected a new Chairman and adopted a new Constitution at its end of August AGM as membership increases 20%. See more...
Byline: Sandie Skevington, HTA 08 Sep 03

Ruby Wax and Archie Norman at HTA Conference Archie Norman, MP and the man behind the successful turnaround of the Asda Group is to be the Keynote Speaker at the 2003 HTA conference in Manchester in October. Comedienne, Ruby Wax will be the after dinner speaker. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 29 Aug 03

Survey Reveals Secrets of Britains Potting Sheds Why a Scottish distillery should wish to survey the activities that go on behind the closed doors of a garden shed is not immediately obvious. Nor are their findings. For instance 28% of Londoners enjoy reading in their haven at the bottom of the garden. See more...
Byline: The Balvenie Distillery 11 Aug 03

Employers Required to Give Sun Protection Advice A new survey shows few businesses do anything about the risk to their employees of skin cancer from sun exposure. However, employers are required to follow HSE guidelines and provide sun protection advice to their employees. See more...
Byline: Croner Consulting 07 Aug 03

Andy Campbell Goes to Sweden Sweden's leading nursery business has asked UK consultant, Andy Campbell, to address 200 independent garden centre operators in Sweden at their annual sales fair. He will be showing how their UK counterparts compete with the threat of the multiple retailer. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 06 Aug 03

Norman Gibbs Joins HART Board Norman Gibbs, once entrepreneurial sales director at Levington Horticulture, has been appointed to the board of HART, the garden centre buying group. When the current chairman retires, he will be the only director with manufacturing experience on the board. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 31 Jul 03

Gardening Personalities Honoured by Universities The guiding force behind two of Britain’s most visionary ecological projects, Tim Smit, is amongst leading figures from the worlds of science, media, business, entertainment and social justice, to receive Honorary Doctorates from the University of Bradford this week (Wednesday, 16 July to Friday, 18 July, 2003). Also, Leading garden designer, writer, lecturer and historian Penelope Hobhouse will receive the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters (Dlitt) from the University of Birmingham.
Byline: Sue Roberts 16 Jul 03

Prince Charles talks to the vegetables The Prince of Wales has admitted he has enjoyed some good banter while talking to different vegetables, reports Ananova. He made the comments as he opened an extension to Europe's largest organic research centre, Ryton Organic Gardens, as part of a one-day tour of Warwickshire, which also included a visit to Dobbies' new garden centre. See more...
Byline: Ananova 02 Jul 03

400,000 Injured Each Year in the Garden Do you think of your garden as a safe retreat from the hustle and bustle of working life? Think again. According to the July 2003 issue of Gardening Which? (published 20 June 2003) well over 400,000 of us need outpatient treatment for injuries sustained in the garden each year. See more...
Byline: Gardening Which? 30 Jun 03

HDRA to proceed without Gears Alan and Jackie Gear, each recently nominated for the MBE, are to retire from the HDRA after 30 inspirational years. They are moving to Norfolk to spend more time being creative, consulting and campaigning for organics. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 23 Jun 03

Paul Prowse Dies The HTA have announced the death on Tuesday, of their former Marketing Manager, Paul Prowse. With Paul being so closely associated with horticulture it has been decided that floral tributes would be appropriate. For details see more...
Byline: Sandie Skevington 13 Jun 03

D J SQUIRE Founder of Squire's Garden Centres Dies David Squire, known as 'DJ', died last Friday, aged 97. He founded DJ Squire & Co in 1936, landscaping small domestic gardens and producing cut flowers and bedding plants from nurseries in Sunbury. The company now has 10 garden centres and is chaired by his son Colin. His grand-daughter is also in the company. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 10 Jun 03

Stefan Buczacki launches EnglandsGarden.com A new celebrity backed website has started trading, hosted by one of the most experienced names in garden retailing, Prof. Stefan Buczacki. www.EnglandsGarden.com is a combination of on-line garden centre and magazine. It is also destined to be one of the largest on-line gardening picture libraries with a rapidly expanding archive of accurate modern digital images.
Byline: George Bullivant 02 Jun 03

GIMA Elects First Lady President Fiona Carrington, Marketing Director of William Sinclair Horticulture, has been elected President of GIMA. She succeeds Richard Heptinstall-Bolton of Wolf Garden, who presided over a 15% membership increase to 140. The Association now represents retail sales of £1 billion. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 27 Mar 03

F B Parrish & Son is Grower of the Year The ninth Grower of the Year awards took place last night (Thursday February 27) in front of a capacity audience of 800 people from the horticultural industry. Held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London, the event highlights the very best in horticulture. This year's lifetime achievement award was presented to John Woodhead from Hillier Nurseriers - full details and photographs of this and all the winners will be published in the March 6 issue of Grower.
Byline: Anisa Gress 28 Feb 03

Stephen Boon made Director of Notcutts Garden Centres Stephen Boon (38), from Mulbarton in Norfolk has been appointed Operations Director of Notcutts Garden Centres. A former manager at the Norwich garden centre, Boon has been with the company since 1980, when he joined as an apprentice on the nursery. See more...
Byline: Sue Hinton 12 Feb 03

New team for the Independent Trade at Scotts John Ashley has been appointed commercial sales director at Scotts with responsibility for the independent trade sector and Maxine Chambers becomes independent trade sales manager. The team fills the vacancy left by John Connel's departure to the US. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 20 Jan 03

B&Q awards its Big Heroes with a year off! B&Q has announced 3 new staff awards in a scheme that recognises the company's greatest asset - its staff. Staff who are recognised as a B&Q Big Hero, Best of the Best or B&Q Big Thank You win up to £10,000 and a year off to live out their dreams. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 17 Jan 03

RHS Awards New Year Honours Peter Seabrook, gardening writer and broadcaster; Peter Beales, one of the world's leading rose breeders, and Andrew Dunn, owner of Frank P Matthews Ltd (fruit tree specialist), have been awarded the RHS Victoria Medal of Honour (VMH), the highest accolade in the British gardening world.
Byline: The RHS 17 Jan 03

Dennis Espley to become Squire's MD Colin Squire is to relinquish his role as Managing Director of DJ Squire & Co Ltd from 1st February. He will continue as Chairman of the group founded by his father. Dennis Espley becomes Managing Director and Harry Manning joins the board as Finance Director. Sarah Squire is also an Executive Director.
Byline: George Bullivant 09 Jan 03

Roy Lancaster honoured by Garden Writers' Guild Plantsman, broadcaster and author, Roy Lancaster, has been honoured with the Garden Writers' Guild Lifetime Achievement Award following a secret ballot of the Guild's 400 members. Other winners include BBC Gardeners' World Magazine (Magazine of the Year) and the RHS (Website of the Year). See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 02 Dec 02

Boos and a Standing Ovation at the N&GC Awards Around 350 attended the Nurseryman and Garden Centre Awards in London last night. Sharing the headlines were double award winner Helen Bent and Lifetime Achievement winner Robert Hillier. See more for full story and award winners...
Byline: George Bullivant 21 Nov 02

RHS appoints new Director of Horticulture The Royal Horticultural Society has appointed Dr David Gray to be its next Director of Horticulture in succession to Joyce Stewart, who is retiring. He will take up his position with in January 2003.
Byline: RHS 05 Nov 02

Highest Honour for Former HTA President Tributes were paid to Hopetoun Gardens Garden Centre's Dougal Philip this week when the popular former HTA president was presented with the association's highest honour. See more...
Byline: Jim Ward - The Garden Communication & Media Company Ltd 25 Oct 02

HDC Seeks Progressive Growers Progressive growers and technical representatives are sought to stand for election to HDC Sector Panels this November. HDC Panels have a central role in the selection and monitoring of HDC's R&D programme. Panel members, therefore, have a pivotal role in directing UK horticulture. The deadline for nominations is 28 October 2002. See more...
Byline: Horticultural Development Council 23 Oct 02

Nick Kirkbride to leave Scotts UK Managing Director, Nick Kirkbride, is to leave Scotts UK at the end of November. He is to be replaced by John Wyatt who has worked for Cadbury Schweppes and PepsiCo. See more for details...
Byline: George Bullivant 17 Oct 02

Moves at Cuprinol and Blue Diamond The Blue Diamond Group has appointed John Martin as the new manager at Evesham Garden Centre. A new 80,000 sq.ft store is to be opened in the spring. Derek Pike, former sales director with Cuprinol, is retiring from the DIY industry after 25 years. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 05 Sep 02

Girl killed as garden centre building collapses A three-year-old girl has died after being hit by part of a building, which collapsed at Baytree Nurseries, nr Spalding. See More...
Byline: George Bullivant 04 Sep 02

Professor David Bellamy to present Glee New Product Awards The Glee New Product Award winners will be announced on the afternoon of Sunday, September 15th. They will receive their awards from Professor David Bellamy at the Glee dinner on Monday. The 12 judges have been selected to cover a very wide range of interests. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 30 Aug 02

Sought Urgently - a Family Wanting to Live the Good Life Remember Tom and Barbara Good living off their land in the popular 70's TV series The Good Life? Well, now there's a hunt for a family to feature in a real, fly-on-the-wall, Good Life. And with it will come opportunities for the garden industry. See More...
Byline: George Bullivant 20 Aug 02

'Tribute to Rod' to replace HART conference HART have decided to cancel their conference planned for the eve of GLEE. Instead they will hold a dinner to commemorate the work of Rod Fryer, their General Manager who died recently and who had been planning the conference. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 30 Jul 02

HART's General Manager dies suddenly HART have announced the sudden death last Sunday (July 14) of the group's General Manager, Rod Fryer. He had joined HART last August at a turbulent point in the group's development. See more...
Byline: Mike Wyatt - Garden Trade News 18 Jul 02

Adrian Innocent to leave HTA Adrian Innocent, Director of Marketing and Commercial Services is to leave the Horticultural Trades Association this month. See more...
Byline: Sandie Skevington 08 Jul 02

James Coles - Jubilee Honours for one of our Blooming Employees! After more than 50 years of service with James Coles & Sons (Nurseries) Limited of Leicester, Tom Allen's horticultural dedication has been recognised in this year's Jubilee Honours List. Announced this weekend, Tom has been awarded the MBE in recognition of his lifelong gardening fanaticism as both a pastime and a career. See more...
Byline: Lynne Etheridge 17 Jun 02

International Trade Advisor to speak at Gardenex Chris Starns, international trade advisor of the British International Freight Association, will be joining Stacy Sirk of US mail order company, Smith & Hawken and Simon Dexter-Jones of Euler Trade Indemnity as speakers, following the Gardenex AGM on June 12th. See more...
Byline: Peter Evers 31 May 02

Son joins father at Alexander Mackie Associates Darran Earnshaw has joined his father Don in Alexander Mackie Associates, the specialist garden centre and nursery agent, as the company moves to new purpose built offices near Offham in Kent. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 02 May 02