Just when garden centres seem to be having a strong start to the year, Homebase reports a 5% fall in like / like sales in the first 8 weeks of 2008 and a fall for the last 12 months. See more… Read more - members only

On the eve of opening its 23rd garden centre this weekend at Southport, Dobbies has submitted planning permission for two further stores. See more... Read more - members only

In 2005 William Sinclair, the compost manufacturer was ill. Three years later, Bernard Burns tells Gardenforum, it is demonstrably healthy having learnt to play to its strengths. See more... Read more - members only

Countrywide has expanded its gardening range with 15 new look Garden Centres within its stores. See more... Read more - members only

It has finally been confirmed that Wyevale has bought Heighley Gate Garden Centre, one of the North East’s leading garden centres, just north of Morpeth near the A1. See more... Read more - members only

Less than 3 successful years after Hartman, the European garden furniture group, was rescued from administration by a management buyout, 40% of the business has been sold to an investment bank. See more... Read more - members only

Country Gardens has acquired its 13th garden centre with the purchase of Flowerland Garden Centre (Salisbury). See more... Read more - members only

A year after her management buyout of HART, backed by the Barwell, Jessica Adams is pleased with the progress that the buying group for smaller garden centres has made. See more... Read more - members only

Shares in NWF, which operates 6 garden centres, were marked down sharply this morning following a fall in profits in the six months to the end of November. See more... Read more - members only

Nicci and Neil Gow have bought Burcot Garden Centre. Nicci will run the garden centre while Neil continues as director of GIMA. See more... Read more - members only

The RHS is opening up its four gardens to members of the public on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th March to launch the 2008 Grow Your Own Veg campaign. Read more - members only

Reporting poor Christmas sales, Flying Brands has announced that the chief executive and a non-exec director will be leaving. It has also pulled out of a major acquisition. See more... Read more - members only

Delamore, one of the country’s leading growers of young plants, has been sold to a management buyout by its owner Peter Wood. See more... Read more - members only

Consolidation within the garden sector continues with the acquisition by William Sinclair of Joseph Metcalf that has been announced this morning. See more... Read more - members only

Early indications are that garden centres outperformed the high street in the key Christmas trading period. See more… Read more - members only

Wyevale is to display plans that would double the internal sales area at Sanders Garden world, one of the garden centres that it acquired last autumn. See more… Read more - members only

Marks & Spencer is significantly expanding its gardening range in 14 of its larger stores and on the M&S website. See more... Read more - members only

Results published today by Marshalls show the importance of display centres, landscape installation and the sponsorship of RHS Chelsea in driving sales growth. See more... Read more - members only

Hillier Nurseries has acquired Notcutts Select and Collect. At the same time John Woods Nurseries has opened a cash and carry service on the former Notcutts nursery near Woodbridge. See more... Read more - members only

Work started last week at Pennells Garden Centre, Lincoln. The 6-month development is expected to double turnover. Pennells is one of the oldest garden companies in the UK. See more... Read more - members only

Fourth quarter results from Kingfisher show a small decline in sales at B&Q, offset by growth from France and Eastern Europe. See more... Read more - members only

DEFRA has listened to the garden industry and has published measures that will prevent householders from laying non-porous paving in their front drives without planning permission. See more... Read more - members only

Jim Hodkinson asked Wyevale’s horticultural staff for a ‘really big push’ as they are seen as the spearhead of Wyevale’s return to growth. See more... Read more - members only

After 20 years, Hillier Nurseries is returning to the mail order of plants and garden essentials. The catalogue however, has been replaced by the Hillier website. See more... Read more - members only

Scotts Miracle-Gro may face prosecution over the death of a worker at the peat packing station on Hatfield Moor. See more... Read more - members only

There is a new force emerging in the market for peat free and organic composts and fertilisers. Vital Earth opened an £8m development at Ashbourne, 18 months ago. Further investment this year will bring nationwide distribution. See more... Read more - members only

Reports circulating in the trade, both in Europe and the US, suggest that the American-owned Dutch bulb supplier Langeveld has run into financial difficulties. See more… Read more - members only

“Compost producers need to up their game” says this month’s Gardening Which? .Tests show a large gulf between the performance of peat-free and peat-based composts for growing young plants from seed. UPDATED with rebuttal from the Growing Media Association. See more... Read more - members only

Jim Hodkinson takes over as chief executive of Wyevale Garden Centres after the departure of Barry Stevenson. See more... Read more - members only

The HTA has arranged a Rose Promotion day where growers and retailers can work together to increase sales and extend the season of the nation’s favourite flower. See more... Read more - members only