Memorial service for Mike Dunnett

Details announced for a memorial service for Mike Dunnett on Tuesday 16th April at St Peters Church. Martley, Worcestershire. Read more - open to all

Paul Grinsell to leave as BHETA restructures

Following the purchase of Brooke House Exhibitions, BHETA is to restructure with Will Jones as COO and Clare Holland as finance director. Read more - members only

Paul Grinsell

New team member at Provender Nurseries.

The team at Provender Nurseries would like to introduce our newest cash and carry team member Natalie Fairs. Read more - open to all

Natalie Fairs - Gold Medal Hampton Court 2018

Swan appoints Rob Gentles as Chief Commercial Officer

Swan have appointed seasoned professional, Rob Gentles, as Chief Commercial Officer to further strengthen Swan’s position in the Retail Solutions market. Rob has extensive retail experience working with small and large retailers in all sectors. Read more - open to all

Rob Gentles, Chief Commercial Officer of Swan Retail.

Commercial horticulture benefits through award of BPOA Peter Seabrook Bursary

Student, James Pike, has won a £1,000 British Protected Ornamentals Association – Peter Seabrook Bursary. Read more - open to all

James Pike win BPOA Peter Seabrook Bursary

Briers team joins Smart

Smart Garden Products is delighted to confirm that a number of staff have joined Smart from Briers. Read more - open to all

Tara Truman

Garden centre pioneer Michael Cooling has died

Michael Cooling, who died last week, was very proud to collect the first ever Horticulture Week “Retail Nursery of the Year” award in 1997 and the GCA Garden Centre of the Year in 2005. Read more - open to all

Michael Cooling, how to get the best from the new Fisons Grow Bag in the 1970s

HTA frustrated as agriculture minister resigns

George Eustice, Minister for Agriculture since 2015, has resigned over Brexit.  HTA chairman James Barnes said, “Clearly such events are frustrating but you always have to respect these decisions in the political arena.” Read more - members only

George Eustice on the HTA stand at Chelsea in 2016 with Carol Paris and Peter Seabrook

Nova appoints Sean Sunderland as their North West agent

Nova Outdoor Living is happy to announce that Sean Sunderland from SS Agencies will be representing them to customers in the North West. Read more - open to all

Bragg is the new chair of the GMA

Neil Bragg from Bulrush Horticulture is the new chairman of the Growing Media Association (GMA) with Ben Malin from Godwins taking on the role of vice-chairman. Read more - open to all

Neil Bragg is centre with green tie.  Steve Harper is 4th from left

Sarah Squire appointed as Chairman of Squire's Garden Centres

After 30 years as Chairman and more than five decades in the business, Sarah’s father Colin Squire OBE takes on the role of Chairman Emeritus, and remains an active director of the business. Read more - open to all

Sarah Squire - Chairman of Squire's Garden Centres

Labels n Things owner awarded MBE

Julie Clements the owner of Labels n Things has been awarded an MBE As well as being the driving force behind plant labelling. Julie worked tirelessly for victims of domestic violence. Read more - open to all

Julie Clements, owner of Labels n Things, has been awarded an MBE.

Nova appoint Alec Routledge as South West agent

As Nova Outdoor Living continues to put their 2019 price list to potential customers, the business has appointed Alec Routledge from AR Agencies to represent them in the South West. Read more - open to all

Choice appoints a non-exec chairman

Choice, the buying and marketing group of 42 independent garden centres, has recruited a former MD of Blacks Leisure Group as non-executive chairman. Read more - members only

Michelle de Lavis Trafford and Terry Maywood

Nova appoint Ian Read as UK sales manager

After unveiling their plans to appoint several regional agents throughout the UK, Nova Outdoor Living has announced the appointment of Ian Read as their UK sales manager. Read more - open to all

Nova Outdoor Living has appointed their new Sales Manager, Ian Read.

SWGS Scholarship spots student talent

Student, Kobus Stander, has won a £2,000 South West Growers Show (SWGS) Sponsored Scholarship. Read more - open to all

Kobus Stander - SWGS Sponsored Scholarship winner

Family announces the death of Mike Dunnett

Mike Dunnett, a well known and greatly respected industry pioneer, who was MD of Blakedown Nurseries for many years has died today, Tuesday 26th March 2019. Read more - open to all

Mike Dunnett

Veronique Laury to leave Kingfisher

Veronique Laury the Group CEO of Kingfisher is to leave along with 2 other executives. The announcement coincided with news of a fall in profits at group that owns B&Q and Castorama in France. Read more - members only

Véronique Laury

Robin retires after 39 years at Wyevale Nurseries

Robin Trumper from Hereford celebrated his retirement yesterday (Wednesday, March 20, 2019) after 39 years of service at one of the UK’s leading commercial nurseries.  Read more - open to all

Robin Trumper - Wyevale Nurseries

Meindert Klem, our new International Account Manager

Meindert Klem has joined Thermoflor as the new International Account Manager. Read more - open to all

Meindert Klem

Jane joins GCA’s team of inspectors

The Garden Centre Association has this month welcomed Jane Lawler as its new inspector. Jane, who has more than 35 years’ experience in marketing and business development, will be responsible for inspecting member garden centres in North Thames, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Read more - open to all

Jane Lawler, GCA Inspector

Horticulture apprentice hones skills in Trust garden

Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) student meets MSP at the start of Scottish Apprenticeship Week. Read more - open to all

(L-r) MSP for West Scotland Ken Macintosh, Eilidh Fletcher and Simon Jones.

New Decco Chesham manager

Leading home improvement and garden wholesaler, Decco has appointed Chris Gladwin as Manager for Decco Chesham. Read more - open to all

Decco has appointed Chris Gladwin as Manager for Decco Chesham.

Nova appoint Thomasson Agencies as their North East agents

Nova Outdoor Living is pleased to announce the appointment of Mathew Thomasson and Steven Hall from Thomasson Agencies as their brand representatives in the North East. Read more - open to all

Mathew Thomasson

Nova appoint Julie McLean & Andy Moore as their Midlands & NI agents

Nova Outdoor Living is pleased to announce that they have appointed Julie McLean and Andy Moore, of Julie McLean Limited as their representatives for the Midlands and Northern Ireland. Read more - open to all

Julie McLean

Passing with flying colours - another apprentice success at Provender Nurseries  

Provender Nurseries are celebrating the success of our latest Apprentice Rosina Green for completing her Level 2 NVQ Business Administration Apprenticeship. Read more - open to all

Emily Wallace & Rosina Green

Nova appoint Graham & Abbie Miles as their East Anglia Agents

Nova Outdoor Living is pleased to announce the appointment of Graham and Abbie Miles of Alfresco Agencies as their representatives for East Anglia. Read more - open to all

Nova appoint Graham Abbie Miles as their East Anglia agents.

Brian's lifetime in horticulture is just what the doctor ordered

As Mr Fothergill's trials manager Brian Talman celebrates 60 years working in horticulture, he muses how his working life could have been quite different if he had not heeded the advice of a family-friend doctor. Read more - open to all

Mr Fothergill's trials manager, Brian Talman.

Karol Pawlak named 21st Fleuroselect President

Fleuroselect, the international organisation for the ornamental plants industry, is delighted to announce that Karol Pawlak has taken on the role of President from 1st January 2019. Read more - open to all

Karol Pawlak

LOFA appoint new marketing manager

The Leisure and Outdoor Furniture Association is delighted to announce that Gina Hinde is the new LOFA Marketing Manager and is now in post Read more - open to all

Gina Hinde is the new LOFA Marketing Manager.

To see earlier stories - Look in the News Archive