Lovania Nurseries, based in Preston, took the top honours at The Grower of the Year Awards held in London last night by winning the Ornamental Grower of the Year title. Lovania will go on to represent the UK at the International Grower of the Year Awards. See more... Read more - members only

Malcolm Parkinson has been made an MBE in the New Year Honours for his 27 years as governor at Capel Manor College. In 1990 he shook the garden centre world by launching the ill-fated Gardenstore. See more... Read more - members only

The GCA has named its new CEO. Phil Slinger will step into the shoes of Gillie Westwood, who recently announced that she would retire after January’s conference. See more... Read more - members only

Lord Taylor ripped up his prepared speech at the House of Commons last night and promised he would not let the interests of ‘our industry’ go by default. He backed the Localism Bill and the need for ‘near-market research’. See more... Read more - members only

Philip Evason has left Haskins after 5 years as buying director. He is planning to stay within the garden industry and is looking for opportunities within the sector. See more... Read more - members only

Paris Natar, formerly Chairman and CEO of Gardman, has decided to stand down from his non-executive director post in August this year. See more... Read more - members only

RHS members who believe there should be closer links with the business side of gardening, should vote for Dennis Espley, currently Chairman of the Garden Centre Association, in the election for the Society’s governing Council. See more... Read more - members only

Boyd Douglas-Davies, who is shortly to leave Webbs of Wychbold, is to build a new garden centre chain backed by The Hillview Group, an independent merchant bank. See more... Read more - members only

Paul Wright, former managing director of Frosts Garden Centres, has joined The Garden Centre Group to manage 3 of its largest sites. See more... Read more - members only

Arrangements have been announced for the funeral of Bob Bickerdike on March 7 and a memorial day for Bob Gault on March 12. See more... Read more - open to all

Former GCA chairman, Bob Bickerdike, has died following a balloon crash in the Alps. See more… Read more - members only

Here are the highlights of stories that appeared on the Gardenforum Noticeboard in 2010. If there are any you missed, they are all still available. See more... (Open to All) Read more - open to all

Restructuring at the RHS sees the departure of 3 directors as the new director general, Sue Biggs, streamlines the RHS and seeks to elevate its public profile. See more... Read more - members only

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... Read more - members only

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… Read more - members only

Andy King, Chief Executive of Notcutts since 2007, is to become a non-executive director at Topps Tiles, the UK's largest tile and wood flooring specialist. See more… Read more - members only

Gardenforum's Review of 2011 tracks the year's trading and events. It also shows the high number of garden centres and nurseries that are investing despite the difficult economy. This review is open for all to read, see more... Read more - open to all

David Gwyther retired from the HTA on Friday and has left the association with immediate effect. See more... Read more - members only

William Notcutt is to leave Notcutts at the end of this month to set up his own agriculture and forestry business. He will resign as deputy chairman of the Notcutts board. See more... Read more - members only

This Friday BBC Gardeners’ World will air at eight o'clock bringing it in direct conflict with Alan Titchmarsh's new Love Your Garden programme. ITV, which has been working with GIMA, attracted twice as many viewers last week. See more... Read more - members only

Peter Williamson, chairman of the Wyevale Nurseries Group, has died suddenly after a short illness. All who knew him are invited to his memorial service on June 1st. See more... Read more - open to all

Following strong sales growth, Westland Horticulture has strengthened its management board with the promotion of John McDowell and Keith Nicholson. Ken Evans becomes commercial Director at S E Marshall. See more... Read more - members only

Chief Executive of Webbs Garden Centres, Boyd Douglas-Davies, has announced he is leaving the business after 20 years service. Read more - members only

Dorothy Gault takes over as Chairman of the Klondyke Group, following the death of her husband Bob. The company stresses it will be very much “business as usual”. See more... Read more - members only

It is with deep regret that the Board of Klondyke Group Limited announce the death of their Chairman, Bob Gault. See more... Read more - open to all

Alan Titchmarsh has signed for a new prime time Gardening Show – on ITV. See more... Read more - members only

Scotts has announced that Jim Hagedorn, son of the founder, and chairman since 2003, has changed his mind about retiring this financial year. He’s decided to stay as chairman and CEO but the current COO is leaving. See more... Read more - members only

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… Read more - members only

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.. Read more - members only

Former Notcutts manager Julian Ranson is opening his own centre, Ransons, on July 5 at the Hatton Experience. See more... Read more - members only