The Garden Centre Association has confirmed that its 2027 annual conference will take place in Stratford-upon-Avon, with delegates set to gather at the Crowne Plaza from January 24–27, 2027.

Strong supplier demand has made GIMA’s upcoming Buyer Connect event with The Tillington Group one of the organisation’s biggest buyer engagement initiatives ahead of 2026.

Weaker store sales due to a later spring, offset by strong online and marketplace growth, lead to weaker Feb – Apr sales at B&Q, as Kingfisher sales grow overall. Read more - members only

Woodthorpe Hall Ltd, one of the companies making up British Garden Centres (BGC), has acquired the lease of St Bridget Nurseries, a garden centre  business on the outskirts of Exeter. Read more - members only

Garden Centre Association’s GROW e-learning platform has launched its 100th course, helping garden centre teams build knowledge on trees, horticulture and customer support.

Registration is now live for Glee 2026, which returns to the NEC Birmingham this September alongside Autumn Fair, creating Europe’s largest retail buying event.

Pet retailers, distributors and garden centres are being urged to register now for PATS 2026, as free trade visitor registration opens ahead of the UK’s largest pet and aquatics industry exhibition.

With just three weeks remaining before the Greenfingers Charity Kilimanjaro Trek begins, anticipation is building among the team preparing to tackle Africa’s highest mountain in support of children’s hospice gardens.

Cranswick Garden Centre, a long-established garden centre near Driffield in East Yorkshire, has been sold to Zak McCombie, who says he plans to use the acquisition as a platform for further expansion. Read more - members only

All jobs at Spalding-based ornamental plant nursery Opperman Plants have been safeguarded following the sale of the business and assets to Littleworth Nurseries Limited. Read more - members only

Colegrave Seabrook Foundation has awarded its first Production Horticulture Work Experience Bursaries, supporting two young horticulturists with placements at Hillier Nurseries.

Dümmen Orange and Syngenta Flowers have agreed to establish a strategic joint venture combining Dümmen Orange’s expertise in cut flowers and Syngenta Flowers’ leadership in seed varieties, along with annual, perennial and potted plant portfolios. Read more - members only