James Barnes, the former CEO of Dobbies, is to become the chairman of the HTA and will speak on behalf of the association with members and outside the industry. Read more

Dobbies says range changes implemented during the second half 2017 led to lower footfall and conversion, particularly during the Christmas trading period. Finance charges of £15.3m contributed to a loss of £-12.5m. Read more

Blue Diamond has written to suppliers warning of a delay in payments following a ransomware attack that has encrypted all the files and systems on its network, including the finance system. Read more

Westland Horticulture’s Peckish wild bird food brand will be sponsoring the Channel 4 Weather bulletins from 1st January 2019 until the end of February. Read more

Wyevale has announced the sale of 4 garden centres in the south plus Hereford Wellington to new owners who will continue to operate them as garden centres.  Read more

The owner of Plants Galore in S. Devon has been fined almost £13,000 after a massive fire of illegally stored waste. Earlier the company was caught charging for accepting credit and debit cards. Read more

SBM Life Science and E. P. Barrus have agreed a joint merchandising partnership for key UK garden centres. Read more

Margins lift at value retailer B&M as it is on course to open 58 new stores this year. Read more

A report by the Financial Times suggests the Wyevale sale process could continue to mid-December. Recently issued accounts for Trellis Investments, Wyevale’s holding company, indicate the group needs to sell garden centres to meet its financial covenants. Read more

Westland Horticulture has confirmed the purchase of Erin Horticulture in the Irish Republic. The company was part of Leisuregrow. Read more

Bell Plantation has this week received permission for an additional 11,000 sq ft. to continue its rapid expansion, having opened 10,000 sq ft. 6 weeks ago. Work will start immediately. Read more

Squire’s closed Windsor Garden Centre on 31^st October. It has been earmarked for housing since 2015. Following the acquisition of Frensham garden centre in August the group continues to operate 15 garden centres. Read more

Wyevale Garden Centres has announced the sale of Woodcote Green Garden centre in South London to Dobbies and confirms that other bidders remain for a small group or portfolio of garden centres. Read more

PwC, the Gardman administrator has circulated details of the Gardman sale to creditors. Unsecured creditors may get a partial payment. Read more

Westland releases Gardman containers held at the docks and meets the agents, while creditors await news from administrators. Read more

Wyevale has sold Ham Street Garden Centre near Ashford in Kent to Grovewell Garden Centres. Read more

Wyevale has sold Wellingborough and Wolds View, both will continue as garden centres.  This sale takes the list of those sold to 37 with 108 remaining in the group.  Read more to download the list of garden centres sold. Read more

Yorkshire’s Tong Garden Centre looks set to add to its 2016 extension after planning officers recommend approval. UPDATED Read more

Wyevale has agreed the sale of Enfield garden centre, the 36^th to be sold. It will continue to trade for 12 months. There is no imminent sale expected of the main body of the garden centres. Read more

Yesterday's Hillier Garden Centre Awards were buoyant after another record year. Prizes included garden centre and employee of the year and a standing ovation for the achievement of the year, plus awards for the top suppliers. Read more

One Kingfisher remains on track says Kingfisher despite a sales drop at B&Q and Castorama in France in Q3 (Aug – October). Screwfix grows +11%. Read more

Koelnmesse, operator of spoga+gafa in Cologne has parted company with its COO citing a strategic difference of views. Read more

Exchange rates hit profits at Notcutts in 2017. There’s a new livery and an online store will be coming early in 2019 as 5-year development plan grows sales. Read more

Westland says real progress is being made with Gardman.  Order volume is now close to last year’s levels. There will be 95% availability for next season and customer loyalty has been beyond expectations. UPDATED with comments from Edward Conroy. Read more

Thermoflor, the Dutch manufacturer of retail buildings for garden centres, will restart operations in the UK having been bought by KSPL Holding. Read more

James Ducker, grandson of the founder, has completed an MBO to buy Langlands from other members of his family. The group has 3 garden centres in the North of England. Read more

Rosebourne and Wyevale have completed a deal, first announced in September, for the purchase of Hampton-in-Arden garden centre by Rosebourne. Read more

Tates of Sussex has revealed that Wyevale’s Old Barn Garden centre is now part of its group.  This is the 31^st Garden centre to be sold by Wyevale. Read more

Fargro, the growers’ wholesaler, has formed a new division to help growers access flexible finance that reflects the seasonal fluctuations of their businesses. It can be put to a number of uses including investment in new technologies. Read more

Hilco has named Ian Topping as non-exec chairman of Homebase. It hopes he can repeat his successful turnaround of HMV, also controlled by the private equity group. Read more