MD Alan Roper revealed to 700 staff at last night’s spectacular Folies Bergere style awards evening that Blue Diamond would have two more garden centres by Easter.  Read more - members only

The 2023 Garden Press Event was filled with innovation driven by the quest for greater sustainability; and bloggers feeding the interest of younger plant lovers. Read more - members only

Blue Diamond Garden Centres MD Alan Roper plans to invest £3m in the newly acquired Van Hage garden centre in Peterborough with an official launch before Easter. Read more - members only

The Dobbies chairman and 4 other directors resign as Dobbies shares are bought by its main lender, Ares Management. Read more - members only

YPHA members gathered at Coolings yesterday at a gathering initiated by Paul Cooling.  They toured the nursery, heard from TV presenter Adam Frost and learned how the company is now owned by the staff. Read more - open to all

An extensive restoration by Blue Diamond has returned Bridgemere Show Gardens to their former glory and they have been awarded Partner Garden status by the RHS. Read more - members only

Bents became the best GCA destination garden centre, while Klondyke Morton is the garden centre of the year as the group dominates the awards for smaller sites.  Wyevale Nurseries is named best supplier. Read more - members only

Two Hillier Nurseries innovators are retiring. Alan Postill, one of the UK’s greatest plant breeders, and Nursery Manager Dave Hooker, who has worked for Hillier for 43 years. Read more - open to all

Sky News has reported that wilko has secured £40m in funding from Hilco. Read more - members only

Over the last two years, Perrywood Tiptree and Perrywood Sudbury have raised a grand total of £45,000 for local charities, schools and community projects. Read more - open to all

2022 was dominated by the recovery from the distortions to trade caused by Covid. It was a year of acquisitions. There were some game changers and sadly we lost some leading characters. Read more - open to all

AMES UK has updated its garden centre team to offer even more value and support to its retail customers. Read more - open to all

Notcutts celebrated the official opening of their new-look Brampton Garden Centre at a community event on 2^nd December. Read more - members only

Alton Garden Centre in Wickford, Essex has been damaged by a fire which broke out in the roof of the restaurant. Read more - members only

Dobbies' long anticipated results for the year to February 2022 are to be published imminently on Companies House.  The group has issued the following statement in advance.  Read more - members only

Rural operations and planning specialists Malcolm Scott Consultants have relocated to a new office as the business grows and develops its services.   Read more - open to all

Dobbies unveiled a new focus at the Garden Press Event covering everyday value plus further commitments to sustainable gardening. Read more - members only

The Young People in Horticulture Association are excited to announce their first five supporters for the 2023-2024 sponsorship term. Read more - open to all

Hozelock is to implement drug tests to promote employee safety utilising fingerprint sweat-based technology from Intelligent Fingerprinting. Read more - members only

Double H nurseries is on a mission to transform houseplant wholesale. The Horti House web shop will supply garden centres with British grown orchids and green houseplants. Read more - members only

Work has started on the 6^th little dobbies high street shop, that is reported to be the biggest yet. Read more - members only

Arena Online Ltd, the UK’s leading ethical flower business, has announced the acquisition and merger of Patch Gardens Ltd (trading as Patch), the leading plant delivery business. Read more - members only

Brian Daniels, Bents’ Finance Director who joined the team in 1993 when Ron and his wife Wendy were running the business, retires. Read more - open to all

Evergreen Garden Care has announced that Ian Hepburn, marketing director for two years, will be leaving the company with Rich Fisher succeeding him from January 3^rd, 2023. Read more - open to all

D. J. Squire & Co. Ltd has acquired the shares of Barnsfold Nurseries Limited, a business it has worked with and admired for many years. Read more - members only

A Yorkshire private equity house has bought The Garden Trading Company out of administration after it was split from Joules. Read more - members only

Mark Fane and Peter Clay, the founders of Crocus, have acquired the assets of the online garden retailer, Primrose, from its administrator. Read more - members only

Last month YGC unveiled plans for the first phase of Stephen H Smith at Otley's revamp.  It has now said it will spend £200,000 on the first phase of Harden's revamp.  Read more - members only

Dobbies Garden Centres Group results for the year to February 2022 show sales were up +36%.  Losses after tax were £-24.4.  The directors expressed confidence in the group’s ability to refinance its debt. Read more - members only

British Garden Centres welcomes Scott McCabe as their Group Buying Director. Scott, with a wealth of industry experience, joins BGC on December 1st.  Read more - open to all