See pictures of the new Percy Thrower’s, the first garden centre designed by the current Wyevale management.  Week one sales shot it into the group’s top five. Read more

Headline speakers at next month’s GIMA day conference include Julian Winfield and Conna Powles from Haskins Garden Centres, and Alan Roper of Blue Diamond Group. Read more

It has been announced that Home & Garden has acquired its 8th garden centre but the group, which was formed only last year, is not well known within the industry. Read more

One year into a 3 year expansion project and Carr Farm Garden Centre has opened a restaurant and two new concessions. Read more

Members of the Garden Centre Association started 2015 positively with sales up 6%, building on the 13% increase in January 2014.   However one in three garden centres missed out. Read more

A new website for Westland, Showa’s bio-degradable gardening gloves, Eden Project seeds, a 10,000 strong Facebook community of Garden Goddesses and Hozelock’s electric weed killer were some of the innovations on show at the Garden Press event. Read more

Continuing a campaign started last year DLF Trifolium accuses some competitors of continuing to cut corners by bulking out their lawn seed blends with unsuitable low grade seeds. Read more

Arboretum, Ireland’s leading garden centre, has two reasons to celebrate.  It has been named National Store of the Year and has signed up to buy the National Garden Exhibition Centre. Read more

The owner of Pyle Garden Centre is reported to have been let off a 6 month driving ban to keep his business afloat. Read more

Having installed a biomass boiler in the autumn, Cobbins Nursery will shortly start construction of a new glass house ready for the poinsettia crop later in the year. Read more

Sunshine Garden Centre and Van Hage are the best GCA outdoor living retailers.  Cowell’s and Bents are the best for plants. Read more

A trading update from Notcutts reveals a strong Christmas performance, a new chairman and a new deputy.  The garden centre group is also looking for a new CEO. Read more

Li-Lo Leisure has bought Westwoods Global.  The companies will continue as independent entities, but the sales agents will sell both brands. Read more

Plans to develop a joint Tesco/Dobbies store at East Kilbride have been abandoned.  There are now no Dobbies stores being developed and there is no indication that the shop within shop concept will be repeated. Read more

News has emerged that the Group CEO of Stewart Plastics left in October.  This was followed by two more departures in December, including sales director Nigel Thompson, who becomes a consultant to the company.  There is a new role for Gavin Wray. Read more

Hayes pilots a nationwide delivery service for online sales having nearly completed a £5m re-development project. Last season it sold over £500,000 Christmas trees online. Read more

End of year results from Home Retail show Homebase closed 30 stores in the last 12 months. 2015 sales have started lower. Read more

Bayer has failed in its attempt to sue Friends of the Earth Germany over its claims that thiacloprid, a pesticide manufactured by Bayer, harms bees. Read more

The Telegraph speculates that the new chief executive of Kingfisher, who faces pressure on all fronts, will introduce major changes including store closures and modernising at B&Q. Read more

William Sinclair has announced the departure of Peter Rush as chief executive with immediate effect.  He is replaced by a turnaround specialist after a poor start to the spring.

Scotts Miracle-Gro is spending £7.5m this spring and summer on TV campaigns to drive customers in store.  The advertising will start to air week commencing 30th March. Read more

The growing presence of online retailers was clear at the Garden Press Event with two established sites and two newcomers, one launched at the show and one being mysterious about its launch plans. Read more

Comments by Wyevale’s CEO, amplified by press speculation, have set the garden rumour mill turning at full speed.  It appears that many are expecting a Dobbies purchase any day.  They seem likely to have a long wait. Read more

The country’s gardening press converge on the Barbican on Thursday to get fresh ideas to write about this spring.  What will catch their interest at the Garden Press Event? Read more

Blue Diamond has acquired Newbridge Nurseries, near Horsham bringing the number of garden centres in the group to 17.  With this latest addition Blue Diamond sales are forecast to top £85m this year. Read more

The GCA conference ended with the presentation of top awards to Cedar Associates, Cowell’s and Barton Grange.  10 garden centres won the coveted garden centre of excellence plaque. Read more

Martin Breddy, who headed Scotts Miracle-Gro in the UK, has been axed as Jim Hagedorn continues to streamline his senior management team. Read more

Tough trading conditions and teething troubles led to static sales and a trading loss for William Sinclair.  It now claims the industry’s most advanced production capabilities, but can it win back customers? Read more

Fiskars, who recently celebrated its 365 year legacy, has chosen Birmingham as the new UK office location. Read more

Local newspapers have interpreted a statement from the local council as a planning reprieve for Hare Hatch Sheeplands.  But this is not the case says the owner. Read more