Scottish garden centres are likely to re-open from 28th May

Nicola Sturgeon has announced that Scottish garden centres are likely be permitted to reopen from 28th May as part of limited easing of the lockdown. Read more - open to all

Kingfisher sales down -24%

Kingfisher, owner of B&Q and Screwfix, has sufficient cash reserves to withstand a long period of reduced sales, according to its latest quarterly report. Read more - members only

The Gardens Group donates surplus stock to charities, hospitals and schools

The Gardens Group is putting excess stock to good use in support of key workers and everyone doing their bit to stay home throughout the lockdown, donating unsold plants to carers, hospital staff and teachers. Read more - open to all

B&Q reopens 14 stores

B&Q has reopened 14 stores as a trial, with the garden centres selling a range of self-service plants. A range of plant bundles are also available from DIY.com. Read more - open to all

John Grayson joins Hozelock

Hozelock announces the appointment of John Grayson as Commercial Director for UK and Ireland, Scandinavia and Southern Hemisphere. Read more - open to all

John Grayson

Port costs threaten LOFA members with closure

Containers of garden furniture, delayed by the Coronavirus lockdown in China, are arriving in the UK as retailers are closed leaving LOFA members facing crippling demurrage and other costs. Read more - open to all

B&Q closes for a day

Government classifies DIY and Hardware as essential. B&Q closes for a day as it prepares to provide only essential products. Homebase remains open but its website is unavailable. Read more - open to all

HTA calls for signatures to save UK ornamental horticulture

The HTA calls on companies to sign an open letter to the Prime Minister calling for support for UK ornamental growers whose businesses are threatened by the closure of garden centres at this, the worst possible time. Read more - open to all

HTA writes to members as Coronavirus closes restaurants

As restaurants on garden centres are closed in the battle to contain Coronavirus, HTA chairman James Barnes writes to members promising HTA support and announcing a weekly survey on trading. Read more - open to all

HTA chairman, James Barnes

B&Q’s parent closes 235 French and Spanish stores

Following the announcement by the French government to close all non-essential public places, effective from today, all 221 of Kingfisher’s Castorama and Brico Dépôt stores in France have closed for a month. Read more - members only

Hortipak Coronavirus Statement

Given the facts that the COVID-19 virus is categorised as a pandemic, that cases in the UK are rising and set to rise further over the coming weeks, Hortipak have put the following precautionary measures in place... Read more - open to all

Warren cuts the ribbon at Haskins Snowhill

A successful month after its soft opening, Haskins’ Snowhill Garden Centre celebrated with a formal ribbon cutting by Warren Haskins and his son and daughter-in-law. Read more - members only

Jamie, Ally and Warren Haskins, with Julian Winfield and Snowhill team members.  Photo: Peter Dawson

Agralan purchases Remin Volcanic Rock Dust

Agralan has bought a majority shareholding in Remin Volcanic Rock Dust. The purchase will bring the soil and compost remineraliser to a wider customer base. Read more - members only

Blue Diamond’s Scotch Corner garden centre is one step nearer

The proposed Scotch Corner Designer Village will open in autumn 2021. Plans for the garden centre are being drawn up based on specifications agreed with Blue Diamond. Read more - members only

Rachel de Thame joins the NGS as a new Ambassador

The National Garden Scheme is delighted to welcome Rachel de Thame, one of the country’s favourite gardening media personalities, as its new Ambassador. Read more - open to all

Rachel de Thame

Manufacturers struggling to keep up with growing media demand

Unprecedented consumer demand for growing media, even during the lockdown, means manufacturers are struggling to keep up with deliveries. Read more - open to all

A well stocked compost display earlier in the year

Ivyline introduces Cleaner Retail to help retailers re-open

Ivyline, best known for its range of trend-led indoor plant pots, has launched Cleaner Retail to help retailers get ready to open, remain compliant in regards to hygiene and social distancing. Read more - open to all

Homebase begins to lift Covid-19 lockdown

On Saturday 25th April, Homebase says it will be trialling the opening of 20 stores, with strict controls in place to ensure shopping is safe for everyone. Read more - open to all

Sussex nurseries build living walls for Nightingale hospital

Three West Sussex growers: Farplants, Hills and Newey have donated plants for an initiative run by Plant Box to ‘give something back’ to the people doing such an amazing job on the Coronavirus front line. Read more - open to all

Fire at Johnsons Garden Centre (Updated)

Fire broke out at Johnsons Garden Centre near Boston on Sunday, causing smoke to billow above the site. Read more - members only

B&M closes 49 stores, temporarily

B&M has decided to close 49 stores temporarily in light of current trading conditions out of a total 656 in the UK. Read more - open to all

Blue Diamond closes its stores but Dobbies remains open

In light of the Prime Minister’s latest restrictions of movement to control Coronavirus, Blue Diamond and Rosebourne decide to close but Dobbies says it ‘continues to operate our stores to serve our local communities’. Read more - open to all

Garden centres take decision to close

Klondyke, Millbrook and number of leading garden centres have announced that they are closing, doing what’s best for staff and customers during the Coronavirus crisis. Others are set to follow. Read more - open to all

Johnston & Jeff celebrates 140 years with £1m factory expansion

Bird seed manufacturer Johnston & Jeff is flying high with the announcement of a £1m expansion of its factory at Gilberdyke, East Yorkshire. Read more - members only

Richard Johnston

Wyevale raised £430m from selling its garden centres

2018 results just published for Wyevale Garden Centres Capital show that the 145 garden centres were sold for £430m and that a substantial dividend has been paid to its shareholder. Read more - members only

Blue Diamond celebrates

Blue Diamond celebrated a successful year of growth with a night of pizzazz and glamour, naming Harlow (Acorn) and Derby (Oak) as its garden centres of the year. Read more - members only

Alan Roper opens the Awards

Extension works complete at Laylocks in Worcester

Construction work has completed ahead of schedule on a 470sqm extension at Laylocks Garden Centre near Worcester, despite the terrible weather. Read more - members only

Hannah and Martin Warr with the new extension

New UK distributor for Lechuza

The Lechuza brand of self-watering pots and planters has a new distributor in the UK, Instadecor, that trades in the UK as Get Potted. There's also a new online shop. Read more - members only

Antony Harker confirms his links with BGC

Antony Harker has confirmed that he will not be accepting an offer of a strategic advisory role with AMES UK. He has made a significant investment in and holds an advisory role with in British Garden Centres. Read more - members only

Antony Harker

Homebase signs with SmartPlant after successful trial

After a successful year-long trial Homebase has added its complete plant range to the SmartPlant App providing its customers with a free digital plant caring assistant. Read more - members only

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