Camping World leases part of Chichester Garden Centre

Seaward Properties has leased half the space at the Chichester garden centre to Campingworld.  The site, a Wyevale Garden Centre until August, has undergone an extensive refurbishment in the last 5 months. Read more - members only

Dobbies to lead the future of Garden Centre retailing

2018-19 accounts just filed for Dobbies reveal a strategic plan to lead the future of garden centre retailing, a loss before tax of £14m and that it paid £70m for six garden centres. Read more - members only

Strikes opens rebuilt Stokesley garden centre after fire

After a devasting fire in April 2018, Klondyke has announced the opening of a brand new Strikes Garden Centre and restaurant at Stokesley. Read more - members only

Dobbies to consider float in a year or so UPDATED

Dobbies says that its underlying sales are around £300m after acquisitions and 5% like for like growth. Chairman Andrew Bracey says it will look to float on the Stock Exchange “in a year or so”. Read more - members only

New Welcome building boosts sales at RHS Wisley

Sales have risen 24% at RHS Wisley since the opening of its new Welcome building in June, attracting the younger shopper. Houseplant sales are up 62%. Read more - members only

The new Welcome building at Wisley, just before opening

Decco Mills is Hillier’s garden shop supplier of the year

Among the winners at Hillier’s Awards Dinner were: Botley, Hillier’s garden centre of the year; Meon Valley, Horticultural Supplier of the year; and Decco Mills. Read more - members only

Garden Shop Supplier of the Year 2019 – Keith Willey of Decco Mill

Sir Terry says garden spend could double

Sir Terry Leahy former CEO of Tesco and current investor in Dobbies explained how retailing has changed.  Garden centres are well placed, gardening spend could double because of today’s issues. Read more - members only

Sir Terry Leahy with presenter Daisy McAndrew

NemaKnights exclusive for DECCO

Environmental Factors have appointed DECCO Ltd as their exclusive distributor for NemaKnights. Read more - open to all

L-r: Andy Birrell, Jon Barnes and Andrew Ballantine (COO Decco)

John Lewis opens concept store with garden design and farm shop

John Lewis opens a concept store experience at Southampton where specialists will advise on everything from wine and gardening to interiors and technology. Read more - members only

B&M continues store openings

With 645 B&M store in the UK. B&M says it is becoming the destination store for important product categories from toys and Christmas decorations to gardening and DIY. Read more - members only

The Internet Gardener to enter liquidation

The Internet Gardener has ceased trading and issued a notice of intent to enter liquidation. Read more - members only

Notcutts chairman to step down

Notcutts is to start the search for a new chairman, following the announcement that Nicky Dulieu is stepping down.  Read more - open to all

Nicky Dulieu

Agrumi sells wholesale nursery to Folium and Flos Plants

Agrumi has announced that Folium and Flos Plants will be taking over its wholesale nursery on November 1st.  It will remain business as usual. Read more - members only

Work starts on 40,000ft extension to Selby GC

Work has started on an extension to Selby Garden Centre in Yorkshire that is too small to be profitable.  The additions will more than double its turnover. Read more - members only

Garden centres hit by Bonmarché administration

As many as 20 garden centres could be affected by the Bonmarché administration at the end of last week. Read more - members only

The Solar Centre expands into new premises

The Solar Centre has moved into a new warehouse, 5 times the size of its previous site to accommodate its rapid growth of 40% per annum. Read more - members only

Westland announces two key appointments

Two appointments at Westland Horticulture: Simon McArdle becomes marketing and category director at Gardman Crest and Mark Sage joins from Wyevale to become head of commercial horticulture. Read more - open to all

Mark Sage

Apta has been acquired by AMES

Griffon Corporation has announced that its subsidiary AMES has bought Apta, to add to its purchases of Kelkay, Anchorfast and La Hacienda. Read more - members only

"If you do nothing else, do Crazy Golf" Guy Topping

If you do nothing else, do Crazy Golf, said Guy Topping at the HTA Conference, explaining his development of the Flower Bowl, a leisure experience at Barton Grange Garden Centre. Read more - members only

Administrators appointed at National Polytunnels Ltd

Administrators have been appointed at National Polytunnels (01656315). The phones are not being answered and the website has been suspended. Read more - members only

HTA commits to creating a Sustainability Roadmap

What are the industry plans for environment? The HTA will create a Sustainability roadmap that it hopes the different voices in horticulture will unite behind. Read more - members only

James Barnes announcing the Sustainability Roadmap

Tough start for new Kingfisher CEO

There is much to do to improve our performance says Thierry Garnier, reporting his first quarterly results for Kingfisher. They show a like for like drop in sales at B&Q of -3.4%. Read more - members only

Plans lodged for a new Blue Diamond garden centre

Plans have been submitted to build a garden centre that would be operated by Blue Diamond in the walled garden of the Elveden Estate. Read more - members only

New distribution centre for Kettler

Brand new £2m market-leading distribution centre takes centre stage at Kettler HQ. The extra high facility, which is centrally located adjacent to its current warehouse, will treble the company’s current onsite capacity. Read more - open to all

Paul Bevington, Managing Director & John Newburn, Operations Manager at Kettler.

Warning for top online plant retailers

A free Insight report by Salience shows the top online plant retailers and how some well-known names have lost search engine visibility… Download the report and get advice. Read more - members only

Mike Lind on the GCA, independence and the minimum wage

Monkton Elm’s Mike Lind gets ready to hand over the chairmanship of the GCA and warns that the proposed increase in minimum wage could be a significant threat for the garden centre sector. Read more - members only

Mike Lind

Squires rolls out a new image

Squires is rolling out a storewide brand and signage refresh across its 15 garden centres. It has started with Badshot Lea. Read more - members only

The vibrant berry hue at Frensham

YouGarden gets backing for MBO

YouGarden, the multi channel garden retailer whose revenues have grown 35% pa for the last 5 years, has completed an MBO with the backing of Kester Capital. Read more - members only

Westonbirt Arboretum buys Silk Wood House

Forestry England and the Friends of Westonbirt have added to the National Arboretum for the first time in nearly 200 years by buying the next door Silk Wood House. Read more - members only

Silk Wood House

Owners hope Syon Park will reopen in 2020

Northumberland Estates hopes to re-establish trading from Syon Park Garden Centre as soon as is feasible.  Wyevale closed the site last month. Read more - members only

To see earlier stories - Look in the News Archive