Kingfisher plc has signed a franchise agreement with the Al-Futtaim Group to expand B&Q in the Middle East.  First step is the opening of B&Q franchised stores in Saudi Arabia. Read more - members only

Green-tech, the UK’s leading manufacturer and distributor of landscaping, forestry and grounds maintenance equipment has been acquired by Origin Enterprises. Read more - members only

Long awaited results for Dobbies Garden Centres Ltd for the year to 1^st March 2020 show sales up to £235m with the acquisition of 31 garden centres from Wyevale.  Read more - members only

Hillier has withdrawn from Chelsea for 2021 and switched focus to online sales and the garden centre opening of Syon Park as spring sales take off. Read more - members only

After a challenging year, David Austin has started slowly to re-open parts of its business closed due to the impact of Coronavirus. Read more - members only

Syngenta Flowers celebrates 25 years of Delta® Premium Pansies and declares renewal of the whole Delta®-series in the next two years. Read more - open to all

Henry Bell has reached an agreement to produce Blue Diamond’s wild bird food own label products as well as supplying its full wild bird care range. Read more - open to all

Following its acquisition of the Parasene brand name Fireside Products has announced the launch of range of Parasene branded gas products. Read more - open to all

It is widely reported that Joules has bought the online home and garden retailer, Garden Trading, to extend its offer and reach a broader audience. Read more - members only

Gardening Express boss writes to APHA/Defra re the farce preventing him from sending plants to Northern Ireland and the potential plant health risks. Read more - members only

Holt garden centre is to reopen on the 1st of March after a £1.25 million refurbishment. Read more - members only

The risk to Scottish horticulture is growing as garden centres remain closed.  With Mother’s Day approaching, HTA calls for Scottish government to take action soon. Read more - open to all

Blue Diamond has agreed to lease its biggest garden centre yet.  It is to be built as the cornerstone of Scotch Corner Designer Village in north Yorkshire. Read more - members only

Dobbies is the exclusive broadcast sponsor of ITV’s ‘Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh’, that returned to screens on 3 January 2021. Read more - members only

The parent company of Landman limited, which was in administration, has been bought by DS group. It will continue to trade in the UK for the foreseeable future. Read more - members only

On Thursday 24 June, the UK’s first dedicated gardening science hub, surrounded by four acres of ‘living laboratories’, will open its gates to the public at RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey. Read more - members only

Sales were up 3.8% for Tong despite the garden centre being closed for seven weeks and the restaurant and play business closed for a further 8 week. Read more - members only

Provender Nurseries are now certified ‘Plant Healthy’, one of the first group of ornamental suppliers to the horticultural industry to gain certification so far. Read more - open to all

Poundbury Gardens will celebrate its 15^th anniversary, with founders Mike and Louise Burks announcing plans to undertake 15 community planting projects to mark the occasion. Read more - open to all

Double celebration for Flowers from the Farm as 1000th grower joins on the 10th anniversary of the British cut flower grower association Read more - open to all

Blue Diamond has added 65% in 2 years to the sales of the 9 garden centres acquired from Wyevale in August 2018.  Read more - members only

Former director of HE Knowles (Manufacturing) Ltd has been banned for 8 years after illegitimately diverting more than £510,000 from a finance company.

Millbrook garden centres say the closure of Crowborough for housing is unlikely before the end of the year.  The site will continue trading. Read more - members only

AMES UK invests over £1m in forklifts, loaders and people in response to unprecedented demand early in 2021. Read more - members only

Dobbies has partnered with surplus food app, Too Good To Go, in a bid to combat food waste across its stores.  Read more - members only

Mr Fothergill’s has combined its direct-to-consumer brands in a new subsidiary, Greenregis Ltd, with Paul Pates becoming MD. Read more - members only

Turnover for the AMES UK group of companies broke all the records in 2020. Kelkay, La Hacienda, Apta and True Temper all posted their largest ever trading month. Read more - members only

Extra week’s wages for B&M UK stores staff as revenue increased by +26.6%, including like-for-like growth of +21.1% in the last quarter.  Read more - members only

Leading wholesaler Stax Trade Centres reports a strong performance despite the year’s challenges (year to 29 August).  Turnover jumped 17% to £135.4m with an operating profit of £4.6m. Read more - members only

E. P. Barrus Limited is delighted to announce the appointment of four new members to the company’s Board of Directors with immediate effect. Read more - open to all