Garden Wise and Barton Grange are the top GCA garden centres
Barton Grange made it five in a row beating Bents and Burston by the narrowest of margins to be GCA large destination Garden Centre of the Year. Garden Wise was named garden centre of the year. Read more
Brantano has gone into administration
It has been reported that Brantano, the value shoe retailer that operates concessions on 29 garden centres has been placed in administration. Read more
Wyevale raises £91m through sale of garden centres
Wyevale Garden centres has sold eight garden centres to Orchard Street Investment Management in a sale and leaseback deal. Read more
Australian group Wesfarmers in talks to buy Homebase
It is widely reported that Home Retail Group is in advanced talks regarding the sale of Homebase to Australian giant Wesfarmers. Read more
Lovania has ambitious plans for Seoint
Lovania Nurseries acquires Seoint Nurseries and Neil Alcock is made managing director. Read more
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Review of 2015 in the Garden Industry
2015 was an eventful year in the garden sector. Here is a round-up of some of the most important stories on Gardenforum throughout the year. This article is open to non-members. Read more
Rapid growth at Smart Garden comes at a cost
Big losses are all part of the plan as Smart Garden invests in rapid growth, almost doubling sales in 2 years. Read more
Thompson & Morgan is predicting the best ever year for grow your own
Thompson & Morgan has reported a 24% rise in seed sales through September to end of November 2015, compared to the same period in 2014, driven by vegetable seed sales. Read more
Newbridge Nurseries duo in dramatic chase
Local news sources report how a garden centre manager and a member of his team chased and caught a man they suspected of leaving Newbridge Nurseries with stock worth £500. Read more
Scotts Miracle-Gro discusses joint venture for UK & European operations
Scotts Miracle-Gro says it does not make economic sense to invest heavily in its European business and is in discussions with another party regarding a partnership. Read more
Creditors meeting called for Maingate
A creditors meeting has been called for Maingate Ltd, supplier of County wheelbarrows and Stylys gifts. Read more
Wyevale starts 25% off Christmas sale
Wyevale has launched a Christmas sale and guarantees to replace live Christmas trees with a new one, right up to Christmas Eve. Read more
Hillier names suppliers and garden centre of the year
Robert Hillier tells his new management team, “You have changed the face of Hillier,” as sales leap by 25%. Read more
Wyevale plans to put houses on Beaconsfield garden centre
Wyevale has submitted a planning application to put 9 houses on land at Beaconsfield garden centre. Read more
Soft Play Barn solves a remote problem for Hillview
When Hillview Group bought Witney Garden Centre they were faced with a challenge. Although surrounded by people, how would they find the centre down a country lane in the middle of the Cotswolds? Read more
Squire’s at Twickenham wins top plant area award
GCA today revealed which garden centres are the best for plants, garden products, outdoor living products and garden furniture. Read more
Local speculation suggests Crowders will be Wyevale’s next purchase
Local news sources are speculating that Crowders in Horncastle will be the next garden centre to be purchased by Wyevale Garden Centres. Read more
New investment promised for Homebase as sale terms are agreed
Australia’s Wesfarmers has agree to buy Homebase for £340m and promises new investment to build the DIY and garden group. Read more
Business as usual as Wyevale buys Woodcote Green
Wyevale Garden Centres buys Woodcote Green one of the South’s largest garden centres and promises it will be business as usual. Read more
Tildenet buys Bosmere
Tildenet has acquired Bosmere in a move that will confirm its position as a major retail supplier in the gardening sector. Steve Millington will stay with the business. Read more
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Are Brantano concessions at risk from restructuring
The Sunday Times reports that 800 jobs are at risk at Brantano, the out-of-town shoe retailer with concessions on garden centres. Read more
Sales boost for Pennells after major extension
Pennells Garden Centre at Lincoln completed a £2m major extension in the spring and has seen strong growth this autumn. Read more
Warm weather presents a potential challenge to growers
Daffodils are flowering earlier than ever in the exceptionally mild weather. But how are growers of shrubs and herbaceous plants managing? What happens if we get a cold spell as some watchers of El Nino predict? Read more
Wyevale’s new e-commerce website will be rolled out in the spring
Wyevale Garden Centres’ new e-commerce website has gone on test with a panel of existing customers. It aims to be the best gardening website in the UK. Read more
Sheila Hill explains more about Scotts’ new strategy
Sheila Hill explains more about Scotts’ new strategy and how it is actively looking at additional investments in Europe. Read more
Dobbies' devaluation of assets leads to massive loss
Dobbies has revised the value of its assets downwards by £54m causing a loss before tax for the year of £48m despite an increase in sales. Read more
Barton Grange outshines Bents for Christmas sparkle
Barton Grange and Castle Gardens are national winners of the 2015 Christmas display competition judged by the GCA. Read more
Nicholas Marshall confirms discussions with private equity groups
Nicholas Marshall confirms discussions with private equity groups and says something has got to happen to Homebase in due course. Read more
Website of the Year - Richard Jackson’s Garden
The Garden Media Guild Awards presented a Lifetime Achievement Award to Adrian Bloom and Website of the Year to Richard Jackson’s Garden. Read more
Online auction to be held of John Woods’ assets
John Woods Nurseries, a buyout from Notcutts Nurseries has been placed in administration. There’s £500,000 of plants and machinery to be cleared with an online auction starting tomorrow. Read more
