Disciplined B&M delivers exceptional value

B&M displayed positive LFL growth December and the trend continued into January with strong customer response to newly launched ranges. Read more - members only

Jeremy Evans

Jeremy Evans passed away on 30th November 2024, aged 65. Jeremy was Retail Director of Flowerland Garden Centres. Read more - open to all

Jeremy Owen Evans

Garden Centre by Homebase for the Range

‘Garden Centre by Homebase’ and ‘Kitchens by Homebase’ to be kept as key departments in converted Range stores, reports Steve Collinge of Insight DIY Read more - members only

Yorkshire Garden Centres to take on Dobbies Pennine 

Yorkshire Garden Centres Group is to operate the former Dobbies Pennine Garden Centre.  This is the first deal to be revealed for a site being closed by Dobbies. Read more - members only

Andy Mears, Group Retail and Operations Manager and Sharon McNair, Commercial Director

Royal Warrants for Taylors Bulbs, Vitax and Hillier Nurseries

Taylors Bulbs, Vitax and Hillier Nurseries have been honoured with Royal Warrants from His Majesty The King. Read more - members only

All change at Old Railway Line

Old Railway Line Garden Centre has confirmed the construction of a new entrance and covered plant area. Work begins just after Christmas, on the 2nd of January 2025. Read more - members only

Dobbies restructuring is approved

Dobbies restructuring is approved meaning the exit from 12 garden centres.  The company says this will enable Dobbies to return to sustainable profitability. Read more - members only

Dobbies, Cirencester that remains with the group

BHETA’s Meet the Buyer event with Dobbies

With suppliers awaiting the imminent news about approval of the Dobbies Restructuring Plan, BHETA organized a Meet The Buyer event with the garden centre group. Read more - members only

Barnsfold and Liss Forest Nurseries merge under Squire’s

Barnsfold Nurseries Ltd, owned by Squire’s Garden Centres, has acquired the business and certain assets of Liss Forest Nursery Ltd. Read more - members only

Quinton Edwards celebrates 35 blooming years

Chartered surveyors Quinton Edwards is marking 35 years as the UK’s foremost expert in the sale and valuation of garden centres, horticultural nurseries and farm shops - and is forecasting huge opportunities in the sector for investors willing ‘to buy small and build big’. Read more - open to all

Simon Quinton Smith

Catering Group of the Year

British Garden Centres and Yorkshire Garden Centres are celebrating after winning two of the main Garden Catering categories in a national trade magazine. Read more - members only

British Garden Centres wins Group Catering Award

Mr Fothergill’s announce partnership with The Children’s Society

Mr Fothergill’s are very excited to announce our new partnership with The Children’s Society, a charity dedicated to supporting vulnerable children and young people across the UK. Read more - open to all

Willington becomes Blue Diamond’s 46th garden centre

Blue Diamond's purchase of Frosts’ Willington Garden Centre completed slightly later than expected, on 18th October.  This follows the group's acquisition of Woburn Sands in August. Read more - members only

Birdworld’s multi-million-pound redevelopment gains planning approval

Birdworld, owned by Haskins and on the same site as Forest Lodge Garde Centre, near Farnham, Surrey has been granted planning permission. Read more - members only

Blue Diamond acts to secure plant supply chain

Blue Diamond agrees strategic partnership with European Group to ensure plant supply chain keep's pace with the continued expansion.  Read more - members only

5th Garden Centre for Hillmount in NI

In a £1.5m investment, Hillmount, a family garden business in Northern Ireland, will open their fifth garden centre in Carrick Fergus expanding their brand from East Belfast and beyond. Read more - members only

Reya Mercer with dad Alan and grandparents Edith and Robin

B&Q to buy five Homebase stores in the UK

B&Q is set to acquire five leasehold Homebase stores in the UK, expanding its network and offerings. Read more - members only

B&Q acquires 3 Homebase stores in Republic of Ireland

B&Q Ireland Limited has reached agreements to acquire three leasehold stores, currently trading as Homebase, in the Republic of Ireland for a total purchase price of ca. £3.2m.  Read more - members only

Dobbies could be reduced to 53 garden centres

By Christmas 10 Dobbies garden centres will have closed.  What happens next to those centres and what about those where they planned a rent reduction? Read more - members only

Thetford achieves prestigious B Corp status

Thetford Garden Centre believes it is the first garden centre in the UK to achieve the prestigious Certified B Corporation (B Corp) recognition, their commitment to doing good. Read more - members only

Perrywood starts Garden Centre re-development at Sudbury

Construction is progressing on an ambitious new project at Perrywood, Sudbury.  The development represents a significant investment in the area and is set to become a destination garden centre. Read more - members only

Best 2024 garden centre Christmas displays

Garsons Garden Centre, Esher; Castle Gardens, Sherborne; and Pughs, Wenvoe are the national winners of the Garden Centre Association annual Christmas displays competition. Read more - members only

Phil McCann GCA Inspector for Christmas

Mercer Agencies appoints administrators

On 29 November 2024, Scott Murray and Ian Davison of Keenan Corporate Finance Ltd were appointed as Joint Administrators of Mercer Agencies Ltd. Read more - members only

List of Homebase Stores up for sale

Insight DIY lists the Homebase stores that remain for sale with a deadline of 29th November for interested parties to bid. Read more - members only

Dobbies publishes stores closing dates

Dobbies has published the closing dates for its unprofitable stores, listed for closure as part of the Restructuring Plan.  One of these Antrim will no longer close.  Read more - members only

Homebase to be placed into administration

It is widely reported that Homebase is to be placed into administration later today.  It is understood that The Range has agreed a pre-packaged sale of approximately 75 stores… Read more - members only

Stratford Garden Centre joins Prosper Buying Group

Stratford Garden Centre has joined a list of distinguished members (see list) of the Prosper Buying Group. Read more - members only

Sipcam and Westland top the GIMA Awards 2024

Over 400 guests watched as Sipcam retained the GIMA best product award from last year, while Westland was voted supplier of the year by GCA members. Read more - open to all

Sipcam wields the GIMA Sword of Honour

Planters acquires Pacific Nurseries

Planters has added a 5th garden centre, with the purchase of Pacific Nurseries in the West Midlands.  UPDATED Read more - members only

Staverton Nursery rises from the Flames

Staverton Nursery, near Lewes in East Sussex, has been rebuilt following a fire in April 2023 which destroyed half of their retail space, coffee shop and offices. Read more - members only

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