Dan Robson, MD of recent start-up Green Digit, has laid down a challenge to larger manufacturers: If a young start-up company can successfully sell products – across Europe - made from sustainable, biodegradable materials, then surely others can too. Read more - members only

Fewer independent garden centres will sell in future, said the owner of St Peter’s, Worcester. He also invited suppliers to consider running their gardening shops as a franchise. Read more - members only

Bunnings has opened its 24^th store in Somerset amid reports that private equity firms are eyeing a potential bid. The Aussie chairman is also visiting UK stores. Read more - members only

Klondykes’s Strikes Garden Centre at Stokesley in North Yorkshire was destroyed by fire on Friday night. Read more - members only

It was a tie in the judging for Notcutts’ best garden centre, while the pet and wild bird team won the best category prize at its recent annual awards evening. Read more - members only

Haskins Garden Centre group has re-opened its Christmas department across all centres, due to high demand from customers. Read more - open to all

Gardman have decided to reactivate operations at Kings Lynn as demolition starts on Daventry. Reps will be calling on customers from Monday to advise on availability and ordering. Read more - members only

B&Q sales fall 5.3% due to store closure programme and disruption from Kingfisher’s unification programme, which after 2 years has made good progress. Read more - members only

Gardman hopes to be in the position next week to tell customers what they will be able to supply and in what time frame. Read more - members only

Capi Europe, the manufacturer behind Cadix in the UK, unveiled an innovative new factory with unique rotational moulding robots, that will see turnover double in the next couple of years. Read more - members only

The BBC reports that a man has been arrested on suspicion of arson as smoke continues to rise from the new Gardman warehouse in Daventry following a massive fire last night. Read more - members only

Countrywide Farmers, with 48 stores, has gone into administration after a potential sale is referred to the Competition and Markets Authority.  Read more - members only

Pennells Garden Centres have acquired the Four Seasons Garden Centre at Sleaford in Lincolnshire as of March 1^st 2018. Read more - members only

The Wyevale management is focussed on standards, better communication with the shop floor and training as head office restructuring is almost complete. Read more - members only

Ascential, the owner of Glee, Pure, Spring & Autumn Fair trade shows has announced a strategic review of its exhibitions business. Read more - members only

Gardman says Kings Lynn is fully operational again with over 1200 SKUs in stock and increasing as some lines are being flown in from the Far East. Read more - members only

David Millais of Millais Nurseries has been granted a Royal Warrant of Appointment by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales as supplier of Rhododendrons and Magnolias.  Read more - open to all

Jonathan Halford, chairman of both Forest Garden and Gardman, is raising funds for CLIC Sargent by running in the London Marathon. Read more - open to all

Fryer's Garden Centre in Knutsford near Manchester wins garden centre of the year at the annual Blue Diamond Awards for the year of 2017 held at Coombe Abbey. Read more - open to all

It has been reported that Wesfarmers has appointed Lazard to find a buyer for Homebase. Articles also speculate that a CVA is a possible outcome. Read more - members only

It has been confirmed that the 9 garden centre Home & Garden Group has appointed the accountants Mazars as administrators on 27^th March. Read more - members only

Blue Diamond opened East Bridgford yesterday, its 20^th store. The purchase of number 21 is close to completion and there are further sites in the pipeline, subject to planning.   Read more - members only

“The GCA extends its heart-felt thoughts and sympathies to all the company’s (Gardman) directors and staff and further offers its support and best wishes to the company in restoring its full business activity as soon as is practically possible.” Read more - open to all

Wesfarmers is reviewing its options for Bunnings/Homebase in the UK after announcing massive write downs and losses last month. Now an analyst at JP Morgan suggests that the least cost option would be to leave the UK. Read more - members only

Dramatic aerial images of Gardman’s Daventry warehouse show the extent of the fire which continues to burn. The company hopes to have information about new premises by the end of the week. Read more - members only

BBC are reporting a large blaze overnight at Gardman’s Daventry warehouse. In an initial statement the company says it currently has no access to the site and will provide further updates during the day. Read more - members only

There has been rapid growth at Hillview Garden Centres, both like-for-like and from acquisitions in the last 12 months, having shown little growth in the 2016/7 results recently filed. Read more - members only

CEO Karl Kahofer has named Mark Portman as General Manager of Scotts (UK), filling the role Sheila Hill vacated in February. Portman has been group sales director at Gardman since last October. Read more - members only

An announcement is expected shortly that Sheila Hill has left The Scotts Company (UK). Also imminent is an announcement about the future of Roundup. Read more - members only

Brexit hits Premier profits, rapid growth at Goulds (Dorchester) and Kelkay are some of the latest results to be published on Gardenforum’s company results. Read more - members only