A tougher economic environment with inflation rising above 10% and energy costs escalating significantly during the year led to a more challenging trading year at Notcutts. Read more - members only

Squire’s Garden Centres have announced that Purchasing Director, Darran Oakley, is to retire at the end of next season. He will move to Devon during the Summer of 2024. Read more - open to all

Blue Diamond has joined a new private trading platform, TISE Private Markets, to improve the market for buying and selling its shares.  It will also be easier for new investors. Read more - members only

Harwood Capital has taken full control of the group that owns Mr. Fothergill’s Seeds Limited.  It is also confirmed that CEO Dave Carey, son of one of the original founders, is leaving the business.  Read more - members only

The sale of Boningale Nurseries has now been completed, with Dutch-based company, Plant Market, taking full control and ownership of the £10m turnover business, its brands and its five production sites. Read more - members only

Wilko has confirmed it has filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators, putting around 12,000 jobs at risk. Read more - members only

Blue Diamond yesterday completed the purchase of Glendale Horticulture, the former Meredith Nurseries, from Glendale Leisure as it seeks to secure its supply chain. Read more - members only

Growers have had a good year says Ball UK at the 2023 Summer Showcase. It has noticed also that retailers and growers are working more together when planning for next year. Read more - members only

June was catch-up time for garden centres.  After a very slow spring, a hot and relatively dry June kept gardeners busy so that at the half year revenues are ahead of last year. Read more - members only

Sky News has reported that the family owners of Wilko are considering selling a controlling stake in the business to ensure a future for the chain. Read more - members only

Quinton Edwards are delighted to announce the sale of Cave Gates Nursery in Ellerker, East Yorkshire. Read more - open to all

The Griffon board removes the threat of a sale and is 100% committed to the future of Ames and its subsidiaries: Kelkay, La Hacienda, Apta and Woodshaw. Read more - members only

EXEL Industries has acquired an 81% majority stake in Devaux, a French family-owned group specializing in the manufacture and sale of gardening tools. Read more - members only

Sarah Raven’s Kitchen & Garden seeks to borrow £1.25m through crowd funding from the public, to complete purchase of Rookery Farm.  Minimum investment is set at £50. Read more - members only

Greenwood Plants has been awarded £2.7 million of funding by National Highways to grow three million native trees from seed, over five years. Read more - open to all

Debbie Harding, Chief People and Corporate Officer since June 2022, has been made a director of Dobbies. Read more - open to all

The magic of Christmas has arrived in Lincolnshire early as Woodthorpe Garden Centre becomes one of the first in the country to open its Christmas store  Doors open at 5pm on Monday August 21^st. Read more - open to all

Squire’s Garden Centres has become one of the first garden retailers to introduce electric delivery vehicles to its fleet. Read more - open to all

Having failed to find funding to keep the business afloat, Wilko has filed for administration. Read more - members only

Sarah Raven Kitchen and Gardens Ltd is pleased to announce that Dominic Rose has been appointed Chair of the company, as of 1st July 2023. Read more - open to all

At yesterday’s open day it was revealed that Harwood now controls Mr Fothergill’s Seeds.  There was also news of a new compost for seed and device for listening to the health of your soil. Read more - members only

Northumberland Estates has revealed plans to build a new high quality garden centre on land at Cawledge to the East of the A1 in Alnwick.  Read more - members only

JDA have teamed up with Jonart to help run their national sales. Read more - open to all

Dobbies Garden Centres has announced the appointment of David Robinson as Chief Executive Officer, who starts today.  He replaces Graeme Jenkins.  Gardenforum comments on the implications for the future of the group. Read more - members only

Longacres Garden Centres have just acquired their sixth centre – Bourne Valley Garden Centre in Addlestone, Surrey. Read more - members only

The sale of paper National Garden Gift Vouchers, which have been a staple of the garden centre industry since the early 1960’s will be ending at the end of the year. Read more - members only

Johnsons Lawn Seed has invested £3.5m in new equipment to significantly improve its overall product offering efficiency. Read more - members only

Post Covid-19, results are still pretty healthy for most but not all garden companies, as the likes of Westland, Squire’s, Klondyke, Scotsdale and Allensmore show. Read more - members only

UPDATE: Barton Grange, Cowells and Tong Garden Centres have signed up to the Prosper Buying Group.  So has St Peter’s Garden Centre saying time is right for a change. Read more - members only

Garden centres talk of the latest spring ever, record May plant sales, cost inflation, online price cutting on garden furniture, staff shortages. Read more - members only