French minister has called for a ban on over-the-counter sales of Roundup after an agency affiliated to the WHO classified glyphosate as a probable carcinogen to humans. Read more - members only

A North Somerset garden centre is asking planners for permission to replace its buildings with houses, blaming competition from Cadbury for years of slow trading. Read more - members only

Shoot Gardening promises an ambitious fast-track expansion having raised £500,000 through the crowdfunding platform, Crowdcube. Read more - members only

Heinz Kettler Gmbh & Co KG has entered a period of self-administration in order to restructure its German business but leaves the UK operation unaffected. Read more - members only

Sinclair has announced that sites will close with around 100 job losses as it restructures and consolidates on its Ellesmere Port site. Read more - members only

Centre Lane Partners, a New York-based private investment firm, announced that it has acquired Easy Gardener Products Inc. (“Easy Gardener”). Read more - members only

Despite a luke warm start to this year’s bedding season, growers across England report sales really hotted up as the late spring holiday got under way. Read more - members only

The new Sinclair management says it is confident of long-term success for the business if it can raise new funds.  It is also addressing unprofitable customer contracts. Read more - members only

Garden centres are 4% up for the year so far according to the latest figures from the GCA. The North and West have outperformed the Southeast. Garden furniture is the best performing product category. Read more - members only

Paris Natar’s Smart Garden Products has acquired Outside-in Designs and will introduce a new range of clocks. Read more - members only

Reports are circulating the trade, as yet unconfirmed, that Scotts Miracle-Gro has told its staff that all but one of the Solus brands are to be withdrawn from the market. Read more - members only

G Plants has moved into new offices and warehousing covering 50,000 ft.² in Blackburn as part of a £600,000 expansion plan.  It is looking to recruit new sales personnel. Read more - members only

The latest twist in the enforcement battle between Wokingham Borough Council and Hare Hatch Sheeplands takes the form of a letter from the council’s chief executive to the many customers who have written to support their garden centre. Read more - members only

Kelkay completes its new plant and head office with an investment of £1 million in machinery to secure its market leading position, says its managing director. Read more - members only

Cranborne garden centre, well-known for its old fashioned roses, was re-launched over the weekend with the aim of being different to the chain garden centres. Read more - members only

Beckworth Emporium lost cash in a violent break while the phone line of a Walthamstow garden centre was hacked in an elaborate attempt to cash a fake cheque. Read more - members only

A band of industry veterans has come together to form Rosebourne, a vehicle to develop a new style group of food and plant centres. Read more - members only

Wyevale has bought Armitage’s Pennine and Birchencliffe garden centres owned by the GCA chairman, Will Armitage, and his parents. Read more - members only

Nick Burrows is to be the new Notcutts chief executive from September. Recently he has been the executive chairman at both the First Sports Group and The Thames Club. Read more - members only

Sales have grown 24% at Highfield Garden World since it was redeveloped a year ago. It has now been granted permission to extend further. Read more - members only

The changing face of retail is highlighted by the contrasting results announced by B&Q and the rapidly growing B&M, chaired by Sir Terry Leahy, former CEO of Tesco. Read more - members only

Scotts’ UK boss says we are going to do a Scotts job on Chapelwood and hints at big innovations for growing media this autumn. Read more - members only

The change in emphasis for Klondyke Group pays dividends as profits increase by 29%. The priority will remain on redeveloping existing garden centres for the next three years. Read more - members only

After an extensive review of the Solus brands Scotts says that Chapelwood has a significant future but it will exit the remaining brands at the earliest opportunity. Read more - members only

Agralan wins garden product of the year at RHS Chelsea, Burncoose Nurseries wins plant of the year. There were golds for Hillier, Vital Earth, Taylors Bulbs. Read more - members only

Peter Williams steps down after 10 years as finance director at William Sinclair.  The company has appointed turnaround specialist, Sheryl Tye, as interim CFO. Read more - members only

Westland are experimenting with a twitter Q&A with Charlie Dimmock next Thursday – 21 May from 7-9pm - #GardenSecrets. Read more - members only

Tong, one of the country’s largest garden centres has been sold. The new owners have substantial redevelopment plans. Read more - members only

Stax called together over 200 suppliers to hear about a new multi-Channel trade centre, a new website and an autumn marketing campaign. Read more - members only

The latest updates to Company Results show big turnover increases for Scotsdales, Alexander Rose and J Parker Dutch Bulbs. Read more - members only