The Garden Centre Group outlines its strategy for growth

Four new board appointments show the direction in which The Garden Centre Group is moving. Gardenforum finds out more about its strategy from CEO, Kevin Bradshaw.  See more… Read more - members only

Next wins permission for Sheffield Home & Garden

Work will start as soon as possible after Next won permission, on appeal, for a new Next Home & Garden in Sheffield. This will be their fifth. See more… Read more - members only

Scotts agree partnership deal with AeroGrow

Scotts Miracle-Gro has taken a 27% stake in AeroGrow, the supplier of dirt free AeroGarden products in the US, with the aim of expanding the market for indoor gardening. See more... Read more - members only

Garden centres in the News

Waitrose sets date for opening on Northampton garden centre, Frosts team up with Diarmuid Gavin, conifer thefts in Derbyshire and a Gloucestershire garden centre fights the planners. See more... Read more - members only

Nick Davies reassures customers he remains managing director of Solus - UPDATED

Contrary to rumours, Nick Davies reassures customers and business partners that he is very much at the helm as managing director of Solus. See more... Read more - members only

Marshalls names new CX

Marshalls, the leading manufacturer of paving and landscape materials has named Martyn Coffey as its new chief executive. He will replace Graham Holden who stands down in October. See more... Read more - members only

Big ticket growth offsets lower seasonal sales at Homebase

Big ticket sales have brought a little growth to Homebase despite a fall in seasonal sales during the March to May quarter. See more... Read more - members only

TGCG buys Bolton from Barton Grange

The Garden Centre Group has told suppliers that it has bought the business of Barton Grange Garden Centre at Bolton, with effect from today. See more... Read more - members only

Weather leads to William Sinclair profit warning

Half year results to the end of March saw sales fall 22% for compost producer William Sinclair. The weather hit sales and margins. But Ellesmere Port offers potential cost savings in the future. See more... Read more - members only

Summerseat Garden Centre acquires second centre

Summerseat Garden Centre Ltd has acquired Stephen H. Smith’s Garden & Leisure Bolton branch located at Radcliffe Moor Road, Bradley Fold. See more... Read more - members only

Outdoor seasonal sales down 10% at B&Q

B&Q blames unfavourable cold weather and the early Easter for a 10% drop in the sales of outdoor seasonal products for the 13 weeks to 4th May. See more... Read more - members only

Fire ravages new garden centre on eve of official opening

The new Cherry Lane Garden Centre at Bradmore in Nottingham has been ravaged by fire the day before its official re-opening after a massive refit. See more... Read more - members only

Marshalls says sales are down but order books are longer

Marshalls says that sales are down by 6% overall and more in the domestic sector. However this is due in part to the weather and order books are longer. See more… Read more - members only

Weather takes a little sparkle off Blue Diamond

Blue Diamond increased sales 12% in 2012 to £59m, thanks to acquisitions. The growth looks set to continue despite the weather pegging profits back to £3m. See more... Read more - members only

EU to ban use of Neonicotinoids

The sale of neonicotinoid pesticides to amateur gardeners is likely to be banned from July, following EU vote. See more… Read more - members only

James Barnes leaves Dobbies - UPDATED

Dobbies staff were told yesterday James Barnes, CEO and finance director Sharon Brown have left the business. See more… Read more - members only

Highgate garden centre to close

Highgate Garden Centre, one of five within the Capital Gardens group, is to close in the next couple of weeks following its sale last year. See more… Read more - members only

Marshalls predicts a return to growth for landscapers

Interim results published by Marshalls give a good guide to what is happening in the landscape sector. Domestic sales fell 3% in the first 6 months but order books are a week longer than a year ago. A return to growth is forecast for the landscape market next year. See more… Read more - members only

Public support Notcutts/Waitrose development at Bagshot

Plans have been submitted for the £14m development that will see a Waitrose store added to a revamped garden centre at Notcutts Bagshot. See more... Read more - members only

Waitrose creates TV gardening channel

Waitrose is unveiling an on-line TV gardening channel, featuring Alan Titchmarsh and Matt James. See more... Read more - members only

The message Franchi Seeds sent world leaders at the G8 Summit

'What you sow, you reap", is the message Franchi Seeds has sent world leaders at the G8 Summit as they gather at Lough Erne, Northern Ireland this week. See more... Read more - members only

Dobbies details its new buying team

There have been substantial changes in personnel in the Dobbies buying team over the last year. Here is an up to date list of buyers and their areas of responsibility. See more… Read more - members only

Mixed planning fortunes for garden centres

Garden centres experience mixed fortunes when it comes to planning. There’s disappointment for Keydell Nurseries, hope for Garsons and concern over Highgate. See more… Read more - members only

Next wins permission for fourth Home & Garden store

Next has been granted permission to build its fourth Home & Garden store at High Wycombe. Another four are progressing through the planning process. See more... Read more - members only

Chairman’s bad language loses Scotts 3 directors

Three directors resigned from the board of Scotts Miracle-Gro following a reprimand of its colourful chairman and chief Executive, Jim Hagedorn, for the use of inappropriate language. See more... Read more - members only

Capital Gardens fights eviction from Morden Hall

Capital Gardens claims the National Trust has no moral compass as it seeks to find a way to evict the group from Morden Hall garden centre. See more… Read more - members only

Progress on Bonkers EU proposal to ban barley straw

Pressure from OATA to prevent the EU banning barley straw as a treatment for algae in ponds seems to be having effect. It seems a ban this autumn has been avoided. See more... Read more - members only

Sheeplands anger at postponed appeal

The owner of Hare Hatch Sheeplands nursery described a decision to delay his appeal against enforcement action as a hammer blow to his business and staff. See more… Read more - members only

Creative Gardens to build new garden centre

Creative Gardens, a family business in Northern Ireland, is to build a new £2m garden centre at Ballymena. This will be the company's third. See more... Read more - members only

Rush to raise profile of Sinclair brands

The new Ellesmere Port facility is what attracted new CEO Peter Rush to the top job at Sinclair. It gives the capacity to grow profitable sales and grow shareholder value. See more... Read more - members only

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