Gardenforum reported on 18 garden centres changing hands last year. There was also the demise of wholesaler Spread, and a difficult year for Sir Tom Hunter’s investments in Dobbies, Flying Brands and Wyevale. For a review of 2008 and what to watch in 2009, see 'more'... (This article open to non-subscribers to see what you missed!) Read more
Klondyke has today completed the acquisition of Brookside Garden Centre in Poynton, Cheshire, which had been in administration. See more... Read more
A press report that Sir Tom Hunter's West Coast Capital would lose all of its investment in Wyevale is ‘erroneous’ according to WCC. See more... Read more
Trees-for-rent: Forget where to buy your Christmas tree this year and start thinking about where to rent because the next big thing in the 'environmental' market place is Christmas tree rental. Read more
103 employees of Forest Garden have transferred from Eardisley to the new expanded manufacturing site at Hartlebury, which will be operational in January. See more… Read more
December's Gardening Which? warns against buying potted Christmas trees. It also carries a survey of mail-order plug plants suppliers. See more... Read more
Two weeks after topping the Garden Retail evening with three awards, Sidmouth Garden Centre has been hit with an enforcement order to close its popular farm shop, despite receiving approval from planning officers. See more... Read more
Discussions between Sir Tom Hunter and the board of Flying Brands that might have led to an acquisition have ended without being able to agree a price. See more... Read more
The latest updates in Company Results show recovery at Roundstone Nurseries and a return to profit for Westland Horticulture. Several other companies reported lower profits or losses. See more (this article is open to all readers)... Read more
Demand continues to fall in commercial and domestic market says Marshalls. Only the public sector remains resilient. See more…
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Brookside Garden Centre in Poynton, Cheshire, was put into administration on October 26 and in a separate move, Hills Garden Centre, which was also owned by Chris Halsall, has been sold to a local businessman. See more... Read more
The threat that horticulture will lose 80% of plant protection products increased last week when the European Parliament environmental committee voted to ban glyphosate and other herbicides, fungicides and insecticides. The final vote by the full EU parliament will be taken in December or January. See more... Read more
Wiggly Wigglers, who mail-order gardening products, has won the $50,000 Dell small business award for its innovative use of online social networking. See more... Read more
Henri Studio is closing its Somerset manufacturing base after 25 years. All supplies will, in future, be shipped from Illinois. See more... Read more
Directors of HotSpring Spas Ltd, which has concessions on at least 15 garden centres, have filed for administration. The company is for sale. See more... Read more
The Pavilion Garden Centre, near Wolverhampton, is holding a closing down sale. See more... Read more
The directors of Craft Central have applied to place the company in administration. The company has stores on 40 garden centres that supply materials for the craft hobbyist. See more... Read more
Proof that garden centres are recession resistant comes with news from New Zealand of record sales of plants and seedlings. The RHS is promoting Grow Your Own in 2009 as consumers look towards home for their leisure activities. See more... Read more
The winners of the 2008 GCA Christmas display competition are Barton Grange, Brock, in the category for larger centres and Castle Gardens at Sherborne in the class for garden centres with sales under £3m. The judge said she was absolutely blown away. See more... Read more
One of East Surrey's leading plant centres was targeted by armed raiders last Saturday. A woman employee suffered a broken arm in the attack. See more... Read more
The finalists have been announced in the competition to find the GCA Garden Centre with the best Christmas displays. See more... Read more
DIY sales hold up at B&Q despite economic backdrop and wet August. See more... Read more
Figures from the GCA show another fall in the sales of gardening products with plants and bulbs most affected. See more… Read more
All-In-One Garden Centre of Middleton Rochdale has become the latest member of the Future Marketing Group. See more... Read more
The government’s 2010 peat reduction target will be missed. Now lobby groups, the government and the industry are to work together, through the Garden Media Initiative to speed the move to peat substitutes. See more… Read more
Highlights of last night's Garden Retail Awards include 3 wins for the newly refurbished Sidmouth Garden Centre and a Lifetime Achievement Award for Whitehall Garden Centre's centenarian owner Phyllis Self. For all the winners, see more... Read more
Chempak, the specialist garden fertiliser supplier, product packager and operator of the Garden Direct online trading business, is seeking a company voluntary arrangement with its creditors. See more... Read more
A Staffordshire garden centre was ransacked over the weekend losing the contents of the safe, tools and garden machinery. See more... Read more
Banks and shareholders are to back the 3-year plan for Wyevale. It’s a return to traditional garden centres using the Country Gardens model developed by Nicholas Marshall. This story is open to all - see more... Read more
Managing director, Andy Bestwick, is to leave Gardman in January. For the time being, his role will be covered by the company’s new Chief Executive, Mark Pearson, who starts next week. See more… Read more