Here’s the first round-up of news from British nurseries by Peter Dawson, former editor of Nurseryman and Garden Centre magazine. His new monthly ‘column’ will provide news and views from the growers across the country. See more... Read more
It is likely that the future of Hurrans Garden Centres will be decided by the end of March. However, it is unlikely that they will remain trading as a group. See more... Read more
New Era Aquaculture Limited, whose fish feeds to sell through gardens centres, has raised £300,000 investment to develop the business. See more... Read more
B&Q is celebrating the opening of its greenest ever store, at New Malden, Surrey. 50 per cent less carbon emissions and the biggest range of One Planet Home products in London. See more... Read more
Nicholas Marshall expects that completion of Wyevale's new financial arrangements will be delayed by a few days only, following the appointment of an administrator for Baugur. See more... Read more
Rumours that high street stores including Wyevale could be closed following news that Baugur Group has filed for bankruptcy protection, are "silly, ill informed and irresponsible" according to Wyevale CX, Nicholas Marshall. See more... Read more
The refinancing of Wyevale should be completed on Tuesday. This, says Marshall, will place the garden centre chain in a better position than any time since the company was taken private. See more... Read more
A notice has appeared in the Financial Times today, advertising Hurrans, one of the country's oldest garden centre groups, for sale. See more... Read more
The Scotsman has published what it claims to be an internal Dobbies memo, which suggests that Scotland's largest garden centre chain is passing on the government's VAT cut to customers only if they complain. To see the full article, click on the website button... Read more
One in four garden centres increased sales during December. For the year as a whole, sales fell 2%. The latest figures from the GCA Barometer of Trade also show that average customer spend in 2008 increased by £3.60. See more... Read more
Supplies of Wolf tools should be unaffected by the insolvency of WOLF-Garten GmbH & Co KG, the German manufacturing company. See more... Read more
Deroma has acquired the Cirencester-based pot distributor, Mondian. Effective immediately, the acquisition gives Deroma a greater share of the outdoor and indoor pots market, as well as a significant projected increase in turnover for 2009. Read more
Tight cost control means that the Home Retail Group, parent of Argos and Homebase, will meet market expectations for profits despite falling sales; while B&Q is to withdraw from sponsoring the British Olympic Association. See more... Read more
Leekes, the Welsh home and garden retailer, is to open four conservatory concessions on garden centres in the southwest. Three will be on Wyevale garden centres. See more... Read more
With the market for repair and maintenance in domestic housing forecast to fall 15% this year, Marshalls, the landscape materials group, is reducing manufacturing capacity and the scale of its consumer initiatives. See more… Read more
The GCA Barometer of Trade confirms that January was good for garden centres. Overall sales increased by 12.7%. See more... Read more
Tricia Killen, who became CX of Flying Brands last June, has been replaced by Stephen Cook, a nominee of Sir Tom Hunter. Hunter's recent quest to buy the group had been rejected. See more... Read more
The latest updates in Company Results include the most recent trading figures for Ball Horticultural Europe, Syngenta Seeds, Alexander Rose, Gardman, Haddonstone, Bents Garden Centre, Country Homes and Gardens, Haskins Garden Centres, Decco and Notcutts. For a summary, see more... (This article is open to all readers)... Read more
Scotts Miracle-Gro is to spend £6.3 million on TV and press advertising, the same amount as last year. Among the new adverts, there will be a new ‘Frog’ commercial for Evergreen. See more... Read more
All-In-One has acquired land that almost doubles the size of the garden centre. Finance director, Jason Stafford, has engaged Ernest Wertheim to advise on extending the garden centre. See more... Read more
The manufacturing arm of Wolf Garten, placed in the hands of an insolvency administrator last month, is to be bought by MTD of the US. See more... Read more
Woodthorpe Garden Centres Ltd has today completed the purchase of Spring Garden Centre, which lies a few miles north of Hull. See more... Read more
Gary J Corbett and Colin Burke of Milner Boardman & Partners were appointed joint administrators for Hurrans Garden Centres Ltd at 3.30pm this afternoon. See more... Read more
Bents claims the title GCA Garden Centre of the Year 2009, just ahead of last year’s winner, Webbs of Wychbold. All in One, Donaghadee, Poplars Nursery and Taylors Bulbs were among the other winners. See more... Read more
Wyevale is restarting its management training scheme and is looking for internal and external candidates for the programme that will prepare them for garden centre management. See more... Read more
From April the Turf Professional magazine will be published under license by The Garden Communication and Media Co (TGCMC), who also publish Garden Trade News. See more... Read more
It may take another week to complete the long awaited financial restructuring of Wyevale, the country’s largest chain of garden centres. See more... Read more
The Horticultural Development Company (HDC) has launched a ‘Home Grown’ logo for UK growers, with backing from the NFU. See more... Read more
The wholesale production arm of the Dorset-based Golden Acres Group is upping bedding plant production by nine per cent this year. Christmas was also a success for the retail arm. See more... Read more
The HTA has asked the UK government for clarification after the EU today passed new plant protection regulation without assessing the impact it will have. See more... Read more