Fera to inspect GCs for citrus longhorn beetle

As part of the ongoing fight to limit the damage caused by possible outbreaks of citrus longhorn beetle, the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera) has issued guidance on steps being taken in the UK to reduce the risk of it becoming established here. See more… Read more - members only

Management team takes a stake in the Garden Store group

Management team has bought a stake in the Garden Store group as joint founder, Patrick Pearce, retires. See more... Read more - members only

Financially The Garden Centre Group is 'in a Good Place’

Nicholas Marshall says the e-learning programme unveiled at last weeks plant trade show represents a new dawn for The Garden Centre Group. He also confirmed that the group was financially ‘in a good place’. See more... Read more - members only

E P Barrus unites Wolf-Garden and Wilkinson Sword

E P Barrus, which last year took control of the UK distribution of Wolf-Garden, has won the right to distribute the Wilkinson Sword range of garden tools. See more... Read more - members only

Dobbies exploits links with Tesco

Dobbies moves to exploit its link with its parent, Tesco. Dobbies branded products are to appear in the supermarket’s stores in northern England and Scotland. It is also exploring the possibility of adding a garden centre alongside a new development by Tesco. See more… Read more - members only

Bents are GCA Garden Centre of the Year – again

It is a repeat of last year with Bents Garden Centre beating Webbs into second place by the narrowest of margins in the competition to be GCA Garden Centre of the Year. See more... Read more - members only

Taylors Bulbs - Best Supplier for the 3rd year

Awards announced yesterday on the first day of the GCA Conference honoured Stewarts Gardenlands, Sunshine Garden Centre and Taylors Bulbs. See more… Read more - members only

Alan Titchmarsh and B&Q join forces

Alan Titchmarsh is to work with B&Q as it seeks to cement ‘its position as the UK’s largest chain of garden centres’. He will provide regular tips and advice through in-store displays and on B&Q's website. See more... Read more - members only

Garden centres adapt to the snow and cold

January sales appear to be better than expected with such bad weather. Garden centres have adapted to conditions by selling plastic trays when they had run out of toboggans, grit when they had run out of salt and... See more... Read more - members only

The Garden Centre Group starts 2010 in good shape

A successful Christmas rounds off a satisfactory first year for The Garden Centre Group. Gross profit was up 20% in December. See more... Read more - members only

Peterborough Garden Park opens in February

Peterborough Garden Park, with a high profile destination garden centre designed by Van Hage as the focal point, opens its doors on 5th of February. See more... Read more - members only

Marshalls cautious despite small signs of recovery

What is happening to Marshalls, leading producer of patio and driveway products, is a good pointer to what is happening in the landscape sector as a whole. Sales fell 16% in 2009 and are expected to fall again in 2010. See more... Read more - members only

The top composts germinate 42% more seeds

Each year Which? Gardening tests the performance of major brands of compost for germinating seeds and for growing-on young plants. And each year, they find a big difference between the best and worst performers. For the 'Best Buys' and 'Don't Buys', see more... Read more - members only

2009 Review - Part 2: July to December

With trade strong, attention turned to the battle between the increased number of trade shows in 2010. Many garden centres won planning permission to extend. Corporate activity continued among suppliers. See more... (This article is open to all) Read more - open to all

2009 Review - Part 1: January to June

There was a nervous feel to the start of 2009.  The Banking crisis was in full swing.  No one knew whether consumer demand would come to an abrupt halt after Christmas and garden suppliers were anxiously waiting for confirmation of Wyevale’s financial restructuring.   This review is open to all. See more... Read more - open to all

Scotts and Hillier invite Chelsea visitors into the ‘Diary Room’

Scotts and Hillier Nurseries have joined forces for Chelsea. Together, they will invite show visitors into a secret diary room on the Hillier stand, where they will be asked to divulge secret nuggets of gardening wisdom. See more... Read more - members only

Beetle mania hits Boskoop

Evidence of citrus longhorn beetle damage has had a devastating effect on the growers in Boskoop, Holland. See more… Read more - members only

Dobbies wins approval for Lisburn

After four years, Dobbies has won approval to build a £12 million garden centre at Lisburn, Northern Ireland. See more... Read more - members only

T&M buys Chempak

Thompson & Morgan has announced the purchase of Chempak, the plant food manufacturer. The deal was completed in the last few days. See more... Read more - members only

Dobbies lift sales by 5.8% over Christmas

An interview with James Barnes, published in the Scotsman, reveals that Dobbies enjoyed its strongest Christmas to date. Demand was high for Christmas trees, lights and decorations, along with gifts and festive plants, such as poinsettias. See more... Read more - members only

John Innes Manufacturers Association moves under HTA umbrella

The management and administration of the John Innes Manufacturers Association (JIMA) has moved to the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA). See more... Read more - members only

Free internet access with The Garden Centre Group

Visitors to six garden centres in The Garden Centre Group are now able to take their laptops with them and check their emails or surf the Internet while on-site. See more... Read more - members only

Administrators step in at Carpenders Park

The company operating Carpenders Park Garden Centre and Plant Nursery of Little Oxhey Lane, Watford, has been put into administration. See more... Read more - members only

TGCG sells Shiplake

The Garden Centre Group has sold Shiplake Nursery and Garden Centre, which will close at the end of the month. See more... Read more - members only

December puts the seal on a good year for garden centres

GCA results for 2009 show that the smaller garden centre did best and that those in the Midlands and Northwest performed better than the South. Overall, sales were around 11% ahead of 2008, with the biggest increases coming from the farm shop. See more… Read more - members only

Windsor heads Bellagio merger

The Shropshire Collection and Sunsit UK have merged with Bellagio UK to form a new major garden furniture supplier named Bellagio UK, headed by Julian Windsor. See more... Read more - members only

Garden centres fared well at Christmas

With snow and ice gripping most of the country, garden centres are having a quiet time and taking stock as customers stay away after what turned out to be a sparkling Christmas for many retailers. See more… Read more - members only

Sinclair warns of price increases for growing media

Sinclair is in a bullish mood on the back of improved 2009 results. It believes it has enough peat for 2010, unlike its competitors, and is starting mass production at Freeland. See more... Read more - members only

Dobbies scales down Carlisle plans

Having won planning permission last month for a 62,000 sq ft. garden centre in Carlisle, Dobbies has decided to half the size of the project. See more... Read more - members only

November, another good month for garden centres

November was another good month for garden centres according to the Garden Centre Association. Sales were 8% higher than a year ago in November and for the last 12 months are 10% higher. See more... Read more - members only

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