Scientists are stepping up the fight against an invasive tree pest of sweet chestnut trees - Oriental Chestnut Gall Wasp - the UK’s Chief Plant Health Officer announced today. Read more - open to all

A ground-breaking study reveals the more ‘doses’ of gardening you get, the better your wellbeing, says the RHS.  Daily gardening has the same impact on wellbeing as regular vigorous exercise such as cycling or running. Read more - open to all

The Wildlife Trusts say the time for voluntary agreements is over – the sale of peat must end now.  They have released their survey of 20 garden retailers.  We include an industry reesponse. Read more - members only

EnviroBuild Materials Ltd is moving warehousing and logistics to champions of sustainability, Howard Tenens Logistics - a bold step towards becoming a carbon-neutral company. Read more - members only

Watch Your Back! returns with a NEW scheme designed to keep everyone in horticulture sun protected. Read more - open to all

The Garden Centre Association (GCA) has teamed up with Planet Mark to help evolve its inspection process as part of its pledge to continue working on environmental challenges this year (2021). Read more - open to all

Discount retail group QD, which owns the QualityDiscounts.com and Cherry Lane Garden Centre brands, is going green with new 'Value Our Planet' initiatives to bolster its eco-credentials. Read more - members only

The Garden Press Event showed how the need to reduce peat use, reduce chemical use, reduce plastic use and switch to electric is driving real innovation within gardening. Read more - members only

Sustainability is no longer a “nice to have”, it’s a business imperative and a critical global issue says LOFA.  So it has teamed up with Planet Mark to help members achieve environmental goals. Read more - members only

The National Trust has announced plans to plant blossoming tree circles in towns and cities across England, Wales and Northern Ireland over next five years. Read more - members only

January trading is substantially below last year due to Covid and the weather. The Met Office warns of a greater than normal threat of disruptive winter hazards for all areas during most of February. Read more - members only

Unlocking the complexities of the peat debate by encouraging collaboration of the broad range of industry stakeholders to produce a roadmap the removal of peat from growing media.   Read more - members only

The met office has warned of snow tonight and on Saturday in Scotland and the North and later, in central England. The wintry risk continues into next week. Read more - open to all

The Sunday Telegraph reported that garden centres will be handed hefty fines for continuing to sell peat compost under new government plans for a crack down.

Following criticism of British growers by Monty Don, Peter Seabrook’s column in the Sun stands up for some of the most environmentally and sustainable nurseries in the world. Read more - members only

The Times reports that the owners of You Garden are considering a float for the company.  The newspaper speculates the business could be valued at £200m. Read more - members only

The Forestry Commission today urged the public to report sightings of oak processionary moth caterpillars.  They have spread from London to surrounding counties. Read more - open to all

Blue Diamond and The Soil Association aim to break down any perceived barriers to gardening in an organic and more nature friendly way  Read more - open to all

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and Coventry University are calling on the public to spot sweet chestnuts on their daily stroll as they launch a new citizen science project to help protect the at-risk tree for the future. Read more - open to all

With a Government announcement on peat use imminent, Westland’s Keith Nicholson calls for some reality in the peat debate and collaboration on a road map that avoids setting unachievable targets. Read more - open to all

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has committed to being 100% peat-free by 2025 as it experiments with farmed sphagnum moss. Read more - members only

Following Monty Don’s  article claiming that mowing grass is “about the most injurious thing you can do to wildlife”, The Lawn Association says, “yes you can have it both ways!” Read more - members only

Provender Nurseries are now certified ‘Plant Healthy’, one of the first group of ornamental suppliers to the horticultural industry to gain certification so far. Read more - open to all

The AIPH is holding an online Plant Health Conference on 24 March 2021, ‘Working Together for Better Plant Health’. It will be free to attend for registered participants.

The HTA complains of lack of consultation and confusion as Government introduces stricter measures to reduce the risk of importing Xylella fastidious into GB. Read more - members only

The pledge is in response to the global impact of plastic packaging usage and the potential environmental damage this packaging can cause as a result of incorrect use and careless disposal. Read more - open to all

BHETA is lobbying against last minute changes to draft Plastic Packaging Tax legislation that introduce consumer goods to the intended single use packaging. Read more - members only

BHETA has raised strong objections to last minute additions to the draft Plastic Packaging tax legislation. Specifically, the extension to include consumer goods as well as packaging. Read more - members only

Dejex Supplies, a wholesaler to commercial horticulture explores the arguments for and against peat and its alternatives. Read more - open to all

HTA launches Sustainability Roadmap to guide UK horticulture towards leading edge of sustainable business practice. Read more - open to all