While Dobbies are reopening their restaurants as soon as permitted, others are adopting a more cautious approach.  Some are not opening this month. Read more

What changes will be the next to test garden centres as we exit the Covid-19 lockdown?  A change to Sunday trading rules and restricted reopening of restaurants? Read more

With Scottish garden centres not opening till after May 28, the HTA has intensified its call for a Dutch style grant to support British growers. Read more

GIMA reports that the UK government has stepped in to guarantee the trade credit insurance market, giving suppliers confidence to continue to trade. Read more

Comments in the media give a flavour of the first day back.  ‘They are doing a clean sweep’, ‘We have written off 30% of annual turnover’, ‘Lots of problem troubleshooting done today’, ‘Opened to a queue of keen gardeners’. Read more

The Northern Ireland administration has said garden centres will be in the first group of retailers to reopen, but it has not indicated when this will be. Read more

The HTA cautions garden centres to take a thoughtful and considered approach to reopening and not to open until they are ready. Read more

Winning a prestigious industry honour like a PetQuip Award could be just the tonic needed by companies following the current coronavirus pandemic. Read more

Tonight’s announcement on Coronavirus from the Prime Minister made no mention of English Garden Centres reopening. We may have to await details released to Parliament 3.30pm tomorrow if there is to be a go-ahead. Read more

First Minister, Mark Drakefield, has announced that Welsh garden centres can re-open on Monday provided they can ensure the two metre social distancing rule. Will English garden centres follow? Read more

Garden centres should be prepared to open next week; Barclays back two leading independent garden centres; Juggling WFH, home schooling, child-care, basic husband training… Read more

The HTA has asked Government to resolve the click & Collect ‘Catch 22’ where garden centres are allowed to provide the service, but people are not allowed to travel to collect non-essential items. Read more

A group of MP’s have written to George Eustice calling for compensation for growers and for garden centres to re-open.  At PMQ’s the Foreign Secretary acknowledged this is an important area. Read more

The HTA has released the results of a grower survey. They show that unless something is done within two weeks, between a third and a half of our seasonal growing sector could be lost. Read more

On Saturday 25th April, Homebase says it will be trialling the opening of 20 stores, with strict controls in place to ensure shopping is safe for everyone. Read more

Garden centre catering in England could be financially viable from July 4^th with the change in social distancing rules, but details of the conditions are needed quickly. Read more

Bedding growers are being forced to take steps to manage unprecedented order levels as a result of soaring garden centre sales.  Neil Grant says Ferndale sales are now in front of May last year.  Read more

Garden centres are reopening to big increases in average spend from pent up demand.  Stock shortages are already showing.  But there are concerns about the autumn. Read more

Despite optimism over the weekend for an announcement that Scottish garden centres would be allowed to reopen, they will remain closed until at least the 28^th May. Read more

First Minister, Arlene Foster, has announced that garden centres in Northern Ireland will be permitted to open again from Monday 18^th May. Read more

Lord Gardiner says, “It is vital all garden centres implement strict social distancing and I urge businesses to use the Government’s extensive guidance and the HTA’s Safe Trading Guidance.” Read more

Gardenforum surveys some strategies used by garden centre groups as they reopen their doors to customers and maintain safe trading during the Covid-19 pandemic. Read more

English garden centres will be allowed to open from Wednesday says Government. Read more

Welsh Garden Centres reopen today, under Coronavirus guidelines. English Garden centres might hear today, when the background paper to the PM’s broadcast is released, if they can re-open. Read more

The BBC has quoted a senior government source saying garden centres in England will be allowed to reopen on Wednesday, if they comply with social distancing. Read more

In the hope of an early re-opening of garden centres, The HTA has eased its safety guidance, no longer advising a ban on non-garden related goods. However, cafes should remain closed. Read more

spoga+gafa trade fair in Cologne will be staged from 6 to 8 September. However, if it looks as if visitors are staying away due to Coronavirus, it will reassess the situation. Read more

The HTA has published a Safe Trading Guidance to be signed by all retail members, which limits the number of customers in store, defines the products that can be sold and outlines procedures to be followed. Read more

With the time approaching that garden centres are likely to be permitted, with restrictions, to open, some garden centres are asking if they can afford to open. Read more

The Gardens Group is putting excess stock to good use in support of key workers and everyone doing their bit to stay home throughout the lockdown, donating unsold plants to carers, hospital staff and teachers. Read more