The pressure for a sustainable UK offers a great opportunity to the garden industry. But what is it and who will put the argument that gardening is a great way to live a healthier and more sustainable life? Gardenforum attended the debate at Garden Organics. See more... Read more - members only

Gloomy figures released today by the BRC contrast strongly with the generally buoyant sales experienced by garden centres, with some increasing sales by 25% and more in March, despite Easter and Mother’s Day falling into April. See more... Read more - members only

Last week’s Budget gives some hope to garden centres that are frustrated by the planners. The Chancellor promised changes to legislation so that the default answer to development should be “yes”. See more... Read more - members only

Joe Hashman has won the right to sue Orchard Park Garden Centre in Gillingham, Dorset for discrimination. The case raises matters of general concern to garden centres. See more... Read more - members only

The Prince of Wales urges the nation to take up the cause of growing their own fruit and vegetables in an exclusive feature for Gardeners’ World magazine. See more… Read more - members only

Moving the May Bank Holiday to October would not be good for the garden industry, according to the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA). The move has recently been proposed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Read more - members only

Garden centres, said Christine Walkden, do a good job, BUT... they intimidate beginners with jargon and the incomprehensible language of staff who are trained in the theory but have never sown a seed themselves. See more... Read more - members only

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has just announced its top ten pest-related enquiries received by its Advisory Service. Read more - members only

Here are the highlights of stories that appeared on the Gardenforum Noticeboard in 2010. If there are any you missed, they are all still available. See more... (Open to All) Read more - open to all

The Government is consulting the industry over a range of targets to accelerate the elimination of peat in UK horticulture. The plan has received a cautious welcome from the HTA. There will be a series of meetings in the spring. See more… Read more - members only

Environment Minister announces a national tree planting campaign and a White Paper for the New Year. He says the garden industry has a key role to play in the Coalition’s promotion of The Big Society. See more… Read more - members only

Overall shop price inflation increased to 2.2% in October from 1.9% in September. Food inflation increased to 4.4% in October from 4.0% in September. Non-food inflation increased to 1.1% from 0.7% in September. See more... Read more - members only

There is to be a new forum to resolve the simmering rivalry between garden centres and their suppliers. Representatives from both sides of the industry are to meet on the eve of the GCA conference to sort out their differences – on the rugby pitch. See more... Read more - members only

According to a report by MTW Research, the share of the garden products and equipment market taken by garden centres is continually being eroded by DIY, the high street and the Internet. As this continues, garden centres are migrating their offer and are becoming day out attractions. See more… Read more - members only

Retailers dominate the latest results on Gardenforum including Dobbies, Blue Diamond UK, The Garden and Leisure Group and The Garden Centre Group, which we have already reported on. Also released are the latest from The Scotts Company (UK). See 'more' for a summary of the latest additions to Company Results... (This article is open to all readers)... Read more - open to all

Now that the figures are in for April, it should be asked if gardening sales were as good as they should have been with such fine weather, Easter, Mother’s Day and an additional Bank Holiday. See more... Read more - members only

The ‘greenest government ever’ and the movement towards more sustainable living present a commercial opportunity for the garden retail industry. But will garden centres leave it to the sheds and the supermarkets? See more... Read more - members only

It is mostly garden centres who have updated results in Gardenforum’s Company Results. They include Woodcote Green Nurseries, which joins Scotsdale Nursery and Garden Centre, and Park Garden Centre as +£10m retailers. Online garden centre, Crocus increased sales sharply. See more... (This article is open to all readers) Read more - open to all

Government proposals mean that there would be no bank holidays in May 2012. The first one would be cancelled and the second has already been postponed. See more... Read more - members only

Garden centres are reporting a strong start to 2011. Figures from the GCA Barometer of Trade for January confirm this, with 50 of the 54 surveyed experiencing increased sales this January. See more... Read more - members only

Alan Titchmarsh has signed for a new prime time Gardening Show – on ITV. See more... Read more - members only

Bents in Cheshire are the best destination garden centre in the UK for the 3rd year running after rigorous inspection by the GCA. Cowells of Newcastle were judged to be the best smaller garden centre. Solus was voted the best supplier. See more... Read more - members only

According to a national newspaper, hosepipe bans are possible next summer as low rainfall and burst pipes deplete reservoirs. See more... Read more - members only

Professor Stephen Blackmore, Regius Keeper, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is made CBE, while Bill Simpson formerly principle of Pershore College becomes MBE in the New Year Honours. See more... Read more - members only

With the threat of more snow interrupting last minute Christmas shopping, it appears that sales have so far proved resilient. But suppliers fear that garden centres will be cautious about re-stocking in the New Year. See more... Read more - members only

Latest results to be published on Gardenforum include suppliers Gardman, Decco, Europlants, Richard Sankey & Son and Smart Solar; plus the retailers, Coolings Nurseries, Castle Gardens Sherborne, Capital Gardens and Golden Acres. There was a sharp increase in profit for Danning and Symons. A number of garden suppliers are still making losses including Desch Plantpak, Deroma, Fiskars Brands UK, Forest Garden Group and Rowlinson Garden Products. See more... (This article is open to all readers)... Read more - open to all

The Dorset conservation success of the previously-threatened otter took an interesting turn on Monday, October 18, when an otter calmly wandered into the coffee shop at Golden Acres garden centre at West Parley! Read more - members only

Falkland in Scotland has retained its title of Champion of Champions in the RHS 2010 Britain in Bloom Awards. The awards ceremony, attended by over 450 community and gardening champions, was held on Wednesday at the Centennial Centre in Birmingham, hosted by BBC Gardeners’ World and Edible Garden presenter, Alys Fowler. See more... Read more - members only

Pop-up rain barrel/water butt scoops triple honours in the Glee New Product Awards. For a list of winners see More... Read more - members only

What will the garden of the future look like? According to a former Chair of the Society of Garden Designers, the idea of a garden without plants is a distinct possibility. See more... Read more - members only