Sponsored Swim to save the Garden Museum
In 3 weeks, Director Christopher Woodward steps into the Atlantic to save The Garden Museum. A donor is offering to match every donation £1 for £1... so lets make his eyes water! UNLOCKED Read more
Sponsored Swim to save the Garden Museum
In 3 weeks, Director Christopher Woodward steps into the Atlantic to save The Garden Museum. A donor is offering to match every donation £1 for £1... so lets make his eyes water! UNLOCKED Read more
Early opening of garden centres saved the industry
So said James Barnes as he announced HTA plans to double grower membership. New industry growth plans are to be developed with Government. Read more
Scholarship Season open for horticulture students
Five horticulture scholarships are available from the David Colegrave Foundation (DCF). Students can get up to £2,500 to put towards their studies. Read more
Which plant varieties will be hot for 2021?
Which plant varieties will be hot for 2021?... the industry has voted at the Ball Colegrave Trial Grounds at West Adderbury. Read more
GCA members discuss challenges of re-opening restaurants and cafés
Members of the Garden Centre Association (GCA) recently took part in a virtual forum to discuss the challenges they faced with the re-opening of restaurants and cafés. Read more
GCA/GIMA panel debates to improve supply chain communication
The GCA and GIMA have started a series of online panel debates to improve communication and honesty through the retail gardening supply chain. Read more
Masks or No masks for garden centre staff?
From 24th July shoppers must wear masks in garden centres. The staff don't have to. What mask policy will garden centres follow for staff? Will they police customers? Read more
June sales up 44% for garden centres
Garden centre sales hit record highs in June despite closed restaurants and other retailers reopening from 15th June. Garden furniture sales gained +81% according to the GCA. Read more
Will garden centres go online?
Overall online retail sales grew 34% in May. Garden e-tailers were swamped. Garden centres developed an online offer during the lock down, but will they continue? Read more
Duchess visits Fakenham GC during Children’s Hospice Week
The Duchess of Cambridge bought plants at Fakenham Garden Centre last week for a new garden at a Norfolk children's hospice. Plans are also underway for an imaginative space created by Greenfingers. Read more
Garden centres are cautious about restaurant reopening
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’s next for garden centres as we exit lockdown?
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
Sales surge as garden centres reopen
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
No opening yet for Scottish Garden Centres
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 28th May. Read more
Covid-19 summary - Comments from reopening day
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
Begonia ‘Sweet Spice Bounty’ royalties donated for horticultural scholarships
Plant sales of Begonia ‘Sweet SpiceTM Bounty’ have been donated to the David Colegrave Foundation (DCF) to support students studying horticulture in the UK. Read more
Lockdown attracts 3m new gardeners
New research conducted by the HTA found that almost three million gardeners sprung up this year as a result of lockdown. Read more
The latest on import/export regulations after Brexit
A GIMA virtual seminar has updated members on import/export regulations after Brexit. The HTA has also given an update on phytosanitary standards. Read more
BHETA lobbies for future of CE mark
BHETA calls for details of the UKCA safety mark due to replace the CE mark in January, as importers must brief overseas manufacturers in time for January delivery. Read more
GC sales up 16% in July despite deflated catering
Sales in July were excellent for garden centres despite a 50%+ fall in catering sales. The latest GCA figures show sales of garden sundries continue to surge. Read more
Has garden centre catering changed for ever?
Has garden centre catering changed for ever as a flurry of garden centres reopen restaurants in time to participate in ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ in August? Read more
RHS careers videos to help recruitment
The RHS has created a new careers resource - rhs.org.uk/careersinhorticulture - with over 60 individual films showcasing some 45 different horticultural careers.
Read moreGovernment refuses compensation for UK Growers
The Government has rejected calls by The HTA and NFU to pay financial compensation to UK Growers following the Covid-19 shutdown. Read more
Gardening sales grew despite the lockdown
Growth in the overall gardening sector since the start of lockdown was 3.5% according to the second quarterly economic report from BHETA. Read more
Where’s the help for growers?
The HTA has criticised today’s mini budget with comments such as a missed opportunity and unlikely to have much impact amongst horticulture businesses. Read more
Praise for staff and suppliers as sales up 50% in June
There’s praise for staff and suppliers as some garden centres are 50% up in June and in a strong cash position. “No-one put their prices up without good reason. No-one got awkward…” Read more
Restaurants allowed to re-open in England with 1m+ rule
Garden centre catering in England could be financially viable from July 4th with the change in social distancing rules, but details of the conditions are needed quickly. Read more
Unprecedented demand is taking a toll on staff
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
HTA intensifies call for grower rescue package
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
Garden Centres in N. Ireland can open from Monday
First Minister, Arlene Foster, has announced that garden centres in Northern Ireland will be permitted to open again from Monday 18th May. Read more