Richard Jackson, challenges Britain to get ready, steady, grow!

Richard Jackson, the QVC gardening guru, who also sells his own Flower Power product range, has created the Couch to Five a Day Challenge to encourage more people to grow their own. Read more - open to all

Richard Jackson

Garden centres should plan ahead as importers face perfect storm

Just when garden centres expect a buoyant spring from locked down gardeners, suppliers warn of shortages as imports are hampered by a perfect storm. Read more - members only

Garden furniture prices will rise

Growers expect plant shortages this spring

Growers say garden centres are right to fear plant shortages this spring and explain what buyers should do to get the plants they want. Read more - members only

Production at New Leaf Plants

GCA announces virtual regional meetings

Members of the Garden Centre Association (GCA) will still be able to get together for their regional meetings in a virtual capacity this year (2021). Read more - open to all

Iain Wylie

Click and Collect OK in Scotland

The HTA confirms that garden centres in Scotland can continue operation of click and collect, and seeks a date for a review their closed status.

Read more - open to all

Final call for scholarship applications

2020 was a challenging year for everyone, so 2021 is the perfect time to invest in personal development and look at developing skills for the future. Read more - open to all

What are the prospects for Spring 2021?

2020 turned out better for garden centres than many feared. What about Spring 2021 with lockdown #3 and supply problems through the ports? Read more - members only

Haskins at Snowhill

Gardenex launches new initiative following Brexit

Following the agreement reached by the UK and the EU, Gardenex and PetQuip have launched an initiative to help UK companies navigate their way around the new rules in 2021. Read more - open to all

Where are garden centres open in the UK UPDATED

Following the latest strengthening of Coronavirus restrictions garden centres remain open, with limitations, everywhere but in Wales and Northern Ireland.  The DIY stores are open across the UK. Read more - open to all

Garden centres in Wales to close from Christmas - indefinitely

Unless the HTA is successful in appealing the Covid-19 classification for Welsh garden centres they look set to close indefinitely from end of trading on Christmas Eve. Read more - open to all

HTA update on inspection regime for imports

The HTA explains Defra’s most recent guidance documents that clarify the proposed inspection regime for importing plants after 1 January and what they mean for the industry. Read more - members only

Houseplant sales surge in October

The GCA Barometer of Trade shows that houseplant, Christmas and gift sales surged in October, as did gardening indicating customers still want to garden. Read more - members only

Cacti display at Van Hage Garden Centre

Social media outcry over queues at Garden centres

While many welcome garden centres remaining open in November there has been outcry on social media, which has been picked up by the local and national press. Read more - members only

Queues at Bents published in the Manchester Evening News

Preparing for Brexit – exporting and importing plants, trees, and bulbs

The AIPH, FloraCulture International and World Horti Center are working together to organise two webinars preparing the global ornamental horticultural industry for Brexit. Read more - open to all

Garden Centres in Scotland are essential retailers

The level 4 lockdown restrictions to be introduced on Friday in parts of Scotland will force non-essential retail to close. Garden and plant centres, however, will be allowed to remain open. Read more - members only

Winter image from Dobbies

Risk to Scottish horticulture is growing

The risk to Scottish horticulture is growing as garden centres remain closed.  With Mother’s Day approaching, HTA calls for Scottish government to take action soon. Read more - open to all

Why can’t garden centres in NI buy plants & seeds from GB?

Why can’t Northern Ireland garden centres get deliveries of many plants and seeds from the rest of the United Kingdom following Brexit? Read more - open to all

Plants at Inver Garden Centre

GC sales fail to recover spring losses

Garden centre sales failed to recover the 8 lost spring weeks with catering revenues and plant sales hit worst according to the latest GCA Barometer of Trade. Read more - members only

Despite monthly increases, plant sales never recovered early losses

Annual GC sales were down 10% says the HTA

The HTA is first out with statistics for 2020.  The Market update shows the impact of Covid-19.  Overall sales fell 10% but there was strong growth in Gardening. Read more - members only

Customers stay at home

There’s little sign of the casual browser as customer numbers dry up in Lockdown #3. Garden centres say January will be quieter than normal but confidence remains for a buoyant spring. Read more - members only

Spring displays at Stewarts,  Ready for shoppers

Begin a green career at an RHS Garden

With 2020 seeing a gardening boom and many forced to consider their career options, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is giving 40 green-fingered applicants the chance to train at one of the charity’s five gardens from 2021. Read more - open to all

English GC’s permitted to open during 3rd lockdown

After the PM announced a third Coronavirus lockdown in England, Government guidance confirms garden centres, suppliers of building products and off-licences can remain open. Read more - members only

Coronavirus closes Scottish, Welsh and NI garden centres from Boxing Day

The Scottish Government has today announced that homeware stores and garden centres will close in all the mainland from Boxing Day.  Garden centres in Wales and Northern Ireland will also be closed. Read more - open to all

Can NI Garden centres keep trading post Christmas? 

The HTA seeks clarity on opening of Northern Ireland garden centres following unclear minister’s statement on new lockdown starting on Boxing Day. Read more - open to all

GB growers lose out as EU Exit impacts NI marketplace 

Significant new rules and inspections on plants imported into the EU will leave British growers at a major competitive disadvantage when trading with customers in Northern Ireland. Read more - members only

Calibrachoa Superbells® 'Double Cream' a 2021 introduction by Kernock

LOFA warns that container issues at UK ports are escalating

LOFA warns that increased congestion at ports, especially Felixstowe, could impact the supplies of garden related products after Christmas. Read more - members only

3 year extension for Glyphosate

It has been reported that the expiry date for Glyphosate will be extended until at least 15 December 2025 in Great Britain following Brexit. Read more - members only

Government changes rules on selling Christmas trees

The Government changes Covid regulations to allow farm sales of Christmas trees.  Rumoured shortages of trees following the Danish mink cull have been denied as sales surge. Read more - members only

Beyond Transition: the steps UK exporters should take now!

With the end of the Brexit Transition period looming, Gardenex will be hosting a special webinar to hear all the the steps that exporters need to take in preparation for 1 January 2021 and beyond. Read more - open to all

Garden Centres reopen in Wales

The 17 day Welsh firebreak has come to an end and been replaced by new regulations that allow garden centres to reopen. Read more - open to all

To see earlier stories - Look in the News Archive