GCA launches plans to celebrate 60th anniversary
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Peter Burks, GCA Chief Executive with the body's 60th anniversary logo
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The Garden Centre Association (GCA) has revealed it will be celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2026 and has unveiled a commemorative logo for members to use from September 2025. The milestone will be marked at the GCA’s Annual Conference in January 2026.
Chief Executive, Peter Burks, said: “We’re launching a special 2026 60th anniversary logo for members to use from now onwards and the logo can be downloaded from our website from September 8. Members will also be sent details by email.”
Founded in 1966, the GCA was established to advance garden centres, make plants available year-round, and ensure gardening became more accessible as a leisure pursuit. Several long-standing members have been involved for 40–60 years, including Stewarts Christchurch, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year.
The rise of garden centres in the UK came in the late 1950s and early 1960s, when forward-thinking nurserymen adopted the American idea that plants could be sold in containers throughout the year. The GCA was among the first to support this movement and introduced an inspection scheme to award ‘Approved Centre’ status—still carried out annually today.
Peter added: “We’re also calling for member centres to share their own stories and images from when they launched. Anyone wishing to be part of our 60th anniversary publicity is invited to get in touch before the end of September by emailing me at peter@gca.org.uk.”
The GCA now represents more than 200 centres nationwide, supporting members through shared knowledge, inspections, and awards. Tickets for the 2026 Annual Conference and anniversary celebration are available at https://gca.digitickets.co.uk/