Finding people willing to work for nothing isn’t easy. So it’s astonishing that five important people from the gardening industry signed up as unpaid Ambassadors to Greenfingers Charity at the recent Garden Press Day. Read more - open to all

Chris Pateman became chairman of the Horticultural Trades Association earlier this year. Part of his role is to be the new face of the HTA, representing the interests of members to Government and the rest of the garden sector. Read more - members only

The Klondyke Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Keren Feeney as its new Director of Catering and Food Sales. Keren will step into her new role from 1^st March 2018.

Mike Lind, who is the Managing Director of Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre in Somerset, took on the role as the GCA's Chairman elect for 2018/19 during its annual conference, which took place in Stratford-upon-Avon. Read more - open to all

Figures released from Bents Garden & Home’s latest colleague survey show a high degree of satisfaction among the staff. Read more - members only

The team behind Glee – the UK’s leading annual trade exhibition for the garden retail industry – has recently been expanded with the recruitment of Daniel McAlpin. Read more - open to all

Provender Nurseries are pleased to welcome the newest members of their team.  Two new members of staff have been taken on at Provender Nurseries adding to a record of great customer service and knowledge. Read more - open to all

Woodlodge turnover has grown from £11.5m to over £20m in the 4 years since Michael Wooldridge took control of the business. Plus, last January, the company won the coveted cup for GCA Supplier of the Year.  Gardenforum paid him a visit. Read more - members only

A tireless woman has completed 53 runs in one year to raise funds for the Greenfingers Charity, who have opened 53 magical gardens in the grounds of children’s hospices since the charity was established in 1999. Read more - open to all

Hillier has recruited Charles Carr to oversee all areas of Hillier Nurseries including technical developments in growing, crop protection and implementing new systems. Read more - open to all

We are pleased to announce that Martin Shields has joined the business as Manufacturing Manager from the start of January. Martin has extensive experience in plastics processing and his depth of experience will strengthen the Mundon manufacturing operation. Read more - open to all

Panarama Agencies Ltd strengthen their sales team with the appointment of Alan Wood.  Read more - open to all

Glendale Horticulture has appointed Neil Dudley as manager for its Lathom Nursery, in Lancashire with effect from 02 January 2018. Read more - open to all

The New Year's Honours list 2018 awarded OBE’s to garden centre owner, Colin Squire, and to the founder and owner of Premier Decorations, John Athwal. Read more - open to all

Former England rugby player Matt Dawson MBE will share his team building and personal commitment expertise with delegates at Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) 52^nd annual conference in Warwickshire in January (January 21 until 24, 2018). Read more - open to all

An announcement is expected shortly that Sheila Hill has left The Scotts Company (UK). Also imminent is an announcement about the future of Roundup. Read more - members only

Specialist garden centre planning experts Malcolm Scott Consultants has appointed environmental impact assessment (EIA) coordinator and ecologist Dr Holly Smith to the business to oversee all environmental issues on behalf of its clientbase. Read more - open to all

Highfield Garden World in Gloucestershire has expanded its planteria team with two experienced new recruits, bringing the team total to 14.  Read more - open to all

Zest 4 Leisure, a leading trade supplier of quality timber garden products, is increasing its workforce with the creation of numerous jobs at its warehouse and distribution centre in Saltney, near Chester. Read more - open to all

Tony Hewitt, founder and executive chairman of Parkwood Holdings which owns Glendale Horticulture, passed away on New Year's Eve after being admitted to hospital. He was 68.

Leading Indoor Pot supplier Ivyline are pleased to announce their Midlands Sales agent, David Welling, as their Agent of the Year for 2017! Read more - open to all

The UK’s largest non-food wholesaler, Stax Trade Centres have recently announced the hiring of Anthony Whitehead to the position DIY Sales Executive at their Bristol Branch. Read more - open to all

Paul Dye, operations manager at Grovewell Garden Centre since 2014, has died at the age of 55 after a battle with cancer. Read more - open to all

Radio and TV comedian Jo Caulfield will be compering the Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) conference awards’ dinner this month (January, 2018). Read more - open to all

Ten-year-old Aidan Parmar saw the realisation of his glove design when he received a surprise presentation of the finished article in front of his classmates and parents at Brocks Hill Primary School’s morning assembly in Leicestershire. Read more - open to all

Squire’s Garden Centres have announced the winners of their annual garden centre awards. With 15 centres across the South East competition was tough, but Squire’s in Long Ditton came out top and won the double – best Garden Centre and best Café Bar of the year! Read more - open to all

James Hollingworth has joined The Tildenet Group as Product Development Manager working across all their brands. Read more - open to all

It is with great sadness to inform you that Mark Taylor passed away on Boxing Day following his diagnosis with advanced prostate cancer in 2012. Read more - open to all

Evergreen Horticulture is delighted to welcome Stephen Simmons (formerly Regional Sales Manager, The Scott’s Co. Ltd.), who joins us on 3 January 2018 as UK National Sales Manager. Read more - open to all

2017 started with a flourish but lost momentum and settled to be an OK year. Suppliers worried about Brexit, the living wage, higher costs and Wyevale. Retailers and growers worried about Xylella. Takeover activity reached new peaks among suppliers, but no major garden centres changed hands. The industry said goodbye to some old friends. Read our review – (open to non-subscribers). Read more - open to all