Mary Queen of Shops is to visit several garden centres and deliver her views on the state of the sector at this autumn's HTA conference. The presentation will be followed by what is likely to be a lively debate. See more... Read more - members only

Perennial is the charity that helps people who have worked in horticulture, gardening and garden centres. Last year 937 people were helped to overcome personal crises. See more... Read more - members only

The GCA Barometer of Trade shows that garden centre sales increased by 8% in June. As a result, sales from January to June have caught up with those of 2009. See more... Read more - members only

A YouGov Sixth Sense report on DIY and garden centres says that major DIY stores are key players in garden retailing, but the specialist garden centres are underperforming. See more... Read more - members only

LOFA has used a third successful Solex to introduce two initiatives. Made Aware leads members through a process to reduce the social and environmental impact of their products. VirtualSOLEX is a database of products from the show that can be referenced throughout the year. See more... Read more - members only

Dan Thurlow, Glee Show Director, is leaving the show and moving to another post within EMAP. He is to become Sponsorship Director for the events business. See more… Read more - members only

There was real enthusiasm from leading garden centres and from exhibitors on the first day of the first ever National Plant Show, which continues today. See more... Read more - members only

According to the GCA, garden centre sales at the end of May remain 2% behind the first five months of 2009. Last month failed to regain sales lost to the cold spring earlier in the year. See more... Read more - members only

Outraged by the latest settlement figure imposed by the Agricultural Wages Board, David Gwyther says, "The AWB is demonstrating yet again that it is out of touch, out of date and, hopefully, out of time". See more... Read more - members only

Faced by falling postal revenues, the Post Office is diversifying. Its latest venture is to offer specialist insurance for florists. See more... Read more - members only

Manufacturers have only two weeks to submit their entries for the GIMAs. All entrants gain valuable exposure but the winners this year will gain added national coverage. Tickets for the presentation evening are already heading for a sell out. See more... Read more - members only

British products in both the garden and pet product sectors have proved to be a big attraction in the North American market according to The Federation of Garden and Leisure Manufacturers, which has organised two British exhibiting groups in Las Vegas and Orlando in recent months. See more... Read more - members only

Two reports into the UK garden market - one from the HTA, the other from Verdict - portray a very different picture of the garden market in 2009. See more... Read more - members only

PATS, the regional pet and aquatic trade shows, have announced dates for 2011 having increased visitor numbers by 23% this year. See more... Read more - members only

Confidence is returning to the job market according to Mike Fuller of Horticruitment. This has been their busiest year ever, especially on the retail side. See more... Read more - members only

Stock up with charcoal, Wiseweather says that August will be warmer drier and sunnier than average, particularly for the south. But the bank holiday looks less certain. See more...
Read more - members only

The government has honoured the promise made in March by Lord Taylor of Holbeach. Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman has today announced that the Agricultural Wages Board (AWB) will be abolished. See more... Read more - members only

A new trade show has been launched for the landscape industry. Landscape is scheduled for the 13th and 14th April 2011 at Olympia. See more... Read more - members only

The industry has called for more consultation as the first hosepipe ban starts tomorrow, affecting 2.9m homes. Filling ponds is allowed but watering vegetables with a hose is not. See more… Read more - members only

The Edible Garden Show (TEGS), which was postponed for a year having failed to raise enough exhibitor interest in 2010, has been rescheduled for 18 to 20 Mar 2011. See more... Read more - members only

Wiseweather forecasts July to be warmer and sunnier than normal, with the south and west seeing the driest weather. See more... Read more - members only

Marshalls, the landscape materials specialist, has introduced the Garden Moodboard app for Apple’s new iPad. It is designed to help people design their dream garden. See more... Read more - members only

A deal between the RHS and the HTA will lead to garden centres and nurseries selling RHS membership packs, making a healthy profit. See more... Read more - members only

LOFA has announced three initiatives to be unveiled at Solex in July. They are Virtual Solex, “Made Aware” and the inclusion of non-members in 2011. See more... Read more - members only

Wiseweather says June should be drier and warmer than average. But storms could affect rainfall totals, especially in the south. See more... Read more - members only

The new Secretary of State for DEFRA, Caroline Spelman, has agreed to meet the HTA. The coalition government has published plans that include measures to ban illegal timber, a national tree planting campaign and reform of the water industry. See more... Read more - members only

Despite a challenging target provided by a record breaking April in 2009, garden centres reporting to the GCA Barometer of Trade increased sales by around 5% in April 2010. However, this was not enough to make up for sales lost in the extended winter earlier in the year. See more... Read more - members only

On behalf of nurseries, the HTA is asking garden centres to increase their stock of Danish trolleys. Shortages are causing delays in the supply chain and adding unnecessary costs. See more... Read more - members only

Wiseweather forecasts that cold nights and frosts could continue through the month as May is expected to remain cooler, drier and sunnier than average. See more... Read more - members only

With 5 months to go, the space booked at Glee 2010 is already close to the size of last year’s show. In the core garden care section there are 49 new exhibitors plus 27 lapsed exhibitors that are returning. See more... Read more - members only