Increased profits show how garden companies prospered during Covid

Results from 30 companies including Klondyke, Tong, Newey, James Coles & Sons, STV, Westland, Woodlodge, EP Barrus and Hartman show how garden companies prospered during the lockdowns.   Read more - open to all

The sale of bagged peat to be banned by 2024

All sales of peat to amateur gardeners in England will be banned by 2024, the Government has announced today (Saturday 27th August). Read more - members only

Furniture sales surged in July

Garden centres took almost as much money in July from garden furniture, driven by the weather and stock clearances, as they did in their restaurants. Read more - members only

Perrywood and Old Railway Line are Garden Centres of the Year

The Garden Centre Association has revealed the best and the most improved Garden Centres in Wales & West England and North Thames regions.  Read more - members only

Perrywood Garden Centre, Sudbury

Two new Garden Centre members for Choice Marketing

Two new members brings the total number of centres within Choice Marketing to 45 and a group retail turnover in excess of £160m. Read more - members only

Pacific Nurseries plants

First winners from the GCA Inspections revealed

The Garden Centre Association, representing 200 garden centres, has revealed the first regional Garden Centres of the Year from their annual inspections. Read more - members only

Ruxley Manor

New CEO and management for the HTA

The HTA is recruiting a new management team to include a new CEO and 2 new directors to strengthen its capabilities. Read more - members only

Jennifer Pheasey, to become director of public affairs

New ornamental grower awards announced

New Ornamental Grower of the Year Awards will recognise and celebrate best practices in sustainable ornamental production.  Winners will get automatic entry to IGOTY. Read more - members only

Jenny Douthwaite of Primeur elected GIMA President

GIMA has announced the election of Jenny Douthwaite of Primeur as GIMA President, supported by Kate Ebbens of Capi Europe as Vice President. Read more - members only

Jenny Douthwaite of Primeur is GIMA President

Labour shadow minister visits Whartons

The HTA invited opposition Minister Daniel Zeichner to Whartons Garden Roses in Norfolk to see their business and highlight several challenges facing the industry Read more - members only

 Daniel Zeichner MP (centre) with Paul Wharton

Inflation in garden products is around 10%   

Around 40 GIMA members tuned in to hear a forecast for UK gardening sales from Euromonitor International (EI). The uplift from Covid will remain but there’s also inflation. Read more - members only

A further 5 garden centres join Sproutl

Tates of Sussex, Fakenham and Hollybush are three of 5 garden centres to join the existing partners of Sproutl, the curated online garden marketplace. Read more - members only

Dobbies to speak at BHETA

BHETA is to hold another retailer networking webinar, this time with Dobbies Garden Centres.  The event will take place on Tuesday 5th April at 11 am.  The speakers will be Graeme Jenkins, CEO and Debbie Harding, CFO Read more - open to all

Some good news from revised OWA guidelines

Good news says BHETA, many (but not all) garden and DIY products could be excluded from The Offensive Weapons Act (OWA), scheduled to come into force this Spring. Read more - members only

Shears by Kent & Stowe

Webinar to answer questions on a peat ban

The HTA and NFU have organised two special online events next Friday 4th March focusing on the government’s proposed ban on peat. Read more - open to all

Next HTA President to draw on his nursery experience

Alan Down is set to assume the HTA President’s chain from Boyd Douglas-Davies on September 9th as the current holder’s extended reign finally comes to a close. Read more - members only

Alan Down, soon to become HTA President

GCA Garden Centres of the Year - Scotland & N Ireland

Klondyke and Creative Gardens dominate the GCA awards following the 2022 first round of judging in Scotland and Northern Ireland.  They are now judged again to find the UK winners. Read more - members only

Klondyke Garden Wise team, Garden Centre of the Year

Boningale becomes newest YPHA Key Partner

Boningale Limited is the latest horticultural business to sign up as a Key Partner to the Young People in Horticulture Association. Read more - members only

YPHA members at a recent study day at RHS Wisley

SS2024 Insights+Trends report launch

Join us on 1st September for a virtual trip into the future, with Scarlet Opus, leading insight and trends agency.  Read more - open to all

Garden Centre sales plummet in June

Garden Centre sales plummet in June.  It was gardening that suffered most.  Plant sales fell -22% and garden sundry sales fell -26%.  Read more - members only

What will our industry look like in 2030?

The HTA Conference 2022, in September, is an important opportunity for business leaders to step back from their day to day challenges and peer over the horizon.  “What should we do today …?” Read more - members only

Online gardening sales hit by cost of living concerns

The total online market was down -16.7% in the first 6 months, with categories such as gardening and homeware plummeting over -30%.  Cost of living concerns are changing consumer priorities. Read more - members only

Category performance year to date

Perennial develops ‘Support for Families’ programme

Perennial, the charity for people working in horticulture, has developed its ‘Support for Families’ programme with new resources to help families access a wide range of support available to them. Read more - open to all

Garden centres warned of looming business rates headache

Specialists at Malcolm Scott Consultants have warned garden centres face major headaches as a result of the government’s fundamental  technical  review of the business rates system. Read more - members only

BHETA networking webinar on new B&Q Marketplace

BHETA is to hold a networking webinar on the new B&Q Marketplace initiative, which is setting out to onboard some 100,000 new products within six months. Read more - members only

Landscape Association celebrates 50 years of excellence

Ambitious plans, special events, spotlighting members’ achievements and memorable celebrations throughout the British Association of Landscape Industries’ 50th anniversary year. Read more - open to all

Increased concern from businesses who rely on imports

Businesses are unable to prepare for the introduction of Border Control Points (BCPs) happening on 1 July because Government guidance is scarce and untimely. Read more - members only

Gardening sales are down on Feb 21 but up on 2020

Are garden centre sales getting back to normal?  Not yet, catering sales in February were down 25% on pre-pandemic levels according to latest figures from the GCA, but plant sales are well ahead. Read more - members only

Blue Diamond display in February

HTA names first Sustainability Champions

The first HTA Sustainability Reference Sites have been named as Hillier Nurseries, The Barton Grange Group, The Gardens Group and New Wood Trees.  Read more - members only

George Hillier

New Guide to Potentially Harmful Plants

Working with specialists, the HTA has launched a new Guide to Potentially Harmful Plants. For the first time it covers the risk to pets. Read more - members only

To see earlier stories - Look in the News Archive