2015 was an eventful year in the garden sector. Here is a round-up of some of the most important stories on Gardenforum throughout the year. This article is open to non-members. Read more

Bonnington Plastics offers to share with other manufacturers the tactics it used to beat the substitute sellers who were costing the company £50,000 a year. Read more

Wiseweather predicts a cooler spell at the end of next week in an otherwise mild month. Read more

The CPA reminds retailers they have one month to comply with the Sustainable Use Directive (SUD) regulations. To comply, staff should be certificated using a simple online training course. Read more

Introducing the Garden Futures Conference, new president, Adam Wigglesworth said “The entrepreneur spirit is as alive as ever. The HTA is giving change a great big bear hug.” Read more

Whether it is cooler and wetter or hot and dry, garden centres can prosper in the summer months and so it proved with the GCA statistics for July showing strong growth. Read more

The theme for this year’s HTA Garden Futures Conference is Embracing Change. Headline speakers from outside gardening include Will Butler-Adams and Simon Jack. Insiders are led by the new MD of Homebase. Read more

The David Colegrave Foundation (DCF) Scholarship Season opens next month, giving young horticulturists five months to apply for a scholarship. Read more

Three garden centres have joined the Garden Centre Association, swelling the association membership to 180. Read more

Suppliers, such as Plants2Gardens who backed QVC’s Garden Re-Leaf Day 2015 activities, have helped raise in excess of £50,000 for this year's Greenfingers campaign. Read more

The GCA has announced the location of the body's grand golden jubilee year conference to be held January 24 until 27, 2016. Read more

Small businesses, designers, students, inventors and start-ups are invited to bid for the second annual grant from the GIMA seed corn fund with the offer of help from last year’s winner. Read more

Any grower can nominate themselves for the International Grower of the Year Awards as they get a new look along with rebranding for the AIPH. Read more

Colin Wetherley Mein, new president of GIMA, hopes to add services such as a buying group and barometer of trade for GIMA members. He also wants to continue building links with the rest of the industry. Read more

The GCA figures for February shows a good start for sales of seeds, bulbs and plants but the association cautions, “We have no idea what the year ahead is going to hold for us but it looks as if gardeners… are eager to get back into their gardens.” Read more

Latest figures from the GCA Barometer of trade show how revenue from gifts and Christmas lines doubled in October. Outdoor plant sales were also good. Read more

A company can be held responsible for an employee’s behaviour on social media and travel from home to the first meeting should be paid for. GIMA members hear about many recent changes in legislation. Read more

The HTA is looking for three new Council members to be the regional voice of the membership. “It is a great opportunity to see what is going on and influence it,” says President, Adam Wigglesworth. Read more

Figures updated this month in Company Results show big sales increases for Boningale, Stewarts Plastics and Weber-Stephen Products (UK). Blue Diamond UK and Haskins also grew. Profits recovered at The Scotts Company UK. Read more

Periods of high pressure during September will mean below average rainfall and above average sunshine. Read more

B&Q is to test the lifespan of different formulations of compost in response to Which? Gardening’s campaign to date bags. Read more

Watch how a consumer’s eyes track your displays; learn about the next bakery products from New York or get a beginner’s guide to exporting. Just some of the business improvement ideas to be presented in the Glee Seminar Theatres. Read more

IBC, an established buying group for builders merchants, is looking to repeat the formula for garden centres with the IBC Garden Group. Read more

Wiseweather believes July will be drier and warmer than average with a second hot spell possible in week three. Read more

Believing that good buyers have not been given the recognition they deserve, Glee is asking you to nominate people or teams that might qualify as the country’s best buyers for awards being introduced at the show. Read more

The new GIMA Buying Group, mooted at their recent conference, is to go ahead with the aim of supplying a one-stop shop for members. Read more

Companies that have joined GIMA this year are a mix of established names and newcomers to the retail garden sector in the UK. Read more

After an unsettled start, the Wiseweather suggests there will be long settled periods during May with high pressure, much like April. However, that means frosts are possible, even late in the month. Read more

Wiseweather predicts April will be sunnier and drier than normal, with warm days and colder nights. However the SE may have more cloud at times. Read more

Although 2 banks have recently backed garden centre developments it seems that a number of deals are falling through because buyers cannot get bank funding because of their inexperienced advisers. Read more