Business
sarahraven.com acquired by founder, Sarah Raven
The gardening and lifestyle retail brand has been acquired by its original founder and creative director, Sarah Raven.
Business
Thames Water brings in hosepipe ban
The water firm has announced the introduction of a hosepipe ban across Swindon, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Wiltshire.
Charity
National Trust to cut workforce by 550 jobs
Increased labour costs from raised employer national insurance and minimum wage have resulted in the National Trust cutting at least 550 jobs in efforts to save £26m.
Trees & Shrubs
Voting open for the 2025 Tree of the Year competition
The 2025 Woodland Trust Tree of the Year competition looks to celebrate the value of trees in our cultural history.
Design
Urban greening: Wisteria bus station
The ‘bus pergola’ in Heerlen, the Netherlands, is a fine example of urban greening, integral to the revitalised Maankwartier city centre.
Careers
New bursary launched to support horticultural talent
The Horticultural Trades Association launches new £1,500 bursary for the winner of the Young Grower Under 35 award – part of the HTA Grower of the Year Awards 2025.
Gardens
Garden drought dominates RHS enquiries
The Royal Horticultural Society has seen a threefold increase in drought-related enquiries from its members this year, with many reporting damage to evergreens.
Book Releases
Wildlife
Results 2025 Big Farmland Bird Count
Providing a snapshot of bird life, the annual GWCT Big Farmland Bird Count allows farmers and landowners across the UK to measure the impact of their conservation efforts.
Economy
UK economy contracts again in May
Despite government growth push, the UK economy contracted by 0.1% in May, following a drop of 0.3% in April.
HTA
HTA attends Business with Europe Summer Reception
The Horticultural Trades Association has supported the Business with Europe summer reception event, held at the Onion Garden in London.
Products
Hampton Conservatories expands into the greenhouse market
Unveiled at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival, Hampton launch new range of FSC hardwood timber greenhouses.
Design
Dutch Landscapes Team wins Prize for Creation at the 2025 International Garden Festival
Will Dutch and team at Dutch Landscapes has been awarded the Prize for Creation at the 2025 International Garden Festival at the Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire.
Environment
First hosepipe ban in Yorkshire
Effective on Friday, Yorkshire will be the first UK county to implement water usage restrictions due to the prolonged period of dry weather.
Environment
Severn Trent urges customers to help save water
Following the dramatic drop in rainfall during record hot weather, Severn Trent Water urges Staffordshire customers to save water as reservoir level fall.
Awards
Winners 2025 Henchman Topiary Awards
The Henchman Topiary Awards recognise exceptional skill, creativity, and passion in the art of shaping and maintaining remarkable living sculptures.
Business
There may be beautiful bulb fields, but there are rose fields too…
Home to millions of roses, the Wharton Garden Roses fields offer not only an incredible visual spectacle but also an insight into the extensive work involved in producing roses for the market.
Regulation
New round of capital grants for sustainable farming practices & environmental improvement
Defra’s £150m in capital funds cover a wide range of on-farm projects, such as tree planting, flood prevention and water filtration to help farmer profitability and the environment.
Plants
Gertrude Jekyll® Named World’s Favourite Rose 2025
The World Federation of Rose Societies has named Rosa Gertrude Jekyll® (Ausbord) as the 2025 World’s Favourite Rose.
Awards
Honest Communications named Specialist PR Consultancy of the Year
Public Relations Agency, Honest Communications has been named Specialist PR Consultancy of the Year at the CIPR Excellence Awards 2025 for its expertise and experience in the home and garden sector.
Plants
Plant theft on the rise
As the news continues to reverberate regarding the brazen theft of the significant bronze statues at Iford Manor last month, Allianz UK reports of a worrying epidemic of plant theft.
