Business
Blue Diamond to acquire Barton Grange Garden Centre
The garden centre retail group is currently in discussion regarding the potential acquisition of Barton Grange Garden Centre and associated Garden Centre Plants nursery.
Business
British Garden Centres to exhibit at RHS Hampton and Wentworth
The garden centre group has announced that it will be exhibiting for the first time at RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival and the inaugural RHS Flower Show Wentworth Woodhouse.
Business
UK and EU horticulture and floriculture outline support for SPS negotiation
Horticultural Trades Association and Union Fleurs to attend joint meetings of Domestic Advisory Groups (DAG) and Civil Society Forums (CSF) to ensure the needs of the horticulture and floriculture sectors are addressed in SPS negotiations.
Business
Glee 2025: An update
With 360 exhibitors confirmed to date, the trade show announces growth in terms of visitor registrations, new and existing exhibitors.
Business
Standout spring sales for UK garden centres
Latest data from the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) Market Update for May 2025 revealed continued strong performance for gardener centres with consumer opting to spend on their gardens.
Business
August GIMA Buyer Connect: Wickes
GIMA announced that the home improvement retailer, Wickes will be joining their 2025 Buyer Connect programme.
Awards
Frank P Matthews wins HTA New Plants Award
At the 2025 HTA National Plant Show, the tree nursery won the HTA New Plants Award and was also awarded the Visitor Vote.
Events
Detail personified: The Artisan Plant Market at Landgoed De Wiersse
Inspired by the late Bingerden’s Nursery Days and the Great Dixter plant fairs, the Artisan Plant Market at De Wiersse Estate in the Netherlands, has become a notable diary entry for plant lovers.
Charity
Dobbies’ fundraising walk raises £4k for Alzheimer’s Research UK
Staff from Dobbies Central Support Office completed a 25-mile fundraising raising £4,150 for national charity partner, Alzheimer’s Research UK.
Marketing
Flower Council of Holland rebrands to become Plants & Flowers Foundation Holland
Representing growers and traders, the renamed, Plants & Flowers Foundation Holland promotes the Dutch horticulture sector to attract attention to flowers and plants from European consumers.
Business
WCG Worcestershire Employer & Stakeholder Conference
Tailored to the needs of businesses across Worcestershire, the conference brings together industry leaders, educators and policymakers to tackle workforce challenges and access to skilled talent.
People
Dobbies appoints two new Directors
Dobbies Garden Centre announces the appointment of George Hutchinson as Retail Director and Richard Herbert as Restaurant Director.
Awards
Rachel Bailey wins Best Show Garden at BBC Gardeners’ World Live
Scottish garden designer, Rachel Bailey, won Best Show Garden and a Platinum award at the 2025 BBC Gardeners’ World Live.
Charity
National Garden Scheme & Horatio’s Garden celebrate 10 years of partnership
Dame Mary Berry, President Emeritus of the National Garden Scheme and guests celebrate 10 years of support and partnership between the National Garden Scheme and Horatio’s Garden.
Charity
Raising funds for Greenfingers through Challenge for Change
Newly launched, the Challenge for Change initiative, invites individuals, groups, and businesses across the UK to take on personal challenges in aid of a charity of their choice.
Awards
Richard Jackson awarded an MBE in King’s Birthday Honours
The Founder President of Greenfingers Charity, Richard Jackson has been awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours for his outstanding charitable work.
Plants
Dahlia Gardinetta® Velvet Crush named Best New Plant at BBC Gardeners’ World Live
Grown by Ball Horticulture and Allensmore Nurseriers, Dahlia Gardinetta® Velvet Crush wins the Peter Seabrook Award for Best New Plant at BBC Gardeners’ World Live.
Media
RHS Garden Hyde Hall to host BBC Radio 4 Gardeners’ Question Time Summer Garden Party 2025
BBC Radio 4’s annual Gardeners’ Question Time Summer Garden Party will be hosted at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Essex for 2025.
Gardens
New National Centre of Music Gardens awarded £2.85m by Julia Rausing Trust
The Royal High School Preservation Trust is continuing its fundraising efforts with a £2.85m award from The Julia Rausing Trust towards the East Gardens, designed by Tom Stuart Smith.
Careers
HTA invites applications for Non-Executive Board roles
The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) is inviting applications for Non-Executive Directors to join the Board and help shape the future of the UK’s £38 billion environmental horticulture sector.
