Education
Sixteen Colegrave Seabrook Foundation scholarships granted for 2025
Supporting the development of students studying horticulture, the Colegrave Seabrook Foundation granted 16 scholarships for 2025 season.
Environment
10% reduction pesticide usage stipulated in the National Action Plan
Setting out its direction for the sustainable future of pesticide use in the UK, the government has published the National Action Plan, promising a pesticide reduction target of 10% by 2030.
Business
Huw Richards and Gardena search for Britain’s best plot
In support of the National Allotment Society, Gardena has launched the Top of the Plots competition, open for entries in May.
Events
Gardening highlights: Hay Festival 2025
The Hay Festival has unveiled the full programme for its 38th spring edition, bringing together diverse voices from all worlds, including gardening, wildlife, food and nature.
Environment
WWF Prescription for Nature campaign
Approaching Earth Day in April, the World Wide Fund for Nature campaign focusses on the connection between nature and mental wellbeing, highlighting local heroes driving positive change.
Events
Fashion & Farming: Sewing the Seeds
Interesting event, uniting fashion and farming to explore what we farm and wear, reconnecting the farm-to-food-and-fabric cycle.
Education
Natural History on the curriculum
After decades of campaigning, the government has at long last announced the introduction of a GCSE in Natural History.
RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025
Houseplant ‘Foliage Banquet’ for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show
Using their ‘more is more’ approach, the plant and container garden designers Nikki and Holly Barsby are creating a houseplant ‘Foliage Banquet’ for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Trees & Shrubs
Croft Castle oak avenue restored with 200 new trees
Funded by Blue Diamond Garden Centres, over 200 oak trees have been planted at the National Trust’s Croft Castle reinstating an established oak avenue.
Marketing
Dobbies launch long-term brand platform
UK garden centre retailer, Dobbies launched new creative platform, ‘This Is Garden Living’, to help drive year-round footfall.
Business
February was a difficult month for garden centres, says GCA
February’s Garden Centre Association’s Barometer of Trade revealed an overall year-to-date growth variance in garden centres sales of 1.53%
RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025
Championing invertebrates: The Ugly Bug Ball Garden
Showcasing invertebrates, Sparsholt College and the Royal Entomological Society design the ‘Ugly Bug Ball’ garden for RHS Chelsea
Events
The Garden Museum’s annual Spring Plant Fair
Specialist plant nurseries and growers from around the country descend on London for a day of plant shopping, talks and workshops for city gardeners.
Business
Mixed February performance for garden centres
The latest Market Update by the HTA for February 2025 shows mixed performance for UK garden centres with sales down 1% compared to February 2024.
Events
Serge Hill Symposium: A Safe Green Space – Nature and Play
This year’s symposium at the Serge Hill Project will focus on the transformative relationship between nature, gardens, creativity, wellbeing and play.
Design
Industry launches sustainable design tool, elemental
Launching today, the free-to-use web-based app, elemental enables garden and landscape designers to assess and minimise environmental impacts, transforming sustainable design in the industry.
Regulation
Industry calls on government to pause Plant Health fees hike
The British Potato Trade Association, the Fresh Produce Consortium and the Horticultural Trades Association urge the government to review the ill-timed fee hikes.
Wildlife
Fewer slugs expected this spring, says the RHS
After a bumper year for slugs in 2024, the Royal Horticultural Society entomology team are anticipating far fewer slugs in gardens this spring.
