Retail leader Justin King confirmed as one of the lead speakers at our 2027 Conference Former Sainsbury’s CEO Justin King CBE is going to be one of the main speakers at our annual conference in January 2027. The highly respected businessman will speak about leadership, transformation and customer-focused retail on the Monday of the event…
Making the most of your garden in June: colour & pollinators June is one of the most vibrant months in the garden, making it the perfect time to focus on creating colour while supporting pollinators like bees, butterflies and hoverflies. Start by planting nectar-rich flowers to attract beneficial insects. Food sources Popular choices include lavender,…
May BoT shows strong performance for furniture & BBQs Members had an ‘encouraging’ May according to the body’s Barometer of Trade (BoT) out today – with furniture & BBQs sales up significantly on the same month last year (June 15, 2026). With highly variable weather conditions moving from cooler periods into intense heat, the industry…
June jobs June is a busy and rewarding month in the garden, with longer days and, fingers crossed, warmer, but not too warm, temperatures encouraging rapid growth. Key tasks Staying on top of key tasks now will keep your garden looking its best throughout summer. Keep watering regularly, especially containers, hanging baskets, and newly planted…
Sir Jason Kenny a headline speaker at our 2027 GCA Conference Britain’s most successful Olympian of all time Sir Jason Kenny has been confirmed this month (June 2026) as a headline speaker at our annual conference in January 2027. The highly decorated cyclist will speak about performance, resilience and success on the Monday of the…
Why biosecurity is everyone’s responsibility Biosecurity is no longer a background consideration for British horticulture. It is central to protecting our gardens, landscapes and the wider environment. As one of the UK’s leading wholesale nurseries supplying garden centres nationwide, our Associate Member Wyevale Nurseries places biosecurity at the heart of its operations. Julia Giermaniuk, Plant…
We’ve confirmed the location and dates for our 2027 conference this month (May 2026). Our annual event, organised by Chairman, Ben Harrison, Operations Director for Haskins Garden Centres, alongside our CEO, Peter Burks, will be held in Stratford-upon-Avon from January 24-27, 2027. Fantastic praise Ben explains: “Following the success of our 2026 conference, which received…
Our e‑learning platform GROW releases milestone 100th course on trees Our award‑winning Garden Retail Online Workshops (GROW) e‑learning platform has today launched its 100th course – representing a key milestone in its growth (May 21, 2026). The new release is entitled ‘Basic Trees’ and is accessible to GCA and Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) members to…
April ‘resounding success’ for members with seeds & bulbs leading growth Our Barometer of Trade (BoT) out today shows April was a ‘resounding success’ for garden centre members – despite a slight year-on-year dip in sales (May 15, 2026). Standout performer The standout performer for the month was seeds & bulbs, which topped the category…
Summer regional award meetings dates & venues announced We’ve revealed the dates and venues for our summer regional award meetings when members find out who has come top in our area annual inspections. Garden centres are encouraged to attend their area event happening at four locations nationwide and to bring their teams along too. Explore…