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West Sussex Growers Association has written to Defra secretary of state George Eustice and other MPs to call for access to workers, garden centres to remain open and access to financial support. Source: Garden1

After the Government announced restaurants must close – cutting garden centre turnover by an average of 20% overnight – the first public defence of the garden industry is about to launch. Source: Garden1

New Leaf Plants’ Mollie Higginson has launched Bob, father of Bill, a character she thought up earlier in March to promote buying garden plants and products as people retreat into their gardens as they are forced to work from home. Source: Garden1

The RHS and HTA are to build a campaign to ensure garden centres are kept open. Source: Garden1

The RHS is to run a virtual Chelsea in May 2020. Source: Garden1

Dobbies Garden Centres has applied for planning permission for work at its Aberdeen centre. Source: Garden1

Retailers and suppliers are seeing a huge spike in sales of vegetable seeds and seed potatoes. Source: Garden1

The UK’s string of winter storms failed to stimulate online demand as online sales growth for the month limped in at -0.4% Year-on-Year (YoY). Source: Garden1

Source: Garden1

Grow your own sales have trebled but Mothering Sunday expectations are for half of the usual footfall, report garden centres. Source: Garden1

A Horticulture Week poll has found some nurseries and retailers say they expect to be fighting to stay in business as coronavirus spreads in the UK, orders are cancelled and potential customers are told to stay at home. Source: Garden1

The year to 30 December 2018 saw Wyevale sell the first tranche of its 145 centres after owner Terra Firma put the group on the market in May 2018. Source: Garden1

Hillier Garden Centre Marlow is seeing “significant investment” being made into improvement works, with changes made to the plant area, restaurant and shop. Source: Garden1

Garden centres are trying to find opportunity to maintain business ahead of key date Mothering Sunday on 22 March, despite coronavirus causing some customers to stay at home. Source: Garden1

As the coronavirus pandemic develops, Horticulture Week looks back on how the crisis took hold of the international garden trade. Source: Garden1

Following the Government update on 16 March 2020 and ongoing situation with COVID-19, all RHS shows, garden events and school visits will be cancelled with immediate effect until 30 June 2020. Source: Garden1

Outdoor storage products maker Keter has announced a sustainability strategy called ‘We Care’. Source: Garden1

Stockpiling of gardening supplies rather than toilet roll is being encouraged as people are being sent to work at home, with Porters Fuchsias’ Natalie Porter saying: “Now is the time to promote gardening as the ultimate isolation hobby.” Source: Garden1

Bird seed manufacturer Johnston & Jeff is spending £1m expanding its factory. Source: Garden1

Mail order gardening specialist YouGarden’s Peter McDermott said customers are “behaving normally” with no dramatic uplift of sales because of coronavirus. Source: Garden1