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Representatives from across the horticulture industry gathered last Friday at Skyloft, at the top of London’s Millbank Tower, for the Party for Perennial, the charity’s annual fundraising event. Source: Garden1

La Hacienda directors, John and Simon Goodwin and export manager Mike Darlington attended a private meeting at the Foreign Office with Rt Hon Lord Maude of Horsham, trade and investment minister at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in Westminster with their local MP, Geoffrey Clifton-Brown and Bob Collier, deputy director of the United Kingdom Trade & Investment (UKTI) on 7 January. . Source: Garden1

Wyevale Garden Centres has bought Woodcote Green Garden Centre, based in Wallington, Surrey. Source: Garden1

Thompson & Morgan has reportedly cracked the bitterness problem with fuchsia berries, creating a strain of the plant with berries sweet enough to eat. Source: Garden1

Wyevale Garden Centres has raised £91m through the sale and lease back of eight garden centres. Source: Garden1

The first day of the Westland Lawn Academy has completed with 50 garden centre staff attending the event held in Peterborough. Source: Garden1

EFSA has replied to criticism of the EU assessment of glyphosate that was overseen by the Authority last year. Source: Garden1

B&Q lead buyer for horticulture, Tim Clapp, is set to join Hillview Garden Centres chief executive officer Boyd Douglas-Davies and marketing expert Jane Lawler in a debate on how best to grow the garden industry audience at February’s Garden Retail Summit. Source: Garden1

BBC TV programme Trust Me, I’m a Doctor has teamed up with Professor Alasdair Lewis and his team at the University of York to measure the levels of these chemicals in homes, finding that indoor plants could play a role in reducing the levels of formaldehyde. Source: Garden1

A plan for a garden centre selling plants, horticultural products and healing crystals has won councillors’ approval in Wincanton, Somerset. Source: Garden1

Seed, bulb and GYO gift pack supplier G Plants say the interiors trend for pastels will come into its own via garden centre sales this Mother’s Day (6 March). Source: Garden1

Hillier Nurseries and Garden Centres, for the first time in more than 20 years and only the third or fourth time since its 70-year gold medal-winning run began, will be on a new site at Chelsea Flower Show. Source: Garden1

London garden centre Clifton Nurseries, which is owned by the Rothschilds, and was founded in 1851, is seeking investment. Source: Garden1

As Homebase owner Home Retail Group reveals Christmas trading figures, Australian bidder Wesfarmers says it would rebrand the DIY/garden centre chain as Bunnings after its Australasian DIY business. Source: Garden1

Squire’s Garden Centre in Twickenham is to host the “Feeding London” exhibition, from now until 15 February. Source: Garden1

Homebase has said it is in advanced talks to sell to Australian retailer Wesfarmers for £340m. Source: Garden1

Daffodils are up to five weeks ahead of 2015, which has led to some over supply. However cold weather forecast for the next few days by the Met Office including frosts and wintry showers could rebalance growth. Source: Garden1

The Gardening Scotland event, which takes place in the grounds of the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh from 3-5 June, has a new chairman ahead of the 2016 event. Source: Garden1

Newey Group chairman Alex Newey, Squires Garden Centre chairman Dennis Espley, Blue Diamond managing director Alan Roper and LOFA chairman Paul Bevington are set to debate the explosion in consolidation activity in the garden industry at next month’s Garden Retail Summit. Source: Garden1

The UK Horticulture exhibit will not be at Chelsea Flower Show this May but designer Penny Riley hopes the showcase for British produce will reappear in 2017. Source: Garden1