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Woodtorpe Hall garden centre group buys fifth centre

Charles Stubbs' Woodthorpe Hall garden centre group has bought a fifth garden centre after buying the Towneley Garden Centre at Burnley out of receivership.

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Changes at the Emirates and Nematodes

03 September 2010| by Reece Watson

Firstly id like to take this opportunity to apoligise for my absence the past few months. This summer has seen...

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Fuggles

01 September 2010| by Jo Thompson

'Mmmm it's hop-picking weather'. I'm hearing this a lot lately: I think it's the Kentish version of "Mmmm seasons of...

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What Kit?

Find and compare landscape & amenity equipment.

Test report - Loaders

Our reviewers decide whether these Avant Tecno and JCB loaders are toys or workhorses. Sally Drury reports.

Bayer trials pesticides to assess residues

Tosca variety was high-yielding with no sign of mildew infection for the second year running - image: Claire Shaddick

Using the "Minimizer" project Bayer hopes to show its fungicides leave little residue, Brian Lovelidge reports.

Plant marketer focuses on UK suppliers

Could Landgard's call for contract growers offer a valuable opportunity? Matthew Appleby investigates.

Fours Oaks Preview 2010 - Bigger and better than ever

Records continue to be broken by the annual Four Oaks Trade Show in Cheshire.

Market report - Glasshouse light and heat

Rhymney Valley Nursery where supplier Stubbins grows tomatoes from two of its glasshouse sites - image: Stubbins

How are growers coping with soaring fuel costs as the harsh winter hits home? Maureen Keepin investigates.

Interview - Four Oaks director Pat Coutts

Four Oaks Trade Show director Pat Coutts - image: HW

As the Four Oaks Trade Show celebrates its 40th year, we talk to its much-loved show director Pat Coutts.

EKFS declares best orchards across Kent

Stephen Twyman and his EKFS prize-winning Braeburn orchard - image: Brian Lovelidge

The judges had to chose from a high standard of entries at this year's competition, explains Brian Lovelidge.

IoG Saltex 2010 Preview - Show offers glimpse into future

IoG Saltex will be full of ideas to help you stretch or bust your budgets - image: HW

IoG Saltex will showcase new products and debate key trends.

Interview - Steve Ashworth, managing director, Wyevale Nurseries

Steve Ashworth of Wyevale Nurseries Image: HW

Steve Ashworth has a challenge on his hands.

A career in horticulture just got hip with youth

The RHS, which earlier this summer called for gardening to be high on the education agenda, has found several captive...

Brogdale's National Fruit Collection focuses on commercial growers

National Fruit Collection. Image: Sophie Barnett

After a battle for control of the national fruit collection, the farm is undergoing a transformation, says Sophie Barnett.

EC1 New Deal for Communities - before and after transformations

Radnor Gardens design by Breeze Landscape Architects. Radnor Street concept design by Atkins. Detailed design by the London Borough of Islington - image: Jane Sebire

The EC1 New Deal for Communities programme in south Islington, London, invested in the redesign of parks, streets and social...

Analysis: Parks management in an age of austerity

Tools that could help to protect parks' budgets are already being used by some services, Jack Sidders finds.

Interview - Alexis Datta, head gardener, Sissinghurst Castle Gardens

Alexis Datta, head gardener, Sissinghurst Castle Gardens - image: HW

With more than 160,000 visitors a year, averaging around 10,000 for each day it opens, the National Trust's Sissinghurst Castle...

Cultural cooperation - a gardens partnership between Kent and Jerusalem, Israel

Hever Castle Gardens head gardener Neil Miller at work - image: Hever Castle

Collaboration between two very different gardens is bringing rewards to both, Gavin McEwan reports.

Fruit growing kit gets a workout

Burden Bros Agri demonstrated three machines and a trailor working on vines - image: John Deere

Increasingly popular demonstrations of heavy machinery brought this fruit show to life, says Roger Chesher.

Garden centre game plan

Dobbies chief executive James Barnes says upskilling staff in horticulture is a major part of future - image: HW

How are Britain's two biggest garden centre chains growing the market? Matthew Appleby investigates.

Interview - Ian Waddell, Unite National Officer for rural, agriculture and allied workers

As far as industrial relations are concerned, there could be testing times ahead in the horticulture industry.

Analysis: Recession threat to gardeners' pay rates

Saturation of the gardening market can harm those who are trained and experienced - image: HW

Self-employed gardener Michelle Cain investigates what impact an influx of unqualified novices could have.

Test report - Stump grinders

Can Vermeer's upgraded SC252 deal with a tough old cherry stump? Sally Drury finds out.

Interview - Dr Mark Spencer, curator, Natural History Museum Department of Botany

Dr Mark Spencer, curator, Natural History Museum Department of Botany - image: HW

You could call Dr Mark Spencer one of the country's best-known botanists, but according to the self-effacing 42-year-old, there is...

How arboriculturists can beat the cutbacks

Arboriculturists have seen commercial work decline and expect public sector contracts to go the same way - image: HW

How should arboriculturists cope with the challenging business climate? Gavin McEwan reports.

Crunch time and the best way to handle it

Leslie Kossoff offers advice on how to handle the cuts that may be ahead - image: Istockphoto

Now is the time to consider what your organisation should do ahead of major Government spending cuts, Leslie Kossoff advises.

NIAB Set Onion Demonstration - Breeding remains strong in sets

Hylander by Bejo: the late brownset variety is mildew resistant but it has not been put through its paces in recent mildew-free years - image: HW

Sets bridge the gap between stored and new season crop, reducing the need for imports, says Sue Jupe.

Hedgecutters

Sally's summary of product innovations and additions that extend the range of machinery on the market.

Survival of the fittest - amenity growers strive to survive the budget cuts

Refocussing on experts and the retail sector are useful strategies as amenity growers attempt to dodge the axe of government cuts - image: HW

Government cuts and little private development mean tough times for amenity growers, says Gavin McEwan.

A season to be jolly?

Traditional field-grown Christmas trees are beyond fashion - image: FlickR/Steve Winton

Can last year's buoyant Christmas tree sales continue to defy the recession this year? Gavin McEwan reports on the state...

How one man and his blog went global - Pat Fitzgerald

A year of social networking has generated genuine results for Fitzgerald Nurseries, reports Jack Sidders.

Interview - Mark Chester, chairman, Consulting Arborists Society

Mark Chester, chairman, Consulting Arborists Society - image: Mark Chester

Mark Chester had big shoes to fill when David Lloyd-Jones stepped down as founding chairman of the Consulting Arborists Society...

NIAB Salads Open Day - Cos joins iceberg as salad mainstay

New Syngenta varieties include a compact green oak leaf LS 2993 and triple red oak leaf LS 7994 - image: HW

New range means there is a salad product to suit virtually every grower's wishes, says Ian Gillott.

Interview - David Kerley, owner, DW & PG Kerley

David Kerley has made a business out of defying staggering odds. Plant breeding is an unreliable art, so the idea...

Analysis - Putting parks research into practice

As more studies confirm the value of parks, is it time for them to focus on advocacy? Jack Sidders asks.

Open-air education - learning in parks

Park-based lessons as local school children work on "cross-curricular" projects and can take their produce home - image: HW

A project in a Southend park shows how community growing in public spaces can work. Gavin McEwan reports.

East Malling strawberry trials focus on 60-day yield

Strawberry growers are discovering significant differences in yield potential, says Brian Lovelidge.

London 2012 Olympic Park - Rising in the east

The softer side of the £9.3bn project is designed to provide the area with an ecologically secure legacy - image: HW

At London's Olympic Park, a vast riverine landscape is being created from scratch. Gavin McEwan reports on progress to date.

Interview - Dan Thurlow, director, Glee

Glee could be more than 10 per cent bigger this year, says departing event director Dan Thurlow, who has witnessed...

Innovations to be unveiled at Fruit Focus

Companies will introduce various products from tractors to packaging at the event, says Rachel Sixsmith.

England turns to wine production

English wine on the vine - image: English Wine Producers

Grape growing is on the increase in the UK as English wine finds its place in the market, says Jack...

Kit tests - Tractors

Tested this week - TYM T433 CAB; NEW HOLLAND T5060

Crime affecting horticultural businesses

News and resources relating to the rise in thefts from growers, garden centres and other horticultural firms

The Save Our Science campaign calls on the Government to match-fund growers' HDC levy contributions as a first step towards securing a better future for horticultural research and the industry it serves.