The Gardens Group managing director, who has been on the Garden Centre Association’s executive committee for 10 years, was revealed as chairman elect for 2020/2021, succeeding Mike Lind.

Mr Burks said: “I am greatly looking forward to my chairmanship and am lucky that the GCA has been in excellent hands with current chairman, Mike Lind. With the association in such good shape, I can focus much of my time on driving forward with new initiatives and plan to visit many garden centres, attend meetings and work closely with the team to develop GROW, an e-learning tool that is very close to my heart, to make sure our members can get the most out of this valuable system.”

He continued: “As well as sharing membership success stories, such as those of the recently-awarded Fron Goch, Perrywood, and The Old Railway Line, who also brought some exciting ideas and standards into the GCA, I’m keen to demonstrate the role that the industry can play in protecting wildlife and the environment, as well as bringing people together through plants and gardening to promote better health and wellbeing.

“We are in an enviable position, in that so many trends and needs of the modern world cross our path, so we need to work together to make the most of these opportunities.”

Mr Burks will take on the role from current chairman, Mike Lind, in January 2020. In his new role he will work closely with the GCA executive and full board of elected directors.

The GCA represents nearly 200 garden centres nationwide and works to support constructive relationships with other entities connected with retail and wholesale in the sector and promotes best practice across the industry. 

GCA chief executive Iain Wylie said: “I am thrilled to announce Mike as the new chairman elect and congratulate him on being elected during our AGM meeting by our members.

“I am really looking forward to working with him when he takes on the role and our first task will be organising our next conference for January, 2020, which we will ensure will be bigger and better than ever.”

Read the first of two reports from the recent GCA conference in the February 8 issue of DIY Week.