The Garden Centre Group-owned business in York has been granted planning permission to significantly expand the garden centre, bring brand new nursery facilities back to the site and develop a 200-seat restaurant. 

The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has announced lavender as its chosen Plant of the Month for April. 

The UK's largest tile specialist has reported its trading update for the 26 week period ending 31 March 2012, with total revenues expected to have fallen 2.5% to around £86.9m, down 4.5% on a like-for-like basis. 

Former B&Q marketing director Stephen Robertson has confirmed 2012 will be his fifth and final year at the helm of the British Retail Consortium. 

Following a disastrous start to the year, when up to 90% more DIY and hardware retailers reported sales declines than those reporting an increase, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) said the balance has now stabilised to zero for the first two weeks of March. 

Reports in the press suggest at least four major firms are in talks to buy the high street chain, including value retailer Wilkinson, two unknown trade buyers and a private equity company. 

The decorative garden timber manufacturer was hand picked by TV's David Domoney to supply products for a range of projects and design showcases at the show. 

After months of speculation, the UK's largest garden centre operator today confirms it has been bought by leading private equity firm Terra Firma. 

As part of the Garden Re-Leaf Day celebrations last week, Monkton Elm Garden and Pet Centre in Somerset hosted a charity quiz, with a grandmother of five winning the random prize draw. 

Today sees the launch of the annual Grow your Own campaign, with this year's theme centred around growing for taste. 

The Sevenoaks-based garden centre welcomed the spring season with a buzz last week by raising £1,303.50 for Greenfingers as part of its Garden Re-Leaf Day activities. 

According to the Local Data Company, the GB shop vacancy rate rose to 14.6% in February, its highest in more than three years. 

The home, leisure and garden retailer will be launching its spring/summer TV campaign this weekend on ITV, with a mixture of 20 second brand adverts and 10 second product adverts making it the company's biggest TV campaign to date. 

B&Q sales in the UK and Ireland were down 0.9% (-1.8% LFL) at £3.8bn in 2011/12, Kingfisher announced on March 22. Retail profit rose 10.9% at £238m, and TradePoint grew to 800,000 registered customers. 

A report by the Office for National Statistics showed the overall value of sales had increased by 3.2% since February 2011 for retail overall, but that household goods sales decreased by 1.3% over the same period. 

Far from having closed down as reported recently, Jones Wholesale of Northampton is thriving - and is planning a significant development. 

Screwfix is scheduled to open its first dedicated DIY store on Saturday (March 24) at Shepton Mallet in Somerset. Named DIY Express, the 5,000sq ft store is located at the Haskins Retail Centre. 

The outdoor heating supplier recently challenged White Shores over alleged design right and trade mark infringements, resulting in La Hacienda winning damages and payment of costs. 

The British Retail Consortium has spoken out about the 11p increase in the national minimum wage for adults, calling it a "wise move" - but added that freezing the youth rate would make minimal difference to the retail sector at large. 

The tile adhesives and grouts manufacturer also saw a significant increase in sales of the company's levellers range, with figures showing a 38% uptake compared with 2010.