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. 

As part of a panel discussion on the Channel 4 jobs report, The Range's Chris Dawson called for the Government to subsidise academies to train people of all ages ready for a job in retail. 

The Garden Centre Association (GCA) barometer of trade results showed an increase of 3% in the number of catering customers for member garden centres, while catering spend was up 5.5% and overall turnover increased by 6%. 

A pair Town & Country's wellintgon boots will make a special appearance in a new film starring Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson. 

Supplier High'n'Dry will advertise its Hedgehog Gutter Brush at some of the country's highest profile sporting events this weekend. 

The DIY retailer's latest Spring/Summer marketing campaign launches on TV and online next Monday with a series of vignettes aiming to improve the sense of personal achievement associated with home improvements. 

Homebase reports tough start to 2012, as sales for the eight weeks to February 25, 2012 drop to £195m. 

The new 50,000 sq ft Garden World is Dobbies' second in the Kent area following the opening of a 48,000sq ft centre in Ashford last Spring.