Garden Centre Association’s 60th Anniversary Plans & Special Logo
September 9, 2025 | 3 min to read
In anticipation of the 2026 celebration, the organization will unveil a special 60th anniversary logo for members starting September 2025, with the main event at the annual conference in January 2026. Chief Executive Peter emphasized the importance of sharing members' stories and images from the organization's inception and highlighted the ongoing commitment to high standards through the ‘Approved Centre’ status and inspection program. Tickets for the conference are now available in the members' area.
We will be celebrating our 60th anniversary in 2026 and have a special commemorative logo for members to use from now onwards (September 2025).
We will mark our birthday at our annual conference in January 2026.
Our Chief Executive, Peter says: “We’re launching a special 2026 60th anniversary logo for members to use from now onwards and the logo can be downloaded for use from our website members’ area. Members will also be sent details by email.”
More Accessible
We were founded by those wishing to advance garden centres, make plants available year-round and ensure gardening became more accessible, as a leisure and lifestyle pursuit, to all.
Peter adds: “We’ve several members who have been involved with our organisation for 40-60 years – including some of the nation’s oldest known garden centres like Stewarts Christchurch, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year.”
Forward-Thinking
Garden centres started to appear when the idea that plants could be sold in containers all the year-round – a US development – was pioneered in the UK by a handful of forward-thinking nurserymen in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
You can find out more about our humble beginnings here.
Member Centres’ Stories
“We’re also calling for member centres to share their own stories and images from when they launched and to find out which other businesses were super early pioneers of the garden centre concept.
“Anyone interested in being part of our 60th anniversary social media and press releases is invited to get in touch with me before the end of September with their story by emailing me peter@gca.org.uk.”
‘Approved Centre’ Status
One of the first decisions our founders made, at inception, was to set up an inspection scheme for members, with an ‘Approved Centre’ status. Those inspections still take place annually today.
Through sharing information and our inspection programme, we help members to achieve high standards in customer service, plant quality and reliability.
Highest Standards
Members with the highest standards now receive awards at our regional summer events and our Annual Conference in January each year.
Get Your Conference Tickets
Tickets for our 2026 Annual Conference and 60th anniversary celebration are now on sale via our members’ section on our website or here.