THE GARDEN Centre Association (GCA) has revealed that it will be celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2026 and has also unveiled a commemorative logo for members to use from now onwards (September 2025).
 
The GCA, which represents garden centres nationwide and launched in 1966, will mark its birthday at the industry body’s annual conference in January 2026. 
 
GCA Chief Executive, Peter Burks, 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 from September 8. Members will also be sent details by email.”
 
The GCA was 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.”
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.
“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.”

One of the first decisions the GCA 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 its inspection programme, the GCA helps members to achieve high standards in customer service, plant quality and reliability. 
Members with the highest standards now receive awards at its regional summer events and its Annual Conference in January each year.
The GCA represents more than 200 garden centres nationwide. 
  
Tickets for the GCA’s 2026 Annual Conference and 60th anniversary celebration are now on sale via the members’ section on the body’s website or via https://gca.digitickets.co.uk/.
 
Find out more about its beginnings on its website here www.gca.org.uk/about-gca/