An internal memo about the new management structure has already been circulated internally, as revealed in GTN Xtra a week ago, but the outgoing seven had been awaiting final redundancy meetings.

Burks, current chairman of the Garden Centre Association, is the first to announce his leaving date.

He told GTN Xtra this week he would be investigating opportunities inside and outside the garden retail industry.” I would like to stay involved with it, but we’ll have to see what’s around,” he said.

He confirmed he will continue to be involved with the management of GCA activities after he hands over the chain of office to chairman elect Will Armitage in January. The constitution allows immediate past chairmen to remain on the GCA committee for a further two years.