The Garden Centre Association has revealed that Dan Lawton from Moss & Moor has joined its Executive Committee as Area Co-Chair for the North, which includes Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Dan, General Manager at Moss & Moor, Ilkley is joining Chair of North, Justin Williams, Managing Director at Fron Goch Garden Centre, to head up the region for the organisation.

Justin explains: “It’s a pleasure to have Dan join as GCA Co-Chair for the North. Like many of us, he has grown up in the industry, which gives him the knowledge and understanding to connect to the membership in the North; to understand the challenges they face and where future opportunities lie.”

Dan’s horticultural journey started when he was aged just 14 and worked as a trolley boy at his nearest garden centre in Northumberland. After studying horticulture for three years at Kirkley Hall College, he developed a real passion for plants.

He later moved to Yorkshire to take the next step in his career, working in various roles with Klondyke before going on to become a Director at Langlands Garden Centres.

Dan says: “We’re very committed GCA members at Moss & Moor and I am delighted to have been asked to join the Executive Committee, to have the post of Area Co-Chair for the North and to work with Justin. I am looking forward to getting involved with communicating and connecting with all the members in our area.”

The GCA represents more than 200 garden centres nationwide.

Through sharing information and its inspection programme the GCA helps members to achieve high standards in customer service, plant quality and reliability.

GCA CEO, Peter Burks, adds: “Dan brings years of experience to his new role, as well as a love of all things green and a down-to-earth approach to running Moss & Moor. We’re delighted he has joined our Executive Committee and has taken on the very important responsibility of our Area Co-Chair for the North.

“Dan replaces Martin Cowell from Cowells Garden Centre who has been on the Executive Committee for many years and has been instrumental in the recent development of our organisation. We’re indebted to him for his support and dedication to his role. Thank you Martin. I am also very pleased that Dan volunteered for this position, as he neatly replaces Martin, geographically, in the North East.

“We’ve our 60th anniversary year coming up in 2026, which represents an important milestone in our history, and we’re currently working towards our special celebratory 2026 Annual Conference, so there are lots of exciting things in the pipeline that I know we’ll value Dan’s input on.”

Tickets for the GCA’s 2026 Annual Conference are now on sale via the members’ section on the body’s website or via https://gca.digitickets.co.uk/.

For further information, please go to www.gca.org.uk.