The Garden Centre Association has revealed ts new area chairmen who will represent member garden centres in GCA regions. 

Under the chairmanship of Will Armitage the regions have been tasked to help improve opportunities for members and assist them to get more from the industry organisation.

Will explained: “We’re very pleased to have our new area chairmen for 2015 now in place. Each one will take over the representation of the member garden centres in their area.

“I hope to see more activity from each region in the coming year and stronger regional groups.”

In the South Thames region Jolyon Martin from Chessington Garden Centre has taken over the role of chairman from Tim Mason from Hillier Nurseries and Garden Centres.

Peter Self from Whitehall Garden Centre follows Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre’s Managing Director, Mike Lind, as the chairman for the Wales and the West region. Mike has become a directly elected member of the GCA Executive Committee.

Will Blake from St Peters Garden Centre has succeeded Philippa McKean for the Midlands area.  

The new North West chairman will be Keith Laird from Hayes Garden World who has replaced Alyson Haywood, the former General Manager of Moreton Park Garden Centre.

Yvonne Ritchie from Brechin Castle Garden Centre has taken over as the Scottish and Northern Irish chairman from Caulders Garden Centre Managing Director, Colin Barrie.

James Ducker continues as the chairman for North East and the position of North Thames chairman is currently open. Anyone who would like to volunteer should email the GCA CEO Iain Wylie iain@gca.org.uk.

Will added: “I would like to thank all our outgoing chairmen for their hard work and commitment and wish all their replacements every success in their new positions.”

The GCA represents nearly 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.

For further information, please call 0118 930 8918. Alternatively, please visit www.gca.org.uk, log on to www.facebook.com/pages/GardenCentreAssociation or follow the organisation on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GC_Association.