Christmas displays that sparkle

Here are the regional winners of our annual Christmas display competition 2013.

Twelve garden centres have been named as having the best Christmas displays in their region. The two overall winners will be announced at our annual conference in January.

Our Chairman, Peter Burks said: “We continue to be amazed by how our members raise the standards of their Christmas displays, this year’s competition was fiercer than ever. Congratulations to all our winners.”

The results are as follows for the Destination Garden Centre (DGC) and Garden Centre (GC) categories: Bents (DGC) in Cheshire and All in One Garden Centre (GC) in Manchester came top in the North West. Ransoms (DGC), Jersey and Castle Gardens (GC), Dorset were the winners in the South Thames region.

Meanwhile in the Wales and West area, Endsleigh (DGC) in Devon and Raglan (GC) in Wales are in pole position with Van Hage Great Amwell (DGC) in Hertfordshire and Sunshine Garden Centre in London coming out top in the North Thames region.

In the North East, Armitage’s Pennine Garden Centre (DGC) and Armitage’s (GC) Birchencliffe Garden Centre both in West Yorkshire came first and in the Midlands the winners were Van Hage Peterborough (DGC) in Cambridgeshire and St Peters Garden Centre (GC) in Worcestershire.

Peter added: “I am currently carrying out the final judging (week commencing December 9, 2013), where one Destination Garden Centre and one Garden Centre will be crowned as overall winners.

“The garden centres are judged on the innovation, inspiration and excitement created from the way their Christmas products are displayed. The range of products available, accessibility, how easy it is for customers to find and select products and ‘wow factor’ are also taken into consideration.

“We will be announcing the overall winners and they will then receive their prizes at the GCA annual conference, which takes place at the Hilton Blackpool Hotel in Blackpool from January 26 until 29.”