South Thames results out

We have unveiled the winners for our South Thames region during a presentation this evening (Wednesday, July 23, 2014) at Chessington Garden Centre.

Squires Garden Centre – Hersham took home the title of Best Garden Centre and Haskins Roundstone Garden Centre was presented with the award for Best Destination Garden Centre.

The awards included Best Customer Service, which went to Thompsons, Isle of Wight, and the Best Environment and Community award was scooped by Thompsons, Canterbury.

Here are our North Thames winners

Our winners for the North Thames region were presented with their awards at a presentation this evening (Tuesday, July 22, 2014) at Van Hage, Great Amwell.

Podington Garden Centre scooped the title of Best Garden Centre and Burston Rose & Garden Centre took home the award for Best Destination Garden Centre.

The awards included Best Customer Service, which went to Burston Rose & Garden Centre, and the Best Environment and Community award was scooped by Poplars Nursery Garden Centre.

Our Midlands regional winners are announced

We have revealed the winners in our Midlands region at a presentation this evening (Monday, July 21, 2014) at Klondyke’s Byrkley Park Garden Centre in Burton Upon Trent.

Fairways Garden Centre – Ashbourne was named Best Garden Centre and Webbs of Wychbold scooped Best Destination Garden Centre.

The awards included Best Customer Service, which went to Planters Garden Centre – Tamworth, and the Best Environment and Community award was picked up by Planters Garden Centre – Bretby.

Wales & West regional winners unveiled

Our winners in the Wales and West region were revealed at a presentation this evening (Thursday, July 17, 2014) at Hillier Garden Centre, Bath.

The Old Railway Line Garden Centre in Wales was named Best Garden Centre (GC) and Trelawney@Wadebridge Garden Centre in Cornwall scooped Best Destination Garden Centre (DGC).

We had a wonderful, lively awards’ evening and I would like to congratulate all our members who took home coveted GCA awards. They are a testament to the hard work of all those involved and their pursuit of excellence, and we’re very proud of their achievements. Well done to everyone and a big thank you to Hilliers for being our hosts for the event.

BBQ sales continue to sizzle in June

The continued warm weather last month (June, 2014) saw barbecues and furniture remain one of the best performing categories for the fourth month running according our Barometer of Trade (BoT).

The results showed furniture and barbecue sales were up 26.6% compared to June, 2013.

N. East & N. West regional winners unveiled

We revealed the winners of our North East and North West regions at a presentation last night (Tuesday, July 15, 2014) at the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) garden Harlow Carr near Harrogate.

Cowell’s was named Best Garden Centre (GC) and Armitage’s Pennine Garden Centre Best Destination Garden Centre (DGC) in the North East. Burleydam scooped Best Garden Centre and Barton Grange Best Destination Garden Centre in the North West.

We would like to congratulate all our members who picked up awards. It is a reflection of all their hard work and dedication to excellence, and they should all be very proud of their achievements. Thank you also to the Harlow Carr team for your hospitality and to Langlands Garden for providing a barbecue after the awards presentation, it was greatly appreciated.

There were lots of other awards presented by our inspector, Liz Hutson, who attended the ceremony, and it was an inspiring and motivational event for everyone involved.

The full results for the North East and North West area awards are as follows for the GC and DGC categories:

Five more members sign up in June

We are pleased to announce that last month (June, 2014) we signed up some new garden centre members.

Approved as new full members at our recent Executive Committee meeting, following successful inspections, were Thetford Garden Centre, Pacific Nurseries and Thirsk Garden Centre.

We also approved Millbrook, Staplehurst and Creative Gardens, Galgorm Castle, which are additional sites or ‘subsidiary’ members for existing GCA members.