British Garden Centres has partnered with Osprey Charging, one of the UK’s largest and leading electric vehicle (EV) charging networks, to increase access to public charging at its stores, supporting residents, businesses and visitors with reliable EV infrastructure.

The UK’s largest family-run garden centre group has recently installed three high-powered EV chargers at both Newton Regis Garden Centre in Tamworth and Wolseley Bridge Garden Centre in Stafford.

The 75kW rapid charge points are compatible with every EV on the market today and can typically add 100 miles of range in just 35 minutes, depending on the model of the vehicle and its battery. Situated in both stores’ car parks, the chargers are an ideal place to charge while browsing the store or using BGC’s Gardener’s Retreat Restaurant.

The chargers are easy to use and designed with simple payment for drivers, accepting contactless bank cards, Apple/Google Pay, the Osprey App and RFID card payments as well as payments through all major third-party payment methods including fleet cards.

Access to charging is one of the biggest barriers to EV adoption and the installation is expected to encourage EV uptake in the area, bolstering the UK’s national charging infrastructure as well as improving local air quality, reducing noise pollution and supporting local decarbonisation efforts.

Ian Johnston, CEO of Osprey Charging, said: “We’re delighted to open this charging facility with British Garden Centres, the UK’s largest family-owned garden centre group. The electric transition is well underway and we’re here to provide a reliable and rapid public charging service for drivers, from Cornwall to Scottish Highlands. Each of our new locations is carefully designed to maximise space, accessibility and availability of chargers, working to the latest and highest standards. These new charging sites at Newton Regis Garden Centre and Wolseley Bridge Garden Centre are a vital part of the re-charging network that will enable the decarbonisation of transport in the UK.”

Amy Stubbs, Project and Development Manager at British Garden Centres, said: “The new rapid EV chargers at our stores will allow our growing number of EV-driving customers to charge their vehicles at a time and location that is convenient for them, whilst shopping or enjoying a meal at our Gardener’s Retreat Restaurant. We’re delighted to be providing this service for our customers whilst helping support the transition to EVs across the UK.”

As EV uptake increases across the country ahead of the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles, more and more of Staffordshire’s visitors will look for EV charging as standard. Osprey has funded this installation, and operation and oversees the maintenance of the chargers which are all supplied with renewable energy. British Garden Centres, the landlord for the site, benefits from a future-proofed car park and being able to attract more EV drivers as customers.

These two sites are the first locations following the announcement last year that Osprey would provide rapid EV charging at an initial 12 British Garden Centres locations which are Carmarthen, Wimborne, Osterley, Harrow, Braintree, Wolseley Bridge, Albrighton, Carr Gate, Newton Regis, Gillberdyke, Towneley and Brigg.