Garden centre staff throughout the GCA East region are celebrating today after picking up awards during a presentation at Coton Orchard Garden Centre yesterday evening (Wednesday).

The Garden Centre of the Year winners were Perrywood Tiptree (above) in the Destination Garden Centre (DGC) category, Aylett Nurseries (below) for the Garden Centre (GC) category and Parker’s Garden Centre, for the Local Garden Centre (LGC).

Peter Burks, GCA CEO, said: “Our East regional awards meeting was joyous. I’d like to thank everyone who attended. It was the last of our summer regional award meetings and it was a wonderful gathering of more than 50 people from our member garden centres in the area.

“We’re very grateful to our fabulous hosts for the evening – the team at Blue Diamond’s Coton Orchard Garden Centre. They gave us all a very warm welcome and provided some great hospitality.

“It was enlightening, during the evening, to hear our Inspector, Phil McCann’s feedback from his visits to this area’s centres. Members can now take his vital insights back to their centres, celebrate any wins, motivate their teams to maintain their current levels, or make any changes needed to attain higher standards next time.”

Phil was responsible for inspecting member garden centres in the East area across a 12-week period where he made unannounced visits.

He said: “A great turnout from dedicated and committed GCA members in the East region for the pre-inspection event resulted in a great start to the inspection window.

“Every centre I visited displayed superb retail practice and customer service. Backed up with quality plants and gardening and lifestyle products resulting in the best experiences for customers and myself!

“I know that customer service is so important to the public and GCA garden centres put this to the forefront of their thinking. I witnessed superb customer service in many centres. Plus, I got to sample some great cakes and the coffee was even better! It was a great inspection year, revealing some very high standards.”

The full results, including runners up, where relevant, for the East region GCA area awards are as follows for the DGC, GC and LGC categories:

Garden Centre of the Year:

DCG

1. Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree
2. Van Hage Garden Centre, Great Amwell – Blue Diamond
3. Scotsdales Garden Centre

GC

1. Aylett Nurseries
2. Perrywood Garden Centre, Sudbury
3. Meadow Croft Garden Centre

LGC

1. Parker’s Garden Centre (above)
2. Pennells Garden Centre, Grimsby
3. Rutland Nursery

The Barton Grange Trophy for Commercial Innovation and Creativity

1. Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree
2. Meadow Croft Garden Centre
3. Thurrock Garden Centre

The Dick Allen Award for Most Improved Centre:

• Parker’s Garden Centre

Customer Service Award for Best Customer Service:

DCG

1. Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree
2. Perrywood Garden Centre, Sudbury
3. Bell Plantation

The Paul Cooling Award for Environment and Sustainability:

1. Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree
2. Aylett Nurseries
3. Perrywood Garden Centre, Sudbury

The GIMA Award for Best Garden Products Retailer:

DGC

1. Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree
2. Van Hage Garden Centre, Great Amwell – Blue Diamond
3. Brigg Garden Centre

GC

1. Aylett Nurseries
2. Sunshine Garden Centre
3. Thurrock Garden Centre

LGC

1. Parker’s Garden Centre
2. Pennells Garden Centre, Grimsby
3. RHS Hyde Hall

The Award for Catering Excellence for Best Garden Centre Restaurant:

DGC

1. Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree
2. Van Hage Garden Centre, Great Amwell – Blue Diamond
3. Brigg Garden Centre

GC

1. Thetford Garden Centre
2. Meadow Croft Garden Centre
3. Thurrock Garden Centre

LGC

1. Rutland Nursery
2. Parker’s Garden Centre
3. Pennells Garden Centre, Grimsby

Outdoor Living Award for Best Outdoor Living Retailer:

DGC

1. Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree
2. Van Hage Garden Centre, Great Amwell – Blue Diamond
3. Scotsdales Garden Centre

GC

1. Poplars Garden Centre
2. Meadow Croft Garden Centre
3. Sunshine Garden Centre

LGC

1. Parker’s Garden Centre
2. Pennells Garden Centre, Grimsby
3. British Garden Centres, Enfield

Indoor Lifestyle Award for Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer:

DGC

1. Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree
2. Brigg Garden Centre
3. Bicester Avenue Garden Centre – Blue Diamond

GC

1. Yarnton Home & Garden
2. Squires Garden Centre, Shepperton
3. Aylett Nurseries

LGC

1. Rutland Nursery
2. Parker’s Garden Centre
3. Pennells Garden Centre, Grimsby

Ian Boardman Award for Best Indoor Plants Retailer:

DGC

1. Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree
2. Brigg Garden Centre/ Scotsdales Garden Centre – JOINT RUNNERS UP
3. Bicester Avenue Garden Centre – Blue Diamond

GC

1. Aylett Nurseries
2. Thurrock Garden Centre /Sunshine – JOINT RUNNERS UP
3. Meadow Croft Garden Centre

LGC

1. Rutland Nursery
2. Parker’s Garden Centre
3. Pennells Garden Centre, Grimsby

Plantaria (Ruxley Rose):

DGC

1. Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree
2. Van Hage Garden Centre, Great Amwell – Blue Diamond
3. Scotsdales Garden Centre

GC

1. Perrywood Garden Centre, Sudbury
2. Meadow Croft Garden Centre
3. Aylett Nurseries

LGC

1. Parker’s Garden Centre
2. Pennells Garden Centre, Grimsby
3. RHS Hyde Hall

Food Hall/Farm Shop Award

DGC

1. Bicester Avenue Garden Centre – Blue Diamond
2. Brigg Garden Centre
3. Van Hage Garden Centre, Great Amwell – Blue Diamond

GC

1. Bell Plantation
2. Coton Orchard Garden Centre
3. Yarnton Home & Garden /Pennells Garden Centre, Lincoln – JOINT RUNNERS UP

LGC

1. Parker’s Garden Centre
2. Pennells Garden Centre, Sleaford