The Old Railway Line Garden Centre in Wales was named Best Garden Centre and Trelawney@Wadebridge Garden Centre in Cornwall scooped Best Destination Garden Centre in the GCA awards for the Wales and West region at Hillier Garden Centre, Bath, on Thursday.

Iain Wylie, Chief Executive of the GCA, said: “We had a wonderful, lively awards’ evening last night 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.

“The awards included Best Customer Service, which went to The Old Railway Line Garden Centre, and the Best Environment and Community award was picked up by Whitehall Garden Centre – Lacock.

“Whitehall Garden Centre – Lacock also took home the awards for Best Creativity and Innovation and Most Improved site.

“There were many other awards presented on the night by our inspector, Andy Campbell, who attended the ceremony, and it was an inspiring and motivational event for everyone involved even in the extreme heat of the years hottest day.”

The full results for the Wales and West region GCA area awards are as follows for the GC and DGC categories:

  

Best Garden Centre: The Old Railway Line Garden Centre (GC) and Trelawney@Wadebridge Garden Centre (DGC)

Best Customer Service: The Old Railway Line Garden Centre

Best Environment and Community: Whitehall Garden Centre – Lacock

Best Creativity and Innovation: Whitehall Garden Centre – Lacock

Most Improved: Whitehall Garden Centre – Lacock

Best Plant Area: The Old Railway Line Garden Centre (GC) and Trelawney@Wadebridge Garden Centre (DGC)

Best Restaurant: The Old Railway Line Garden Centre (GC) and Endsleigh Garden and Leisure (DGC)

Garden Products Retailer: The Old Railway Line Garden Centre (GC) and Trelawney@Wadebridge Garden Centre (DGC)

Best Indoor Lifestyle: The Old Railway Line Garden Centre (GC) and Cadbury Garden and Leisure (DGC)

Best Outdoor Living: Raglan Garden Centre (GC) and Whitehall Garden Centre – Lacock (DGC)

The awards are decided by the results of the annual inspections, which take place at all GCA garden centres. Garden centres have no advance warning about when their inspection will take place and they do not have the option to turn away the inspector.

The Best Garden Centre and Best Destination Garden Centre awards went to the members that scored the highest overall mark in the area in their annual inspections.

The top scoring centres overall, nationally, in both the Destination Garden Centre and Garden Centre categories will be re-inspected before the titles of Garden Centre of the Year and Destination Garden Centre of the Year are announced at the GCA annual conference taking place in January 2015.

 Iain added: “There are more award events in other regions taking place this and next week and we’re really looking forward to these too and will be releasing winners’ details after the events.

“The next awards’ night is for our Midlands region at Klondyke’s Byrkley Park Garden Centre, Burton Upon Trent, on Monday, July 21 with, once again, the presiding inspector, Andy Campbell.”

Thanks to Norma from Monkton Elm who helped with the photos for GTN Xtra as Trevor and Neil had to dash off straight after the presentation to attend the GIMA Awards at Celtic Manor.