Garden Centre Association members have reported an overall 10 per cent increase in November sales compared to a year ago. Year-to-date sales were also up by a similar amount.

GCA Barometer of Trade figures showed Christmas sales up 23.53 per cent, gifts 7.15 per cent up, catering 9.71 per cent up and furniture and barbecues 5.54 per cent up. Houseplants and outdoor plant sales were also up, by 11.88 and 0.9 per cent respectively.

Whitehall Garden Centres, whose stores at Bristol and Lacock are both GCA members, said they were expecting more than 25,000 people to use their festive season skating rink at Lacock this year. They have enlarged the capacity to 125 skaters per session. They also expect their Santa’s grottos to attract 40,000 visitors across both sites.