Thousands of customers queued in the Morpeth sunshine on Saturday morning in anticipation of the official re-opening of Heighley Gate Garden Centre after a six-week turnaround from an empty vacated Dobbies site into a buzzing, colourful, well stocked garden centre by the British Garden Centres Family.

TV Gardening superstar Adam Frost carried out the ribbon cutting ceremony, welcoming the customers into the centre before spending time chatting with them and presenting a talk in the planteria.

British Garden Centres MD, Charles Stubbs arrived just as the centre opened, having travelled up from Havant where he had been helping with the preparations there for next weeks opening on the South coast.

Charles told GTN Xtra: “I’m so proud of the BGC team for the efforts they have put in to open these centres, so well, so quickly.  I’ve probably run out of favours with suppliers, they have all been so helpful in supplying stock and plants plus helping with merchandising.”

“Thank you to all BGC Team Family members who have helped from across the North region.  This is a special opportunity for us to further develop this amazing 40 acre site.”

The help across the area was evident in the re-design of the restaurant where the Heighley Gate Team were at Gosforth three weeks ago helping their re-design and then came back to complete their own. 

Customers were amazed at the range of products now stocked and the choice.  “The scones are the best ever” said one very happy visitor.

By 11:00am the tills were ring with trolleys full of plants and products.  Marshalling the queue and chatting with customers was Amy Stubbs keeping the queue moving as fast as possible.  Although at one point the queue stretched back to the other side of the centre, everyone was happy, getting their 10% discount of the day and eating the opening cup cakes the tea were constantly offering to them.

As we left the centre at 1:00pm, Charles was busy collecting trolleys from the car park.  “I told them they would need more trolleys!”