The garden centre group, Haskins, is celebrating after a successful launch of its Christmas department across all four of its centres.

Customers can browse a variety of gifts, with plenty suitable for green-fingered adults, as well as plenty to choose from for beginner gardeners. There’s also a wide range of decorations available.

Real pot-grown trees will be available at Haskins from Monday October 29 and real cut trees will be available from Monday November 19. For customers that prefer artificial trees, these are also available.

Haskins anticipates welcoming over a million visitors to its four centres across a three month lead up to Christmas. Across all four centres, Christmas gifts, decorations and trees equate to 8.9 per cent of the overall yearly sales (excluding the restaurant).

Lisa Looker, brand director at Haskins, commented: “We have worked hard to ensure we remain on the map as a must-visit Christmas destination. We’ve received great feedback from customers who have visited us already for ‘early bird’ Christmas shopping and we look forward to welcoming plenty more as Christmas draws closer.”

A first for this year, customers can take a photo in Haskins’ ‘Selfie Throne’ and share on social media to get in the festive spirit.

Conna Powles, buying director at Haskins, commented: “We want customers to be able to shop depending on their preferred Christmas theme. We start working on Christmas in December the previous year, so we have had all year to perfect our themes for the festive season.”

Haskins is also taking bookings for festive Christmas lunches, which start from Monday December 3. With a choice between two or three courses, it’s ideal for a celebration with colleagues, family or friends.

Dean Ridley, head of retail operations at Haskins, commented: “Some might say it’s too early to open a Christmas department, but we’re finding that more and more people are enjoying visiting early and spreading the cost of Christmas over the course of a few months. Can you ever really have too much Christmas cheer?”

Haskins has centres in Ferndown in Dorset, West End in Southampton and Roundstone and Snowhill in West Sussex. For more information visit www.haskins.co.uk