The growth of Christmas in garden centres came under the scrutiny of BBC Radio 4’s ‘You & Yours’ programme on Friday (27 Feb).

The presenter, Geoff Bird, took a light-hearted look at festive displays in two north-west garden centres, quizzing Sally Cornelisson at Burleydam GC on Merseyside about fibre-optic pink gerberas and illuminated gingerbread families, and hearing Guy Topping of Barton Grange GC near Preston reveal Santa Claus’s predilection for cruising on the Lancaster Canal.

The item centred on the GCA’s Christmas competition, the results of which will be announced at the association’s annual conference in January.

Asked by Bird if plants were being forgotten in the rush to buy baubles, GCA standards inspector Andy Campbell said live Christmas trees remained popular at a time of year when there was less gardening activity.

Cornelisson said Christmas now accounted for 20% of turnover. Before they started developing the  Christmas offer, the centre used to have to lay people off because there were no customers coming through the door.

Guy Topping told Bird Christmas was now the busiest time of year, with sales representing 15% of annual turnover. “Gardening isn’t selling at this time of year so we have lot of spare capacity to create these wonderful displays,” he said.

“It’s like something from a film,” said Bird.