Brimsmore Gardens (GC - above)) and Garsons Garden Centre Esher (DGC - below) have been announced as the national winners of the 2022 Garden Association’s annual Christmas competition.

The garden centres were judged to have the best festive displays in the country by the organisation and will receive their awards at its annual conference in January 2023.

Phil McCann, who judged the displays, said: “I’d like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to all of the members who entered the Christmas display competition and ‘congratulations’ to Brimsmore Gardens, who were winners in the Garden Centre Category and Garsons Garden Centre, Esher, who took the top spot in the Destination Garden Centre category.

“The standard was incredible with superb displays, exquisite detailing and fantastic retail practices.

“I am very much looking forward to presenting the ideas and images from my visits at the annual conference in Blackburn in January.”

Second place in the GC category was Perrywood, Sudbury and third place was Parkers Garden World.

In the DGC category, Barton Grange Garden Centre and Bents Garden & Home came joint second and in third place was Gates Garden Centre.

Tammy Woodhouse, GCA Chairman, said: “I’d like to say an additional thank you to everyone who created some truly joyous and memorable displays.

“The entrants were judged on general ambience, creativity, stock range, flow and tidiness, and customer service was also taken into consideration.”

Adam Wallis, Manager of Brimsmore Gardens, said: “We are over the moon to have won first prize in the GCA’s annual Christmas Competition, having come so close in previous years.

“As with everything we do at Brimsmore Gardens, we are always looking to innovate and improve, so this award is a reflection of the team’s unwavering commitment to these principles.

“Sustainability has been central to our thoughts year-on-year and we’re very proud to have made such huge strides in making Christmas as kind on the planet as possible. We’ll take a moment to toast the team’s efforts, creativity, and resourcefulness, then it’s back to work as we look forward to welcoming many more visitors into the displays before Christmas.”

The winners will be given their awards during the GCA’s annual conference on Monday, January 23 at the Mercure Blackburn Dunkenhalgh Hotel and Spa in Blackburn, Lancashire. The conference runs from January 22 until 25, 2023. Places can be booked via www.gca.org.uk.

Ian Richardson, Garsons Chairman, said: “What a wonderful achievement and acknowledgement of our team’s time and effort put into preparing and building our famous Garsons Christmas displays and range of products. Our talented staff work throughout the year preparing for the festive season, offering a unique and inspiring Christmas experience to our loyal customers.”