Staff at garden centres across the Garden Centre Association’s Midlands, Wales & West region are celebrating after scooping awards during a presentation at Pugh’s Wenvoe on Thursday (July 24).

Garden Centre of the Year winners were Planters Garden Centre, Tamworth (pictured top) in the Destination Garden Centre (DGC) category, Old Railway Line Garden Centre (above), Garden Centre (GC) category and Brimsmore Gardens (below), Local Garden Centre (LGC).

Peter Burks, GCA CEO, said: “Our Midlands, Wales & West regional awards meeting was superb. I’d like to thank all everyone who attended, especially those who gave our special coaches a go this year and travelled up from Somerset or down from the Midlands on them. It was the first Area Awards Meeting where we’ve laid on coaches and it was a great success.

“A huge ‘thank you’ goes to our wonderful hosts for the evening – the team at Pugh’s Wenvoe. They provided a very warm Welsh welcome to us all.

“During the event, it was great to hear our new Inspector, Peter Walker’s feedback from his visits to this area’s centres. Members can now use his essential feedback at their centres. It will also help them give praise where it’s due and make any changes needed as well.”

Peter Walker was responsible for inspecting member garden centres in the Midlands, Wales & West area across a 12-week period where he made unannounced visits.

He said: “I had a great time visiting members in the Midlands, Wales & West. I saw some wonderful examples of best practice across the board and as previous inspectors for the region have identified before, the staff are providing great customer service. The centres were very welcoming and are genuinely happy places to visit. It was also great to see stock displayed so well and top-quality plants. But, of course, there is always room for improvement in some categories and I know this region’s members will be keen to embrace any pointers I have made and strive to do even better in the future.” 

The full results, including runners up, where relevant, for the Midlands, Wales & West region GCA area awards are as follows for the DGC, GC and LGC categories:

Garden Centre of the Year:

DCG

1. Planters Garden Centre, Tamworth
2. Webbs Garden Centre, Wychbold
3. Gates Garden Centre 

GC

1. Old Railway Line Garden Centre
2. Fairways Garden Centre, Ashbourne
3. Castle Gardens – The Gardens Group

LGC

1. Brimsmore Gardens – The Gardens Group
2. Pugh’s Garden Village, Wenvoe
3. Poundbury Gardens – The Gardens Group

Customer Service Award for Best Customer Service:

1. Old Railway Line Garden Centre
2. Pugh’s Garden Village, Wenvoe
3. St Peters Garden Centre

The Paul Cooling Award for Environment and Sustainability:

1. Castle Gardens – The Gardens Group
2. Brimsmore Gardens – The Gardens Group
3. Old Railway Line Garden Centre

The Dick Allen Award for Most Improved Centre:

1. Webbs Garden Centre, West Hagley
2. Fairways Garden Centre, Ashbourne
3. St Peters Garden Centre 

The Barton Grange Trophy for Commercial Innovation and Creativity:

1. Planters Garden Centre, Tamworth
2. Fairways Garden Centre, Ashbourne & Old Railway Line Garden Centre – JOINT SECOND PLACE
3. Planters Garden Centre, Pacific Nurseries  

Food Hall/Farm Shop Award

DGC

1. Gates Garden Centre
2. Blue Diamond Cadbury Garden Centre
3. Webbs Garden Centre, Wychbold

GC

1. Old Railway Line Garden Centre
2. St Peters Garden Centre
3. Pugh’s Radyr

LGC

1. Brimsmore Gardens – The Gardens Group
2. Pugh’s Garden Village, Wenvoe
3. Whitehall Garden Centre, Woodborough

Ian Boardman Award for Best Indoor Plants Retailer

DGC

1. Webbs Garden Centre, Wychbold
2. Blue Diamond Sanders Garden World
3. Planters Garden Centre, Tamworth

GC

1. Fairways Garden Centre, Ashbourne
2. Old Railway Line Garden Centre, Castle Gardens – The Gardens Group and Byrkley Park Garden Centre – Klondyke – JOINT SECOND PLACE
3. Stratford Garden Centre

LGC

1. Brimsmore Gardens – The Gardens Group
2. Poundbury Gardens – The Gardens Group
3. Pugh’s Garden Village, Wenvoe

The Award for Catering Excellence for Best Garden Centre Restaurant:

DGC

1. Planters Garden Centre, Tamworth
2. Webbs Garden Centre, Wychbold
3. Gates Garden Centre

GC

1. Fairways Garden Centre, Ashbourne
2. St Peters Garden Centre
3. Old Railway Line Garden Centre

LGC

1. Raglan Garden Centre
2. Brimsmore Gardens – The Gardens Group
3. Webbs Garden Centre, West Hagley

Indoor Lifestyle Award for Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer:

DGC

1. Webbs of Wychbold
2. Gates Garden Centre
3. Planters Garden Centre, Tamworth

GC

1. Old Railway Line Garden Centre
2. Fairways Garden Centre, Ashbourne
3. Castle Gardens – The Gardens Group

LGC

1. Brimsmore Gardens – The Gardens Group
2. Webbs Garden Centre, West Hagley
3. Poundbury Gardens – The Gardens Group

The GIMA Award for Best Garden Products Retailer: 

DGC

1. Planters Garden Centre, Tamworth
2. Blue Diamond Cadbury Garden Centre
3. Gates Garden Centre 

GC

1. Old Railway Line Garden Centre
2. Fairways Garden Centre, Ashbourne
3. Pugh’s Radyr

LGC

1. Pugh’s Garden Village, Wenvoe
2. Webbs Garden Centre, West Hagley
3. Raglan Garden Centre 

Outdoor Living Award for Best Outdoor Living Retailer:

DGC

1. Webbs Garden Centre, Wychbold
2. Gates Garden Centre and Blue Diamond Cadbury Garden Centre – JOINT SECOND PLACE
3. Planters Garden Centre, Tamworth 

GC

1. Fairways Garden Centre, Ashbourne
2. Castle Gardens – The Gardens Group and Old Railway Line Garden Centre – JOINT SECOND PLACE
3. Planters Garden Centre, Bretby 

LGC 

1. Brimsmore Gardens – The Gardens Group
2. Poundbury Gardens – The Gardens Group
3. Webbs Garden Centre, West Hagley

Plantaria (Ruxley Rose): 

DGC

1. Planters Garden Centre, Tamworth
2. Blue Diamond Sanders Garden World
3. Gates Garden Centre

GC

1. Old Railway Line Garden Centre
2. Castle Gardens – The Gardens Group
3. Planters Garden Centre, Pacific Nurseries

LGC

1. Brimsmore Gardens – The Gardens Group
2. Poundbury Gardens – The Gardens Group
3. Smith’s Garden Centre, Baginton

The GCA represents more than 200 garden centres nationwide.

Through sharing information and its inspection programme the GCA helps members to achieve high standards in customer service, plant quality and reliability.

For further information, please visit www.gca.org.uk.