British Garden Centres is delighted to announce the successful acquisition of Ferndale Garden Centre in North Derbyshire. The centre officially joined the group in early January and will now trade as Dronfield Garden Centre, bringing the group’s total number of sites to 74 and marking another significant step in the company’s ambitious growth across the UK.
Ferndale Garden Centre has been a cherished part of the Sheffield and North Derbyshire community for decades, first established in 1982. Operated by Neil and Linda Grant, and Helen Watson, the centre earned a strong reputation for high-quality plants, expert gardening advice, and friendly service. Known for its passionate team, impressive horticultural knowledge, and product offerings, as well as its popular coffee shop, Ferndale is a go-to destination for gardeners across South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire. Following the owners’ retirement, British Garden Centres is proud to continue their legacy and ensure the site remains at the heart of the local gardening community.
Neil Grant, Managing Director of Ferndale Garden Centre, said: “After many rewarding years building Ferndale into a thriving local hub for gardeners, Linda, Helen, and I are excited to see it join the British Garden Centres family. We have every confidence that Charles and the team will nurture the community spirit and take it to new heights as Dronfield Garden Centre.”
Charles Stubbs, Founder and Director of British Garden Centres, said: “We are thrilled to welcome the Ferndale Dronfield Garden Centre team into the British Garden Centres family. Ferndale has long been admired for its quality and community values that align perfectly with our own. We are excited that the Ferndale team will continue delivering the same excellent and even better service, plants, and products customers love. We look forward to investing in the site, supporting the team, and continuing to offer customers a truly outstanding garden centre experience.”
Neil will also continue to play an active role in the wider garden industry through his work as HTA Board Director and as Chair of the HTA Retail Committee, and will also remain a familiar voice to listeners in the Yorkshire region with his regular gardening slot on BBC Radio Sheffield, Leeds and York.
2025 was a year of expansion for British Garden Centres, highlighted by the acquisition of key sites, including former Dobbies sites (Shinfield, Gosforth, Heighley Gate, Rugby, Havant, Northampton, and Gloucester), as well as Hayes Garden World, alongside significant reinvestments in its existing operations.
The addition of Ferndale Garden Centre as Dronfield Garden Centre strengthens the group’s presence in Yorkshire and reinforces its position as the UK’s largest family-run garden centre group. British Garden Centres plans to enhance facilities in the coming months to make the centre even more enjoyable for new and returning customers.
British Garden Centres (BGC) is the UK’s largest family-owned garden centre group with 73 centres around the country. The group is owned and led by the Stubbs family, who also own and operate Woodthorpe Leisure Park in Lincolnshire.
BGC was launched in 1990 with the opening of Woodthorpe Garden Centre by brothers Charles and Robert Stubbs. Since 2018, it has expanded rapidly with the acquisition of 50 garden centres, allowing it to grow from its heartland to the business it is now, with 73 garden centres spread from Carmarthen to Ramsgate, Wimborne to East Durham.
The group has a team of 3000 colleagues working across the garden centres, restaurants, growing nurseries, distribution centres, Woodthorpe Leisure Park, and Woody’s Restaurant & Bar.
Source Cassie King, PR Officer , British Garden Centres
