Garden centres nationwide gathered to celebrate their achievements and recieve garden centre awards at the annual Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) conference held in the Cotswolds on Monday, January 29, 2024.
Hosted at the De Vere Cotswold Water Park Hotel near Cirencester, Gloucestershire, the awards ceremony showcased the dedication and hard work of member garden centres in maintaining the highest standards in the industry.
Peter Burks, Chief Executive of GCA, commended the commitment of member garden centres, stating, “The commitment and hard work our member garden centres put in each year just gets better and better. Through our annual inspections and awards, we know our members have some of the highest standards in our industry. They should all be proud of the example they set to others.”
He further extended his congratulations to the winners, acknowledging their dedication to providing an exceptional experience for the public. Burks also expressed gratitude to the award sponsors, including Hozelock for supporting the conference and the headline sponsors Evergreen Garden Care and Westland Horticulture, along with secondary main sponsor Smart Garden Products.
The following are the winners and placements for the GCA Awards announced on Monday, January 29:
GCA GROW Training Award
- Bosworths Garden Centre, Burton Latimer
Dick Allen Award (Most Improved Garden Centre)
- Winner: Thompson Plants and Garden Welling
- Second Place: British Garden Centres, Arcadia
- Third Place: Klondyke Beverley Garden Centre
Barton Grange Trophy for Commercial Creativity and Innovation
- Winner: Bents Garden & Home
- Second Place: Ruxley Manor Garden Centre
- Third Place: Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree
Customer Service Award – Best Customer Service – sponsored by Worldpay
- Winner: The Old Railway Line Garden Centre
- Second Place: Aylett Nurseries
- Third Place: Klondyke Mortonhall Garden Centre
Paul Cooling Environment and Sustainability Award sponsored by Wildlife World
- Winner: Millbrook Garden Company, Gravesend
- Second Place: The Old Railway Line Garden Centre
- Third Place: Ruxley Manor Garden Centre
The GIMA Award for Best Garden Products Retailer
- Destination Garden Centre Category: Bents Garden and Home
- Garden Centre Category: Klondyke Garden Wise, Dumfries
The Indoor Lifestyle Award – Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer sponsored by Merzario
- Destination Garden Centre Category: Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree
- Garden Centre Category: Perrywood Garden Centre, Sudbury
The Outdoor Living Award – Best Outdoor Living Retailer – sponsored by Woodlodge
- Destination Garden Centre Category: Garsons Garden Centre, Esher
- Garden Centre Category: Canterbury Garden Centre
Ian Boardman Indoor Plants Cup
- Destination Garden Centre Category: Cowell’s Garden Centre
- Garden Centre Category: Knights Plant Centre, Betchworth and Pugh’s Garden Village Wenvoe
Best Food Hall/Farm Shop Award
- Destination Garden Centre Category: Bellis Brothers Farm Shop & Garden Centre
- Garden Centre Category: Squires Garden Centre, Frensham
Catering Award sponsored by Clifton Coffee Roasters
- Destination Garden Centre Category: Ruxley Manor Garden Centre
- Garden Centre Category: Knights Plant Centre, Betchworth
Ruxley Rose Award for Best Overall Plantaria sponsored by Wyevale Nurseries
- Destination Garden Centre Category: Cowell’s Garden Centre
- Garden Centre Category: Squires Garden Centre, Hersham
Christmas Competition sponsored by Gisela Graham
- Destination Garden Centre Category: Garsons Garden Centre, Esher
- Garden Centre Category: Castle Gardens, part of The Gardens Group
Westland Horticulture sponsored Rising Stars winner
- Haydon Walters – Thatcham Garden Centre (British Garden Centres)
The GCA, representing over 200 garden centres nationwide, continues to foster high standards in customer service, plant quality, and reliability through information sharing and its inspection program.
For more information, please visit www.gca.org.uk.