GARDEN centre staff throughout the Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) East region are celebrating today after picking up awards during a presentation at Coton Orchard Garden Centre yesterday evening (Wednesday, July 17, 2024).
The Garden Centre of the Year winners were Perrywood Tiptree in the Destination Garden Centre (DGC) category, Aylett Nurseries for the Garden Centre (GC) category and Parker’s Garden Centre, for the Local Garden Centre (LGC).
Peter Burks, GCA CEO, said: “Our East regional awards meeting was joyous. I’d like to thank everyone who attended. It was the last of our summer regional award meetings and it was a wonderful gathering of more than 50 people from our member garden centres in the area.
“We’re very grateful to our fabulous hosts for the evening – the team at Blue Diamond’s Coton Orchard Garden Centre. They gave us all a very warm welcome and provided some great hospitality.
“It was enlightening, during the evening, to hear our Inspector, Phil McCann’s feedback from his visits to this area’s centres. Members can now take his vital insights back to their centres, celebrate any wins, motivate their teams to maintain their current levels, or make any changes needed to attain higher standards next time.”
Phil was responsible for inspecting member garden centres in the East area across a 12-week period where he made unannounced visits.
He said: “A great turnout from dedicated and committed GCA members in the East region for the pre-inspection event resulted in a great start to the inspection window.
“Every centre I visited displayed superb retail practice and customer service. Backed up with quality plants and gardening and lifestyle products resulting in the best experiences for customers and myself!
“I know that customer service is so important to the public and GCA garden centres put this to the forefront of their thinking. I witnessed superb customer service in many centres. Plus, I got to sample some great cakes and the coffee was even better! It was a great inspection year, revealing some very high standards.”
The full results, including runners up, where relevant, for the East region GCA area awards are as follows for the DGC, GC and LGC categories:
Garden Centre of the Year:
DCG
Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree
Van Hage Garden Centre, Great Amwell – Blue Diamond
Scotsdales Garden Centre
GC
Aylett Nurseries
Perrywood Garden Centre, Sudbury
Meadow Croft Garden Centre
LGC
Parker’s Garden Centre
Pennells Garden Centre, Grimsby
Rutland Nursery
The Barton Grange Trophy for Commercial Innovation and Creativity:
Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree
Meadow Croft Garden Centre
Thurrock Garden Centre
The Dick Allen Award for Most Improved Centre:
Parker’s Garden Centre
Customer Service Award for Best Customer Service:
DCG
Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree
Perrywood Garden Centre, Sudbury
Bell Plantation
The Paul Cooling Award for Environment and Sustainability:
Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree
Aylett Nurseries
Perrywood Garden Centre, Sudbury
The GIMA Award for Best Garden Products Retailer:
DGC
Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree
Van Hage Garden Centre, Great Amwell – Blue Diamond
Brigg Garden Centre
GC
Aylett Nurseries
Sunshine Garden Centre
Thurrock Garden Centre
LGC
Parker’s Garden Centre
Pennells Garden Centre, Grimsby
RHS Hyde Hall
The Award for Catering Excellence for Best Garden Centre Restaurant:
DGC
Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree
Van Hage Garden Centre, Great Amwell – Blue Diamond
Brigg Garden Centre
GC
Thetford Garden Centre
Meadow Croft Garden Centre
Thurrock Garden Centre
LGC
Rutland Nursery
Parker’s Garden Centre
Pennells Garden Centre, Grimsby
Outdoor Living Award for Best Outdoor Living Retailer:
DGC
Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree
Van Hage Garden Centre, Great Amwell – Blue Diamond
Scotsdales Garden Centre
GC
Poplars Garden Centre
Meadow Croft Garden Centre
Sunshine Garden Centre
LGC
Parker’s Garden Centre
Pennells Garden Centre, Grimsby
British Garden Centres, Enfield
Indoor Lifestyle Award for Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer:
DGC
Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree
Brigg Garden Centre
Bicester Avenue Garden Centre – Blue Diamond
GC
Yarnton Home & Garden
Squires Garden Centre, Shepperton
Aylett Nurseries
LGC
Rutland Nursery
Parker’s Garden Centre
Pennells Garden Centre, Grimsby
Ian Boardman Award for Best Indoor Plants Retailer
DGC
Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree
Brigg Garden Centre/ Scotsdales Garden Centre – JOINT RUNNERS UP
Bicester Avenue Garden Centre – Blue Diamond
GC
Aylett Nurseries
Thurrock Garden Centre /Sunshine – JOINT RUNNERS UP
Meadow Croft Garden Centre
LGC
Rutland Nursery
Parker’s Garden Centre
Pennells Garden Centre, Grimsby
Plantaria (Ruxley Rose)
DGC
Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree
Van Hage Garden Centre, Great Amwell – Blue Diamond
Scotsdales Garden Centre
GC
Perrywood Garden Centre, Sudbury
Meadow Croft Garden Centre
Aylett Nurseries
LGC
Parker’s Garden Centre
Pennells Garden Centre, Grimsby
RHS Hyde Hall
Food Hall/Farm Shop Award
DGC
Bicester Avenue Garden Centre – Blue Diamond
Brigg Garden Centre
Van Hage Garden Centre, Great Amwell – Blue Diamond
GC
Bell Plantation
Coton Orchard Garden Centre
Yarnton Home & Garden /Pennells Garden Centre, Lincoln – JOINT RUNNERS UP
LGC – please note there were only two garden centres in this category
Parker’s Garden Centre
Pennells Garden Centre, Sleaford
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.
