GCA Regional Awards 2022

G CA me m be rs on c l o u d n i n e

Throughout July, GCA member garden centre teams have been gathering to hear the results of this years GCA Inspections.

As this issue of GTN went to press the results were in from the North East, North West, Midlands, North Thames and South Thames GCA regions.

So far, the winners of the top regional awards, Garden Centre of the Year (GC) and Destination Garden centre of the Year (DGC), have been: Bents Garden and Home, Coolings Wych Cross, Cowell’s, Fairways Ashbourne, Klondyke High Legh, Klondyke Stokesley, Pacific Nurseries, Perrywood Sudbury, Perrywood Tiptree and Ruxley Manor.

Perrywood won the most awards in their region including the Barton Grange Trophy for Commercial Innovation and Creativity. Simon Bourne, Retail Director said: “We are all on cloud nine today! For Perrywood Tiptree to keep coming top takes a lot of hard work and creativity every year. September will see Perrywood Sudbury celebrating its fourth birthday.

“To be named as the best Garden Centre in the region in such a short time is a great reward for the investment and effort, we have put into making it a brilliant place to work, and to shop.”

Coolings Wych Cross only became a GCA member in 2021 after Coolings took ownership of the centre from Wyevale in 2019. Dwayne

Ross, Coolings Managing Director, said: “We are thrilled to have been awarded seven awards by the GCA, an incredible accolade and one the board of directors and I are extremely proud of.” Louise Kemp, Coolings Wych Cross Garden Centre Manager, said: “After joining the GCA just last year, we are delighted to have been awarded Garden Centre of the Year in the South Thames region by the GCA. I have a fantastic and passionate team around me here at Wych Cross who I am extremely proud of for all their For further information, call 01244 952170 or hard work across the and rose nursery.” whole centre visit www.gca.org.uk. The GCA Inspectors for 2022 who visited all GCA centres during a 12week period were: Alyson Haywood –Midlands, Gordon Emslie – North Thames, Colin Farquhar – South Thames and Phil McCann – North East and North West The results from the Wales & South West and the Scotland & Northern Ireland regions will be announced during August and included in the next issue of GTN. Iain Wylie, Chief Executive of the GCA, told GTN: “It was great to see everyone in attendance at our regional awards meetings and paying close attention to our inspector’s feedback. Now is the optimum time for our members to take this feedback on board, relay it to the rest of their team

North East GCA area awards 2022

Garden Centre of the Year: Cowell’s Garden Centre (DGC) and Klondyke Stokesley Garden Centre (GC) Best Customer Service: Cowell’s Garden Centre Environment and Sustainability Award: Cowell’s Garden Centre The Barton Grange Trophy for Innovation and Creativity: Cowell’s Garden Centre The Dick Allen Award for Most Improved Centre: Coletta and Tyson The Award for Catering Excellence for Best Garden Centre Restaurant: Tong Garden Centre (DGC) and Moss and Moor (GC) The GIMA Award for Best Garden Products Retailer: Cowell’s Garden Centre (DGC) and Klondyke Stokesley Garden Centre (GC) The Indoor Lifestyle Award for Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer: Langlands Garden Centre, Shiptonthorpe (DGC) and Klondyke Stokesley Garden Centre (GC) The Outdoor Living Award for Best Outdoor Living Retailer: Langlands Garden Centre, Shiptonthorpe (DGC) and Klondyke Stokesley Garden Centre (GC)

North Thames GCA area awards 2022.

Garden Centre of the Year: Perrywood, Tiptree (DGC) and Perrywood, Sudbury (GC) Customer Service Award for Best Customer Service: Perrywood, Tiptree Environment and Sustainability Award: Perrywood, Tiptree The Barton Grange Trophy for Commercial Innovation and Creativity: Perrywood, Tiptree The Dick Allen Award for Most Improved Centre: Bosworth’s Garden Centre The Award for Catering Excellence for Best Garden Centre Restaurant: Thetford Garden Centre (DGC) and Thurrock Garden Centre (GC) The GIMA Award for Best Garden Products Retailer: Perrywood, Tiptree (DGC) and Perrywood, Sudbury (GC) The Indoor Lifestyle Award for Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer: Perrywood, Tiptree (DGC) and Perrywood, Sudbury (GC) The Outdoor Living Award for Best Outdoor Living Retailer: Alton Garden Centre (DGC) and joint winners Charlbury Garden Centre, Perrywood, Sudbury and Squires Garden Centre, Stanmore (GC)

Midlands GCA area awards 2022:

Garden Centre of the Year: Pacific Nurseries (DGC) and Fairways Garden Centre, Ashbourne (GC) Customer Service Award for Best Customer Service: Pennells Garden Centre, Lincoln Environment and Sustainability Award: Planters Garden Centre, Tamworth The Barton Grange Trophy for Commercial Innovation and Creativity: Pacific Nurseries The Dick Allen Award for Most Improved Centre: Ferndale Garden Centre The Award for Catering Excellence for Best Garden Centre Restaurant: Melbicks Garden Centre (DGC) and Ferndale Garden Centre (GC) The GIMA Award for Best Garden Products Retailer: Pacific Nurseries (DGC) and Webbs, West Hagley (GC) The Indoor Lifestyle Award for Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer: East Bridgford Garden Centre (DGC) and Fairways Garden Centre, Ashbourne (GC) The Outdoor Living Award for Best Outdoor Living Retailer: Brigg Garden Centre (DGC) and Fairways Garden Centre, Ashbourne (GC)

North West GCA area awards 2022

Garden Centre of the Year: Bents Garden and Home (DGC) and Klondyke High Legh Garden Centre (GC) Best Customer Service: Fron Goch Garden Centre Environment and Sustainability Award: Fron Goch Garden Centre The Barton Grange Trophy for Innovation and Creativity: Bents Garden and Home The Dick Allen Award for Most Improved Centre: Bolton Garden Centre The Award for Catering Excellence for Best Garden Centre Restaurant: Bents Garden and Home (DGC) and Klondyke High Legh Garden Centre (GC) The GIMA Award for Best Garden Products Retailer: Barton Grange Garden Centre (DGC) and RHS Bridgewater Plant Centre and Shop (GC) The Indoor Lifestyle Award for Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer: Barton Grange Garden Centre (DGC) and RHS Bridgewater Plant Centre and Shop (GC) The Outdoor Living Award for Best Outdoor Living Retailer: Barton Grange Garden Centre (DGC) and Klondyke Astbury Meadow Garden Centre (GC)

South Thames GCA area awards 2022.

Garden Centre of the Year: Ruxley Manor Garden Centre (DGC) and Coolings Wych Cross (GC) Customer Service Award for Best Customer Service: Millbrook Garden Company, Gravesend Environment and Sustainability Award: Millbrook Garden Company, Gravesend The Barton Grange Trophy for Commercial Innovation and Creativity: Haskins Roundstone Garden Centre The Dick Allen Award for Most Improved Centre: Squires Garden Centre, Milford The Award for Catering Excellence for Best Garden Centre Restaurant: Ruxley Manor Garden Centre (DGC) and joint winners Busy Bee Garden Centre and Millbrook Garden Company, Staplehurst (GC) The GIMA Award for Best Garden Products Retailer: Garsons Garden Centre, Esher (DGC) and Millbrook Garden Company, Staplehurst (GC) The Indoor Lifestyle Award for Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer: Haskins Roundstone Garden Centre (DGC) and Knights Plant Centre, Betchworth (GC) The Outdoor Living Award for Best Outdoor Living Retailer: Ruxley Manor Garden Centre (DGC) and Canterbury Garden Centre (GC)