The Old Railway Garden Centre Magazine

Hello and welcome to the latest edition of the Garden Centre Magazine for The Old Railway Line Garden Centre,

Inside this edition you can find a plentiful amount of information on what you can find instore, including a section on monthly garden tips. With knowledgeable and friendly staff on hand in store to help with advice or inspiration, complemented by the huge variety of stock available, you will be sure to find what you need for your upcoming garden and/or home projects. This edition also includes many different informative editorials and alongside you will find local businesses whose services may just be what you are looking for.

We have also launched a digital copy of the magazine, available to view on your smart phone instantly. Please scan the QR code, featured at the bottom of this page, and this will bring up the publication for you to view. One of the most exciting features of our digital publication is that you can interact with the garden centre's social media or connect with local business websites with just a quick tap on your device.

As always, we welcome feedback on our magazine, if you have any comments you'd like to add, we would love to hear them. Please email: info@yhgmedia.co.uk

Kind regards and happy reading!

Johnathan Beveridge Magazine Editor

Your Local, Independent, Award-Winning Garden Centre

We are a family run, independent Garden Centre, Farm Shop and Restaurant combined, striving to offer our customers the best customer service possible. We offer quality gardening, home and outdoor living products alongside delicious, fresh, locally produced food and drink.

Award winning…

We focus on keeping our high standards consistent and have been awarded several accolades over the years as recognition. In 2018 & 2021 we were awarded ‘Best Garden Centre in the UK’ by the Garden Centre association alongside a series of other awards including customer service, plant area, restaurant titles and Christmas department titles.

OUR HISTORY

The Old Railway Line Garden Centre was established by Mark and Christina Cleary in 1990 on the site of the old Brecon to Hereford Branch of the Midland Railway. The garden centre has continually grown since it was first established and has now become one of the UK’s premier, destination garden centres.

Out of the steam a garden centre is born… In 1990 Mark and Christina started selling home grown bedding plants from a small 8x6ft greenhouse next to the entrance. Mark started to increase trade by attending local markets including Builth and Brecon.

Garden Centre grows over the years… As the reputation and demand grew, several production and retail tunnels were added over the years. In 2000 we developed a new plant area and plans were already being produced for a new Coffee Shop which was built and opened in 2001.

The existing poly tunnels were starting to show signs

of wear and tear so in 2009 we developed a new retail space called Platform 1 which was the first permanent, insulated retail building to be built on site.

2012 redevelopment…

In September 2011 the diggers moved in to build what was going to be the biggest project we had ever undertaken adding a new gift department, houseplant area, farm shop, new till area, reception desk and offices as well as a brand new 150 cover restaurant.

The future…

As a company we are always looking to the future and investing in ways to improve our product offer and standards of customer service. Mark and Christina have a young family who are all showing a keen interest in various areas of the business, so the future of the Old Railway Line Garden Centre will carry on through the next generation of the family.

1 METRE MATTERS

It’s amazing what you can grow in a 1 metre space!

‘1 Metre Matters’ was created to showcase that even the smallest effort collectively makes a BIG difference. All it takes is just a 1m space in your garden to create a wildlife habitat, increasing the number and range of pollinators, and help our environment.

Your 1 metre matters. Here are a few examples for how you can get

Wildflowers

This is possibly the easiest way to get involved in the project! Wildflowers attract pollinators, support biodiversity and are extremely low maintenance. Dedicate a small patch of your garden to wildflowers. Prepare a small area of moist soil ensuring it’s weed-free and aim to sow wildflower seeds thinly. You can simply throw them over a small patch in the garden and just leave them to grow without having to maintain them, letting them grow free as they would in the wild.

Grow Your Own

You don’t need a massive area to dedicate to growing your own produce! Even just having a 1m veg plot helps to reduce your carbon footprint, stops plastic packaging waste and can improve your mental health too! Growing your own will likely encourage you to eat more fruits and vegetables and is a great sense of accomplishment once you eat the results of your work.

Wildlife Garden

involved:

Create a lush haven to encourage wildlife, including pollinators. Add a mix of shady plants and open head single flowers. It also provides a home for garden insects, many of which will help to keep down the number of damaging pests. Why not try making your own bug hotel? In our display, we’ve also included broken terracotta pots which work well as homes for various wildlife such as hedgehogs or toads.

Cottage Garden

Try planting a patch of beautiful perennial plants! When buying and planting over the span of a few months, it means that flowers will be out in bloom for a longer period of time. Perennial plants offer many benefits due to their deep root systems which fix carbon, reduce water needs and help restore soil health.

PLANT AREA

Award Winning

Our award-winning plant area, named ‘Best Planteria in the UK’ at the 2016 Garden Retail Awards, showcases an extensive range of roses, climbers, trees, hedging, perennials, herbs, vegetables and shrubs.

Knowledgeable Staff

Our friendly, knowledgeable and helpful staff are on hand 7 days a week to offer advice to help you choose the perfect plants for your garden.

5 Year Hardy Plant Guarantee

We are committed to sourcing the best plants from suppliers we trust, guaranteeing all hardy, container grown plants for five years!

FARM SHOP

Our Farm Shop is packed with an abundance of delicious food and drinks for you to enjoy at home. Stocking locally produced food and drink from over 60 local and Welsh suppliers, we are the perfect stop to pick up your ingredients for a delicious breakfast, lunch or dinner.

You will find meats, freshly baked bread, fruits, vegetables, preserves, sweet treats, beers, wines and spirits from a wide variety of producers including W J George Butchers, Pant Mawr Cheeses, Peter Guthrie Honey, Three Choirs Vineyards and Wye Valley Brewery.

DINE AT THE OLD RAILWAY LINE

Our Railway Restaurant serves a variety of delicious, home-cooked food to order including breakfast, lunches, light bites, afternoon tea & our popular Railway Roast (Thursdays & Sundays).

BREAKFAST

Our Breakfast Menu has something for everyone, from Toasted Teacakes to our popular Gardener’s Brunch.

AFTERNOON TEA

Our Afternoon Tea is the perfect treat to end a busy day. Come and relax in our restaurant while our staff provide you with the ultimate Afternoon Tea experience. Served from 2pm daily.

LUNCH

Ranging from Light to Large Bites, our lunch menu is packed with delicious, freshly prepared meals.

RAILWAY ROAST

Choose from a selection of home roasted meats with roast potatoes, new potatoes, seasonal vegetables, homemade Yorkshire pudding and traditional gravy. Every Thursday & Sunday.

CHILDREN’S MENU

Our Children’s Menu has a range of delicious food including fish and chips, chicken goujons and our popular Apprentice Gardener’s Lunch Box!

Or sit back and relax in our dog friendly Tea Room with one of our daily papers or free wi-fi whilst we freshly prepare your order. The perfect stop for delicious freshly baked cakes, hot drinks and light bites.

GIFTS & HOMEWARE

Gifts for All Occasions…

Our gift area is full of various types of gifts suitable for all occasions and generations. You can spend hours browsing our comprehensive range of Yankee Candles, photo frames, books, toiletries, handbags and jewellery. We also have a fabulous collection of gifts for extra special occasions such as weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and new arrivals to the family.

Make Your House a Home…

We have a wide range of homeware products to add the finishing touches to your home. In store you can browse through throws, lamps and cushions for your living room or update your kitchenware for cooking and baking at home.

GIFT CARDS & VOUCHERS

We offer a wide selection of gift vouchers and gift experience options including:

Garden Centre Gift Cards

Redeemable against any department within the Garden Centre including plants, garden sundries, pets, aquatics, outdoor living, gifts, homeware and farm shop.

Railway Restaurant Gift Cards

Redeemable against any purchase made in the Railway Restaurant, Tea Room or Railway Express.

Afternoon Tea Vouchers

The perfect gift for a loved one to enjoy our popular Afternoon Tea experience in our Railway Restaurant or Tea Room.

National Garden Centre Gift Vouchers

Accepted at over 2,000 leading garden centres, shops and nurseries across the UK.

PETS & PONDS

TROPICAL AND COLD WATER FISH NOW AVAILABLE

Pet & Wild Bird Care…

Sometimes our best friends in the world are our pets. A happy pet quite often leads to a happy owner. We stock a wide range of pet care, wild bird care and wildlife products.

Our pet department team has a love of pets in common and has the knowledge and experience to help you choose the care products you need to keep your pet healthy.

Ponds & Aquatics…

A pond is a fantastic feature for any garden. The sound of running water is the perfect background noise to relax in your outside space.

We have the pumps, filters, liners, fish food, treatments and accessories you need to run a healthy and eye-catching pond. Ask a member of staff for any help and advice you need.

OUR ENVIRONMENT

Here at the Old Railway Line Garden Centre we are committed to limiting our effect on the environment, recycling and reducing our waste as much as possible.

RAINWATER HARVESTING: We have 40,000 litres of storage for recycled water used to water the plants throughout the year. This has reduced our mains water consumption by over 60%.

SOLAR PANELS: We now have 318 solar panels on the roof of our buildings! This sustainable source of energy has greatly contributed towards electricity supply for the garden centre and restaurant.

LOCAL SUPPLIERS: We source food from over 60 local and Welsh producers as well as over 25% of our hardy plants being grown just 25 miles away!

REUSING PACKAGING: In 2020 we invested in a cardboard shredder as a sustainable alternative to using bubble wrap. We also reuse cardboard boxes from our deliveries to package our online orders.

WASTE RECYCLING: Over 90% of our rubbish is sorted and recycled. It is our responsibility as a business to focus on a sustainable future.

OUR EVENTS

We hold regular events, workshops and demonstrations including various children’s activities, fun days and evening events such as our enjoyable Charity Bingo and Quiz and Curry Nights!

RAILWAY REWARD CARD APP

The Old Railway Line Garden Centre App is a must have for all Railway Reward Card members. Download from the App Store today to:

Have your Reward Card on your phone to scan each time you make a purchase. No need for your physical card to avoid missing out on any reward card points when you visit.

Update your account details when you move house, change your mobile number etc.

Check your reward card points total or any coupons and exclusive offers currently available.

View your recent purchases and receipts. No need to worry next time you misplace your paper copy of your receipt!

Read recent news and blog posts to stay informed.

Shop online to purchase items for collection or home delivery.

Have a question? Contact us through the contact form.