Garsons Garden Centre Esher (Destination Garden Centre category), Castle Gardens (Garden Centre) and Pughs Wenvoe (Local Garden Centre) have been announced as the national winners of the Garden Centre Association's (GCA) annual Christmas competition (December 2024).
The team from Garsons Garden Centre
The garden centers were judged to have the best festive displays in the country by the organization and will receive their awards at its annual conference in January 2025.
GCA CEO, Peter Burks says: "What a wonderful start to the Christmas countdown this competition is. I'd like to say a massive thank you to all the brilliant members who shone in our Christmas display competition this year and also thank our wonderful sponsor, Gisela Graham. Well done to the team at Garsons Garden Centre, Esher in Surrey, who took the top spot nationally in the Destination Garden Centre (DGC) category for the third year running. Also, congratulations to Castle Gardens in Dorset, who were national winners in the Garden Centre (GC) section once again this year. Pughs Garden Village Wenvoe are our first winners in our new Local Garden Centre category and their displays were excellent."
GCA Inspector Phil McCann
He continues: "The standard was off the scale this year, with amazing displays and superb retail practices. I'm very much looking forward to hearing what our Inspector Phil McCann has to say when he presents his findings, and the ideas and images, from his visits at our annual conference in the Reading in January. He will be giving tips to all garden center delegates – sharing good practices and helping them further develop their displays and Christmas offerings for 2025."
In the DGC category, Gates Garden Centre came second, and in third place was Barton Grange Garden Centre.
Second place in the GC category was Pugh's Garden Village Radyr and The Old Railway Line Garden Centre came third.
In the LGC section, Brimsmore Gardens in Somerset came second and third place was awarded to Poundbury Gardens in Dorset, both are part of the Gardens Group, which includes the overall GC winner Castle Gardens.
The team from Castles Garden Centre
Peter continues: "All the entrants were judged on general ambience, creativity, stock range, flow and tidiness. Customer service was also taken into consideration. Everyone who entered created some fabulous displays this year and really showed some flair. Those I saw on my travels were very impressive and had a real 'wow factor'."
If you wish to view a list of the regional winners from the North of England, click here.
If you wish to view a list of the regional winners from the South of England, click here.
If you wish to view a list of the regional winners from the East of England, click here.
If you wish to view a list of the regional winners from the West of England, the Midlands and Wales, click here.
For more information:
Garden Centre Association
Tel.: 01244 952170
[email protected]
gca.org.uk