10 most beautiful British garden centers to visit

When I was younger, the garden center was a place where a man could be treated to an extra teaspoon of cream on a cake and tea for an English breakfast, provided he was patient and well-behaved enough to hang out with his grandparents at infinite time. Saturday search for begonias. He was infinitely less attractive than the park – and certainly not somewhere where I or any of my friends would anticipate spending time as an adult.

My, times have changed. Draper Tools research in 2021 showed this gardening is “cool”, according to 83 percent of the 2,000 people surveyed in the 18-34 age group. In addition, 53 percent of respondents said they would rather spend time in a garden center than go to a nightclub. The soothing mist of plant moisturizers seems more appealing than a sweaty dance floor.

Not only has there been a shift in the central market, but there has been a major change in supply. A a new type of garden center and the “hip” plant store in the center is now out there. Tea and pastries are still on offer – but also a wholesome and seasonal café menu based on ingredients of local origin.

The staff is usually just the right side of the wonderful to make it earthy and accessible. Shelves with plants – in pots made of polished concrete and bold, glazed ceramics – turn their botanical names in favor of more friendly nicknames, care guides are written in the third person – “Love bright, indirect sunlight” – and not instructive, hard to decipher the graphics.

“We claim to avoid Latin – the lingua franca of the traditional garden market,” says Charlotte Craven of Patch Plants (patchplants.com), an online plant delivery service that fuels the green longing of those not within reach of these new plant stores – a 500% increase in sales since the start of the pandemic.

“The nicknames we give our plants are not only more memorable and familiar, but also reflect the tendency of plant owners to name their plants – for example, Sansevieria, also known as mother-in-law’s language, has the nickname Susie after our Mother-in-law’s CEO.”

Location is also an important factor. Over the past few years, garden centers – often drawing inspiration from the original trendy plant emporium, Petersham Nurseries – have expanded their reach from suburban and rural areas to urban spaces, greening railway arches, abandoned shops and abandoned concrete pieces.

The contrast between exposed brick or raw concrete on the one hand and falling pothole areas, monster fenestration and lavish calatetes on the other is unstoppable for modern gardeners. Needless to say, it is highly customizable on Instagram – another element that has enriched the garden and houseplant sector for younger consumers – with more than eight million houseplant tags on the photo-sharing platform.

According to James Young, director of the nonprofit Forest of Memories, which was created during a pandemic to honor those who lost their lives to Covid-19 by planting trees in their memory, television also plays a role.

“Young people are looking for inspiration in the media,” he says.

When it comes to gardening and plants, of course, there is also a growing awareness of the “healing effects that trees, plants and nature have on our well-being” – something that has been more necessary in the last year than ever before.

The best garden centers to visit in the UK

Moss & Moor, Yorkshire

This relative newcomer (opened in April 2021) is not an urban offer, but one that every citizen will be happy to go on a day trip, has a wonderfully selected palette of everything from fireplaces and hanging chairs to lights and textiles – all on display except positive Edenic abundance of garden plants, thoughtfully arranged by colors in the Shovel for potted shops. Consider heading back for this ficus while you indulge in an ingredient-based dish at the 200-seat restaurant (mossandmoor.co.uk).

The Nunhead Gardener, London

Once an overgrown piece of land opposite Nunhead Station in south-east London, there are now a multitude of shrubs, ferns and trees, along with a dizzying selection of pots and planters. Under the railway arches you will find Aladdin’s Cave of Houseplants with accessible staff to guide you through the needs of each one individually, as well as home products and gifts that strongly inspire the thief to firmly descend to the side of the desired. There are additional branches in Camberwell and Elephant & Castle (thenunheadgardener.com).

Burford Garden Company, Oxfordshire