Pixie 162 Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 Anyone else here a fan of nottingham garden centres? Any recommended centres? My faves at the moment is tall tree's, floralands and i cant remember what its called, but they have a swan sancurary. Nothing i enjoy more than a walk around a garden centre (Luckily i live within a good driving distance of about 3), buy a few fish, couple of plants and enjoy a nice pot of tea and come cake with my daughter and partner, not many people my age appreciate it like i do. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
.... 23 Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 I reckon the one you mean with the swan sanctuary will be Reg Taylor's at Normanton, near Southwell. I sometimes still visit garden centres but rarely spend much like I used to do. I find them overpriced nowadays and tend to head to smaller nurseries to get more for my money. The big one I use is Shirley's on the A60 near Papplewick which is decent value. The bigger garden centres can be a pleasant visit though and I particularly have always liked Floralands (or Wickes as I still call it!) First started going there in school days and I suppose I just really like where it is situated at Lambley. Bit pricey these days though. Nice coffee shop and really like the outdoor terrace. Brookfields up the road on Mapperley Plains to me is nothing but a glorified gift shop these days - very expensive too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mick2me 3,033 Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 Garden centres used to be cheap but now they are very expensive particularly for plants. I do like the one at Trowel (great place for a garden centre, Trowell) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
.... 23 Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 Is there a fork in the road near there, Mick? It's one I never managed to get to. I do like Bardills a lot. Great for garden furniture and a good aquatics centre if you have a pond. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pixie 162 Posted November 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 I dont spend much in garden centres either, Stu. I just prefer some of those places to buy my fish than local pet shops or pets at home, i also prefer to buy my orchids from them. I share your opinion of brookfields, i rarely visit there. But alot of their tea rooms are nice and relaxing to sit in, i quite like the cafe at tall tree's, last week we were kept amused by one of their chickens who pecks at the cafe door for her daily piece of cake! I usually buy my out door plants from places like the range or B&Q Quote Link to post Share on other sites
.... 23 Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 I used to use Hilltop at Lambley quite a bit but they seem to have increased in price a lot. A little nursery I used to use, also at Lambley, but haven't in a while was always worth a look is Bland Brothers. Maybe not too far for you, Pixie. Just go straight down the main street of the village and as you pass by Church Street on your left it's round a couple of bends situated on the right-hand side as you're heading towards Lowdham Grange. http://www.misterwhat.co.uk/company/1678617-bland-bros-nottingham Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pixie 162 Posted November 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 i know of a nursery on the top of lambley lane, cant remember the name of it. Iv never thought of going to nurseries, but ill make sure i make a point of visiting a couple Quote Link to post Share on other sites
.... 23 Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 That's Hilltop. There's another one practically next door to (which I've never visited). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pixie 162 Posted November 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 Ill keep my eye out next time im up that neck of the woods Quote Link to post Share on other sites
katyjay 5,091 Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 Last time we went past Timmerman's, it was a huge garden centre. When we knew John in his early 20's, he was just a rose grower. When we go to M-i-laws to stay we always take a run out to a garden centre, not that I can buy plants or much of anything there, but there is a great gift shop and cafe. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
.... 23 Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 Remember how Timmerman's roses used to be. I think the garden centre was a bit 'on the edge' as to whether it was going to survive for some time. Obviously they have done well as it's been extended fairly recently with a good sized tea room. Timmerman's still grow roses. I had the treat of seeing them growing in the fields when walking through the valley down to Woodborough last summer one sunny evening. Very pretty and always a bit of a surprise to come across. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
katyjay 5,091 Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 Is Harry Wheatcroft's place still there? If so, did they go into the garden centre business too? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
.... 23 Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 Believe the Wheatcroft Garden Centre is still there, Kath, with new ownership. http://www.notcutts.co.uk/Information/Garden-Centres/Wheatcroft/C Quote Link to post Share on other sites
katyjay 5,091 Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 Thanks for that link, Stu. Didn't we have some wonderful rose fields in Notts. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mick2me 3,033 Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 Is there a fork in the road near there, Mick? It's one I never managed to get to. No fork, its off the main road up quite a steep single track unmade road that bends to the right at the top. http://www.thegardeningwebsite.co.uk/trowell-garden-centre-i2756.html Quote Link to post Share on other sites
.... 23 Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 Think I got you there, Mick. Fork Trowell Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mick2me 3,033 Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
StephenFord 866 Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 No - that's neither a fork nor a trowel - it looks like a fish-hook to my untrained eye! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Michael Booth 7,364 Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 Years ago, I used to take my family to the Lambley Lane garden centre. I can remember there being a wooden climbing frame and other stuff for the kids to play on. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
denshaw 2,878 Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 Think I got you there, Mick. Fork Trowell You don't half PICK em Stu Hoe hoe hoe. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
.... 23 Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 Years ago, I used to take my family to the Lambley Lane garden centre. I can remember there being a wooden climbing frame and other stuff for the kids to play on. Would maybe be Floralands on Catfoot Lane, Michael? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
banjo48 928 Posted November 28, 2012 Report Share Posted November 28, 2012 Not a garden centre but there used to be a nursery, down Westdale lane on the right hand side, I think its an elderly residents retirement village now. I used to go to school with the son from there but cannot remember his name. They had an old Morris truck and a stall in the market in the city, maybe the old central market. Family run business for years, but when the old man died, the son I knew was made an offer he couldn't refuse, also the council gave him some more land somewhere else but out of town a little. Tony Wickes had his own squash courts built on his garden centre as I had a friend who played there, it was almost a private club, with invitation only from the select few. Think they also played at the plains racquet club from memory, as well as Carlton forum sports centre. Used to take my old mum for a Sunday drive to the Floralands garden centre for a cuppa, but she used to drive me nuts moaning about how expensive it was ! and how easy it was to grow and propagate plants. She even used to moan about the cost of the tea ! even though I had bought it ! But then again she had a hard childhood in harder times. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Compo 10,328 Posted November 28, 2012 Report Share Posted November 28, 2012 KATH: Wheatcrofts is still there. A friend of mine bought a fig tree from there last week http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/garden_centres/notcutts-wheatcroft-nottingham.asp Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Compo 10,328 Posted November 28, 2012 Report Share Posted November 28, 2012 Top tips: 1) Nurseries are cheaper than garden centres and are especially good for specialised plants. 2) If buying from a garden centre look closely at the plants in their pots. You will often find plants that have the potential for dividing and making several plants from the one purchase. 3) Never be afraid to gently knock the plant out of the pot. This will show you if it has a good root system or if it has just been potted-on (Which you don't want). It also helps identify potential divisions as in 2) I once bought roses in nice pots. I twas only when i got them home (100miles) that I discoverd that they were just rooted cuttings in large pots. Since then I always check the roots system before I buy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Michael Booth 7,364 Posted November 28, 2012 Report Share Posted November 28, 2012 I went to Wheatcrofts last December and they had a fantastic range of Christmas items. The Christmas displays alone were worth the trip. There was also an excellent cafe that did hot and cold meals. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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