Anyone got a garden centre to recommend within about an hours drive from
Beaconsfield/Amersham, which might interest a fairly new gardener?

I only know nurseries really and can't think of good GC's apart from
Worlds End near Wendover , Little Heath in Berkhamsted ( a true nursery)
and Ayletts near St Albans. All of which she has visited frequently.


I have been asked to suggest somewhere for two beginner gardeners who
also want to eat there


--
Janet Tweedy
Dalmatian Telegraph
http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk

On Sat, 17 Dec 2011 Janet Tweedy wrote:

Anyone got a garden centre to recommend within about an hours drive
from Beaconsfield/Amersham, which might interest a fairly new gardener?

I only know nurseries really and can't think of good GC's apart from
Worlds End near Wendover , Little Heath in Berkhamsted ( a true
nursery) and Ayletts near St Albans. All of which she has visited
frequently.

I have been asked to suggest somewhere for two beginner gardeners who
also want to eat there

There's a garden centre at Playhatch between Caversham and Henley but I
don't know whether there's a café/restaurant.

David

--
David Rance writing from Caversham, Reading, UK
http://rance.org.uk

In article , David Rance
writes
There's a garden centre at Playhatch between Caversham and Henley but I
don't know whether there's a café/restaurant.

David


Oh yes I know David, just before the turn off for Woodley, Got lots of
greenhouses etc. Used to have a fabulous Farm shop but no longer
apparently.

Thanks for the reminder.
--
Janet Tweedy
Dalmatian Telegraph
http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk

"Janet Tweedy" wrote in message
...
Anyone got a garden centre to recommend within about an hours drive from
Beaconsfield/Amersham, which might interest a fairly new gardener?

I only know nurseries really and can't think of good GC's apart from
Worlds End near Wendover , Little Heath in Berkhamsted ( a true nursery)
and Ayletts near St Albans. All of which she has visited frequently.


I have been asked to suggest somewhere for two beginner gardeners who also
want to eat there


--
Janet Tweedy
Dalmatian Telegraph
http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk

About 4 years since I used any of these

Two general centres
http://www.flowerland.co.uk/web/GardenCenters.aspx
http://www.thegardencentregroup.co.u...rden-Centre/19
One a bit more specialised - we had several trees from them which thrived.
http://www.fcn.co.uk/about.html

"Janet Tweedy" wrote ..

Anyone got a garden centre to recommend within about an hours drive from
Beaconsfield/Amersham, which might interest a fairly new gardener?

I only know nurseries really and can't think of good GC's apart from Worlds
End near Wendover , Little Heath in Berkhamsted ( a true nursery) and
Ayletts near St Albans. All of which she has visited frequently.


I have been asked to suggest somewhere for two beginner gardeners who also
want to eat there


There's a funny little garden centre near the Eton Rowing Lake, the place
where they will hold the Olympic Rowing, I can't remember what it's called
(Dorney Court walled garden?) but the fruit trees and bushes there were very
good quality and actually cheaper than from the nursery that supply them.
They do have a cafe and the food smelt superb but we had somewhere to go. As
I said at the beginning it is little though.
--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK

"Bob Hobden" wrote in message
...
"Janet Tweedy" wrote ..

Anyone got a garden centre to recommend within about an hours drive from
Beaconsfield/Amersham, which might interest a fairly new gardener?

I only know nurseries really and can't think of good GC's apart from
Worlds End near Wendover , Little Heath in Berkhamsted ( a true nursery)
and Ayletts near St Albans. All of which she has visited frequently.


I have been asked to suggest somewhere for two beginner gardeners who also
want to eat there


There's a funny little garden centre near the Eton Rowing Lake, the place
where they will hold the Olympic Rowing, I can't remember what it's called
(Dorney Court walled garden?) but the fruit trees and bushes there were
very good quality and actually cheaper than from the nursery that supply
them. They do have a cafe and the food smelt superb but we had somewhere
to go. As I said at the beginning it is little though.
--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK


I'd forgotten that one. Yes, good (but 4 years ago!).

In article , Graham Harrison
writes
Two general centres
http://www.flowerland.co.uk/web/GardenCenters.aspx
http://www.thegardencentregroup.co.u...rden-Centre/19
One a bit more specialised - we had several trees from them which thrived.
http://www.fcn.co.uk/about.html


Thanks Graham, tried Flowerland though now more arts and crafts and
'stuff' than plants and forgot about the Marlow Garden centre, I think
we might go off to Toad Hall as that is really good for plants and then
I'll be dragged off to one with a good place to eat
....................... sigh...............

Just looked at Marlow one 2.75 for a mince pie!! I've just made 36 for
the gym, wonder if I ought to sell them instead?


--
Janet Tweedy

In article , Bob Hobden
writes
There's a funny little garden centre near the Eton Rowing Lake, the
place where they will hold the Olympic Rowing, I can't remember what
it's called (Dorney Court walled garden?) but the fruit trees and
bushes there were very good quality and actually cheaper than from the
nursery that supply them. They do have a cafe and the food smelt superb
but we had somewhere to go. As I said at the beginning it is little though.


That's SUPERB for food Bob they even get coach parties in the summer so
another good reminder.

Plants are okay but not a great deal there though they did have a few
pots etc.

Farnham Common Nurseries are brilliant as Graham suggested but I think
verge on the landscape gardener and/designers as they have quite large
specimens of shrubs and lots of them rather than HUGE varieties. That
said - the ones they do have are always the best 'specimens' of a plant
group for a garden RHS awarded plants and/or good 'doers'
FCN have extended massively since e of years ago.

There's a scruffy (well it was when i went) chain Garden Centre almost
opposite which actually has quite a few bargains at the end of seasons.

Perhaps a thread on recommended GCs might help people? I know opinions
vary widely and for good reasons but if you know a URG member and what
their general likes/dislikes/skill levels are then their opinions can be
taken as a good guide (IYSWIM)

This one has reminded of some that i had completely forgotten though i
have been several times!!

If you are a 'serious' gardener (i.e. one that Bob brown says tries all
the rubbish, hard to please plants as a challenge and likes the rare and
unusual) then DO try and find Little Heath Nursery near Berkhamsted.
It's ina wood and has an idiosyncratic little cafe and no actual indoor
place, so you have to wander round to find John the owner to pay him.
Plants are really of unusual specimens of ordinary types and they know
their stuff, they specialise in Alpines and they show at Rare Plant
fairs.
We always go and spend hours there and often they let us see their
dilapidated greenhouses where they have new treasures coming along!!

It's in Bullbaiters Lane and you could miss it as the entrance is
actually in the woods !
--
Janet Tweedy