Merseyside is full of excellent garden centres, each having something for everyone.
Whether you're going because you have a real love of gardening, or even if you just like a look at outdoor furniture, a good garden centre can have you perusing for hours. It is a lovely way to spend an afternoon, and there are plenty to choose from across the region.
As it is getting closer to the warmer weather of spring and summer, more and more people will be heading out to garden centres to get their supplies, and as there are so many in the region, our writers have decided to share their favourites.
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Undoubtedly some will have been missed from this list, so let us know where we have missed in the comments.
Port Sunlight Garden Centre, Port Sunlight - Alice Walker
I recently visited Port Sunlight for the first time and while there were plenty of lovely areas, I was inexplicably drawn to the garden centre. Going inside, I was greeted with a scarecrow standing guard by the door, so I knew I was in for a whimsical treat.
There’s a part for gardening tools and equipment, a greenhouse section filled with plants to buy, and a gift shop style section complete with candles, toys, scarves and ornaments. As there is in every good garden centre, there were plenty of wares and goods, including outdoor furniture, garden ornaments and even an array of perfumes and candles.
A hidden gem to look out for in there is the ‘Fairies Meeting Place’, but you’ll have to find that magic Port Sunlight Easter Egg yourself.
Gordale Garden and Home Centre, Neston - Steve Graves
I’m pretty sure you could see out the apocalypse in Gordale.
You’d never run short of craft ale, chilli jam and artisan crisps. You could kit yourself out in hard-wearing all-weather wear, skimming through countless books of local history to while away the hours until the end of days, all while reclining on some premium outdoor furniture which is frankly better than anything I’ve ever had inside my house.
Yep, Gordale is one of those ‘more than just a garden centre’ places. But aren’t they all, these days?
Its real strength lies not in the self-service café or the bumper range of collectable keyrings, but in its commitment to its core mission - plants and flowers. From apple trees to azaleas, Gordale has a huge breadth and depth of stuff you can grow, tend and prune - and all the tools and accessories to do it with.
The staff know what they’re talking about and the range is great - a proper marriage of traditional garden centre values with the more up-to-date product ranges the market demands today.
Bents Garden Centre, Warrington - Kate McMullin
Bents Garden Centre is great for a day out. Not only does it have all the usual offerings of a garden centre, but it has an amazing café and also a food hall with a deli counter and bakery.
The absolute best time to visit is in the lead-up to Christmas as it turns into a winter wonderland with so many Christmas trees, all decorated amazingly and a full-on grotto of toys which kids love.
Bromborough Pool Garden Centre, Birkenhead- Jamie Greer
I’m not sure many people in Merseyside will have heard of this village, but Bromborough Pool is a real hidden gem, and includes a lovely garden centre.
It is run by Wirral charity Autism Together and staffed entirely by autistic volunteers. It includes plenty of plants and flowers in outside areas and gifts created by the volunteers.
Crucially, there is also a good café there. Come to the garden centre on a nice summer day and you’ll see Maritime Cricket Club playing on the field opposite, getting a taste of life in a model village that predates Port Sunlight.
Garston Garden Centre, Garston - Dan Haygarth
A fixture on St Mary’s Road for decades and a key part of the L19 community, Garston Garden Centre is much smaller than others on this list. It’s not one for a day out - it doesn’t have a café or a wide range of other products - its focus is purely on supplying what you need for your garden.
For my money, it is all the better for it. Owner Lillian Morrow works alongside manager William Worthington and the two are friendly, helpful and informative. What more do you need?
Carr Farm Garden Centre, Meols - Rebecca Koncienzcy
I love getting lost in Carr Farm Garden Centre, it is a perfect way to spend a Sunday morning. And it has absolutely everything you can think of, it is like a world of its own.
If you want farmhouse staples like homemade cookies, jams and bread, it’s got them. If you want gifts for your mum, I’m talking candles, bath bombs, indoor water features, it’s got them.
If you want a new fish, yes, Carr Farm has them. And hundreds of beautiful plants. Even The Works has a stall inside.
And at Christmas, it is a grotto. Every aesthetic of the festive season is catered for, it is impossible to visit and not buy a new ornament for your tree.
And even if you just stop by to browse the treasure trove of products on offer, you can stop by the Atrium Restaurant and have a light bite, cake or one of their full hot meals at what I think are really competitive prices. In fact, I have sold it to myself all over again, I shall be stopping in this Sunday - see you there!
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