Redfields does lots of artificial flowers and a big restaurant, lots of animal ornaments, the outside area with plant selection is far, far smaller than the inside.
Quite like my local Wyevale (when i say local its 30 mins away) as they do a mighty fine full english. They also have one of the few aquatic shops in the area. However i rarely buy plants from there as the prices can be eye watering. I occasionally 'save' a neglected specimen from the reduced trolley, but mostly i stop off at my local independent nursery on the way back for any plants.
Gardening. The cause of, and solution to, all of my problems.
I live in St Albans we have three Garden Centres here and two Homebases (ex Bunnings). I frequent them all. I find that for basic plants Homebase is far cheaper. They don't look after their plants so often there are great deals in the casualty bay. The stores do differ but one is much larger. I will mention names. Aylett's for me is by far the best, they are knowledgeable and they stock the best of each variety generally speaking. I am impressed by the depth of knowledge of all of their staff. Prices are fairly stiff in comparison to Homebase, but the plants are better and often very specialist. They are very slightly cheaper than their competitors Not so keen on Notcutts and Burstons I dont find them so good, they are very very pricey, they don't really have the selection of Ayletts and some prices are really shocking. I avoid them, when I do visit I come out with very little. Staff on the whole just look at you and call someone if you have a horticultural question, even then the answers are questionable. They are full of non garden related paraphenalia too.
"One of my favourites is an independent near Capel Manor, they have
resisted putting in a cafe etc, grow a lot of their own stock & seem
to be doing ok."
That's the one I was talking of. My favourite too.
My Homebase is like yours @ZeroZero1, they had a load of hydrangeas reduced to between 5 and 10 pounds. All they needed was some water (!), and tidying up. Filled my trolley, and have taken cuttings before planting. Wyevale prices are indeed eye watering.
@Uncle Mort, l think it was @Zenjeff who said that one of the ones sold to the Blue Diamond group was the "Cadbury" one. I'm putting 2 and 2 together here !
Could some be going for housing? In separate transactions, Wyevale has also agreed to the sale of two centres in Alfold and Binfield to Q Developments and Spitfire Bespoke Homes respectively.
Posts
https://www.forest-lodge.co.uk/
I find that for basic plants Homebase is far cheaper. They don't look after their plants so often there are great deals in the casualty bay. The stores do differ but one is much larger.
I will mention names. Aylett's for me is by far the best, they are knowledgeable and they stock the best of each variety generally speaking. I am impressed by the depth of knowledge of all of their staff. Prices are fairly stiff in comparison to Homebase, but the plants are better and often very specialist. They are very slightly cheaper than their competitors
Not so keen on Notcutts and Burstons I dont find them so good, they are very very pricey, they don't really have the selection of Ayletts and some prices are really shocking. I avoid them, when I do visit I come out with very little. Staff on the whole just look at you and call someone if you have a horticultural question, even then the answers are questionable. They are full of non garden related paraphenalia too.
IMO.
In separate transactions, Wyevale has also agreed to the sale of two centres in Alfold and Binfield to Q Developments and Spitfire Bespoke Homes respectively.