Fireside Poinsettia – just one of the ‘Inside and Out’ displays that helped Barton Grange win GCA Over £3m Xmas Display competition.
Barton Grange’s new £15 million garden centre at Brock and Castle Gardens at Sherborne are the top of the GCA tree when it comes to Christmas displays.
Both centres have been judged the best Christmas displays in the UK by this year’s finals judge Jeanette Cheetham, of Visual Thinking who has just completed an epic journey from Devon to Co. Down via Preston.
Barton Grange, Brock, won Over £3m turnover, and was only opened in March this year. The old Barton Grange Garden Centre won the same competition last year.
Barton’s theme this year is ‘Inside and Out’, with the team focusing on the garden as well as the home. Each of the colour-themed displays are named after flowers or plants, and include Fireside Poinsettia, Ocean Magnolia, Chocolate Paeony and Heather Mist.
‘This really is a fantastic achievement, especially as it’s our first year in this new Centre,” says Guy Topping, MD of Barton Grange Garden Centres. “Our Christmas team have done a superb job with the displays and all the various services they offer, and they thoroughly deserve this accolade.”
Castle Gardens at Sherborne won the Under £3m turnover category. The centre won the Wales & West regional competition for the fifth year running. “I can honestly say that every member of staff at each centre gets involved in putting the display together,” said Louise Burks who is the inspiration behind all the displays at Castle Gardens.
Each year, the Christmas team at Castle Gardens builds up displays which range from traditional red, gold and tartan, to a theme which is inspired by cappuccino. There are also traditional nativity scenes and magical forest glades in deep purple and silver.
Winners of GCA’s Christmas Display Competition 2008, sponsored by Gisela Graham
Over £3m
1. Barton Grange, Brock, North West
2. Van Hage, Great Amwell, North Thames
3. Endsleigh, Wales & West
4. Ruxley Manor, South Thames
5. Heighley Gate, North East
6. Melbicks, Midlands
Under £3m
1. Castle Gardens, Sherborne, South Thames
2. All in One, North West
3. Planters, Midlands
4. Whiteleys, North East
5. Sunshine Gardens, North Thames
6= Brimsmore, Wales & West & Donaghadee, N Ireland