COLCHESTER’S love affair with gardening is alive and well, with local garden centres seeming to be where half the city spends its weekends.
Whether you’re hunting rare blooms, a delicious bacon sandwich or just an excuse to be among some greenery, there are a few popular spots which visitors keep coming back to.
Based on their prominence, reviews, and long-standing reputations, here are seven of the top garden centres in and around Colchester.
Food – Poplar Nurseries opened a popular 3,000sqft food hall in 2021
1. Popular Nurseries, Marks Tey
Poplar is the garden centre locals recommend when you’re looking for anything and everything – from plants, furniture, lawn care, to gifts and a café to enjoy a sweet treat in afterwards. Established in 1938, Poplar is still family-run an dhas a reputation for a huge plant range and friendly staff.
Family – Stanway Garden Centre has a variety of features for the whole family (Image: Stanway Garden Centre)
2. Stanway Garden Centre
This purpose-build centre in London Road boasts a big plant area and plenty of soft play to keep the kids occupied. The in-house Gardener’s Retreat restaurant is known for hearty meals – including a popular ‘pie of the day’.
Dining – Al fresco dining is available at The Barn Garden Centre and Cafe (Image: The Barn)
3. The Barn, Stanway
A garden centre, café and lifestyle store just a stone’s throw from Colchester, The Barn leans heavily into interiors, gifts and a café that draws strong reactions and raving reviews on Tripadvisor.
Winner – Blenheim Garden Centre has been the Gazette’s Garden Centre of the Year Award winner for several years running (Image: Submitted)
4. Blenheim Plant and Garden Centre
This independent, family-run garden centre has an emphasis on plant quality, upon which it’s built a stellar reputation. Many plants are grown on site, and customers enjoy a friendly service that appeals to gardens of all abilities.
Garden – Deans’ Nursery at Mill Farm has six decades of growing experience (Image: Google Maps)
5. Deans’ Nursery at Mill Farm
Just outside Colchester at Elmstead Market, Deans’ is a family-run nursery and garden centre with around six decades of growing experience. It’s a working nursery selling plants, soils, bark, and soil improvers, including bulk supplies for gardeners, allotments and schools.
Family – Children have been able to meet Santa and his reindeer at Fillpots
6. Fillpots Garden Centre, Boxted
To the north, Fillpots pitches itself as a family friendly garden centre with a big variety of plants, gifts and gardening sundries. Recent extensions to the glasshouse, plant area and café promise more delights for customers.
Famous – Beth Chatto’s Plants and Gardens have been supporting the National Garden Scheme for more than 50 years, raising over £80,000 for nursing and health charities. (Image: Julie Skelton)
7. Beth Chatto’s Plants and Gardens
Beth Chatto’s world-renowned gardens come with an extensive nursery attached, making it a must-visit for plant lovers.
Visitors rave about the dry garden, water gardens and the range of unusual plants, as well as the café and shop open to visitors without paying to enter the full gardens.
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