A major chain has now swooped in to keep it open
12:48, 06 Mar 2026Updated 13:20, 06 Mar 2026
The entrance to Leaf Creative along the A40(Image: Google Street View)
A garden centre in Gloucestershire has collapsed into administration eight years after first opening its doors.
Leaf Creative in Huntley, along the A40, filed for administration last Friday (February 27) and is now under new ownership.
The centre was founded by award-winning garden designer Peter Dowle in 2018. It sells a variety of plants, offers garden design and landscaping services, and has an on-site cafe-restaurant called The Fernery.
The business appointed Brett Lee Barton and David Meldrum, of BK Plus Limited, as joint administrators after becoming insolvent, The Express reports.
However, it has been confirmed that Leaf Creative remains open to the public and is now under the ownership of Blue Diamond Garden Centres.
Leaf Creative lists a number of services on its website, including its plant store, garden design, garden construction, and tree event hire.
The garden centre, which promotes local produce and focuses on 100% peat-free compost, also has an online shop.
The Fernery, which is open from Monday to Saturday, also sells a range of drinks as well as hot and cold food, with reviewers heaping praise on its Sunday roasts in particular.
One recent visitor wrote on Google: “Sunday lunch was exceptional. We are quite fussy about roast dinners but this one was faultless. Compliments to the chef!!
“Also the staff are very courteous, polite and nothing was too much trouble. I would highly recommend Leaf Creative not just for plants, but also for the food.”
The garden centre also advertises events, classes and workshops throughout the year. These include terrarium-making, wreath-making, monthly ‘Leaflings’ children’s clubs, and horticultural talks.
Its website tells customers: “Leaf Creative is the place to go to find fabulous, unusual plant specimens that can inject structure, colour and texture into your garden. We pride ourselves on stocking specialist plants that are rarely found in a conventional garden centre.
“Leaf Creative at Huntley had its origin in our founding nursery at Howle Hill and grew from there. We are still nurturing and growing the ‘big idea’. We source and grow incredible plants, and create ever-changing new spaces for people to experience at their leisure.
“We also provide a place where you can meet and discuss your garden projects directly with our designers. Leaf Creative has a real sense of personality, where gardening and landscaping expertise combine with aspirational gardening design.”
One visitor, making a recommendation via Facebook, said it is “not your average garden centre” as it has a “fabulous atmosphere” with “fabulous plants”.
A second agreed: “Great plants, well presented in lovely surroundings. The café is really nice and realistically priced. The shop had some great plant related products and garden accessories. Will definitely be back.”
Blue Diamond Garden Centres is one of the largest garden centre groups in the UK. It currently operates 52 sites and has around 4,700 staff, with existing Gloucestershire locations including 3 Shires Garden Centre at Newent and Nailsworth Garden Centre.
The company began as a fruit seller in the Channel Islands in 1904. It has since transitioned into retail gardening but is still managed in Guernsey.
Alan Roper, managing director of Blue Diamond Garden Centres said regarding the acquisition of Leaf Creative: “We have bought the business from the administrators.
“It’s a much smaller centre than we would usually acquire, so under normal circumstances I would have passed on the opportunity.
“However, I know Peter Dowle, the owner, and have built a positive relationship with him, so we worked with him and the administrators to find a satisfactory outcome for all parties.
“The business is very community-focused, with many events, and has a strong emphasis on specimen plants and gardening. We will introduce a more commercial edge while retaining its boutique style.”
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