We love to be out in the garden and we love to be in the country. In 2010 we introduced our Country Garden Days to celebrate the changing seasons, offering ideas and inspiration.

The events began with Friday Preview Days and then followed on with the Country Garden Saturdays from 9.00am to 4.00pm

The Friday Preview Days were open between 10.00am and 12.30pm and were aimed mainly at trade customers and serious gardeners. We staged a range of informative talks followed by tea, cake and a stroll round the nursery and Plant Centre, with staff on hand for advice and sales.

If you would like to be registered to receive reminders and details of similar events in the future, please register your e-mail address with Cat Hillier or join our Country Gardeners' Club. Full details here.

The events we staged in 2010 included:.

This was a chance to discover how Bantams and chickens could be good for your garden, and to see a range of houses for them and get advice on all aspects of their care.

Advice on keeping Bees in the garden was also given, and how they can enhance productivity. How can you help to stop the decline in the bee population?

Visitors were able to view our collection of trees for Blossom and see which would suit their garden best. Many purchased spring flowering shrubs and trees to brighten up their garden and chose from our selection of pots and containers to enhance the home.

Potager gardens can be beautiful and productive. Many people joined us to find out how you can get the most out of your vegetable patch. Merlin, our resident expert, was on hand to discuss organic pest control.

June is a perfect time to pick borage flowers for your Pimms. Visitors learned not only about using herbs in food and drinks, but also about our favourite herbaceous plants for the time of year.

Planning borders. We had practical talks on how to lift the border in late summer and how to plan ahead for next year while you can still see the border in all its glory. We also explored the use of cut flowers from the garden.

Meet the Medlar. Visitors found out why every garden should have one of these unusual fruit trees. They learned about heritage fruit trees with advice on cultivation and varieties, followed by an apple tasting.

Hedgerow fruit. We discussed the planting of a productive hedge, which species to choose and what to do with the fruit.

We also looked into the best methods for maintaining structure in the border to make the most of misty winter mornings and frosts, and how to encourage birds into your garden.

We staged our first ever Christmas Market at Nicholsons, offering a chance to shop for locally produced food, gifts and Nicholsons wreaths. Those who attended were also able to make their own wreaths with Barbara, and to choose one of our splendid needle-fast Nordmann fir Christmas Trees.

Also on display were sacks of our seasoned firewood logs, and several visitors placed orders for Christmas.

One of the highlights of the market was the amazing variety of goods on offer, from more than 40 local craftspeople and artisans. This included a local stove supplier who advised selecting the most appropriate log-burning stove and how to install them in your home.

And then there were cakes, biscuits, Stollen and hot chocolate to keep everyone warm.

Plant Centre

Open Monday to Friday 7.30am-4.00pm all year round (excluding
Bank Holiday Mondays, Christmas and New Year)

We are open Saturdays in March, April, May, September, October,
November and December from 9.00am-12.00 noon.

Open on Good Friday and Easter Monday 9.00am-4.00pm

Contact Cat Hillier on 01869 340342 then key option 1