We specialise in offering different retail products to attract customer interest. As they say if you want shoppers to buy you have got to get them inside the shop first. We also specialise in operational products (GNFR) many of which can be free if you accept advertising.

At Bell Plantation Garden Centre we are just about to embark on expanding our shop and covered glass area by 10,000sq ft. This should be completed by March 2016. The 10,000sq ft is 25% of the planning gain we got in 2008. After 5 years trying to find funds from banks we have secured funding.

I would think that there are very few independent Garden Centres not currently planning or carrying out some form of development, For info, our Broomhill site is undergoing a 3 year rebuild giving it a unique mix of growing and retailing, ready for the arrival of 650 homes just over a mile away. Once we have completed construction of new warehousing and offices our Christchurch site is due for a major rebuild again in readiness for 850 homes immediately behind. These are exciting times for the independent Garden Centre sector where individuality and flair are what our customers want.

Compared to other countries where we build garden centres in Europe, UK garden centres definitely are leading in expanding and implementing new ideas. Garden centres we built in the UK head up the top 100 garden centres list, including Bents, Longacres, Klondyke, Haskins and many more which often featuring our famous Open Sky roof: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1UvYAxBqVo. Thermoflor is now about to build the new 6500-m² garden centre for Trelawney in Probus, Cornwall.

For info, after a pause while EPOS project installed this year we are continuing investment programme at Squire's: Long Ditton, 25% extra shop space opening March 2016.  Chertsey ( small centre), closing end of Sept, for complete rebuild open Spring 2016.   Woking planning to significantly extend, starting Autumn 2016 for opening 2017 + Various café improvements.