Today's the Day

Today's the Day
A much better week ahead weatherwise ,,, feeling spring-like when the sun makes an appearance!
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United Kingdom
My career in horticulture began when I left school in 1979 and joined Rochford’s Houseplants as an apprentice. After completing college in Lancashire, I embarked on a career in the retail world spending over 12 inspiring years at All-In-One Garden Centre near Rochdale. A career change in 1994 took me into gardening journalism and broadcasting, initially working as a sub-editor on Amateur Gardening, before launching Gardens Ideas magazine as well as editing Water Gardener and the garden website Gardening365. I continue to contribute to a host of consumer and in recent year’s trade publications as well as co-authoring a book. Over the past four years, I’ve returned to the garden centre trade as Plant Publicity Manager at Buckingham Garden Centre & Nurseries. We are developing the website and the social network sites as this is important in linking the two. I would describe myself as a hands-on gardener with a passion for plants, I really enjoy sharing my knowledge and I’m a contributor to local BBC radio for over 22 years. I've been involved as a judge from 2008-2010 in the prestigious Horticulture Week Retail Awards.

Sunday, 15 February 2009

All-In-One acquires land to expand

My old stomping ground All-In-One Garden Centre near Rochdale, has acquired land that almost doubles the size of the garden centre. Finance director, Jason Stafford, has engaged Ernest Wertheim to advise on extending the garden centre. This is great news for All-in-One as I remember how the massive expansion back in the early 1990s made a huge difference in the ambiance, shopping experience and merchandising expertise. Critically, the move comes at a time when spending on capital investment is at the mercy of the banks . I hear a 3-4 year development plan will be drawn up, a wise move in these credit-crunching economic times.
I wish it all the success, and knowing the team at All-in-One, it WILL be worth the wait!
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Images from Beth Chatto's Garden

Images from Beth Chatto's Garden
The Garden Centre visited Beth Chatto's Garden, Elstead Market in Essex last September (2010)

Me and Elaine Page at this year's Chelsea Flower Show

Me and Elaine Page at this year's Chelsea Flower Show

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Be inspired at Hill Top House

Be inspired at Hill Top House
The dreamy gardens of Beatrix Potter

Fancy a good read? Check out Chris's book

Fancy a good read? Check out Chris's book
The book is available at Amazon