Surrey Hills Enterprises, the Community Interest Company that supports independent local businesses and a thriving rural economy within the Surrey Hills, is delighted to announce that they are now working with Squire’s Garden Centres, the family-owned independent business with 16 garden centres, 11 of which are located in Surrey and the rest in surrounding counties.
Sarah Squire, Chairman of Squire’s Garden Centres and Wendy Varcoe, Executive Director of Surrey Hills Enterprises
The new partnership will enable Surrey Hills Enterprises to launch two exciting new initiatives to further raise awareness of the array of exceptional businesses within the Surrey Hills, whilst protecting the precious landscape of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
There is much synergy to be found between the two organisations, with a shared passion for excellence, the local community, and a commitment to making better choices for the environment. Part of the Surrey Hills AONB family, Surrey Hills Enterprises has the core values of sustainability, quality and local provenance at its heart, all of which are echoed by Squire’s Garden Centres, through their community initiatives as well as their support of local producers and developing environmental programme. Some 80% of their plants are grown in Britain, many very locally, ensuring their stock is as fresh as possible and reducing the carbon footprint of the plants on sale, from nursery to garden centre.
Following the announcement that Surrey Hills Enterprises will be working in conjunction with Squire’s, Simon Whalley, Chairman of Surrey Hills Enterprises, says:
“We are absolutely thrilled to be working alongside Squire’s Garden Centres. We really value their support of Surrey Hills Enterprises’ members, the local community and a sustainable future for the Surrey Hills AONB, through the shared work that we will doing together. It is an exciting time to forge the relationship and we are extremely proud to be partnering with Squire’s on the forthcoming initiatives.”
Founded in 1936 by D.J. Squire as a nursery and landscape gardening company, and developing into one of the UK’s first garden centre businesses, Squire’s is celebrating 85 years of service this year and is still a family-run business, with D.J. Squire’s granddaughter, Sarah Squire, the Chairman of the company today.
Speaking of the new partnership with Surrey Hills Enterprises, Sarah Squire, Chairman of Squire’s Garden Centres, says:
“We are very excited to become partners with Surrey Hills Enterprises. As a local family business, we understand how important local provenance, quality products, community and sustainability are to our customers, and it is these values that run through our business. We are looking forward to working with Surrey Hills Enterprises on an ongoing basis, and to launch two exciting new initiatives with them this year, which will further raise the awareness of all the amazing local businesses that are located in this very beautiful and very special area.”
Squire’s has 16 garden centres, 11 of which are in Surrey – in Badshot Lea, Chertsey, Cobham, Frensham, Hersham, Long Ditton, Milford, Reigate, Shepperton, West Horsley and Woking. They provide local communities with a wide range of quality plants and garden products, coupled with genuine service and expert gardening advice. They are proud to be local, supporting regional charities and encouraging new generations of gardeners through their year-round programme of workshops, whilst working hard themselves to achieve high standards of sustainability in all areas of their business. Each garden centre also has a Café Bar, serving breakfast, drinks, snacks, lunch and afternoon tea.
Further information about the initiatives that Squire’s Garden Centres and Surrey Hills Enterprises will be working in partnership on will be announced in due course.
For more information:
Surrey Hills Enterprises
www.surreyhillsenterprises.co.uk