UK: GCA’s summer 2025 East region winners revealed

Garden Center staff throughout the Garden Centre Association's (GCA) East region are celebrating after picking up awards at a presentation at British Garden Centers, Northampton (Thursday, July 17, 2025).

The Garden Centre of the Year winners were Perrywood Tiptree in the Destination Garden Centre (DGC) category, Poplars in the Garden Centre (GC) category and Pennells Grimsby for the Local Garden Centre (LGC).

© Garden Centre AssociationThe team from Perrywood Tiptree celebrating their awards for the GCA's East region, which included Garden Centre of the Year (DGC), with GCA CEO Peter Burks (far right) and GCA Inspector Colin Farquahar (back far left) and GCA Area Co Chairs Amy Stubbs from British Garden Centres (front far left) and Sam Bosworth (back right) from Bosworth's Garden Centre.

Peter Burks, GCA CEO, said: "Our East regional awards meeting was highly informative and brilliant fun. It was lovely to see so many people there. I'd like to thank all our member garden centers and their teams who attended.

"We're very grateful to our excellent hosts for the afternoon and evening – the team at British Garden Centres, Northampton. We all received a brilliant warm welcome from them and we're very grateful for their hospitality.

"We're also very grateful to our Inspector, Colin Farquahar for his presentation and very useful insights discovered during his visits to this area's centers. Members were taking down his invaluable insights so they could chat them over with their teams back at their centers."

Colin was responsible for inspecting member garden centers in the East area across a 12-week period where he made unannounced visits.

© Garden Centre AssociationThe team from Poplars Garden Centre celebrating their awards for the GCA's East region, which included Garden Centre of the Year (DGC), with GCA CEO Peter Burks (back row, second on right) and GCA Inspector Colin Farquahar (far left) and GCA Area Co Chairs Amy Stubbs from British Garden Centres (back far left) and Sam Bosworth (front far right) from Bosworth's Garden Centre.

He explained: "I was delighted this year to get the East region to inspect. Each center showed off plenty of good practice, as well as offering quality plants and gardening and lifestyle products that were displayed well. This was all enhanced by good customer service. Every member should be proud of their 2025 results."

Full results
Garden Centre of the Year: In the DCG category, the contenders are Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree; Scotsdales Garden Centre; and Blue Diamond, Bicester. In the GC category, the featured garden centres are Poplars Garden Centre, Perrywood Garden Centre, Sudbury, and Meadow Croft Garden Centre. The LGC category includes Pennells Garden Centre, Grimsby; Pennells Garden Centre, Sleaford; and British Garden Centres, Charlbury.

The Dick Allen Award for Most Improved Centre features British Garden Centres, Tring; Hertfordshire Garden Centre; and Blue Diamond, Bicester.

Customer Service Award for Best Customer Service: The nominees include Poplars Garden Centre, Bell Plantation, and Aylett Nurseries.

The Paul Cooling Award for Environment and Sustainability features Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree; Perrywood Garden Centre, Sudbury; and Meadow Croft Garden Centre.

The Barton Grange Trophy for Commercial Innovation and Creativity includes Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree; Poplars Garden Centre; and Meadow Croft Garden Centre.

The Outdoor Living Award for Best Outdoor Living Retailer recognizes excellence across various categories. In the DGC category, the nominated centers are Scotsdales Garden Centre, Perrywood Garden Centre in Tiptree, and Blue Diamond in Great Amwell. For the GC category, Poplars Garden Centre takes a prominent place, with Meadow Croft Garden Centre and Webbs Millets Farm named as joint runners-up, alongside Aylett Nurseries. In the LGC category, British Garden Centres in Charlbury takes the spotlight, with British Garden Centres in Horncastle, British Garden Centres in Harrow, and Pennells Garden Centre in Grimsby jointly recognized as runners-up, while British Garden Centres in Hitchin also earns recognition.

The Ian Boardman Award for Best Indoor Plants Retailer highlights exceptional centres across several categories. In the DGC category, the nominees are Perrywood Garden Centre in Tiptree, Blue Diamond in Great Amwell, and Blue Diamond in Bicester. Within the GC category, Aylett Nurseries, Meadow Croft Garden Centre, and Perrywood Garden Centre in Sudbury are recognized. In the LGC category, Pennells Garden Centre in Grimsby and British Garden Centres in Upminster stand out, with British Garden Centres in Harrow and RHS Hyde Hall achieving joint third place.

The Award for Catering Excellence for Best Garden Centre Restaurant features top contenders across several categories. In the DGC category, the highlighted garden centers are Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree; Blue Diamond, Bicester; and Scotsdales Garden Centre. In the GC category, Meadow Croft Garden Centre and Poplars Garden Centre share the joint first place, followed by Thetford Garden Centre and Thurrock Garden Centre. Among the LGC category nominees are Rutland Nursery, Pennells Garden Centre in Sleaford, and Pennells Garden Centre in Grimsby.

The Food Hall/Farm Shop Award recognizes outstanding garden centers in various categories. In the DGC category, the nominees are Blue Diamond, Bicester, and Blue Diamond, Great Amwell. In the GC category, Coton Orchard Garden Centre, Poplars Garden Centre, and Bell Plantation are highlighted. Notably, in the LGC category, Pennells Garden Centre in Sleaford is the sole nominee.

The GIMA Award for Best Garden Products Retailer highlights exemplary garden centers in different categories. In the DGC category, Perrywood Garden Centre in Tiptree, Blue Diamond in Great Amwell, and Scotsdales Garden Centre are featured. The GC category recognizes Poplars Garden Centre, Aylett Nurseries, and acknowledges Bell Plantation and Meadow Croft Garden Centre as joint third place. In the LGC category, British Garden Centres in Upminster, Horncastle, and Hitchin are the noted contenders.

The Indoor Lifestyle Award for Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer features outstanding garden centers in various categories. In the DGC category, the nominees are Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree; Blue Diamond, Great Amwell; and Blue Diamond, Bicester. Within the GC category, Poplars Garden Centre is prominently featured, with Squires Garden Centre, Shepperton, and Sunshine Garden Centre recognized as joint runners-up, alongside Blue Diamond, Peterborough. In the LGC category, the nominees include Pennells Garden Centre, Grimsby; Rutland Nursery; and Pennells Garden Centre, Sleaford.

The Plantaria (Ruxley Rose) award features distinguished garden centres across various categories. In the DGC category, the nominees are Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree; Blue Diamond, Bicester; and British Garden Centres, Brigg. Within the GC category, Perrywood Garden Centre, Sudbury; Poplars Garden Centre; and Aylett Nurseries are recognized. In the LGC category, the highlighted nominees include British Garden Centres, Charlbury; Pennells Garden Centre, Grimsby; and RHS Hyde Hall.