Are Garden Centres Open In Tier 4?

Are garden centres open in Tier 4? – Yes, garden centres are allowed to stay open in Tier 4 areas of England as they are considered to be providing essential goods and services. Naturally, they’re also open in Tier 1, 2 and 3 as well. In contrast, many gardening shops were forced to close during the first national lockdown earlier this spring.

What are garden Centres in the UK?

United Kingdom – A garden centre in the UK sells plants, compost, fertilizers, tools and landscaping products such as statues, furniture and garden ornaments, Some also sell pet-related products and small pets such as guinea pigs, rabbits, fish and mice,

Additionally, many centres now have cafes or restaurants within their stores.
Most garden centres have branched out and sell home and interior products as well, such as items of furniture.
Garden centres have also branched out into selling goods based around camping and the outdoors, selling clothing and items related to outdoor activities.

In 2010 the value of the garden retail market in the UK stood at £4.6 billion per annum. The sector comprises a mix of independent small businesses, of which there are approximately 2,500 centres, plus a number of national or regional chains. The major garden centre chains in the UK include:

UK garden centre chains


	No. of sites	2022 turnover	2021 turnover	2020 turnover	2019 turnover	2018 turnover	2017 turnover
Dobbies	75		£304m	£252m	£166m	£148m	£151m
British Garden Centres	61		£162m	£125m	£49m	£32m	£29m
Blue Diamond	42		£255m	£210m	£182m	£128m	£96m
Notcutts	19		£80m	£64m	£76m	£75m	£71m
Squires	16		£70m	£53m	£57m	£50m	£47m
Klondyke	22		£65m	£53m	£57m	£53m	£54m
QD / Cherry Lane	16		£49m	£49m	£43m	£39m	£35m
Longacres	5		£52m	£40m	£37m	£36m	£32m
Hillier Nurseries	22		£51m	£38m	£37m	£33m	£23m
Haskins	5		£51m	£38m	£31m	£32m	£32m
Scotsdales	3		£20m	£19m	£22m	£22m	£22m
Bents	1		£26m	£18m	£23m	£22m	£21m
Otter	7		£33m	£26m	£26m	£21m	£20m
Wyevale	0			£0m	£0m	£336m	£322m
Frosts	2		£21m	£17m	£20m	£20m	£19m

The DIY chains B&Q and Homebase also have their own garden departments, incorporated within or alongside their traditional DIY warehouses or stores. In recent years, garden centres have evolved to become a leisure destination with play centres for children, restaurants and other activities designed to improve the shopping experience and increase the time spent at the centre.

These changes have partly come about because the main competitors to the traditional garden centres, such as the DIY chains, have brought down prices. Competition has also increased from online garden centres such as Crocus and Gardening Express, although companies such as Blue Diamond, Capital Gardens, Dobbies, Riverside Garden Centre and Longacres have now responded by developing and marketing their own online operations.

Some open-air attractions (e.g. RHS Garden, Wisley, Westonbirt Arboretum ) also run small garden centres as additional sources of revenue or to discourage the unofficial taking of plant cuttings, The peak business seasons in the UK are spring (March to June) and autumn (September and October).

In addition, garden centres also experience surges in popularity through the start of the winter season (November to January), when most of them sell goods related to Christmas, such as decorations and festive plants.
Additionally, it is now not abnormal for garden centres to experience their peak season within the winter months, due to the surge in popularity of garden centres around Christmas time.

A garden centre offers more products and services than the traditional nursery which mainly retails plants. Garden centres offer not only garden supplies but also leisure buildings, garden furniture, products for pets and fish keeping, and giftware and home products, up-market farm shop style food offerings are also becoming the norm in many garden centres.

Many larger centres also have florist departments, wild bird care and their own restaurants.
They have also diversified into the Christmas market heavily supplying such goods as traditional Christmas Trees, decorations and novelty and seasonal foods.
Garden centres include concessions that are either operated as manned, unmanned or short-term promotional businesses.

They trade under a lease and licence contract which govern the business relationship. Garden centre concessions use their own branding, employ their own personnel and transact their sales through their own tills. The concessions are granted a degree of exclusivity to retail their product ranges which are complementary to the garden centre.

The oldest garden centre in the UK was, until 2014, Anlex in West Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, This had traded in latter years under the ‘Plant and Harvest’ and ‘Flowerland’ brandings A walled garden, built as the kitchen gardens for the Dashwood Estate, it had been selling plants since 1775, sold plants and sundries and had a cafe and farm shop.

In 2007, the retailer Tesco made a move into the garden centre market through acquisition, resulting in 2008 in the purchase of the Dobbies chain. They later sold the chain in 2016, to focus on their core supermarket business.

How many garden centers are there in the UK?

There are 5,022 Garden Centres & Pet Shops businesses in the UK as of 2023, a decline of -5% from 2022.

What is the difference between a garden center and a nursery?

Garden Center – The main business of plant nurseries is to grow plants for domestic gardens while the primary business of garden centers is to sell plants and related products. Garden centers are not only dedicated to selling plants but also to inspiring their customers with creative planting ideas.

A retail plant nursery with an expanded range of outdoor products and on-site services is essentially the same as a retail plant nursery. It is common for garden centers to purchase plants propagated by nurseries or wholesalers specializing in the process. You might be surprised to find there are a few garden centers that sell pet products and small animals such as guinea pigs, rabbits, fish, and mice.

Several garden centers now also have cafes or restaurants within their stores. Many garden centers are now offering home and interior products, such as furniture, in addition to gardening products. Besides gardening, some garden centers now sell goods related to camping and the outdoors, including clothing and items associated with those activities.

Which is the biggest garden centre in the UK?

Bridgemere Garden Centre Bridgemere is one of Britain’s largest Garden centres and receives around 1.8 million annual visitors. The Garden centre sells over 3,000 plant varieties, a simply huge range of top-quality plants and gardening products. It is a real destination for gardeners! Bridgemere is all about inspiring the amateur gardener and its credentials are impeccable! The Garden Centre was founded over 40 years ago by, John Ravenscroft.

John holds the Royal Horticultural Society Veitch Memorial Medal which is awarded to “persons of any nationality who have made an outstanding contribution to the advancement and improvement of the science and practice of horticulture” Which is why in October 2019, Bridgemere Garden Centre, Show Gardens and the Nursery were bought by The Blue Diamond Group.

With everything that is horticulture at the heart of the business, Blue Diamond’s ambitions for Bridgemere are vast. The Garden Centre has undergone a multi-million-pound investment and refurbishment. It has one of the largest planterias in the UK, houseplants galore, not forgetting a comprehensive range of garden sundries and everything you will need for outdoor living, from BBQ’s to furniture.

Recent additions have been our Blue Diamond ladies fashion department, a new home décor department and a new cards and books department.
Lots of fabulous changes at Bridgemere! The centre boasts six acres of award-winning Show Gardens, a shopping village and two restaurants, one of which has been newly reopened in July 2022, as our Kipling Patisserie and Prose Café, where all the food is homemade by our talented chefs.

Bridgemere is also home to Brown and Green, our on-site local, ethical and artisan food store which offers a large range of food and drink, from the everyday essentials through to gourmet treats, including an impressive wine and beer department. We also house Walter Smiths Butchers and delicatessen, who provide fresh locally sourced and award- winning produce.

Highlights for your weekly shop are easily found here! We offer our customers aspirational environments in which to shop for the garden and home.
We also take pride in sourcing unusual items and our commitment to this ‘point of difference’ is key to our achievements.
We offer style, innovation and elegance for both your home and garden.

: Bridgemere Garden Centre

When did garden centres start?

The British Garden Centre A staple of our way of life, the British garden centre started out by selling basic gardening tools and plants, before later branching out into other related products over the years. It has become THE place to go, especially at the weekend. Are Garden Centres Open In Tier 4

© Edinburghcitymom / Shutterstock.comThe much-loved presenter of shows such as Gardeners’ World and Ground Force supported the government’s decision to reopen garden centres during the first Covid-19 lockdown in May 2020.Recognising the way gardening is good for people’s mental health, he backed the campaign to reopen garden centres, after they originally closed in March last year, along with thousands of other businesses, to help stop the spread of the virus.It was a massive relief for Britain’s army of green fingered enthusiasts when the garden centres reopened for business. Garden centre history

The British garden centre first became an entity in the 1950s, when gardeners still recovering from the austerity of World War II started wanting more from their outdoor spaces. During the war, the Dig For Victory campaign saw people all over Britain being asked by the government to grow crops and live off the land.

After staving off wartime food shortages by growing their own fruit and veg, the public wanted their gardens to look pretty too. Gardens that once grew cabbages, marrows and tomatoes were suddenly ablaze with brightly coloured flowers, neatly trimmed shrubs and manicured lawns. Alongside the desire to make gardens look stunning again, horticulturalists and entrepreneurs recognised a need for a new type of retail store: the garden centre.

Stewart’s Garden Centre in Ferndown, Dorset, was thought to be the first in Britain, according to documents at the Dorset History Centre. In 1954, Edward began converting his nursery (a potting shed) into the UK’s first garden centre, which opened the following year.

This led to the development of garden centres as we know them today, as the idea caught on.
After owner Edward Stewart came up with the idea to save his struggling small nursery business, the ‘new’ garden centre concept was opened to the public in 1955.
Run by his son, Martin, Stewart’s Garden Centre is still thriving today.

Garden centre retail market Garden centres have become so popular today that they contribute a huge amount to Britain’s economy: around £5.7 billion per year. The Horticultural Trades Association says business couldn’t be better for the nation’s 2,500 independent garden centres, national branded chains and small retail nurseries.

According to figures from October 2020, the lockdowns have ensured business is ‘blooming’! Those of us who have been stuck at home have acquired a new-found love of gardening, and people have been flocking to the garden centres in a bid to get their valuable outdoor space looking nice.
There has been a lot more money spent on gardening tools, plants and seeds during the pandemic, as millions of people have had more time to devote to the garden.

Some garden centres reported sales 60% higher than normal over summer 2020. People were determined to make their garden a “place to enjoy”, according to the Horticultural Trades Association. An estimated three million Brits took up gardening for the first time in 2020, according to research by the HTA.

From 13th May, when garden centres reopened after the first lockdown, up to the end of August, sales were up by 60% on the previous year. The Royal Horticultural Society reported traffic to its website had increased by 500%, as people searched for gardening tips and ideas. In particular, 18 to 24-year-olds were showing and interest, many for the first time.

Notcutts Garden Centres Automatic Access was awarded a contract to service and maintain the prestigious chain, spanning from Pontefract in West Yorkshire to Woodbridge in Suffolk and everywhere in between. Established in 1897, it has remained in the Notcutt family ever since. Are Garden Centres Open In Tier 4 Some of the garden centres’ existing had been in place for many years and Notcutts needed an upgrade, including a programme of Planned Preventative Maintenance. Automatic Access will work with Notcutts at 17 of its garden centres all over the UK to bring the doors up to spec – a project lasting for one year, with an option of continuing our services for longer.

What is the largest garden centre in the world?

Starting as a family business over 40 years ago (in 1961), Bridgemere is now one of the most widely recognised garden centres in Europe. Its unprecedented size has also earned it the title “Biggest Garden Centre” in the Guinness Book of Records. Covering more than 25 acres, the site attracts around 1.8 million visitors per year.

Bridgemere’s attractions extend much beyond that of a garden centre, with numerous different gardens on site, such as the English Country Garden and the Victorian garden, which are intended to provide visiting amateur gardeners with new and unique ideas for their own gardens. Bridgemere also reproduce display gardens from both RHS Chelsea and Tatton Shows.

Also on site are various shops, such as the recently opened “Hobbycraft”, selling everything from clothing to books to gardening appliances. For those wishing to spend longer at the garden, there is a café and an Egon Ronay- recommended restaurant. Starting as a family business over 40 years ago (in 1961), Bridgemere is now one of the most widely recognised garden centres in Europe. In a special area of the garden centre – called the Bridgemere Gardens – there are over 20 show gardens on site, covering around seven acres. These have been especially created to provide inspiration to visitors and range from the sumptuously planted traditional English Cottage Garden, (complete with its own cottage!) to a drought loving, exotic Mediterranean Garden. Winning display gardens seen at the Tatton and Chelsea shows have also been reconstructed to provide amateur gardeners with ideas and tips for their own gardens. The Bridgemere Gardens has been planted to provide interest all year round. The vibrant colours of daffodils, rhododendrons and azaleas in spring are closely followed by a huge range of summer perennials. In the garden centre area over 5,000 plants of various varieties (mostly grown on site) are available to buy in the vast indoor and outdoor gardening complexes. Numerous garden accessories are also available, together with garden furniture, patios, patio heater and conservatories. Are Garden Centres Open In Tier 4 Address : Bridgemere Garden World Bridgemere Near Nantwich Cheshire CW5 7QB Telephone: 01270 521100 E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: https://www.wyevalegardencentres.co.uk/ Opening times : Centre: 9am-7pm daily Hobbycraft: Mon – Sat: 9am-7pm, Sun 11am-5pm Ripples: Mon – Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 11am-5pm.

Tea Room / Restaurant on site: Coffee shop and restaurant on site Shop: Wide range of gifts, books, food, clothing, furniture, stoneware and gardening goods, including the two main shops, Hobbycraft and Ripples, WC: WCs located within the centre, complete with baby changing facilities. These include disabled toilets. Parking: Large car park at the centre, with specially allocated disabled parking Seats, benches: Limited number in the gardens Accessibility: Wheelchair access within the Centre, which is largely on a single level. Loading area and carry to car service available. Children’s programme: Children’s play area, free baby food in coffee shop. Map of the site, additional information: Leaflet available. Information and maps at various points throughout

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Are gardeners in demand UK?

Gardeners are among the most in demand trade across the UK There has been a massive shortage of skilled trade workers across the UK, leaving the demand for trade jobs incredibly high, Brits have spent £110 billion on home improvements during the coronavirus pandemic, standing at £2,000 per person for home renovations – creating a high demand for tradespeople with Gardening skills,

With this in mind, the business comparison experts at have created a to help support the growing local trade economy – and mechanics are among the most in-demand.
The Bionic trade index looked at 10 of the highest populated cities in the UK outside of London, to find the trade jobs available and the average salary per trade in each city.

London was omitted from the index to avoid skewing the results because of the sheer size and density of the capital’s population. Northern cities Leeds and Sheffield rank highest in the UK for gardening roles outside of London

Ranking	City	Jobs	Salary
1	Leeds	28	£23,102
2	Sheffield	39	£22,046
3	Coventry	30	£21,583
4	Leicester	27	£20,794
5	Birmingham	46	£20,542

Leeds was the most fruitful for gardeners, offering an average annual salary at £23,102, the highest out of the cities analyzed. Sheffield comes in second place with an average annual salary of £22,046 and Coventry ranks in third with £21,583. Gardeners are in high demand mainly due to lockdown creating a new generation of gardeners, with Brits renovating their garden as well as their homes.

This resulted in more demand for gardeners to help with renovations and keep on top of garden maintenance, from pulling weeds to mowing the lawn.
Birmingham currently has the highest roles available for gardeners in the UK, with 46 roles open for brits with gardening skills! You can read the full report,

: Gardeners are among the most in demand trade across the UK

What is the most famous garden in the UK?

10. Kew Gardens, London, England – Best for botanical wonders Tracing its roots back to 1759, Unesco-listed Kew pulls in almost two million visitors annually, making it one of Britain’s most popular attractions. Spread over 330 glorious acres of southwest London, the gardens lay claim to the world’s largest botanical and mycological collections — a vast trove (more than 30,000 plant species at last count) that is closely guarded by Kew’s very own police force, one of the smallest constabularies in the world. Are Garden Centres Open In Tier 4 Bodnant Gardens (Alamy)

How to convert Tier 4 to Tier 2 visa in UK?

Are you currently in the UK on a Tier 4 study visa? And are you planning to stay and work in the UK once your studies are completed? If so, then you will be joining many thousands of students each year who, having worked hard to build up their skills, knowledge, and qualifications, have made the ultimate decision to start their new career in the UK.

It is easy to see why.
In the current global landscape, the UK is still a big hitter, providing boundless opportunities for anyone with the skills and willingness to work hard.
At present, as measured by GDP, the UK is the world’s sixth richest country, ahead of major players such as Russia, Canada, and Brazil.

We have some of the world’s leading universities, research institutions, and corporations, and the UK is known for the size and strength of its financial sector; with London being the second largest financial hub in the world. What is the Tier 2 visa? The Tier 2 visa route allows skilled workers from outside of the European Economic Area with a job offer to work in the UK on a long-term basis.

Tier 2 is divided into a number of subcategories, including the: For students wishing to switch from a tier 4 to a tier 2 visa, the tier 2 (general) visa will be the most appropriate route. In order to be eligible for a tier 2 visa, you will need to have a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from a licensed sponsor employer.

Normally, an employer who wishes to employ a member of staff from outside of the EEA on tier 2 (general) work visa first needs to ensure that no settled person in the UK can undertake the job (this is referred to as a Resident Labour Market Test ), unless the position is on the UK Shortage Occupation List (SOL).

One of the many benefits of switching from tier 4 to tier 2 is that the employer does not need to complete this step. In addition, they are not required to pay the Immigration Skills Charge, and because the CoS being issued is not subject to a cap (known as the national annual limit), the certificate can be issued without seeking approval from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

These are highly advantageous benefits for the employer who can reduce their administrative burden and costs, and in addition, the employee will receive their CoS sooner given that no permission is required. As such, students switching from tier 4 to tier 2 are highly desirable to UK employers.

Can I switch from Tier 4 to Tier 2? We are approached by many students each year who are coming to the end of their studies and have made the decision to find a job in the UK.
Whether you are planning to remain for the rest of your life or a few years, the Tier 2 route will most likely be the most appropriate for your needs.

If you currently hold a tier 4 visa, you can switch to a tier 2 (general) visa if you have an eligible qualification, will complete your course in three months, or you’ve done at least 12 months of a Ph.D. In addition, dependant partners of those with a tier 4 visas can also apply.

a UK bachelor’s degree a UK master’s degree

a professional graduate diploma of education Ph.D. students must also have been sponsored by a higher education provider listed on the Tier 4 register of sponsors as ‘Tier 4 sponsor – track record’ or an overseas higher education institution if you completed a short-term ‘study abroad’ programme in the UK.

a valid CoS for the job – in order to acquire a CoS, you will need to be employed by a sponsor who is licensed by the UK Home Office. an appropriate salary is being paid for the job – this depends on the role, but under current guidelines, this is typically at least £30,000. proof of sufficient knowledge of English – this is a relatively straightforward process if you have a degree taught in English or you are from a majority English speaking country. Otherwise, you will need to pass an approved English language test. proof of sufficient savings – £945 in your bank account for the past 90 days, or a promise by an A-rated sponsor to give you at least £945 if you require help with your living costs. evidence of your travel history over the last five years tuberculosis test results if from a listed country provide a criminal record certificate from any country you’ve lived in for 12 months or more in the last ten years if you’ll be working with vulnerable people

As part of the application process, you will also need to arrange and attend an appointment to provide your photograph and fingerprints (referred to as your biometric information) to the UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS). How long does it take to switch from tier 4 to tier 2? By using the standard service, applicants can expect to hear back regarding their application within eight weeks.

The priority service will provide a response within five working days, and the super-priority service will give a decision by the end of the next working day (or two working days if your UKVCAS appointment is at a weekend). It should be noted that the priority and super-priority services do incur an additional charge.

Wrapping up If you are now ready to kick-start your career having studied in the UK, you now have a wealth of options available in this country. The ability to switch from a tier 4 study visa to a tier 2 visa means that you can make the transition from student to a worker with relative ease.

What happens after Tier 4 visa?

Skilled Worker Visa – The Skilled Worker visa has replaced the Tier 2 route. The points-based criteria for the Skilled Worker visa are outlined below. The Eligibility Criteria section includes a link to the Register of Sponsors, Skilled Worker visa (Student Immigration Service)

Can I get Tier 2 for 5 years?

How long you can stay – Your visa can last for up to 5 years before you need to extend it. You’ll need to apply to extend or update your visa when it expires or if you change jobs or employer.

Can I change my Tier 4 visa?

So, Can I Move University On My Existing Tier 4 Student Visa? – You can apply to extend your Tier 4 visa if there are 28 days or less between the expiry of your existing Tier 4 visa and the start of your new course. Within this application, you can change the institution that you are studying in.