Hilltop Garden Centre for sale.

Fri 16 Aug 2019, 20:10

I think, possibly, the Plunkett Foundation in Woodstock might be advising groups on local or community enterprises, might be worth having a look at..? Harriet might find her loan!

Fri 16 Aug 2019, 13:00

We had a beautiful afternoon tea there on Wednesday the staff couldn’t have beee  more helpful. We also got some beautiful pot plants there that were reduced to a fiver. 

Fri 16 Aug 2019, 12:40

Is someone going to grow houses there instead?

Fri 16 Aug 2019, 08:28

Losing Hilltop would also mean losing our nearest (I think) children's soft play area, which is a real shame. It's a good place to take younger kids for an hour or two on a rainy day.

Thu 15 Aug 2019, 19:36 (last edited on Thu 15 Aug 2019, 19:36)

I like Freeland Nurseries. It's small family-owned business set in a beautiful walled garden. They raise their own plants there so the plants are much more likely to suit our local conditions and be properly hardened-off. https://freelandnurseries.wordpress.com/

Thu 15 Aug 2019, 17:05

Harriet, sounds like a good concept, esp specialization which would bring people from much further afield. We're just regular gardeners but have been to Fibrex for pellies and as far as Ashwood for hellebores. Herbs sound good as everyone likes growing them and I don't think anywhere local specializes. But it would need a cafe, however simple (eg help yourself as Bunkers Hill does).

Thu 15 Aug 2019, 10:38 (last edited on Thu 15 Aug 2019, 10:43)

On the subject of other Garden Centres we love Applegarth as well. But Burford Garden Centre has some extraordinary bargain perennials on at the moment - for how long I don't know. Gauras for £5.00 and lovely sky blue Salvias for £3.95 - I think they must be clearing out to make space. Good quality too.

The Charlbury Garden Society gets a 10% discount at Burford (and Applegarth, Yarnton and several others) but I don't know whether or not  it applies to these bargains. I suspect it does - you have to get a plastic ticket from "Information" first, show your membership card and show them both at the till. Plants only.

Agree wholeheartedly with Harriet's comments about Hilltop -  also stopped the Society's discount scheme with them a few years back!

Thu 15 Aug 2019, 07:53

It probably could be. But it'd need staff who knew what they were doing and just generally being better run. For example.... 

It sold food products 6 months past their use by dates. 

I asked for a  garden product for one of my clients because we'd finished an old container and was told it had just come in and was being unloaded, come back tomorrow. Since I couldn't be bothered to wait I went and ordered it online only to find said product hadn't been produced for 2 years. 

They didn't move dying plants out of the sale area area fast enough, seeing an entire table of dying herbs doesn't make you want to buy their plants. 

IMO it'd need to do less garden centre (tat, food, house plants) and more plants and tools (AFAIK it's the only place locally that sells Wolfgarten  interchangeable which is good for people with limited storage space) and possibly specialise in something (e.g. carnivorous plants, Pelargoniums, herbs) which it could maybe also send out mail order. It'd need infrastructure change - a couple of polytunnels added to propagate on site. 

Wed 14 Aug 2019, 21:27

hmm. There have been quite a number of successful local Pub buyouts from communities in more recent years with the increasing epidemic of of closures. I wonder what reasons underly the nursery's decline, and if it/they could be reversed with "policy" changes to attract customers again? In some areas - shops, pubs, there have been financially viable examples, even if rates of return might be low - as long as an overall loss doesn't occur...

Wed 14 Aug 2019, 11:47

Christopher - agree about Applegarth.  Sometimes pop in there when over Chippy way.

Wed 14 Aug 2019, 10:59

Very much agree about Bunkers Hill but would like to put in a word for Applegarth Nursery the other side of Chippy. Plain vanilla as opposed to quirky and fun, but everything you usually need, and we have found their plants reliable and the staff (bar some Saturday helpers) knowledgeable and helpful. And no silly tat all over the place.

Wed 14 Aug 2019, 08:45

Go for it, Harriet! Sad loss, tho' not at all surprised as it's been going downhill for so long and a week ago was almost empty (of plants/gardening stuff, not tat). Bunkers Hill is brilliant but a bit of a trek, so a proper nursery on our doorstep would be an invaluable resource for the keen gardeners of Charlbury and around!

Tue 13 Aug 2019, 21:35

It's been for sale almost 6 months now, the parent company are selling several of their stores. I have vaguely wondered if I could persuade a bank that I could turn it into a viable nursery. 

Tue 13 Aug 2019, 20:44

Completely agree Jon.

I go there  2 or 3 times a month.  Often just to soak up the atmosphere.

I am a Member now, and my Jack's Bean is amazing.  Also great to think that I have helped towards raising over £6,000  for Mind and Restore.

Not far, about 13 minutes drive door to door.

Tue 13 Aug 2019, 18:58

Bunkers Hill Nursery is highly recommended and always a joy to visit. It has a charm all its own, a true family-owned business. No tat, just good value plants, trees, shrubs and compost and a free tea and coffee garden. (And the bird seed is extremely good quality and value.)

Of course you still have to drive, and it's further than Hilltop, but it's a delightful little outing with friends!

Tue 13 Aug 2019, 18:43

Not really surprised. It is not what it was years ago, but sad to lose a local useful amenity. If you are going there beware the overgrowing hedges which can scratch your car.