Local Uncategorized Visits

Local Garden Centres & Plant Nurseries to Visit

Looking for a particular plant or just fancy a bit of  wander? There are plenty of great garden centres and plant nurseries on your doorstep and here is my list of those I know and I hope you find a new one to visit and enjoy.

I have also included at the end of the article a list of other places I visit for garden related tools and supplies as this might also be useful.

Covid-19 update (12 May) – it is likely many of the garden centres below will start to open from tomorrow (Wednesday 13th) however before travelling please do visit their websites or give them a call before to be sure as opening times may have changed. As with other stores you will probably need to queue and be mindful they are likely to be busy, particularly at the weekend.

Root One – Brightwell-cum-Sotwell

Root One Garden Centre Sign - Brightwell-cum-Sotwell

This small independent garden centre is located between Didcot and Wallingford and makes for a quieter place to browse and find what you are looking for. There is a good selection of plants, gardening equipment as well as small gift area with some lovely items and a popular little Cafe. Well worth a visit.

Root One – Brightwell-cum-Sotwell

Purely Plants – Wallingford

If you love hanging baskets then you must visit Purely Plants (formerly Busy Baskets – no relation!). They have a wide range of seasonal plants for baskets & containers as well as bedding plants and more. A small friendly place with a team that really know their stuff. Be sure to check the website for opening times before you visit as they are closed a few times in the year.

Purely Plants – Brightwell-cum-Sotwell

Savages – Blewbury

Savages - Blewbury
Savages – Blewbury
Map - Savages - Blewbury
Savages – Blewbury

Savages is an unexpected joy – a petite farm shop, florist, garden centre/nursery and tea room all in one – this means it offers something for pretty much everyone. 

They can be found just outside Blewbury village but you will need to keep your wits about you when trying to find it for the first time – we (ok, I) have driven straight past it more than once.  As a gardener, I have found it particularly useful for compost and other bagged up gardening materials and they have good quality garden canes in decent sized bundles for a reasonable price.  Definitely worth a visit.

Charlton Park Garden Centre – Wantage

Charlton Park Garden Centre is a small independent garden centre that focuses on delivering a traditional quality and service with the style and convenience of a modern life. It is located only a couple of minutes drive outside the town centre and it is where we usually go to get our seed potatoes but also to have a wander around. In addition to the garden centre there is a florists shop and a large pet centre.

Charlton Park Garden Centre - Wantage
Charlton Park Garden Centre – Wantage

Millets Farm Centre – Near Abingdon

Originally a 300 acre dairy farm, Millets Farm Centre has developed into somewhere that you could easily spend the day. As well as a large Farm Shop, extensive Garden Centre, and Restaurants, there is an Animal Walkway, Play Area, Woodland, Falconry Centre, Beauty Salon and more as well as the chance to pick your own fruit and vegetables. We usually go there each year to pick strawberrys from the dedicated poly tunnels and the plants are raised up to make picking easy for everyone young and old. The garden centre has a great range of plants and offers a dedicated help centre to ask for advice on plants and planting.

Millets Farm Centre - Near Abingdon
Millets Farm Centre – Near Abingdon

Notcutts – Nuneham Courtney

Notcutts is often associated with its extensive collection of roses but it has much more to offer including a good range of plants, outdoor buildings as well as a cafe, shopping area including a pet shop and it is a 1 minute drive away from Harcourt Arboretum.

Map - Notcutts - Nuneham Courtney
Notcutts – Nuneham Courtney

Chilton Garden Centre – Chilton

Chilton Garden Centre - Didcot
Chilton Garden Centre – Didcot
Chilton Garden Centre
Chilton Garden Centre

Chilton Garden Centre has something for everyone, from the usual range of plants and equipment to a gift shop for a spot of shopping and restaurant serving a variety of meals. The centre is dog friendly and accessible and
its friendly team is always happy to share handy tips and advice. Chilton is a great place to grab bargain seeds at the end of the season. Now part of British Garden Centres, the website offers online shopping and an overview of the various areas including a few “how to” videos.

Oxford Garden Centre – South Hinksey

Oxford Garden Centre – South Hinksey
Oxford Garden Centre
Oxford Garden Centre – Oxford

Just off the A34 between Abindgon and Oxford, the Oxford Garden Centre was formerly part of Wyevale but has recently been sold to a local company AWBS which should give it more freedom to adapt to local needs.

We haven’t been for a few years and but I will make a point of dropping in when I am next passing to see what changes have been made and any particular items of interest however I think you can expect all the usual items from a garden centre but is also close to Oxford and Abingdon.

Waterperry – Near Wheatley

Waterperry is home to 8 acres of beautifully landscaped ornamental gardens, a quality plant centre and garden shop, gallery and gift barn, museum and teashop. The garden themselves which include a Formal Garden, the Mary Rose Garden, a Waterlily Canal, a Yew Henge and the Long Colour Border, and small arboretum in the meadow area beyond the canal are well worth taking a walk around (there is a charge – except in January).

The plant centre and garden shop are well stocked with a wide variety of plants, tools and other items and there are plenty of gardening related events on throughout the year.

Waterperry also offers a wide range of gardening courses using its dedicated classrooms and student planting areas. If you want to learn from experts this is a great place to go (and this is where I am studying at the moment!).

Waterperry Gardens – Nr. Wheatley
  • Website https://www.waterperrygardens.co.uk
  • Address Nr. Wheatley, Oxfordshire, England OX33 1JZ (Map).
  • Telephone 01844 339226 (Garden Shop)
  • Email shop@waterperrygardens.co.uk
  • Distances
    • Abingdon – 17 miles (35 mins)
    • Didcot – 23 miles (40mins)
    • Oxford – 8 miles (25 mins)
    • Wallingford -15 miles (35 mins)
    • Wantage – 27 miles (45 mins)

Winterbrook Garden Nurseries – Wallingford

This is somewhere I have yet to visit but will be doing so soon but should be on this list. Winterbrook is more of a traditional nursery and was recently re-opened and whilst it might not have the same range of plants as elsewhere it is constantly expanding and has an extensive range of Salvia’s.

Unlike other garden centres they also have selection of garden antiques and salvage available to add that finishing touch as well as other gifts.

Check the website for their opening hours before making a trip.

Winterbrook Garden Nurseries - Brightwell-cum-Sotwell
Winterbrook Garden Nurseries –
Brightwell-cum-Sotwell

B&M Stores – Didcot

B&M Stores & Garden Centre Sign - Didcot

Yes, you reading this right, B&M Stores should definitely be on your list for garden supplies.  B&M occupy the old Focus DIY store in Didcot which had a gardening area and B&M have kept that side of things going.  I pop into B&M quite often to see what is available as usually have small things at cheaper prices – for example if you need garden stakes, B&M is the place I go to first.  They have a selection of plants and other items all at reasonable prices but don’t be too surprised if you find what you particularly wanted is out of stock.

B&M Home Store with Garden Centre – Didcot

Wilko – Didcot

Wilko - Didcot
Wilko – Didcot

If B&M was wasn’t a surprise, then perhaps Wilko will be. OK, so it isn’t actually a garden centre but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pop in and
it is a popular destination for allotment holders.

What is available does vary over the seasons, as you would expect, however we have bought seeds, seed potatoes, onion & garlic sets as well as packets of seeds and bedding plants and all have been fine and at great prices.

They also have a small selection of tools, pots and various other items and if you time things right you can grab seriously good bargains when they are looking to clear the shelves with prices reduced considerably.

Wilko – Didcot

Other Places to go for Garden Plants, Tools, Supplies and Materials

There are a few other places to go for garden plants, tools, supplies and materials depending on what I am after. Below is my list of places I often visit when I am buying things for myself or clients:

  • B&Q (Abingdon) – Similar to Homebase but garden range is smaller and very little treated wood in store.
  • Screwfix (Didcot) – Open 7 days and carry a lot of stock so worth checking if you need a garden related tool or item quickly.
  • Toolstation (Didcot) – Also open 7 days and it is my go to place for quite a few things. Before setting out to buy something from elsewhere it is worth checking the Toolstation website.
  • Didcot Calor & Paving Centre (Didcot) – A good local place to go for paving, stones, and gravel. The fencing supplies are, I think, a bit on the expensive side though.
  • Wickes (Oxford) – I often buy gravel boards from Wickes and they have various other gardening related items however be sure to check elsewhere online before making a trip there and don’t trust its stock check report for the store!
  • Oxford Fencing Supplies (Abingdon) – This is where the trades go for fencing supplies so you can always be sure what you need will be available. Don’t forget VAT is added but even so, prices are still good and the wood is professional grade.

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