I bought a Guinea pig from here on 22/04, she passed away after two weeks despite numerous vet…read moretrips and medication, the fault is solely on Woodbank nurseries for neglecting her. I was told by staff that she had received lice/mite/flea and ringworm treatment on arrival, which I took at face value. I checked her over the next day after she had settled in and I noticed she had a large cut on her neck which had scabbed over and her nose was scabby and she visibly had lice crawling over her fur. We took her to our local vets for treatment straight away, who confirmed she had mites/lice. We contacted the Woodbank who said that we could have a full refund if we returned her. We chose not to do this, as she had clearly been neglected to get in the state she was in and I was not comfortable returning her to that environment. I asked for confirmation and proof that she had received the treatment (this is basic for any establishment that sells animals and have multiple people working there, especially if they are applying any kind of medicine it should be logged) instead my question was ignored and I was offered a full refund. We have since taken her back to the vets as we noticed lumps on her chin, these have been confirmed as abscesses from bites caused by the mites/lice and tests have also been sent to the lab to check if she has ringworm. She is currently on antibiotics, as well as other treatment which could and would have been prevented if she had been cared for properly to begin with. A 3 month old Guinea pig should not be in this condition under any circumstances, and certainly shouldn't be sold like this. On the receipt Woodbank give you when buying a pet it states that they do not pay for vet bills after the animal is purchased, this in itself is concerning as it suggests it's been a common problem. Every other place I have bought/adopted Guinea pigs from have provided a 3 month guarantee, where if your pet gets ill they will pay for vet bills, this demonstrates that they believe they are selling the animal in a healthy condition. The fact that Woodbank openly state they do not pay for vet bills extremely concerning and should be a warning for other customers to not purchase an animal from here. Any Guinea pigs housed with mine during her stay at Woodbank will have lice/mites and most likely ringworm, and the department manager has not confirmed whether they have received treatment despite my requests for this. I am also aware 3 other Guinea pigs she was originally housed with were bought the day before and more than likely have the same issues. The department manager claimed all Guinea pigs currently in their care have been thoroughly checked, however the same assurance was given for my Guinea pig, and it's evident she had not been thoroughly checked so it's questionable what their thorough checks entail. The department manager and the store manager are not accepting liability for the neglect of this Guinea pig. When my partner mentioned we have been advised by the vet to contact RSPCA the manager laughed and stated that "they deal with them all the time", this response is very worrying and confirms other people are concerned about the welfare of the animals at Woodbank. Previously whilst visiting the pet department, one of the girls who works there was discussing the Guinea pigs kept in the centre pen for breeding and stated in front of multiple customers that many of the pups were stillborn and that it was an on going issue, further showing they are not able to care for the Guinea pigs they currently have and she also confirmed once they had babies they would sell the sows, which is also ethnically questionable. I strongly advise against anybody buying an animal from Woodbank unless you want a sick animal and are willing to cover vets bills.

In an area awash with garden centres, Woodbank stands head and shoulders above the rest…read more A vast range of plants and garden accessories and plenty of expert advice are available, as well as a pet department selling rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, etc along with all necessary equipment. There is an aquatic department selling everything you coulld need for any set-up, be it indoor, outdoor, coldwater or tropical. A well stocked gift centre, freh flower shop, and delightful cafe all add up to a wonderful garden centre where it is well worth spending a few hours.

This is a really good centre run mostly by volunteers and also by the residents with special needs…read morefrom a nearby home and their carers, thus, it gives it a special touch as most of the money made is then put back into the home and the centre. The main aim of the centre is to teach the residents about gardening and care and treatment of the plants and vegetables, etc. It also gives the residents the feeling of having a job and teaches them how to react to the general public and also helps them in other things like mathematics and that. They stock a huge range of plants and vegetables and the like which are very well grown and cared for. The staff are very nice and eager to make a good impression - the staff go out of their way to ensure you are happy with your purchase and to tell you have to plant it and where to plant it and even when to plant it and how to care for it. They really are knowledgeable. The centre is half way up the main road into thornton village in a lovely old building and a very large field - its very well signposted so you wont miss it. They open most days but it is best to check first if making a visit.

I had a quick look in but left with a large amount of stuff, an attractive store to explore. The…read morepricing was reasonable, and the staff were courteous. I'll be returning soon for another look.

A good range of plants and garden accessories and plenty of expert advice on hand, worth a visit at…read moreChristmas as they do a fantastic display, get a very good father Christmas and give the kids decent present.