This is not just a garden centre. This is Cadbury Garden Centre. This is a place where coaches…read morecome, full of old people, dropping them off here for an entire day trip. It's massive. It sells garden furniture, hot tubs, craft-making kits, cards, a bizarre array of home ware and gifts (more on this later), pet care products, some grotesque clothing (and decent Wellies), books, toys and goodness knows what else. There's also a café serving breakfasts, lunches and even hosting some themed evenings. In fact, I've half forgotten they even sell plants here. You have to traipse through so much other stuff to get to the nursery you could easily neglect the plants section completely. What perturbs me most about Cadbury is some of the tat they sell at ridiculously inflated prices. There are some truly terrible home ware products, from tasteless ornaments to tacky backlit canvas pictures. What is it about the gift buyers at garden centres that makes them choose such a hideous selection? Despite that, I have to admit I quite like going to Cadbury's - even if it's just to look around the Pet and Aquatics section (including cute baby rabbits), and the food hall, which has some nice local and regional produce. In summary, this is not just a garden centre. This is a Cadbury Garden Centre. And while I can't see the need to take a day trip here, I can't resist the odd visit just before Christmas when a huge area is dedicated to extravagantly-themed Christmas trees - which even included a ridiculous 'fairytale princess'-themed one on my last seasonal visit - a spectacle in itself!

I'm not a big fan of garden centres to start off with and as one of their competitors says, it's…read moremore centre than garden, which to be honest is fine with me. My daughter likes seeing the animals and there's plenty to look at in the non garden side of the centre. It is a bit on the pricey side but it'll keep you entertained for a couple of hours. The cafe is quite nice but be warned when they have warning signs about the wasps outside, they mean it!

Although billed as a garden centre, there is an important attitude here that lifts it above the…read morepansies and roses standard stuff and nearer to a proper nursery - they have a policy of trying to use mostly local growers. This means not only do you get some unusual plants making it a horticultural goodie bag for gardeners, but you also get plants that are used to the local climate. Plants range in size - there are some great specimen plants here to have a more instant garden feel as well as cheaper younger plants. All are in great condition with plenty of roots to the point where if you choose wisely you can split them and get two plants for the price of one. They have a bargain corner of those which have gone over but will come back in a few seasons or with a good pruning, so if you know your stuff then you can pick up a real bargain. The plants area outside is set out in handy sections - so if you have a shady corner where everything you plant dies then head to the back and there is a whole section of plants that will love that area. The staff are very happy to help, knowledgeable and perpetually cheery. The garden centre-y bit is well stocked, with the focus on what you can use now well-displayed. The cafe is always busy as the owners know that nothing goes better than pottering round a nursery with friends is to sit down and natter afterwards.

Cooperatively owned, Riverside Garden Centre is much better than it's more commercial peers…read more They've got an excellent (Bristol's largest, in fact) array of plants, both indoor and out, with a bargain section that I keep a sharp eye on. The emphasis is on locally sourced stuff, so you're unlikely to get something flown in from South Africa that's going to die within a fortnight. The staff are all chipper and friendly, and will answer your questions no matter how basic they are. The views over the River Avon and of the Suspension Bridge really are second to none. Add to this a café with absolutely scrumptious cake and you've got somewhere that's worth a visit even if you're not planning to pick up any plants (though that's not to say you won't).

This is a very large garden centre situated in West Monkton, just to the East of Taunton. It has a…read morelovely range of trees and outdoor plants, plus an enormous gift centre with crockery, local foodstuffs, etc. The cafe sells nice cakes and a wide range of cold and hot drinks.

From the owner: Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centreread more

A little off the beaten track but well worth a visit. Originally stopped here for a coffee but the…read morerange of fresh food on offer meant I decided to have lunch here. The tarragon chicken and rhubarb and red currant crumble with Earl Grey ice cream were delicious and the cost very reasonable. I dined outside to make the most of the sunshine and surroundings. A quick tour of the walled garden, where the cafe is sited, revealed that most of the ingredients I had eaten were sourced only a few yards away. Fruits growing in the garden included apple, pear, raspberries, blackcurrants, apricots and kiwi fruit and I'll definitely be making a return visit here. A real hidden gem

This is another big but fairly expensive garden centre that sells everything you'd expect, from…read moreplants, pots and garden ornaments to barbecue equipment, garden tools and furniture. This place stands out from the rest, however, for its range of miniature 'Show Gardens' where they offer ideas and inspiration for your own garden, including some interesting designs and layouts, use of a variety of materials, and different planting styles. I was also quite impressed by their range of plant pots, both for indoors and outdoors, which included more choice (in terms of colours, styles and materials) than many of their competitors. They're also good for trellis, patio furniture and garden tools. There's a section selling aquatics, another selling gifts (some of questionable style, in my view, but each to their own!), plus a cafe.

A pretty good garden centre, large, with just about everything you'll need. An impressive range of…read moreoutdoor and indoor plants and pots, trellis, netting, patio materials and garden tools. Artificial flowers too, a gift department and a cafe (which could do with more choice, especially vegetarian). The 'show gardens' are interesting and a good idea to help people trying to plan the lay-out of their new gardens. Quite an expensive place.

Amazing nursery with top quality trees and shrubs. Be warned this has no frills, the nursery is…read morebare track and outside so wrap up warm with sensible footwear. With their stock best planted in autumn, winter and spring you will find this nursery is shut on Saturdays during July and August. You can buy whole lengths of hedging here, as well as young to mature trees including ornamental, conifer and fruit trees. I have bought an unusual cherry variety here and it was in great condition and now living happily in my garden. They also supplied me with the equipment to stake the tree securely and lots of advice on looking after it - although it has pretty much been left to fend for itself and is growing so much each year. You can get plants delivered - expect to pay 10% of the bill (minimum charges apply plus VAT) - or they are very helpful at getting things into your car! I can't recommend this place enough - specialist nurseries should always be chosen over garden centres and if you are spending this amount of money on one plant then you want to ensure it has a healthy enough start. Talking of prices, my boyfriend was shocked to pay £70 for a tree.. until I pointed out that the nursery had grown this from seedling and cared for it for several years already and that it will last us a lifetime. You can buy smaller whips from here if your budget is tight but you will have to wait a few years before you get a proper tree in your garden.

FANTASTIC customer service - surpassed my expectations! When a national on line hedge supplier let…read moreme down, I turned to Chew Valley Trees to help. I had been waiting for two weeks with the other supplier until I became so fed up I cancelled the order. I was amazed when CVT said they would deliver to me the next day. Highly recommended.

I love this lady, she used to have a shop down the road from me in Staple Hill, but has now moved…read moreto the altogether more funky and creative Paintworks business park. Boo for me but hurrah for her. She now has the space to hold workshops on flower arranging - they cost just £35 for an hour and half lesson including all the materials. She also has wedding events for those looking for ideas for that occasion. The staff all produce lovely bouquets and seem to be genuinely excited about putting something together when you go in and pick out some flowers. They have won gold medals at Chelsea Flower Show - its not just gardens at the RHS show in London, they have a huge floral marquee attracting florists from around the world and to win a gold is remarkable stuff.

Trelawney is a big garden centre located in Ashford. Outside the garden centre there is a pond that…read morealways has really well fed looking fish and there is a little park for your children to play in. I quite like it in the summer as you can walk round the grounds. Outside they also have a variety of plants, garden sheds and garden ornaments that you can buy. Inside there is a big choice of plants, gifts (especially at Christmas) and they have café which has seating in and outside. A few times we have been to the café and had a roast dinner which was lovely. At Christmas time the garden centre normally sells lots of decorations and has a Santa's grotto. The garden centre always looks really well looked after I'm not really into flowers but I still enjoy looking around there and my daughters do as well.

Trelawney garden centre (previously Ashford) is a recently refurbished big garden centre.Situated…read morejust outside barnstaple it has lovely views over the estuary that you can see for the garden and pond outside the centre. As well as the usual plants it has a huge range of gifts and a cafe that does an extrememly delicious cream tea!