IT was a five-star showing for a garden centre near Morpeth at a recent regional awards event.
Heighley Gate Nursery and Garden Centre received first place in the Best Display, Best Food Hall, Best Gardening Retailer and Garden Industry Manufacturers’ Association (GIMA) Award, and Best Service and Facilities categories at the Garden Centre Association’s (GCA’s) North East area ceremony.
It won the accolade for the Most Improved Centre and was given a Highly Commended award for scoring more than 80 per cent overall in its inspection.
Manager Roger Wale said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been acknowledged by the GCA, which is the industry’s top standards organisation that awards excellence at garden centres.
“It is a great recognition of the team’s hard work during the past year.
“We always strive at Heighley Gate Nursery and Garden Centre to have the very best of everything – staff expertise, customer service, a warm welcome and the best home-grown plants.
“We work hard to ensure our visitors have a wonderful time when they come to the garden centre.”
The business lies in 40 acres of grounds and more than half the plants sold at the centre are home-grown.
It employs more than 150 staff and sells a range of products for the garden and home.