The Garden Centre Association (GCA) has revealed the Best in Area garden centre winners at three awards presentation evenings for North Thames, South Thames and Wales and the West.
Chairman of the GCA Peter Burks said: "We are delighted to have announced our winners for the three areas this week and would like to congratulate all our members who picked up awards. It is a reflection of all their hard work and dedication to excellence, and they should all be very proud of the achievements.

"Winners of the Best Garden Centre were as follows for the Destination Garden Centre (DGC) and Garden Centre (GC) categories: Endsleigh Garden & Leisure (DGC) in Devon and The Old Railway Line Garden Centre (GC) in Powys for Wales and the West, Poplars Garden Centre (DGC) in Bedfordshire and Sunshine Garden Centre (GC) in London for North Thames.

"Haskins Roundstone Garden Centre (DGC) in West Sussex and Squires Shepperton Garden Centre (GC) in Middlesex picked up the prizes for South Thames."

The awards are decided by the results of the annual inspections, which take place at all GCA garden centres. Garden centres have no advance warning about when their inspection will take place and they do not have the option to turn away the inspector.

The 'best' awards went to the members that scored the highest overall mark in the area in their annual inspections.

These winners will now be put forward for national awards including Destination Garden Centre and Garden Centre of the Year, which will be announced at the GCA annual conference taking place from January 27 until 29, 2013.

Mr Burks added: "The winners of the Best Plant Department were Trelawney at Wadebridge (DGC) in Cornwall and The Old Railway Line Garden Centre (GC) for Wales and the West, Burston Garden Centre (DGC) in Hertfordshire and Sunshine Garden Centre (GC) for North Thames and Haskins Roundstone Garden Centre (DGC) and Squires Hersham Garden Centre (GC) in Surrey for North Thames.

"There were many other awards given out during the events, including Best Restaurant, Most Improved Garden Centre and Best Service and Facilities.

"We are looking forward to our remaining area awards presentation evenings for the Midlands on July 17, the North East and North West on July 19 and Scotland and Northern Ireland on August 22 and to revealing the winners in those areas."