The family-run independent garden centre chain will run the seasonal planting masterclass next month in 14 of its centres in a bid to entice new customers and novice gardeners to turn their hands to horticulture with a low-maintenance, on-trend project.

Squire’s will host hour-long morning and afternoon sessions for the Bottle Garden masterclass on Friday, March 16 in all of its centres, apart from Chertsey.

Participants will be given everything they need to create an indoor bottle garden - the container, compost, gravel, pebbles, moss, and plants – and will be taken through the process by a member of staff. Squire’s will also offer advice on how to care for the finished article and where best to place the garden, so that it thrives.

The class taps into the growing trend for houseplants and the increase in consumers wanting to know how to create their own DIY terrariums. Squire’s deputy chairman Sarah Squire said: “Bottle gardens offer a connection between both gardening and craft making. They look absolutely stunning and it’s something everyone can do. “

To keep visitors in the centres for a bit longer and entice them to spend a bit more, the ticket price includes a tea or coffee and cake in Squire’s Café Bar afterwards and 10% off any other plants purchased on the day.

Discussing the opportunities presented by the increase in demand for houseplants,  Ms Squire told DIY Week: “We thought that this was the perfect time to focus on houseplants in one of our seasonal planting masterclasses. It is so exciting to see a category that had been in the doldrums turn around with a new and modern twist that appeals to generation rent as well as our more traditional customer base. It is great to see a new cohort of customers enjoying plants and embracing them into their lifestyle.”

She continued: “Cacti and succulents are particularly popular and bottle gardens, or terrariums, are very on trend at the moment, and they appeal to all ages. They are fairly easy to create so are perfect for both novice and more experienced gardeners. Our masterclasses are great at attracting new customers into our centres, and we also like to offer something a bit different for our regular masterclass attendees to enjoy.”

Squire’s offers a number of planting masterclasses, including one focusing on hanging baskets on Friday, May 18. The family-owned business operates 15 garden centre across Surrey, Sussex, Berkshire, Middlesex, North and West London.