The UK's largest garden centre group, Wyevale Garden Centres, says it is expecting to attract a record 12m Christmas shoppers between now and the big day.
The retailer's 141 centres have just launched their Christmas Shops, doubling their offer over last year to make the most of festive footfall and sales. Some 2.5m units of stock are on offer within nearly 8,000 Christmas ranges, being showcased in spectacular displays.

Approximately 10% of Wyevale's Christmas Shop ranges are exclusive, and 50% are new to Wyevale this year. Category price points range from 49p for novelty children's stocking fillers to £3,699 for the limited edition Crystal outdoor tree.

Gifting and outdoor decoration are big growth areas for Wyevale this year - with the latter set to hit an all-time high. Real and replica trees are a major footfall driver, and the company has brought in 28 different types of door wreath.

In line with other garden centres, Wyevale has also seen a growing trend in recent years for extravagant outdoor Christmas lighting, which has prompted it to strengthen its outdoor lighting offer this year. The company says it has tracked a demand for more natural-looking installations, with penguins and polar bears now out of favour as native foxes, rabbits and deer in wicker and acrylic reclaim their place in British gardens. Some 300 different types of outdoor lights will be included in this year's range.

Wyevale is also staging hundreds of events nationwide to further position its centres as a must-visit shopping destination for families this Christmas. Thousands of tickets will go on sale this month for ice skating, winter wonderlands, Santa's grottos and breakfast or tea with Father Christmas. Floristry and wreath-making classes are also being offered.