... Neither of us are gardening experts but with a bit of advice from parents, we trundled off to Haskins to take a look at what they had on offer.
There are four Haskins garden centres around, but the one we visit is in Ferndown, Dorset. Others are situated in Southampton, Angmering, and Copthorne. ... Read review
Advantages: lots of things to look at Disadvantages: can be expensive
...parents, we trundled off to Haskins to take a look at what they had on offer.
There are four Haskins garden centres around, but the one we visit is in Ferndown, Dorset. Others are situated in Southampton, Angmering, and Copthorne. They started off as a family business which still exists today in 1882. Three out of the four stores are also attached to a Hobbycraft store as well.
As you can imagine the site itself is huge, with ... ...will beg to go into Haskins at Christmas just to see the huge fake father Christmas that appears.
**Products on sale**
- Outdoor furniture which includes, tables, chairs, loungers, barbecues, cooking utensils etc. Also included in this section is a small range of garden games which have proved a hit with the play club I am part of in the school holidays. You will find all the little touches here as well, such as recipe ... more
It's definitely that time of year again. The gardens are beginning to bloom and the weather is starting slowly but surely to get better and with it lifting people's moods, encouraging them to think about doing the garden. We only moved into our new house in December so our garden hasn't seen any action from either of us this year, but we're starting to get excited about what we can put where, etc. Neither of us are gardening experts but with a bit of advice from parents, we trundled off to Haskins to take a look at what they had on offer.
There are four Haskins garden centres around, but the one we visit is in Ferndown, Dorset. Others are situated in Southampton, Angmering, and Copthorne. They started off as a family business which still exists today in 1882. Three out of the four stores are also attached to a Hobbycraft store as well. As you can imagine the site itself is huge, with ample free car parking and disabled access, the store covers one floor only with both indoor and outdoor areas, selling ranges from the usual suspects you would expect to find in a garden centre and plenty that I really wouldn't have expected to see.
We often have a leisurely stroll around the garden centre on a Sunday if we are at a loose end. This may sound bizarre but seeing as they have a comprehensive pet range as well as the coffee shop, there's easily something for the whole family to look at.
As you enter the store through the double automatic doors, there is a mass of products facing you. First glance there doesn't appear to be a specific order to stock, but as you walk a way into the shop, you can indeed see the logic to the layout. All shelves and stock lines are cleanly laid out, with striking displays of flowers, and seasonal products. Visiting at Christmas is a must if you are near one as the display is amazing. My daughter will beg to go into Haskins at Christmas just to see the huge fake father Christmas that appears.
**Products on sale**
- Outdoor furniture which includes, tables, chairs, loungers, barbecues, cooking utensils etc. Also included in this section is a small range of garden games which have proved a hit with the play club I am part of in the school holidays. You will find all the little touches here as well, such as recipe books, cooking tools, outdoor lights, parasols. The list goes on and on in every section you will visit.
- Homewares - this area has everything from kitchenwares, candles, herbs and spices, gimmicky hot water bottles and heating pads in various character forms. This is a small section of the store, and in my opinion is quite highly priced, but it's a novelty section to the store, and seeing as there are no other retail stores too close to the garden centre, you may just be persuaded to buy it.
- Giftware - Anything pops up here from photo frames, greetings cards and wrap, jigsaws, games, novelty items, even a few items of clothing etc. I always take a few minutes to take a look round this section as although it is overpriced in my opinion, there is a really good range of products in the sense that they are all slightly different to what you may be able to buy in your average high street shop. If I was looking for something that little bit different, it would be a good place to look here.
- Pets - There is a good range of pet products on sale here as well as a selection of livestock ranging from rabbits, guinea pigs, birds and fish on sale. This area is always filled with kids as they watch the animals from a safe distance of course. This area has a dedicated member of staff on hand to help and answer questions. They also make sure the animals aren't being distressed etc and are kept in the manner they should be.
- Gardening tools - This area has all your usual trowels, bird tables, seeds, plant pots etc. The list really is endless and as you may compare to a large garden centre, it really does have to be seen to be believed.
- Outside the area is huge and holds everything from endless rows of plants, seeds, outdoor water features, sheds, gazeboes, large ceramic pots, etc. We spend ages outside when we are wondering what to put in the garden and looking for inspiration.
- Café - The Haskins café is a self service restaurant that also serves hot meals, and the traditional Sunday Roast. I have never eaten the roast dinner here, but have had plenty of the usual coffees on visits and indulged in the odd lunch of jacket potato and paninis etc. The prices here aren't too high compared to other cafes around, and I have always found the food to be well presented, and tasty. The café does get busy and finding a seat at busier times can be tiresome, with a long wait for hot food at peak times. Toilets are conveniently placed here as you really can spend a long while browsing the centre, a toilet is going to be a must. In my visits they have always been clean and tidy.
The general pricing structure of Haskins is that the majority of goods are slightly higher than you will be able to pick them up for if you shopped around and used the services of other garden centres or even supermarkets etc that seem to sell all the seasonal products nowadays.
Haskins are open every day except Christmas day and Easter Sunday. Times of opening are 9.00am - 6.00pm Mon - weds, 9.00am - 8.00pm Thurs - Fri, Sat till 6.00pm, and 11.00am - 5.00pm on a Sunday, (viewing is available from 10.30am ).
The staff are very sporadic around the store with the majority of them placed on the wide range of tills that always seem to be buzzing with people. In the Ferndown store they aren't always the cheeriest of people, but a lot of them I have seen have been of the younger variety and probably wont have a very keen interest in gardening or garden products. Not the cheeriest, but always polite and I have never had any trouble. The usual payment types are accepted in the form of cash, card or cheque, and very often you will receive a till voucher with a discount on for your next visit which is always a very tempting receipt to keep just to re-visit.
I really would spend a fortune in here if I let myself, and my garden would probably end up with that feeling of being too busy if I got too carried away, Mainly though I admit to visiting Haskins for inspiration and then we will buy the shrubs from somewhere a little bit cheaper.
Advantages: Many on-site amenities. Disadvantages: High prices - layout of plants not the best.
Haskins is probably Dorset's most popular Garden Centre. It has many factors in its favour. It has a large range of products - house plants, garden plants, composts, garden tools, pots and planters, ponds, aquatic plants, fish (goldfish, koi, etc.), a small pet section (the baby bunnies are an absolute must - they definately have the 'ahh' factor!), a gift and book section - in fact something for everyone. Also on site is the popular shop of 'Hobbycraft' ... ...The biggest drawback to Haskins is pricing. The plants are severely over-priced, particularly bearing in mind that they are not top quality. It is possible to find the same plants much cheaper in other local nurseries. That said, I must commend Haskins on their wide range of perennials - probably more different types than any other local garden centre.
Overall - a good day out - I spend hours drifting round the centre - but very rarely buy. As I ...
cutebobble 13.03.2005 (17.06.2006)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Haskins Garden Centre, Dorset
Advantages: Hobbycraft store on same sight Disadvantages: Very Very Expensive
Haskins Garden Centres
Most of the Haskins Garden Centres are based in and around the south of England, my local store is in Longham (which is in between Bournemouth and Wimborne in Dorset). We have many garden centres in this area of the UK, but none so expensive as Haskins, they try to make up for it by providing you with a nice coffee shop, very nice store and very knowledgeable staff, but their prices are very high, much higher than any other ...
sarah_stitch 17.09.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Haskins Garden Centre, Dorset
Advantages: large range of stock Disadvantages: high prices
...plants I have purcased frrm Haskins have been of the best quality with no problems such as vine weevils. The staff are always very helpful and the range of plants stocked is far better than other garden cantres in the area. The staff will also help locate plants and even order them in if possible. Even though the prices are high it is not the most expensive in the area, this label would go to Stewarts garden centre, another very good garden centre ...
hpearce 31.12.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Haskins Garden Centre, Dorset
Advantages: good sized store, large outside area, cafe, near-by Disadvantages: poorly educated staff, outside not maintained properly
Went to Haskin's near Longham for the first time on Saturday (18th Aug 07) as it was miserable outside and I wanted some seeds to plant and occupy myself for the day. The store is quite big and there is plenty of plants and garden tools to be distracted over. Initally I was quite impressed. Inside, the plants were well organised and tidy. Outside, however, was a different matter. Once you go though the back where the outside area is, quite a lot ... ...another or completely upside-down. Whether it was just a sudden one-time gust of wind that knocked them down immediately before I walked out or if they'd been like that for quite some time will remain a mystery I suppose but I would guess the latter as most of the staff (yes i'm about to be a bit judgemental) were young students who seemed to be there because it earned them a bit of money and not because they had any care or respect (or knowledge) ...
Lacunacoiled 19.08.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Haskins Garden Centre, Dorset
Advantages: close to home, good selection of items Disadvantages: some things can be expensive
I realy love wandering around Haskins Garden Centre on a weekend. Haskins is close to home as it is near Longham Just off the Bakers Arms roundabout. There is a nice big car park so you have plenty of room for parking.There is also a realy nice restaurant/tea room where you can have a hot or cold meal or snack, but this can be a bit pricey especialy if you want a nice cream cake at £2. each or more it can work out expensive. That aside it is a fantastic ... ...the garden, also they sell pet food, home ornaments, indoor plants and pots, plant food, compost, water features, aquatic plants and fish, pond liners, hanging baskets, garden features such as statues. I especialy like the garden animal ornaments they sell they range from £2.99 up to about £20 for larger ones, but there is a good selection and well worth the money. Plants are laid out very well, with each type clearly marked in it's area ie. shrubs, ...
tobias1 05.09.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Haskins Garden Centre, Dorset
