In the world of gardening there's no escaping Wyevale. According to its website blurb it's Britain's biggest dedicated Garden Centre Group owning over 110 centres throughout the country.
Us Brits are pretty much a green-fingered lot. Our gardens are now 'outside rooms' and if you believe ... Read review
Advantages: Lots of outdoor plants and pots, regular offers on, nice place to browse, lots of unusual things Disadvantages: Garden tools expensive, plants are not the cheapest around
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I tend to visit Wyevale because it has a far bigger choice of products than any other garden centre in my vicinity. Being big it has what business folk call 'buying power' to offer big deals. My local one is near Harlestone Firs, Northampton, a large plantation of fir trees and popular haunt for dogs walking their owners. Sunday afternoons regularly see a long string of cars parked outside the gates of Wyevale where the gathered masses can conveniently ... ...ORNAMENTS
Wyevale it seems is potty about pots. Or, perhaps more specifically, we, the general public are. Varieties include glazed ribbed and plain, wooden barrels, cool geometric metallic ones, terracotta pots from 3 inches up to 2 foot high, plastic Celtic-looking ones that look like tin (made from recycled plastic stuff), and even ones featuring Bart Simpson's head!
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All pots are divided into the 'frost resistant' ... more
In the world of gardening there's no escaping Wyevale. According to its website blurb it's Britain's biggest dedicated Garden Centre Group owning over 110 centres throughout the country.
Us Brits are pretty much a green-fingered lot. Our gardens are now 'outside rooms' and if you believe the hype require the same amount of attention lavished upon them as our homes. Blame Charlie Dimmock, Diarmuid Gavin and Alan Titchmarsh if you will.
WHY WYEVALE?
I tend to visit Wyevale because it has a far bigger choice of products than any other garden centre in my vicinity. Being big it has what business folk call 'buying power' to offer big deals. My local one is near Harlestone Firs, Northampton, a large plantation of fir trees and popular haunt for dogs walking their owners. Sunday afternoons regularly see a long string of cars parked outside the gates of Wyevale where the gathered masses can conveniently sip tea inside the nice and warm Garden Centre restaurant afterwards. Lying within its high perimeter fence are plenty of parking spaces to accommodate cars and also coaches - on a recent visit full of pensioners from Yorkshire of all places.
The centre, pre-Wyevale was previously a nursery-type affair with cold bare concrete floors and lofty panes of glass. Now, as if been left in a bag of super grow compost it's become enormous. So much so in fact, calling it a garden centre is a bit of an insulting understatement. After the expected stock of plants and gardening accessories come paving, gazebos, clothing, books, candles, hot tubs, cakes, hamster cages, fish, artificial flowers… More on each of those later.
MY SHOPPING EXPERIENCE
What follows is a recollection of my recent visit in January 2006 with the Centre in the throes of January Sales fever. Time to go into a trance…
Past three bags of compost for a tenner deal outside and my first stop is a large open-sided area for mostly half-hardy plants and bedding plants. Straight in my path a selection of pots planted with primroses, tulips etc in all their spring finery - allowing the less adventurous an easy way to brighten up their lacklustre patio it seems. Deeper into the jungle I come across grasses, ferns, patio roses. Stickers are plastered on dozens of them, flashing 75% off and 50% off! Mostly those which have died down for the winter like hostas and asters. Perhaps realistically 50% or 75% dead, but not being one to let a bargain slip through my fingers I decide to snap up a Carex variety of grass for a measly 75p. All the rage in designer gardening circles I believe.
PRICE AND VARIETY
PLANTS:
Finding the plant you're looking for is not too difficult here - they're organised by type - fruit bushes, herbaceous plants, bedding, herbs, bamboo etc in regimented rows then alphabetically by variety. Their stock takes in all the plants you are likely to want in your garden. There are also more exotic species such as tree ferns, varieties of patio palms and water plants.
I find that most plants here are pricier than garden centres within DIY stores such as B&Q but slighter cheaper than nurseries. What you are paying for though is the level of care bestowed upon them. DIY stores being the most neglectful, if you like. As a rough guide, trees are priced upwards of £20 and the average plant is priced at around £3.
GARDEN ORNAMENTS
Wyevale it seems is potty about pots. Or, perhaps more specifically, we, the general public are. Varieties include glazed ribbed and plain, wooden barrels, cool geometric metallic ones, terracotta pots from 3 inches up to 2 foot high, plastic Celtic-looking ones that look like tin (made from recycled plastic stuff), and even ones featuring Bart Simpson's head! . All pots are divided into the 'frost resistant' or 'guaranteed frost resistant' camp. A bit perplexing I think, but there is a care leaflet available in store to explain more. Not wishing to push my luck with the British weather I opted for the latter with a black glazed pot measuring 5 inches across for £3.99. I also picked up a Mekong pot of thick terracotta down from £4.49 to £1.12!
To take future pride of place in the stateliest of gardens, Wyevale have a fine display of classic Haddonstone pots accompanied by garden statues, bird baths, obelisks etc with hefty price tags attached. Plus other more down-market designs in grey, honey, stone and pink.
Spurred on by the designer gardening revolution, there is a varied selection of gravel, slate and feature stones, fountain sets both modern and traditional complete with pump. Also a large number of wooden archways with seats - not quite gazebos - the cheapest at around £150.
INSIDE…
Outside is just the half the story. Inside there are lots more product awaiting my delectation at the Wyevale Pleasuredrome. With carpet at my feet and a warm air around me, it feels pleasant inside.
Immediately I see many sorts of tulip bulbs, a bench displaying the weeniest of bedding plants for handkerchief-sized gardens, no doubt… Then seeds…the offer to buy any two Thompson and Morgan vegetable, plant or flower packets for a free packet of purple carrot seeds (I suspect not one of their best sellers) tried but failed to tempt me in.
"Purple carrots, well I never!" I overhead one shopper say. "Have you seen this offer…" butted in an over-enthusiastic member of staff.
Onward… and past expensive wooden garden furniture, barbeques, tools (rather pricey), weed killers, propagators and various other garden accessories.
I remember seeing lots of garden books, and drawn at random from my memory: Men and their Sheds, a book on The Spitfire and Impressionist Art. Generally the discounted sort you see in The Works.
Nearby - CDs most of which are priced under a fiver. Some supposedly relaxing panpipe music wafts in my eardrums as I pass.
Tucked in a corner are magazines, around 20 titles and not just on gardening but women's, men's, technology, lifestyle ones etc. This place is starting to look like a supermarket. Blimey, they've even got carrot cakes, chutneys, biscuits and crisps!
What a browser's paradise this is with gifts and birthday cards to boot. A good selection here - candles, classy-looking but reasonably priced ornaments, a bronze-effect life-sized Labrador, pottery cherubs, wind chimes. Lots more of those 75% off and 50% stickers to tempt people like me in.
Not content with stocking just wellies they also have other clothes, in green and navy for horsy, outdoor types. Plus in pastel colours - fleeces, scarves and gloves.
Where are the indoor plants? Oh here they are… Almost by the checkout a slightly disappointing selection of plants of the small variety orchids, begonias, foliage plants, ferns, umbrella plants etc. No insect eating plants unlike some DIY Centres but they do have air plants with the paraphernalia you need to keep them alive.
That just about covers everything - apart from the other outlets they have dotted around the edge: Pet centre (not huge) selling the basic pet accessories. A quite large aquatic section run by Maidenhead Aquatics with many tanks of tropical fish, food, decorative bits for placing inside tanks etc. A wee outlet for hot tubs (sorry that conjures up some rather unpleasant imagery.) Oh yes and toilets, that pass the clean test. And a restaurant, rather a glorified caff actually.
And another thing, at Christmas much of the inside is taken over by Santa's grotto surrounded by herds of animatronic reindeer. Outside, a large inflatable Santa that wouldn't look out of place on a council estate.
Tuesdays sees the place gently buzzing with more than its usual share of people of advanced years mulling tirelessly over tomato or apple chutney; or dahlia or penstommon. The reason? Highlight of the week - National Wyevale 10% Discount for the Over 60's Day.
Staff are pleasant and don't rush your purchases through the checkout which matters to some people. From tuning into conservations with customers they also seem well equipped to answer basic horticultural questions.
IN SHORT
To stop this long review from growing to sunflower proportions, here are some quick notes on my experiences of Wyevale. An impressive selection of outdoor plants, but not indoor ones. A good place to browse for presents. Pots are keenly priced. Garden tools aren't. Plenty of products to transform your garden and draw upon ideas in all those garden shows.
To sum up - you will probably come out with something you hadn't planned to buy because Wyevale is a garden centre in disguise.
Wyevale - gardening on a large scale. There you are, Wyevale, a nifty slogan for you. That's £450 + VAT please.
Advantages: Very good choice and array of plants, excellent cafe, attentive staff (if you can find one) Disadvantages: quite pricey, shopping baskets need updating, trolleys a nightmare.
...Darkness, don’t go looking in Wyevale for their latest CD, if you like Roger Whittaker, then you’re onto a winner. You’ll probably find him sitting on the shelf next to Engle Bert Humperdink.
The sweet section is a like a magnet for children and such a bad idea for having it so low down. Just within easy reach of wandering fingers. I don’t like my kids having sweets so a battle always commences when we near this section. You cant miss it, they placed ... ...n mix doesn’t always look that clean as you will witness not just one, but usually a dozen children with their hands inside the plastic lids. It really needs supervision here, or better still, get rid of it.
This branch has pet kingdom inside. Not many pets to buy but you can get your pedigree chum or gerbil food here.
Wyvale’s also stock a selection of cakes, pretend home made jams, salad dressings, chutneys and the most delish shortbread this ...
debbie_marway 10.05.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Wyevale Garden Centre
Advantages: Local, friendly and big choice of goods and plants. Disadvantages: Too tempting
My local Wyevale garden centre is one of my favourite places to visit. It's only a few minutes away and I'm a very keen gardener, which means I spend too much time browsing and too much money buying there.
The atmosphere is really welcoming and the staff soon get to know your face if you're a regular customer.
The car park is large with a nicely planted border running alongside the driveway. At the far end there are a few overhanging trees so, ... ...service is standard for all Wyevale centres but it's been popular at my centre. You can also borrow a wheelchair from just beside the entrance door.
Approaching the double sliding entrance doors you can choose from two sizes of trolley or just inside you can pick up a basket.
Once inside there are several choices of direction to take. On the left is the gift section. Here you can buy vases, ornaments, picture frames, trays, aprons and dozens of ...
Marans 16.04.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Wyevale Garden Centre
Advantages: a great garden centre Disadvantages: none
Wyevale is said to be Britain's largest chain of garden centres and I find that very easy to believe as between where I live and work I am in easy distance of at least four! The two which I frequent the most are at Twyford in Berkshire along the A4 and in Windsor so it is my experiences from these that I am basing my review on.
The first thing to point out is that although you will find all the usual things that you would expect in a graden centre, ... ...having trouble choosing gifts.
Wyevale also offers a wide range of indoor and outdoor furniture. They sell some really amazing patio sets to fit every size of garden and pocket! At the moment there is an end of season sale where you can get some very good discounts on quality goods. A couple of examples are a Kingsford Nevada 3 flatbed gas barbecue reduced from £229 to £139 and also a Wyevale Provence Gateleg 4 seater set reduced from £449.50 to ...
kingfisher111 18.09.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Wyevale Garden Centre
Advantages: some great offers, you can have a coffee, helpful staff Disadvantages: a bit out of town, car park small
My local Wyevale garden centre is about eight miles from where I live. And it is so much more than just a garden centre. The range of stock is really quite phenomenal and some of their special offers just cannot be beaten by the big DIY stores.
We went to visit on Sunday, after going out for lunch. In the centre I visited, they open 10 – 4 on Sundays, with late opening till 8pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The car park is a bit tricky, with ... ...worry me to much ( I was not driving!!). There were plenty of people inside, but it wasn’t packed out. My first little winge would be that the baskets that you put your purchases in were mainly broken, with most of them having split handles. However, we did find one so it was not really a big deal.
The plant section is impressive, and reasonably priced. For example, I bought 20 trailing lobelias for £2.99. the plants were a good size, had ...
flupen 22.05.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Wyevale Garden Centre
Advantages: great range and service Disadvantages: spend to much here
Wyevale garden centres is home to such a wide range of products.It is a great place for the family to go out for the afternoon, usually it is popular on a Sunday and bank holiday Mondays.
The main section of the garden centre is of course planteria. This is outside with part of it under an undercover area so people dont get wet when it rains.The stock ramges from little seedlings starting from 85p, consiting of fushias, lobelis, geraniums etc. Bedding ... ...for 10 they come in pansy,marigolds etc. Then it moves up to larger plants and trees. Basically whatever plant you are looking for they have in stock. If for any reason they dont have what you are looking for then it can be found on their plant finder service or something that is similar to it. If you want any assistance knowing how they grow, what compost is best for them then there are always staff on hand to give advice.
Staying with plants they ...
angels21 14.05.2001 (11.05.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Wyevale Garden Centre
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Advantages: Pretty , attractive to butterflies Disadvantages: Spikey
.99, from my local Wyevalegardencentre, web address http://www.wyevale.co.uk You will find you can buy sea holly at many other gardencentres on and off line for about the same price.
If you wanted to you could grow it from seed in autumn or spring seeds costing about £2.00. I hope mine will self seed on my chalky rockery bank, I expect I shall save a seed head and try to grow them from seed myself. This plant has a long tap root and you have to be careful and dig deep if moving this plant.
This plant is not only attractive to me but to butterflies and insects too, I shall be interested to see which species nectar on this flower this summer. It flowers June till August.
The flowers on this plant make great dried flowers for that everlasting arrangement. ...
mumsymary 09.07.2009 (12.07.2009)
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When sorting the saws out in my garage I found we, or butterfly conservation owns a Yeoman 21inch blade bow saw
* Just in case you do not know what a bow saw is.
A bow saw has a long straight thin blade which is fitted at each end to a thin metal frame that curves like an archers bow.
*Price
I looked on line to see how much it costs at Wyevalegardencentre it costs £7.99 a replacement blade costs £3.49. I think this is where we bought ours as we have a couple of these gardencentres nearby. We could have bought on line from Wyevale http://www.wyevale.co.uk
*Bow frame.
This bow saw is a green one with the word YEOMAN printed in with in the centre of the curved metal tubular bow.
The saw blade fits to both ends of the bow. At one end it fits with a screw through a hole through a flattened end of the bow. The other end ...
mumsymary 14.07.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Yeoman Bow Saw
Advantages: cuts well spare blade for a yeoman saw Disadvantages: none
If you have a yeoman 21in bow saw it might one day need a replacement blade . These blades are available at http://www.wyevale.co.uk or you can always pop into the wyevalegardencentre to buy one. A single blade will cost you £3.49.
This blade is made of precision ground tempered steel. It has many jagged teeth .This blade should last a long time as it is strong and rust resistant.
The blade on a Yeomans saw is fairly as to remove it has a black quick release lever on the end of the saw. just use this and the saw blade can be removed no screwdrivers needed . Fit the new blade into position and then close the quick release lever this will tension the blade and fix it securely and firmly.
Would I recommend ? Yes if you have a Yeomans bow saw its good to have a replacement blade handy
*Bow frame.
This bow saw is a green ...
