Barton Grange Garden Centre, Preston

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	Opened in 2008 the Barton Grange Garden Centre at Preston is the second of their garden centres. This is the most lavishly designed of all the garden centres we have visited. It's not just like a department store, it's like an upmarket version in Bond Street!

This is a totally independent GardenAction opinion of the Barton Grange garden centre in Brock, Preston.

BARTON GRANGE, PRESTON - THE PLANTS AREA

The outdoor plants area is almost totally enclosed, protecting visitors from the elements entirely. To regulate the heat, the roof has large vents in it which are automatically closed or opened depending on the temperature and weather. Unique to all the garden centres we have visited.
The paths are principally straight but there are nooks and crannies off the main pathways which provide interest.

The paths are spotlessly clean as are the plant bays. They are also wide, allowing for wheelchair access.

The plants are all in excellent condition, with a large number of staff to keep them that way. Overhead signs are large and informative and the plants are generally in alphabetic order. The range of plants is good, though they occupy a smaller than normal percentage of the whole garden centre.

There are a couple of specialities, the most obvious being the extremely large range of clematis on offer (see prices below).

In keeping with a modern garden centre there is plant advice centre, well stocked with reference material.

BARTON GRANGE, PRESTON - THE PRICES

Barton Grange Garden Centre in Preston is not the place to visit if you are looking for low prices. On the contrary, the prices are high for this area of the UK. The lowest priced clematis we could find was £12.99, nearly twice the price of some other, less salubrious, garden centres.

Rose, 3 litre pot	£6.99 upwards
Common shrub (e.g. potentilla)
Clematis named variety	£12.99
Economy spade	£13.99
Stainless steel fork	£24.99
Runner Bean seeds	£2.69
Multi-purpose compost 60l	£5.99 or 2 for £10
Fish, blood and bone 2.5kg	£5.99
Tomorite 1 litre	£3.99
Miracle Gro 1 kg	£4.99
Large cup of coffee	£1.49

NOTE: Price comparisons are based on the prices we find at the time of our visit. We compare to them average prices in the same year as the date of the review.

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