Christmastime at Gardentime: A Festive Q&A

We had the pleasure of discussing all things Christmas and gardening with Gardentime, a local, independent, family run garden centre in Dartmouth, with its own café and farm shop.

In this Q&A, we discuss what sets this local business apart from others, from their plants and gardening products to their festive Christmas shop and award winning Christmas trees.

What sets Gardentime and your product offering apart from other garden centres in the local area?

Plants and gardening will always stay at the core of our business, and our knowledge and access to the absolute best quality plants are what sets us apart from our competitors.

We take the time to visit our local, national, and European growers. This means we are selecting the best quality plants whilst building great relationships with the nurseries we use, often working a year ahead to ensure we are offering the range of plants that our customers have come to expect. We make trips to Italy and The Netherlands to hand pick larger specimen plants, this gives us the advantage of not only importing the best stock, but also allows us the time to look for new and exciting plants to give our garden centre the wow factor.

Our shop has everything you’ll need for sowing seeds to planting trees, with experts on hand to help you make the best of your outdoor space.

What are some of your favourite delicious treats served in your relaxed cafe?

We do the classics – hearty breakfasts, home-made quiches, pasties, homity pies and delicious sandwiches. We mix things up seasonally, but Dan’s pasties, scones and sausage rolls are a mainstay for our regulars.

How does Gardentime engage with the local community?

We work with everyone from local charities, schools, pubs, hotels, and nursing homes – community is king for us – and has been integral to our growth and success over the past 20 years – we are eternally thankful to our brilliant and loyal customers.

Tell us about your Garden Club membership programme

Our Garden Club is all about bringing our community closer, adding extra value, and ensuring we can give our customers the very best prices. We want customers to enjoy coming to see us and have a sense of belonging when they shop with us. Being part of The Garden Club – which is free to join, means you build up points whenever you spend with us, gives you access to exclusive prices and every now and then, receive a little gift.

We also send out a monthly email with tips and tricks for the garden – accessing knowledge from the best in the business. Plus, over the Christmas period, Garden Club members can enjoy shopping four baubles for £10, 30% of all indoor and outdoor lighting and free delivery for Christmas trees. Well worth signing up!

Can you tell us about your locally grown, award-winning Christmas Trees?

Local, quality sourcing is something we feel very passionate about. We’ve worked with Stuart up on Dartmoor for 20 years and we know he shares our values and pride around the lineage and health of his trees. Each year Stuart enters his magnificent Christmas trees into a nationwide competition, judged by the country’s leading growers and for the past 4 years, Stuart has won multiple awards.

This means we know we’re offering our customers the best Christmas trees in the country!! So great in fact – one of his trees is displayed outside 10 Downing Street.

What options do customers have when it comes to choosing their Christmas tree at Gardentime?

We stock over 1,000 cut and potted Christmas trees, including Fraser Fir, Nordmann Fir, and Norway Spruce ranging from 3 to 15 feet in height. For our Garden Club members, we offer free delivery within the South Hams and for those further afield we can arrange a quote. We also offer a recycling service from £6.

Our beautiful, freshly cut Christmas trees will be in from Monday 20th November, but many people pre-order trees and wreaths – so drop us a line and we’ll keep your tree aside until you’re ready for it.

Philly’s gorgeous hand-made wreaths are really popular with our local customers and are competitive at just £19.99 for a classic design – if you want to have something bespoke made – we can do that to, there’s lots of choice and inspiration to be had.

What are some of the most popular options for those looking to give a thoughtful gift?

We have a broad selection of houseplants and lovely ceramic pots, for something more practical, tools are always popular, and for something more show stopping, a beautifully crafted garden bench or bird-table is a great choice.

I think most people struggle with gifts for Dad’s – our fire pits look great and give them something to do on boxing day! This Christmas we’re also launching a brand new Gardentime Gift Card – an excellent choice for friends and family who love gardening. You can load it with up to £100 and it can be spent across the garden centre, café, or farm shop.

Do you have any tips for customers planning to decorate their homes or gardens for the holidays using products from Gardentime?

We know the tree is the centrepiece at Christmas, but fresh foliage brings a traditional and natural touch too – you can dress your front door with one of our hand-made wreaths and for the big day – use fir, holly, and mistletoe to add detail to your table, mantelpiece, and banisters. Plus, it smells delicious!

What is the best way for customers to stay updated on Gardentime’s Christmas offerings, promotions, and events throughout the holiday season?

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to keep your eye on what’s happening on-site, and if you want to take advantage of some great discounts and free delivery on your Christmas tree then come in and join our Garden Club.

Discover Dartmouth’s fantastic local businesses on a South Devon staycation

With so many things to see and do in Dartmouth, it’s no wonder the town is a popular holiday destination all-year round. From shopping at Gardentime to discovering castles, beaches and exploring the peaceful River Dart, you won’t be short of activities in the local area!

Book a Dartmouth holiday cottage today for your family holiday, group getaway or dog-friendly break. Our collection of self-catering holiday properties offers something for all ages, with unrivalled access to South Devon‘s most picturesque spots.

Book your Dartmouth holiday today!