Local MP, Andrew Griffith, visited the thriving Squires Garden Centre in Ashington at the start of Spring to offer his support to the industry. The Member of Parliament joined with Chris Dartnell, centre manager at Squires in Ashington, to discuss the leaps the business has made since emerging from the pandemic and the challenges facing it as it moves into Spring. The MP enjoyed a tour of the site’s café, pottery studio, aquatics shop and all of the other products on offer. The local representative was central in a group of MPs in Westminster calling for the urgent reopening of garden centres during the first lockdown. The ornamental horticulture and landscaping industry is set to contribute nearly £42 billion to the UK and support over 760,000 jobs by 2030. As more of us spend time outside, or at home, garden centres across the UK saw sales soared following the end of lockdown and the unlocking of the country. Andrew also thanked the garden centre for its support for his South Downs Pub Guide which he launched last year, detailing the facilities on offer at over 35 rural pubs across the South Downs. Andrew said: “It was wonderful to see Squires flourishing here in West Sussex. Garden centres like Squires showcase some of the best of our horticultural sector and often bring together communities. I’m pleased to offer my full support to Squires, and the horticultural industry and other garden centres across West Sussex, as they bounce back from the pandemic.”
Local MP, Andrew Griffith, visited the thriving Squires Garden Centre in Ashington at the start of Spring to offer his support to the industry.
The Member of Parliament joined with Chris Dartnell, centre manager at Squires in Ashington, to discuss the leaps the business has made since emerging from the pandemic and the challenges facing it as it moves into Spring. The MP enjoyed a tour of the site’s café, pottery studio, aquatics shop and all of the other products on offer.
The local representative was central to a group of MPs in Westminster calling for the urgent reopening of garden centres during the first lockdown. The ornamental horticulture and landscaping industry is set to contribute nearly £42 billion to the UK and support over 760,000 jobs by 2030. As more of us spend time outside, or at home, garden centres across the UK saw sales soared following the end of lockdown and the unlocking of the country.
Andrew also thanked the garden centre for its support for his South Downs Pub Guide which he launched last year, detailing the facilities on offer at many rural pubs across his South Downs constituency.
Andrew said:
“It was wonderful to see Squires flourishing here in West Sussex. Garden centres like Squires showcase some of the best of our horticultural sector and provide a warm welcoming space to communities.
"I’m pleased to offer my full support to Squires, and the horticultural industry and other garden centres across West Sussex, as they bounce back from the pandemic.”
ENDS
Notes
- Article on post-pandemic garden centre sales: https://www.gardenforum.co.uk/news/other/garden-centres-hold-on-to-post-covid-gains-in-november/
- Ornamental Horticulture Roundtable Group report on industry net worth: https://www.rhs.org.uk/press/releases/ornamental-horticulture-and-landscaping-report
- South Downs Pub Guide: www.southdownspubs.com
- Photo of Andrew and centre manager Chris Dartnell (Source: Andrew Griffith MP)
