The winners of the Garden Centre Association's (GCA) annual conference awards have been announced at the four-day Blackpool event, which ends today.
GCA chief executive Iain Wylie said: "Congratulations to everyone who picked up a prize during the conference. You are all very worthy winners and have worked extremely hard during the past year."
The full list of winners is:
· Ruxley Rose (Garden Centre category), Cowell's Garden Centre
· Ruxley Rose (Destination Garden Centre category), Van Hage Great Amwell
· Barton Grange Trophy for creativity and innovation, Bents Garden & Home
· Customer Service Award, Barton Grange Garden Centre
· Indoor Lifestyle Award (Garden Centre category), Fairways Garden Centre, Ashbourne
· Indoor Lifestyle Award (Destination Garden Centre category), Poplars Garden Centre
· GIMA Award for Excellence in Garden Product Retailing (Garden Centre category), Planters Garden Centre, Tamworth
· GIMA Award for Excellence in Garden Product Retailing (Destination Garden Centre category), Barton Grange, Preston
· Dick Allen Award (Most Improved Centre), Newbridge Garden Centre
· IFSE Award for Catering Excellence - Best Restaurant (Garden Centre category), Poundbury Gardens
· IFSE Award for Catering Excellence - Best Restaurant (Destination Garden Centre category), Chessington Garden Centre
· IFSE Award for Catering Excellence - Best Restaurant (Destination Garden Centre category), Ruxley Manor Garden Centre
· Weber Outdoor Living - Best Outdoor Living Retailer (Garden Centre category), Squires Garden Centre, Hersham
· Weber Outdoor Living - Best Outdoor Living Retailer (Destination Garden Centre category), Poplars Garden Centre
· Worral Cup for Best Marketing Campaign or Initiative, The Millbrook Garden Company
Garden Centres of Excellence:
· Barton Grange Garden Centre, Preston
· Bents Garden & Home
· Burston Garden Centre
· Fairways Garden Centre, Ashbourne
· Garsons Esher Garden Centre
· Planters Garden Centre, Tamworth
· Poplars Garden Centre
· Squires Garden Centre, Twickenham
· Van Hage Great Amwell
Associate of the Year:
· Taylors Bulbs
Garden Centre of the Year:
· Cowell's Garden Centre
Destination Garden Centre of the Year:
· Barton Grange Garden Centre, Preston
Will Armitage, chairman of the GCA, said: "I would like to congratulate all of the winners of the awards. It's great to see so many people who are passionate about what they do and where they work, and it's down to them that their garden centres have come out on top."
The GCA represents nearly 200 garden centres nationwide.
Read a full report on the GCA conference in the February 7 issue of DIY Week