The winners of the Garden Centre Association's (GCA) annual awards were announced at its conference this week.
The awards were presented to the winners during two separate ceremonies at the De Vere Carden Park in Chester on Monday, January 26 and Tuesday, January 27.

GCA chief executive Iain Wylie said: "I'd like to wish everyone who won an award at the conference this year a hearty well done. Our members have worked exceptionally hard during the past year to reach very high standards and I'd like to congratulate all our winners on their successes."

The GCA represents nearly 200 garden centres nationwide.

Will Armitage, Chairman of the GCA, said: "We're a very passionate and hardworking industry and these awards recognise the very best of the best in the country. Well done and congratulations to everyone."

The full list of winners announced on Monday, January 26 were:

Christmas Competition (Garden Centre category)
Castle Gardens

Christmas Competition (Destination Garden Centre category)
Bents Garden & Home

Environment and Community Award
won jointly by Poplars Nursery Garden Centre and Simpsons Garden Centre

Ruxley Rose (Garden Centre category)
Cowell's Garden Centre

Ruxley Rose (Destination Garden Centre category)
Bents Garden & Home

Barton Grange Trophy for Creativity and Innovation
Planters, Tamworth

Customer Service Award - Best Customer Service
Sunshine Garden Centre

The Indoor Lifestyle Award - Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer (Garden Centre category)
Fairways Garden Centre, Ashbourne

The Indoor Lifestyle Award - Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer (Destination Garden Centre category)
won jointly by Poplars Garden Centre and The Burford Garden Company

The GIMA Award for Best Garden Products Retailer (Garden Centre category)
Cowell's Garden Centre

The GIMA Award for Best Garden Products Retailer (Destination Garden Centre category)
Barton Grange

Dick Allen Award (Most Improved Garden Centre)
Royal Horticultural Society Hyde Hall

The IFSE Award for Catering Excellence - Best Garden Centre Restaurant (Garden Centre Category)
Fron Goch Garden Centre

The IFSE Award for Catering Excellence - Best Garden Centre Restaurant (Destination Garden Centre Category)
won jointly by Bents Garden & Home and Frosts, Woburn Sands

Weber Outdoor Living Award - Best Outdoor Living Retailer (Garden Centre Category)
Sunshine Garden Centre

Weber Outdoor Living Award - Best Outdoor Living Retailer (Destination Garden Centre Category)
Van Hage Great Amwell

The winners announced on Tuesday, January 27 were:

Garden Centres of Excellence:
Aylett Nurseries Ltd
Barton Grange Garden Centre, Preston
Bents Garden & Home
Burston Garden Centre
Cowell's Garden Centre
Garden Wise Plant & Garden Centre
Perrywood Garden Centre
Poplars Nursery Garden Centre
Simpsons Garden Centre
Squires Garden Centre, Twickenham.

Associate of the Year:
Cedar Associates

Garden Centre of the Year:
Cowells Garden Centre

Destination Garden Centre of the Year:
Barton Grange Garden Centre, Preston