Mild weather leads to rise for garden centre trade

Garden centres across the Black Country and Staffordshire have seen a boom in trade this month thanks to the unseasonably mild weather.

The region was battered by heavy snow in the run up to Christmas last year, making driving conditions too hazardous and forcing shoppers to stay at home.

But this month has seen warmer than average temperatures and shoppers have been flocking to garden centres.

Tim Porter, managing director of Hollybush Garden Centre in Shareshill, said trade was back on par with 2009 after lower than normal sales figures last year.

"It has been a lot better than 2010 when there was snow on the ground in the two weeks leading up to Christmas," he said.

"People bought more Christmas stock this year and real Christmas trees."

Shoppers have been making the most of the mild weather by heading to Ashwood Nurseries in Ashwood Lower Lane, Kingswinford, to stock up on flowers and pot plants.

Manager Tony Cartwright said it had been "a great season" with around 300 people visiting every day over the past month. He said there had been high demand for cyclamen and pot plants.

Mr Cartwright said: "What a difference a year makes. We have had high numbers visiting every day over the past month. Last year was a disaster for us. We are located along a country lane and there was thick ice nearly every day which kept customers away.

"But this year the car park has been full every day."

Joanne Hawkins-McDowell, manager of Shenstone Garden Centre in Birmingham Road, Shenstone, said: "We have definitely had more footfall.

"We have also sold a lot more bedding and shrubs as people have been planting more. House plant sales have been strong too."

Meanwhile Arthur Payton, owner of Grasmere Gardens in Lichfield Road, Brownhills, said the number of customers coming through the doors was up.