BLOOMIN’ BRILLIANT!

FOR those lucky enough to have green space, the garden has proved to be a place of escape and focus during lockdown.

From the green fingered to budding beginners, having more time has meant our gardens have been getting some much needed TLC.

With this in mind, many local garden centres have established a delivery system and no contact click and collect service so you can continue your efforts.

Here is a list of garden centres a cross Coventry and Warwickshire offering delivery and collection.

SMITH’S GARDEN CENTRE

The Baginton-based nursery has a fully stocked online shop, and is doing deliveries to households within an eight-mile radius of its centre.

They have even been sharing people’s gardens on their social media, as well as providing videos of the stock they have, and putting out top tips for keeping your garden happy.

A statement on their website read: “Our online shop is now open for orders and these will be delivered to your front garden/roadside ONLY. We aim to provide a contact free delivery, taking all the necessary health measures as issued by the government.”

They aren’t taking telephone orders so you need to email: sales@ smithsnurseries.co.uk

You can follow them on Twitter: @ Smiths_gc

HAWKESMILL NURSERIES

THE family-run Warwickshire based nursery is taking orders directly from consumers within a 10-mile radius of its nursery in Kenilworth, Warwickshire.

Judging from their social media page, they have lots of euphorbia and foliage giants, as well as pretty perennials to add to your patch.

You can contact them by email: sales@hawkesmillnurseries.co.uk or phone: 01676 532334.

You can also follow them on Twitter: @Hawkesmillnurs.

HILLTOP GARDEN CENTRE

The centre, which sits on the outskirts of Coventry, is offering delivery options and at the time of writing, was putting the final touches to its no contact click and collect service.

From their website, it looks like they have a wide range of plants available, including trumpet Lily, Lily of the Nile, Dicentra, Lavender, and hanging basket plants.

To make an order visit their website: www.hilltopgardencentre.co.uk or phone: 02476 614 752. Lines are open 9am-1pm Monday to Saturday.

BLOOMS N BLOSSOMS

The Holbrooks-based florist also stocks plants, and are doing free contactless delivery in Coventry on orders over £30, with a minimum spend of £20 required for delivery.

They are also still doing their delivery of flowers too, which judging from the reviews on their Facebook

page is putting a smile on faces across Coventry.

THE OAKS NURSERIES

THE Nuneaton-based nursery have written on their website that they are closed for the foreseeable future

Located just of the A444, the family run business has been running since 1952, they write on their website that the spring months are good for primroses, pansies and violas.

They have had to temporarily close their phone lines, but have welcomed online orders as they are still doing deliveries. You can place your order by visiting their website: www.theoaksnurseries.co.uk

LITTLEHURST NURSERY AND GARDEN CENTRE

THE independent garden centre based on the outskirts of Coventry has plentiful offerings for your garden, and the glowing reviews on its Facebook page show how well their delivery service has been received.

One review reads: “I was so excited and pleased with the order and the professional, friendly way my order was dealt with. Now to set to work. Gardening is definitely my way of improving my wellbeing, keeping fit and it’s so therapeutic. I hope things will improve soon so I can come again in person.”

You can either make your order directly through their newly set up online shop at: www.littlehurst-gardencentre.co.uk/store/ or you can email: info@littlehurst-gardencentre.co.uk

They are delivering to households within a 10-mile radius.

HOAR PARK GARDEN CENTRE

THE garden centre based just outside of Nuneaton are offering deliveries and also taking collections too. It looks like they have rhododendrons, hanging baskets and compost all in stock.

You can call them on: 02476396011 or visit their Facebook page: @hoarparkgardencentre

RUSSELLS GARDEN CENTRE

THE Baginton-based garden centre, like all others in the region, has had to close its doors to the public. However the team have been creative in keeping their customers updated.

They have been sharing tips on their Facebook page, as well as giveaways and pictures of customers with their goods. They are offering a contactless home delivery service, which is free of charge to our elderly or vulnerable customers in the local area.

You can email your order to : contact@russellsgardencentre.co.uk

Or leave an answerphone message on: 024 7630 3627.

Or visit their Facebook page: @ russellsgardencentre.

KINGS HILL NURSERIES

THE Coventry-based garden centre is offering safe, contactless delivery. They have had to limit the hours their online shop is open for due to a high demand, so be sure to make your order early.

It looks like they have a healthy stock of melon, sweet corn, pumpkin, courgette seeds, and their popular hanging baskets.

You can place an order on their online shop: www. shop.kingshillnurseries.co.uk/or phone: 02476 697034.

AVONDALE NURSERY

THE Baginton-based nursery, which has recently been taken over by new management, has also had to close its doors. They sell a range of high quality perennial plants grown onsite in peat-free compost, with only organic pest control, and in recycled/recyclable or non-plastic pots whenever possible - so definitely one to look at.

They are delivering orders of more than £40 to within a 10-mile radius of the centre.

You can visit their website: https:// www.avondalenursery.co.uk/ to pick what you want and place an order by sending an email to: enquiries@ avondalenursery.co.uk

DOBBIES GARDEN CENTRE

THE Atherstone-based chain retailer remains closed, but have opened up their online delivery system and have their customer service team working remotely.

A note on their website said: “Online delivery is still operating however please be aware that delivery times may be extended as both our team and our suppliers adapt to new ways of working in order to stay safe. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause you.”

A look at their website says that expected delivery times are June 2020.

You can visit their website: www. dobbies.com/plants and they are sharing regular updates on their Facebook page, including tips and info about their podcast: @Dobbiesatherstone

FURTHER AFIELD BARBY NURSERIES

THE centre, based just outside of Rugby is offering an ‘order and collect’ service for all essential gardening items, as well as offering a ‘no contact’ delivery service to customers. They have also been bringing the nursery to locals, by filming their shrub area, ducks and fish.

You can call them on: 01788890314 from 9am till 5pm

Or visit their online shop: www. barbynurseries.co.uk

Their Facebook has lots of tips too: @Barbynurseries

MALT KILN FARM SHOP

THE farm shop, based in Stretton Under Fosse near Rugby, remains open as a shop observing social distancing rules. They have a large selection of plants and compost for your garden which you can pick up. They are also offering food deliveries to local people that are vulnerable.

You can visit the farm shop at: Main Street, Stretton-under-fosse CV23 0PE Rugby, Warwickshire or call 01788 832640.

They also regularly update their Facebook page: @Maltkilnfarmshop.