Special anniversary as gardening blossoms once again
A GARDEN centre business with a nursery in Badshot Lea will be celebrating its 85th anniversary in July and is reflecting on how gardening has changed over the years.
Squires Garden Centres was incorporated on July 8 1936, and the original certificate of incorporation, though faded over time, still hangs on the boardroom wall alongside its first handwritten bank statement.
The family-owned business was founded by D J Squire, a keen gardener and sports coach at the Police orphanage in Twickenham.
Sarah Squire, granddaughter of D J Squire and chairman of the company today, said: “In the mid-1930s my grandfather was made redundant and he decided to start his own nursery and landscape gardening business. With DJ’s blessing his son, my father, Colin Squire, who is also 85 this summer, developed the company into one of the first garden centre businesses in the UK when he opened Squire’s in Twickenham in 1964. Today we operate 16 garden centres in Surrey, Sussex, Middlesex and Berkshire.
“I believe our centres should have the freedom to have their own character and personality, like siblings, but that there should be a family resemblance because we share the same standards and values.”
Gardening is a long-standing tradition in the Squire family and through their business they have tried to share the benefits of it with the communities they serve.
Sarah said gardening is now more important than ever because it allows people to enjoy nature and take their mind off life’s worries.
She added: “Gardening is great because it gets you out in the fresh air, is good exercise, connects you with nature and gives you space to think and clear your mind.
“I defy anyone not to feel relaxed and let the cares of the day slide away in the garden.”
Garden centres have changed over the years and so too have plant trends, as more people seek to grow their own fruit and vegetables at home. Sarah said: “The early garden centres sold plants and gardening products, usually from converted greenhouse buildings that were nowhere near the shopping environment customers quite rightly demand today.
“Plant trends come and go but many plants are just as popular now as they were 85 years ago, and for good reason, because they do well in people’s gardens and are reliable performers. Roses, Clematis and Lavenders are perennially popular, and there’s increased demand for grow your own fruit and veg and large statement plants.”
Today, 80% of Squires Garden Centre plants are grown in Britain, supporting local producers and offering fresh stock to customers.
Sarah believes the pandemic and several lockdowns people experienced over the past year have made many realise the huge benefits of gardening, adding: “Gardens and open spaces have become more important to people and gardening, dare I say it, has become cool again.
“With people spending more time at home again in 2021, it is the perfect opportunity to make your garden, no matter what its size, look its best. But it is not just about looks. It is a fact that gardening makes many people feel happier, healthier and more in tune with nature. Look out for special flowerbeds our garden centre teams have designed to celebrate our 85 years in plants.”
Find out more about Squires Garden Centres at www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk