This is a totally independent GardenAction opinion of Blooms Garden centre and the Studley Grange Craft Village in the Swindon area. Click any picture to enlarge it.
PLANTS
It was raining when we visited Blooms garden centre in Swindon so we were glad to find that an unusually large portion of the outdoor plant area was under cover. Excellent for our British weather.
The plants were all healthy and the range was large. You are very likely to find exactly the plants you want at Blooms.
All hardy plants are guaranteed for two years which
is a good sign of their quality.
There were very few signs in the outdoor area so, although the range of plants is large, locating them is difficult. The garden centre has an outdoor plant information centre which is staffed in peak times of the gardening year.
PRICES Our test shopping basket showed the prices to be slightly above average. Examples of prices in 2008 are given below.
Rose, 3 litre pot �8.99 upwards
Common shrub (e.g. potentilla, hebe) �5.99
Clematis �
Runner Bean seeds (4m) �2.99 (Unwins)
Multipurpose 75l �3.99 (3 for �10) Bowyers
Fish, Blood and Bone, branded, 3kg �3.49
Economy Spade �12.99 (Yeoman)