REVIEW RESULTS

This is one of our favourite garden centres of all time, not quite up with Lady Green Garden Centre in Cheshire but very nearly. Farnborough Garden Centre has a charm all of it's own. They have forgone the tall and impressive glass entrances of some more pretentious garden centres and gone, instead, for an intriguing and pleasing design of the plants area. On top of that, plant quality is the highest we have ever seen.

DOG FRIENDLY?
Farnborough Garden Centre is not dog friendly. They confirmed to me that only guide dogs are permitted.

THE OUTSIDE AREA AT FARNBOROUGH GARDEN CENTRE
At the cost of under-utilising a few square metres here and there Farnborough Garden Centre have divided their sales area into a series of boxes, each devoted to a plant group, and this works exceedingly well. You are drawn further and further into the area and in the end you realise you are where you first started.

It's all kept immaculately clean and the paths are more than wide enough. Most of the surface is gravel but it's kept firmly in place with plastic mesh. At one point there is a slope which might cause some wheelchair users a slight problem but the slope is gentle.

THE PLANTS
Farnborough has a large plants area and the average gardener will not be disappointed with the selection on offer. What is striking however is the sheer number of large specimen plants, shrubs and trees. This is the garden centre to visit if you want plants which will have immediate impact in your garden.

Many of the plants, especially the trees, are grown in the adjoining nursery. The quality shines though, everything looks immaculately cared for. Quality like this comes at a price and it seems that plant prices at Farnborough are slightly on the high side. Your opinion may differ, we believe they are well worth the modest extra.

INSIDE FARNBOROUGH GARDEN CENTRE
A good stock of composts, plant feeds and other gardening essentials are all available inside. On top of that the normal range of large garden centre goodies are on offer. Well displayed and readily accessible.

DISABLED ACCESS
Disabled access is good all round.

CAFE
A year or so ago Farnborough garden centre opened its cafe area. They offer only teas and coffees with a few packaged snacks. It's self-service and basic but if you need to rest your feet and have a coffee or tea then it serves its purpose. Hot drinks cost a meagre £1 from the machine, must be the cheapest on offer at any UK garden centre!

OTHER STUFF
Car park - Good for most days but it can get busy at peak times.
Pet Centre - We saw none.
Water Features -Yes, a good selection is well displayed.
Aquatics - No fish but a good range of healthy aquatic plants
Sheds and Greenhouses - We saw none
Toilets - Yes