CHOOSE GARDEN CENTRES BY COUNTY BELOW
This independent review of Swarkestone Nursery and Garden Centre was written by David Marks and was last updated in November 2025. This is an in depth review by a real human as a result of visiting this garden centre, no Artificial Intelligence is involved! We reviewed the inside and plant sales areas, took pictures (see lower down this article) and checked out the cafe.
Swarkestone Nursery began as a Market Gardener business in the 1960s selling plants and vegetables to wholesale markets in the surrounding area. Even that far back the business was owned and run by the Jackson family.
In the 1980s they built a very large glass house (which is still standing today) to house and grow more bedding plants. The bedding plants side of the business so much that by 1999 they stopped the vegetable business.
The Jackson family have been in the horticultural industry for many decades and the current owners, John and Helen Jackson, trained at Pershore College of Education in the 1970s. Swarkestone Nursery and Garden Centre opened full time in 2000.
A very informative article describing the evolution of the business can be found here.
Swarkestone Nursery and Garden Centre is not dog friendly. As from October 2023, no dogs (except service / assistance dogs) are permitted any where on the site.
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Collyer's Nurseries - 7.5 miles away
Garden King - 10.5 miles away
Derby Garden Centre - 13 miles away
Lane's Garden Centre - 13 miles away
SIZE: Large, around 150 tables
FOOD TYPE: Everything from a cup of coffee to main meals. Cakes, on-site baked scones and many other snacks are also available. The breakfasts are particularly well regarded with the choose-your-own selection for a full breakfast of five items at £8.95 representing particularly good value.
FOOD QUALITY: We will update this section when we have tried a few more of their meals.
DECOR: One outstanding feature of this purpose cafe is the large windows to the sides and roof which let in loads of light. The tables and chairs are pleasantly solid. The cafe is pleasantly decorated and fresh looking.
OUTDOOR SEATING: The outdoor seating area is also attractive, overlooking plants in the garden centre.
SERVICE: We tend to visit off peak and at those times the service is good. But reviews do show there can be problems with the service at peak times.
VALUE FOR MONEY: We will update this section when we have tried a few more of their meals.
They sell a very large choice of shrubs, trees (ornamental and fruit) and plants with many bedding plants and herbaceous perennials being grown on the site. They know the nursery business inside out and they, and their staff are more than happy to help you should you need advice.
The plants area is attractively laid out with wide and level paths in most areas.
As well as plants they sell gardening accessories including solar lights, bird feeds (an especially comprehensive choice of all things to keep birds happy), garden furniture, stoneware, water features and all those every day garden essentials.
For those who enjoy browsing round garden centres, you will not be disappointed. The shopping area is large with lots of homeware, cards, gifts, garden furniture and more.
ACCESS: Disabled access good all round.
ADDRESS:
Swarkestone Nursery
Lowes Lane
Swarkestone
Derbyshire DE73 7GQ
GOOGLE MAP:
Click here for a Google map showing the location of
Swarkestone Nursery and Garden Centre.
OWNER:
Privately owned by the Jackson family.
TELEPHONE NUMBER:
01332 700800
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