Stewarts Garden Centres deliver during social distancing

The Christchurch, Wimborne and Titchfield centres owned by Stewarts Garden Centres have responded to requests from their customers to offer online shopping for the first time in the company’s history since 1742.

The successful family owned business has been reluctant to venture into e-commerce until now but Terry Head, Retail and Marketing Director, believes that their customers will appreciate the opportunity to buy from their trusted centre so that they can continue to pursue their gardening during the spring in the fresh air whilst restrictions are advised by the government regarding Coronavirus.

“Our staff are keen to make this a team effort and have even offered use their own cars to help meet the demand for home deliveries! As payment will be made online there will be no need for our delivery team to make direct contact with those confined to their homes other than from a distance,” confirmed Terry Head. 

“A large range of popular plants for spring planting and products for garden care is to be made available. If anyone has a request for something not listed, they can call us, and we will do our best to add an item to help their gardens be a pleasant retreat from the outside world.” 

It was Edward Stewart who witnessed how garden centres were developing in North America after the second world war. He is recognised as being the first to introduce a dedicated garden centre with a shop that started to sell plants in pots in the UK. Although the company’s horticultural origin can be traced in Scotland, the Stewart family has had nurseries in Dorset since 1859 and still cultivates a large percentage of its own plants. The introduction of online sales is the latest stage in their long history.

“We don’t want to let the thousands of our customers down just because they may not be able to get to us. Free delivery within a 30-mile radius of our centres will be offered to anyone spending £50 or over. We hope that this will help those with time to spare make the most of their garden and help against the inconvenience of staying at home during the Coronavirus outbreak,” said Terry Head. We hope that we have pleasant spring weather to give everyone a natural boost to health and moral."

Last year, Dorset LEP allocated £297,000 of Local Growth Funding to Stewarts Nursery, Dorset. Funding was agreeded to produce a innovative and highly productive state-of-the-art Agritech Glasshouse growing facility. Upon expected completion in September 2020, the glasshouse will have varied heating zones, low carbon technology and an horticultural-based education facility.

Find out more about the project here or for further information on Stewarts Garden Centres E-Commerce visit: www.stewarts.co.uk

Photo caption: Terry Head prepares to brief delivery team.

For additional information contact:          

Gareth John

Wordcaster PR, 07831 623147, gareth@wordcaster.net

Notes to Editors:

Notes to Editors:

Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership is a business led private and public sector partnership, promoting local economic growth and prosperity. Dorset LEP deliver projects that support and develop infrastructure, housing, skills, enterprise and business growth to achieve long-term economic benefit for all in Dorset. For more information visit the Dorset LEP website http://www.dorsetlep.co.uk/

Local Growth Fund

Local Enterprise Partnerships are playing a vital role in driving forward economic growth across the country, helping to build a country that works for everyone.

That’s why by 2021 Government will have invested over £12bn through the Local Growth Fund, allowing LEPs to use their local knowledge to get all areas of the country firing on all cylinders.

Some additional key facts:

• There are 38 LEPs covering the whole of England.
• The government has awarded £9.1bn in three rounds of Growth Deals to local areas to drive economic growth.
• LEPs are investing in a wide range of projects including transport, skills, business support, broadband, innovation and flood defences.