A visit to a garden centre is an excellent way to enjoy nature, have a bite to eat and spend a cost-effective morning or afternoon. You're never that far from a great garden centre - but one in Essex has recently been crowned the best in the UK.

Perrywood Tiptree took first place at the Garden Centre Association's annual awards gala. Furthermore, Perrywood Tiptree scooped up several accolades including the Ruxley Rose Award for Best Plant Area, the Ian Boardman Award for Best Indoor Plants Retailer, and the GIMA Award for Best Garden Products Retailer.

It also clinched The Barton Grange Trophy, the Customer Service Award, second place in The Paul Cooling Award for Environment and Sustainability, and third place in the Catering Award. The GCA conducts unannounced inspections of all its members annually to compile the league table, assessing various aspects such as customer service, merchandising, sustainability, creativity and innovation, product quality and range, among others.

Perrywood Garden Centre, a family-run enterprise actually boasting three garden centres, is on a mission to infuse more greenery into people's lives. They strive to create an unforgettable garden centre experience that leaves everyone involved with "a reason to smile," as they put it.

With a deep commitment to environmental stewardship, Perrywood works tirelessly to ensure their operations and the wider practice of gardening become increasingly sustainable. Their goal is to make a meaningful impact on the community in terms of environmental, social, and economic well-being.

Retail Director Simon Bourne couldn't contain his excitement over their recent accolade: "The UK is home to some truly outstanding garden centres, which makes it even more exciting that both our centres have been named in the top 10!

"This incredible achievement is all thanks to our phenomenal team's unwavering passion, dedication, and hard work."

He added: "From our beautiful plant displays to our carefully curated gift shops, every detail is designed to delight our customers. We couldn't be prouder!"