[DD.]

Only just found this out:

http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/brookside-nurseries-in-anstey-closes-down-after-37-years-in-business/story-29610087-detail/story.html

[mumofstig]

Oh my! Where will you get your seed potatoes now?

[DD.]

Had a look around, we have a Wilko here, but they don't have anywhere near the choice, Wyevale (Rowena) has a choice, but a high price tag, (£4.00 for 10 Charlotte for instance). I'll keep looking, but at the moment it's going to be cheaper to get them mail order from a certain supplier in Southern Scotland.

Then there's the shallots and onion sets................................... (I'm probably OK with Wilko here).

[snowdrops]

Only just found this out:

http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/brookside-nurseries-in-anstey-closes-down-after-37-years-in-business/story-29610087-detail/story.html

I was wondering that too niece in law used to work there but left in September after waiting & waiting to get redundancy,so I knew it was on the cards. Woodlands (Wyevale)today had their seed spuds in, £5 for 2 kilos or bags of 10  £4 or 3 bags for £10=30 seed spuds. Hawgrips at Enderby had rocket in loose before Christmas, not sure how many other varieties they usually stock, but they are up for sale as well😟

[sunshineband]

Always sad to see these independent places go

And I can recommend that southern Scottish place... they have done us Ok for a while now

[DD.]

I've had them from there before when I couldn't get the varieties I wanted locally and would have no hesitation in using them again.

Snowdrops - those prices you quoted are pretty much the same as at Wyevale. I've had a calculation and with the prices JBA (yes I'll name them!) charge, I'll be in pocket if I order 5 or more packs of 2kg.

I'll move this to GYO, as the thread has developed into a bit more than a lament at the demise of my local nursery.

[finleyfreyaseth]

Only just found this out:

http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/brookside-nurseries-in-anstey-closes-down-after-37-years-in-business/story-29610087-detail/story.html

I was wondering that too niece in law used to work there but left in September after waiting & waiting to get redundancy,so I knew it was on the cards. Woodlands today had there seed spuds in, £5 for 2 kilos or bags of 10  £4 or 3 bags for £10=30 seed spuds. Hawgrips at Enderby had rocket in loose before Christmas

dunno if you got poundland round near you but for onion sets and shallots there superb

[DD.]

Thanks, but I'm a bit fussy with my varieties!

[sunshineband]

Thanks, but I'm a bit fussy with my varieties!

I grew poundland onion sets last year and they were OK as kitchen onions. Nice to be able to have a choice of varieties though, other than "red" or "brown"  though

[DD.]

Wilko do Centurion onion sets, so they'll do nicely, I've had great success with them in the past.

[Paul Plots]

It's really bad news when a local nursery closes. Ours was about to be turned into a new housing development a few years ago but for once the locals managed to stop it going ahead.

So pleased there is still one good local nursery in cycling distance. They are holding a "potato festival" with local news coverage as they are able to offer such a huge range of seed potatoes.

Sorry your local has closed DD. I'd feel pretty miserable if ours went.

[bazial]

Hi  DD
         With Anstey garden centre  shutting down ,the owner arranged for COOKS FARM SHOP on Markfield Lane LE60BA between Newton Linford and Markfield to sell PLANT & GROW COMPOST  and they are also going to sell seed potatoes as well
   

[Christine]

Our local independent garden centre is dying by a thousand cuts. It's a huge site and lets out bits to other businesses as they don't grow their own.

The camping centre onsite went bust - that bought a lot of people in who also bought bits and pieces.

The aquatics side has been bought in house as the people running it weren't making cash. Putting the fish tanks in a suitable area near the till has lifted the sales but that's not gardening.

The clothes have gone; the area of general tat (ornaments and such) has grown. The cafe has grown. The plants have gone downhill as the turnover is low. The onion set selection is smaller and the choice of bulbs, shallots, garlic too. The garden furniture side is also now being run down as it doesn't sell.

There's a warehouse type operation in the one of the local towns that gives good value but which has seen trade drop off so much that they are restructuring (downsizing I suspect).

I suspect that the garden furniture trade has dropped off with places like Wilko, Homebase, Asda, Argos, IKEA, the supermarkets selling cheap to the public along with online sales from all of them. And so it goes on - we lose the specialists with the knowledge to size and price with no knowledge.

[DD.]

Hi  DD
         With Anstey garden centre  shutting down ,the owner arranged for COOKS FARM SHOP on Markfield Lane LE60BA between Newton Linford and Markfield to sell PLANT & GROW COMPOST  and they are also going to sell seed potatoes as well
 

Thanks for that - guess where I'll be having a trip to!

[Paul Plots]

Some good news there DD. Not quite the same as a nursery you may have enjoyed visiting but at least the supply of seed potatoes and other bits may continue. Hope so.