Brimsmore Gardens wins top prize at national Christmas Display Competition

Yeovil-based garden centre, Brimsmore Gardens, has been named national champion in the Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) annual Christmas Display Competition, claiming top spot in the Local Garden Centre Category. Marking the 15th time that one of The Gardens Group’s centres has won the GCA Christmas Display Competition in the last 20 years, this year also saw Poundbury Gardens near Dorchester claiming second place nationally, while Castle Gardens in Sherborne was named as a finalist in the regional rankings in the larger Garden Centre Category.

With judges scoring areas including ambience, creativity, range, flow and tidiness, all three garden centres impressed once again. Inspector, Alyson Haywood, who judged the competition with fellow GCA Inspector Peter Walker, said:

“This year’s winning Christmas centres showed an exceptional level of creativity and festive brilliance nationwide. From roadside entrances glowing with twinkling lights to immersive journeys filled with scent, storytelling and spectacular displays, participants delivered some of the most magical retail experiences to date.”

Peter added:

“There were beautifully themed departments, exquisitely dressed trees, inspired use of height, light and theatre. Festive touches reached every corner.”

Curated by The Gardens Group director, Louise Burks, these planet friendly Christmas displays have once again been built using repurposed and recycled materials, delighting visitors with themes including The Gruffalo, Alice in Wonderland, Tinsel Town and a Highland Christmas. Glass baubles, twinkly LED lights, recycled candles and plastic free toys are among the eco-friendly products on offer throughout the hugely popular displays, all helping to keep The Gardens Group’s magical wonderlands as green as they can be.

Louise Burks, director of The Gardens Group, commented:

“We are absolutely over the moon for the Brimsmore Gardens team, who have now taken the top prize at the GCA Christmas Display Competition twice in the past four years, as well as for the team at Poundbury Gardens, who have done incredibly well to secure second place. The bar is always being raised by our colleagues across the industry, and as we all strive to become more eco-friendly and more immersive every year, we’re incredibly proud to have another trophy to show for our efforts. Our Christmas displays are a huge team effort, so these accolades are a tribute to the hard work and dedication of everyone at The Gardens Group.”

The Gardens Group’s Christmas displays are open to the public seven days a week until Christmas Eve, at Brimsmore Gardens in Yeovil, Castle Gardens in Sherborne and Poundbury Gardens near Dorchester.