Grasmere Garden Center

www.grasmeregardens.com

Visited on September 20, 2007

While in the Lake District, we took a bus ride to Hawkshead, a touristy village due to its connection with Beatrix Potter, the popular English writer and illustrator for children’s books.  As the bus passed through Grasmere I happened to catch a glimpse of a garden center down a side street. When we were able to exit the bus, we took a walk back to the town centre where we found the Grasmere Garden centre.

Even though this lakeland village was congested with tourists, it was a beautiful village. William Wordsworth lived for a period of time in what is called Dove Cottage. He and his sister Dorothy had a garden and orchard behind the cottage. He wrote in his poem “A FARWELL:” “One side of our whole vale with grandeur rare; Sweet garden-orchard eminently fair, The loveliest spot that man hath ever found.”

Background

  • Location – Grasmere lies between Windermere and Keswick, 3 miles north of Rydal, 4 miles northwest of Ambleside. The village is known for its famous peaks and valleys of the Lake District. It is commercially popular for its connection with literary greats. William Wordsworth walked the Lakes from 1799 until his death in 1850. Samuel Taylor Coleridge followed Wordsworth to Grasmere to live. Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne visited Wordsworth and walked the Lakes with him. 
  • Transportation – Most visitors probably arrive in Windermere and head north to Grasmere.  We used the opposite approach, coming down from Keswick on one of the numerous Lake District bus routes.
  • History – After repeated failed attempts at acquiring background and historical information about this centre, I gave up.
  • Marketing – Grasmere is considered a good base for casual walkers as well as the experienced outdoors person who would do a full day of hiking and climbing. This garden centre caters to those people with the merchandise it sells, from clothing to hiking and walking accessories. 
  • Service – When I purchased Christmas decorations the staff in the merchandise area were friendly and helpful in boxing the items for air travel. There was an employee in the outdoor garden area to help customers if asked.

Facility 

  • Structure – A paved curving walkway with the last of the summer hydrangea blooms and the hint of fall color in the trees, was a visual delight as we approached the entrance. The architural style of the center as well as the stone façade and painted gable blended with the mountains behind it.  
  • Access – The garden centre is just a short walk from the main road after getting off the bus.  Or you can drive a car into the parking lot at the rear of the facility. The indoor facility as well as the outdoor area was handicapped accessible.
  • Traffic Flow – As you enter through the front door, the clothing merchandise and gift shop were at the front of the facility. A double door at the back leads into a greenhouse with houseplants and indoor pottery. A side exit lead to the outdoor displays. 
  • Signage
    • Interior Signs – The signage for the merchandise areas inside was basic.
    • Exterior Signs – The majority of the exterior signs were marked on individual benches. There were few identification signs on the lattice work separating the two sides of the benches. 
  • Displays
    • Interior Displays – There was a colorful mix of blooming plants with the foliage plants. The indoor plants were not intermingled with the gift shop displays.
    • Exterior Displays – The perennials and other plants were grouped together by variety on benches of various heights.

Plants

  • Outdoor Plants – They had end of the season, herbaceous perennials on sale 50% off. Winter and fall season plants such as mums, pansies, and cyclamens were healthy and attractive. In their small area they also carried a selection of conifers, ornamental grasses and bamboo, heather, ground covers, shrubs, clematis, roses, herbs, hollies, New Zealand flax, phormium, and Brown Turkey variety fig tree.
  • Indoor Plants – There was a separate greenhouse for indoor plants.
  • Warranty – I did not see any warranty on plants displayed.
  • Quality of Plants – The quality of the indoor and outdoor plants appeared good.

Merchandise

  • Gifts – Merchandise products relating to outdoor activities, such as rucksacks, jackets, fleeces, footwear for men and women, can be purchased on their website. Local interest books can be bought on their website also. They did not have any garden items or plants carried online.  In-store merchandise included walking accessories such as shoes, boots, and socks. They also carried kitchenware and gift items. Their merchandise on display was of high quality. They carried children's books, gardening books and other books for adults such as local interest books (Lake District) Pathfinder guides for walkers and bicyclists.  
  • Food – They had a casual café that served homemade light lunches, refreshments, and cakes. There was outdoor seating for café customers in good weather.
  • Seasonal – Christmas decorations were in stock at time of my visit. Many of the hanging decorations for the Christmas tree were nature related such as birds and hedgehogs.
  • Clothing – Ladies and men’s walking boots, waterproof jackets, clothing for outdoor activities including warm hats, scarves and gloves were available in the store. Summer clothing was on sale.
  • Furniture – A small selection of patio and garden furniture was displayed for sale.
  • Stoneware – For the size of the centre, there was a good selection of attractive, colorful stoneware for indoor and outdoor use.
  • Gardening – Hand garden tools, racks, gloves, and other basic items were available.
  • Aquatics – This center did not carry aquatic items.
  • Structures – I did not see garden sheds, working greenhouses, or conservatories at the time of our visit.
  • Landscaping/Hardscaping – Grasmere Garden Centre carried border stones and rockery. It is a small center so they did not carry large items for landscaping.
  • Flower Shop – There was not a flower shop on the premises.