Every tree matters at Grosvenor as the garden centre encourages customers to plant at least one tree during the UK’s largest celebration of trees, National Tree Week (26th November – 4th December). 

Marking the beginning of the winter tree planting season, National Tree Week has been celebrated since 1975 and is now an unmissable date in Grosvenor’s calendar.

“Not only does planting a tree in your garden increase your positive impact on the environment and support wildlife, but trees have been proven to offer health benefits too as they promote wellbeing and improve the green space around you,” commented Iain Wylie, managing director.

Grosvenor is marking the occasion by introducing new varieties to its popular range of fruit and ornamental trees, such as Apple Christmas Pippin and Rosette, Prunus Frilly Frock and Sorbus Olympic Flame.  
  
“Our trees are sourced from British nurseries as local to the garden centre as possible with none travelling further than Worcestershire so they arrive and remain in the best condition possible,” stated Pete Davies, plant buyer.

“Each of the new varieties has been carefully chosen for its excellent quality and exciting new distinctive features.  National Tree Week is the perfect time to plant at least one new tree and any of these new varieties would be a great addition to every garden – we even provide a free stake and tie to give all our trees the best possible start,” Pete continued.

A member of Cheshire Wildlife Trust, Grosvenor is highly supportive of any means to encourage wildlife in gardens.  Trees provide an excellent source of food and nutrients and prove an effective way of creating a food source for animals before hibernation.

For further information on Grosvenor’s range of trees (and Christmas trees!), please call Grosvenor’s team of horticultural experts on 01244 625270.

Visit Grosvenor next weekend, Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th November between 11am and 3pm, as Santa makes his entrance at the Garden Centre for a fantastic Christmas experience.

Enjoy Santa’s parade at 11am on Saturday and Sunday as Santa arrives on his sleigh pulled by reindeer and accompanied by stilt walking, the Grove Park Theatre pantomime cast and festive music by the City of Chester band.  Santa will be at the Garden Centre all weekend to meet and greet customers young and old.

See Santa

With entertainment throughout the weekend including circus workshops and rousing festive music, Santa’s reindeer will remain at the Garden Centre until 3pm each day and visit again every weekend before Christmas.

“The arrival of Santa at the Garden Centre is always a popular and memorable experience to begin the countdown to Christmas and I would encourage everyone to arrive early to avoid disappointment!” commented Iain Wylie, managing director.

Santa will return to the Garden Centre from Saturday 3rd to 24th December to read a story in Grosvenor’s Storytime with Santa experiences.  And on 17th, 18th and 24th December, he will attend special Breakfast with Santa experiences too.  These events are extremely popular so early booking is advised.

Following the success of Grosvenor’s fundraising bake sale last year, the team on Wrexham Road in Belgrave has once again marked National Baking Week (17th – 23rd October) by donning their aprons and raising their rolling pins for Claire House Children’s Hospice, the Garden Centre’s adopted charity for 2011.

With goodies ranging from muffins to cheese and ham pinwheels to rocky roads, cookies to doughnuts – each item was sold in the staff room for a nominal donation, raising a grand total of £65 raised during National Baking Week.

And Grosvenor’s Cafe joined in too by creating a special Claire House cupcake with all proceeds from each sale donated to the children’s hospice in Bebington.

The team bake sale and the special creation in the Cafe are the latest in a series of fundraising activities undertaken by Grosvenor in support of Claire House this year - all embarked on and supported by staff at Grosvenor.

“The enthusiasm for the week’s sale was fantastic with members of the team kindly donating their time and home baked cakes and savouries towards the cause.  And our grateful thanks also go to everyone who supported the initiative in the Cafe - the Claire House cupcake was a particular favourite during National Baking Week,” said Jenny Carr, customer services supervisor and organiser of Grosvenor’s bake sale.
 
“We would like to thank the Garden Centre and all the staff for their continued support and dedication to our wonderful children’s Hospice.

At Claire House, we all really appreciate the way in which everyone at Grosvenor are so positive and motivated to help us towards raising the £2.5million we need each year to provide the specialist quality and care to our children and their families, both at the Hospice and within their own homes.

The public are generally not aware that nearly 20% of our children come from the Cheshire area so it is especially important to us to have been chosen as the Grosvenor Garden Centre’s Charity,” commented Abi Smith, area fundraising manager, Claire House Children’s Hospice.

We are once again supporting National Vegetarian Week this week (23rd – 29th May) by celebrating and promoting the benefits of a meat-free diet.

Grosvenor celebrates National Vegetarian Week with Cafe Manager, Helen Eastop and Chef, Craig Hunter.

The Café specialises in fresh, seasonal and locally sourced ingredients all year round and National Vegetarian Week has presented Chefs, Eddie Currie and Craig Hunter and the kitchen team at Grosvenor, with the perfect opportunity to source delicious new ingredients to encourage visitors to try their meat-free selection.

A member of the Taste Cheshire accreditation scheme, the Cafe has created a range of vegetarian dishes including Sweet and Sour Stir Fried Noodles with Sesame Seed and Coriander and Roasted Red Pepper Lasagne with Courgettes, Spinach and Pesto together with Roasted Portabello Mushroom stuffed with Ratatouille and topped with Parmesan Herb Crumble. 

“Our menu is constantly updated and refreshed to incorporate the seasonality of our ingredients and our vegetarian dishes always prove highly popular.  We are therefore pleased to once again support National Vegetarian Week by creating a range of speciality meat-free dishes using wholesome ingredients such as aubergine, sweet potato and a varied selection of herbs for everyone to enjoy meat-free this week,” commented Helen Eastop, Café Manager.

“The benefits of a vegetarian diet are renowned – both from an environmental and health aspect - and by adding tasty meat-free alternatives to our menu, we are able to raise awareness of a meat-free lifestyle,” Helen continued.

Grosvenor has launched its popular, annual Schools’ Growing Competition to inspire school children from 11 schools in the local area to get growing.

Grosvenor’s Schools’ Ambassador and horticulturalist, James Mabon, is visiting each of the 11 participating schools to deliver the plug plants, compost, pots and plenty of hints and tips required to grow a prize winning Petunia Hot Flame. 

With more than 30 children from each school participating, each child will take their plant home to nurture it before taking part in an individual school’s judging ceremony where James will decide the three best plants from each school. 

The final of the Schools’ Growing Competition will then take place on Sunday 12th June at 2pm at the Garden Centre when one winner and two runners-up will be chosen and presented with a trug full of gardening goodies and vouchers for their schools.

Grosvenor’s ongoing work within the community highlights the benefits and ease of nurturing and caring for plants and each school looks forward to taking part in the competition each year.  

“Here at Saighton C E Primary School, the children’s enthusiasm for planting and caring for their own plant is a delight to see and we all greatly look forward to taking part in Grosvenor’s competition each year,” stated Mrs Alex Gelling, teaching assistant.

With the Petunia always a popular choice, Grosvenor opted for the easy-to-grow favourite for children to grow as their competition entry.

“We should see some great blooms and plenty of fresh buds, good leaf health and an exceptional rounded form from the Petunias over the coming weeks and by the time the Grand Final takes place on 12th June, I am sure I will be spoilt for choice and choosing a winner will be a very difficult task indeed!” said James.

“We launched the Schools’ Growing Competition 12 years ago and we are delighted to have inspired children to grow plants for all these years.  The enthusiasm and interest from the children and schools never diminishes and is a delight to see every year,” said Iain Wylie, managing director.

“Our regular Children’s Plant Workshops held here at Grosvenor during school holidays have never been more popular with children as young as five showing a great interest in the magic of gardening and it really is a joy to see,” Iain continued.

For further information on Grosvenor’s Children’s Plant Workshops, click here and to book please call Customer Services on 01244 625200.

Grosvenor will be helping visitors to enjoy a taste of ‘the good life’ this weekend, Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th March, from 11am until 3pm, with expert advice, demonstrations and a mini farmyard too.

As part of its ongoing initiative to inform and advise visitors how easy it is to create or improve their own Edible Garden for a bountiful supply of fresh fruit and vegetables all year round, Grosvenor will be offering beginners and more advanced gardeners the chance to learn from the experts with tips and visual demonstrations in their own Edible Garden.

Grosvenor will also be helping visitors sign up to the One Pot Pledge encouraging children and visitors to the garden centre to get growing.  A national scheme in conjunction with Garden Organic, a charity in support of organic growing, the One Pot Pledge encourages everyone to get growing even with just ‘one pot’.

Visitors wishing to learn more about rearing their own animals and the importance of their impact on the countryside can see and stroke goats, guinea pigs, lambs, pigs and rabbits in Grosvenor’s visiting farmyard.  And spinning wheel demonstrations will be taking place showing the journey from fleece to wool, and there will be a fun fruit and veg quiz too with a free packet of seeds for every entrant.

On Sunday 20th March, the ‘100 Day Waste Challenge Roadshow’ will be at Grosvenor, offering hints and tips on reducing household waste through recycling, composting and raising awareness of how even the smallest actions can have a big impact.

“Here at Grosvenor, we are passionate about encouraging everyone to make the most of their gardens and to use even the smallest area to create a ready supply of the most nutritious fresh fruit and vegetables available.  Our Good Life weekend will provide the perfect opportunity for anyone interested in giving it a go to learn all they can and plenty more about enjoying self sufficient lifestyle,” commented Claire Binns, Events Co-ordinator, Grosvenor.

Grosvenor’s Apple Weekend has been a great success as visitors embraced the British apple and joined Grosvenor, local villages and schools, Eaton Estate and The Chester Grosvenor and Spa to enjoy the entertaining and informative event.

A village Masterchef competition saw Christine Emerson from Aldford, Chris Talbot from Eccleston and Rachel Gunnery from Saighton compete against each other for the coveted title and a winner’s hamper.  The lucky winner was Christine from Aldford with her starter course of filo baskets with brie, caramelised apple and onion with apple crisps and roasted clove of garlic. 

Rachel from Saighton had the hard task of completing a complicated recipe within the allotted time slot of one hour with pork sausages in honey, mustard and apple with potatoes, leeks, broccoli, apples and walnuts topped with a cheese sauce and coated with breadcrumbs.  And finally, Chris from Eccleston completed the three course meal with two fruit pies – one made using Bramley apples and the second with the addition of fresh blackberries.   Simon Radley, Michelin starred Chef from The Chester Grosvenor and Spa judged the competition alongside Scott Whitelam, Café Manager at the garden centre.

“It was a very difficult decision as all courses were equally tasty but the delicious caramelised apples on Christine’s filo baskets were particularly inspired,” said Simon Radley.

Head Gardener of Eaton Estate, Les Armstrong, proved a popular draw to the garden centre as he offered advice on growing apple trees and was able to identify unknown varieties of apples already growing in local gardens.

“I have been completely taken aback by the number of visitors requesting my advice and it has been a joy to see a few varieties of apples that I have never seen before.  I will be researching any left unidentified and contacting everybody with my findings over the coming days,” said Les.

Visitors were invited to try their hand at apple pressing using a traditional press, and took part in a longest apple peel competition with the winning peel measuring an amazing 429cm!  The winner was delighted to win a £50 garden centre voucher.

And there were prizes for the younger visitor too with a ‘Find Annie Apple’ competition and any child who visited the garden centre in apple fancy dress received a Grosvenor chocolate bar.

With nature activities, storytelling and face painting taking place throughout the weekend together with music from Abbey Gate and Eccleston school choirs and the City of Chester band on Sunday, visitors were entertained as they sampled juicy apples and enjoyed tastings in the food department, pork burgers and sausages from the barbecue and a choice of apple desserts in the Cafe throughout the weekend.

“The weekend was a great success with a fantastic response from the local community and the villages of Aldford, Eccleston and Saighton receiving an overwhelming number of apples towards their village juice appeal.  In fact, each of the two crates provided for each village were already full by Saturday evening!” commented Iain Wylie, managing director.

“Our Apple Weekend has seen a great number of visitors to the garden centre this weekend which has helped to create a real sense of community spirit.  I am delighted that by continuing to work with the local community, Apple Weekend was even bigger and better than last year.  We are providing a source of information and advice for anyone wishing to grow their own apple trees and inspiration for producing delicious meals with their own homegrown apples too.  Growing your own fruit not only reduces food miles but the produce is fresher and tastier too,” Iain concluded.

Grosvenor will be hosting a celebration of the great British apple next weekend, Saturday 9^th and Sunday 10^th October, between 11am and 3pm, held in conjunction with the local community of surrounding villages and Eaton Estate.

As part of its Growing Communities initiative, Grosvenor will be showcasing the versatility of this delicious fruit, as visitors can see apple press demonstrations and taste freshly squeezed juice, together with samples in the food department, an apple themed menu in the Café and pork burgers and sausages from the barbecue served with homemade apple sauce.  Les Armstrong, Head Gardener of Eaton Hall, will also be on hand to identify unknown apples grown from visitors’ gardens.

To keep everyone entertained, there will be children’s nature activities, storytelling, face painting and live music from the school choirs of the local villages and City of Chester band.  

With competitions for all ages to enjoy, visitors can try their hand at peeling the longest apple peel, hunt for Annie Apple and there will be a prize for everyone who visits Grosvenor dressed as a Granny Smith, Pink Lady, Red Devil, or any other apple variety - and there are plenty to choose from with more than 3000 varieties grown here in Great Britain!  

The village schools of Aldford, Eccleston and Saighton have also been learning about apples and each has produced an apple-themed display on view at the garden centre throughout the weekend. 

And everyone can help to raise funds for local villages by bringing along apples from their gardens to add to containers at the front of the centre, the contents of which will then be pressed into juice locally before being bottled to sell at village fetes and functions over the coming months to raise funds for community projects.  

“Our Apple Weekend last year proved immensely popular with everyone ready to embrace the versatile great British apple.  It is testament to the community spirit here in Chester that local schools and villages are supporting Apple Weekend and we hope to be able to raise even more funds for local villages and our own adopted charity for 2010, Claire House Children’s Hospice, who will be here throughout the weekend,” commented Iain Wylie, managing director. 

Grosvenor, located in Belgrave, Chester will once again be helping to grow communities by joining forces with Eaton Estate and surrounding villages to celebrate the British apple.

Celebrating its 21st birthday, the national Apple Days initiative has struck a chord with Grosvenor over the past few years with 2009 seeing an Apple Weekend event at the garden centre which encompassed villagers and schools from Aldford, Eccleston and Saighton all taking part in a great Apple Weekend celebration.

Villagers and customers will be asked to bring along their apples which will be turned into bottles of juice for the villages to sell at fetes and other village events to raise funds for the community.  Last year the villages invested the funds into an apple press, a new sound system for the village church and improving a community play area.

Working within the community is always at the forefront of the garden centre’s focus with many events taking place throughout each year and the Apple Weekend will once again develop Grosvenor’s strong links with the community at a time when the home-grown British apple is falling from our trees. 

“The British apple has a great following in Chester and the local area with apple trees the most popular fruit trees in our gardens.  Such a versatile and nutritious fruit deserves to be highlighted at this time of year when we are all wondering which new recipes we can try with our bumper crop of home-grown apples,” said Iain Wylie, managing director.

There are thought to be more than 7,000 varieties of apple grown worldwide with around 3,000 grown here.  It is no wonder then that many people are not sure of which types of apple are growing in their gardens.  At Grosvenor’s Apple Weekend on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th October, visitors will be able to bring along their apples for Les Armstrong, Head Gardener at Eaton Estate to identify; he’ll also be happy to answer any horticultural questions.  There will also be hands-on activities, with a real apple press in action and customers can taste the juice - hot off the press! With live cooking demonstrations, competitions, children’s nature activities, storytellers with traditional tales, music, food tasting and much more besides!

“Our Apple Weekend has grown over the last two years and this year’s event held once again in conjunction with Eaton Estate and local villages and schools promises to be even bigger and better – a true culmination of our work within the neighbourhood over the past 12 months,” Iain concluded.

Grosvenor Garden Centre’s Real Food Festival held last weekend was a great success with many stallholders selling out fast!

Marking a celebration of the tastiest, freshest produce from the region with producers including Elwy Valley lamb, Rowlands Red Poll beef, Jamie Ward’s free range pork and newly launched Cheshire Chips who re-stocked three times on Saturday alone, Grosvenor’s Real Food Festival was a continuation of its support of local, artisan producers.

“Whatever we sell today (Sunday) is a bonus,” said Alison from Alison’s Homemade Treats,

“We really did not expect to sell so many jams and cheeses yesterday and we will definitely be back next year!” Alison continued.

This sentiment was echoed across the 26 stalls with many expressing interest for the third Real Food Festival at Grosvenor next summer.

“With queuing visitors and selling out of burgers and sausages on the barbecue, we would not have believed it could be possible for our second Festival to outshine last year’s inaugural event by a country mile!” said Iain Wylie, managing director.

By offering the chance to meet each producer and taste their goods before buying to enjoy at home, visitors to Grosvenor’s Real Food Festival arrived in their hundreds and kept coming all weekend despite the weather!

Visitors could choose from hearty, homebaked pies and pasties, cakes and handmade chocolates, cider, jams and chutneys, fresh fruit and ice cream – all naturally made, reared and picked locally.

“We have been thrilled at the response to our celebration of local produce here at Grosvenor Garden Centre. Our support of producers from Cheshire and North Wales is just another step forward in our efforts to work closely with the community and boost small, artisan producers.  By hosting a Real Food Festival, we can help visitors to Grosvenor in turn support these producers too and this work continues all year long in our Food department and by sourcing local ingredients in our Café,” commented Iain Wylie, managing director.

“It has been a fantastic weekend here in the food department with many of our new lines seeing much interest from the visitors to our Real Food Festival,” said Dave Maguire, Food Department Manager,

“Seeing customers old and new and explaining the provenance of our goods here in the food department has ensured that people who came here looking for real food got what they wanted with a real emphasis on ‘local’,”Dave concluded.

“Our Real Food Festival will be back next year and thank you to the success of this year’s Festival, we will be able to expand the show to be even bigger and better,” said Events Co-ordinator, Claire Binns.