Aylings Garden Centre, nr Petersfield

I went here last week and have already been back once since. It is a good half hour drive from me but well worth it.

It is on the [FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]A272[/FONT] Petersfield - Midhurst road at Trotton

This garden centre has a huge selection of good quality plants,specialising in Clematis and Herbaceous Perennials. In season they stock over 150 varieties of Clematis!

It is not a huge purpose built garden centre, it kind of sprawls out! It looks like it has over the years got bigger and they have added bits on, but it is really well thought out (apart from the till at the end) and easy to navigate. The coffee shop is excellent, really reasonable and all home made, they even have a play table where my two year old could play quietly with the trains while we had a quiet cuppa. The coffee shop does not take cards yet so take some cash. Although the staff in the garden centre swiped my card and gave me cash back, which I was very grateful for!

The staff are very helpful and really friendly and the prices are very good.

I would recommend if you go at the weekend to go early. We arrived at 10.30 and it was blissful. When we left at 12 it was very busy.

 

I've passed that place on the motorbike many times Victoria, but never been in...plants don't transport well on motorbikes sadly. Good to know though, so thank you.

 

I agree with this completely - I first discovered it a few years ago when I didn't have a garden but used to just go and look! I now live a good 35-40 minutes drive away but having visited once at the beginning of May have been back twice since. Its a lovely place to wander around and the food in the cafe is good and good value as well. The only place around that I've seen pea sticks for sale, and that does a big discount if you buy over a certain quantity. Much better than the chains.

 

Just a little bit forther along, about a quarter of a mile past Aylings towards Midhurst is Rotherhill nurseries. Excellent plants, and good prices. Not a garden centre at all, just plants, composts etc, seeds and the basics, but really fantastic and huge!

http://www.rotherhill.2-7.co.uk/