A garden centre is enjoying great success since being taken over and undergoing development – with the new owners unveiling a raft of future plans.
The former Strawberry Garden Centre, in Bramshall, near Uttoxeter, was acquired by the Burton Group last February with the 27-acre site being bought for £1.5 million.
Work since then has included adding a small farm shop area into the garden centre, refurbishing the café, resurfacing the car park, major roof repairs and solar energy being added to help reduce the carbon footprint and improve energy efficiency.
The site has just been rebranded as Bramshall Farm.
Adam and Lydia Burton, whose family are the new owners and are well known in North Staffordshire as the owners of three-generation family business W Burton & Sons, a timber and builders merchants based near Cheadle, have said the rebranding reflects a “fundamental evolution” in what they provide and represent.
They have already begun making links with the local community by providing support to groups, schools and a sports team and as well as partnering with local businesses to introduce workshops aiming to support fledgling and small local artisans.
The couple want to strengthen community ties and see the farm become a community hub supporting local producers, offering educational workshops and hosting events that bring people together.
Adam said: “We spent 12 months getting to know our strengths and weaknesses and what our customers were looking for.
“We had to spend time and money improving the fabric of the buildings. The improved car park has been massively popular. But Lydia, the family and I wanted to bring our own stamp on the entire customer experience and reflect better our future plans.
“Some people will still remember the Pick Your Own farm and we needed to draw a line under that and make clear that the site is to be invested in and grown into something new and vibrant.
“Our vision is for a modern, sustainable business that lies at the heart of the community but is a destination to visit and enjoy from further afield.
“Bramshall Farm will become an exciting and ever-changing shopping, entertainment and food experience and we hope people will join us in supporting this endeavour.”
The site had previously been owned by the same family for around 30 years before the owners decided to retire.
At one point, it was well-known as a strawberry pick your own farm and was also home to a children’s small animal farm.
The business employed 13 people when Adam and Lydia took it over, but they have now increased this to 18.
Beyond improving the site infrastructure and buildings, plans include extending the salad and vegetable growing capacity and the farm shop offering with more products produced on site and a bigger range of locally produced food and drink.
The range of gardening and timber/gardening related products will be increased through a partnership with W Burton & Sons and the café menu will be updated with more new and modern dishes.
The Burtons also want to work with more local businesses, artisans and experts to increase the range of goods and services available onsite.
Wonderful. Adam and Lydia are lovely people, wishing them all the success.