2 minute read
Health & Wellbeing
By Karen Bate
karen@westdorsetmag.co.uk When Karen Burghart from Cerne Abbas was made redundant after 16 years in fashion retail, she felt an element of excitement – perhaps this would be a turning point in her life, the start of the journey to follow a dream. Her father and grandfather were both nurserymen and being outdoors working on the land was in Karen’s blood. “Some of my earliest memories were working with my dad, getting up at 5am in the middle of winter to pick the frozen brussels for people’s Christmas dinner and harvesting potatoes and greens for Sunday roasts. My grandfather fed the troops during the war and horticulture is in my blood,” said Karen. “I had always wanted to run my own little nursery and so when I was made redundant, I decided it was time.” In June, Karen took ownership of The Wardon Hill Garden Centre, which lies on Long Ash Lane, and for the last three months, she and her partner Rob have been working tirelessly to stock the centre to bursting with seasonal flowering plants, perennials, bedding plants and bulbs. And Karen, who wanted to create a ‘quirky little nursery’ has sourced quality ironwork including obelisks, plant stakes and support in a range of sizes, along with garden products, gifts and unusual garden items along with the essentials such as soil and compost. All the flowers and plants and gifts, products and ironwork is sourced locally, as sustainability is at the heart of
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Karen’s vision along with offering good quality products for good value. “I want to give visitors and shoppers a place where they can source everything they need for their gardens,” she said. “And if we don’t have something, let me know and I will put it on the list for the next time.” Wardon Hill Emporium is next door, along with a café. Karen added: “Wardon Hill is a good place to visit and spend a few hours and since we opened in June, the footfall has been really encouraging. “Wardon Hill Garden Centre for me is a dream come true.” Over Bank Holiday weekend, Karen is holding a plant sale, where visitors can come along and take advantage of good reductions of stock and offers Karen the chance to kickstart the autumn season. She said: “I am inviting anyone who loves their garden to come along and take a look and grab a bargain.” n Wardon Hill Garden Centre can be found off the A37 between Dorchester and Yeovil. wardonhillgardencentre.com
CENTRE OF ATTENTION: Warden Hill Garden Centre and, inset below, Karen Burghart
