Monkton Elm Garden Centre Magazine

Hello and welcome to the latest edition of the Garden Centre Magazine for Monkton Elm Garden Centre.

Inside this edition you can find a plentiful amount of information on what you can find instore, including a section on monthly garden tips. With knowledgeable and friendly staff on hand in store to help with advice or inspiration, complemented by the huge variety of stock available, you will be sure to find what you need for your upcoming garden and/or home projects. This edition also includes many different informative editorials and alongside you will find local businesses whose services may just be what you are looking for.

We have also launched a digital copy of the magazine, available to view on your smart phone instantly. Please scan the QR code, featured at the bottom of this page, and this will bring up the publication for you to view. You can also access the digital magazine at touchpoints in the garden centre. One of the most exciting features of our digital publication is that you can interact with the garden centre's social media or connect with local business websites with just a quick tap on your device.

As always, we welcome feedback on our magazine, if you have any comments you'd like to add, we would love to hear them. Please email: info@yhgmedia.co.uk

Kind regards and happy reading!

Johnathan Beveridge Magazine Editor

Your Local Award-winning Garden Centre Destination of Choice!

• Easy access that is wheelchair friendly throughout. (We also have free wheelchairs on standby if you feel you need to use one to get around!)

• Free parking, including disabled and child-friendly parking bays.

• We are dog-friendly! (Responsible dog owners are welcomed with their beloved dogs.)

Come visit us in-store or shop online and choose from our inspirational selection of vibrant plants for the widest range of plants in the Southwest!

Monkton Elm is a proudly independent, family-owned garden centre business that has been at the forefront of making gardening accessible, rewarding, and enjoyable within our Somerset and North Devon community for over 40 years. We bring our passion for plants and gardening into your indoor and outdoor living spaces, through our friendly and knowledgeable staff, in a shopping environment centred

Being an independent, family-run business, our products are different from other garden centres! We specialise in unusual species of plants, a wide variety of different plants for different areas and some amazing staff to help you choose which ones suit you best!

From the UK to Africa and back, Monkton Elm Garden Centre has been in development for decades! Our garden centre as we know it today, began as a humble tomato farm which Luella and David Bellman purchased in 1978. They opened a garden shop in 1980 and added a plant area selling hardy and perennial plants, the rest, as they say, is history! (The history of this extraordinary couple can be read on the walls in our coffee lounge!)

It is from these humble beginnings that Monkton Elm has grown to receive numerous distinguished awards and merits, including ‘Best Destination Garden Centre in the West’ in 2021. And although we lost David and Luella a few years ago, their children, Caroline, William and Heather are actively involved in the business, along with Mike Lind, Heather’s husband, as Managing Director, they continue the family ethos and vision.

Opening Hours: Mon - Sat: 9am - 5.30pm Sun: 10.15am - 4.15pm

Tel: 01823 412 381 Email: info@monkton-elm.co.uk

www.monktonelm.com

Monkton Heathfield, Taunton, Somerset, TA2 8QN

Why families love Monkton Elm

PLANTS

Plants are the core of our business, and with over 100 years of combined horticultural experience, our plants team are simply the best! With Andrew Pitman, our horticulturalist and shop manager, at the helm, what this team doesn’t know about plants isn’t worth knowing.

And, what’s more, we love plants!

Our friendly team of plant experts are on hand to share their knowledge and experience to help you with any gardening questions you have – whether you have a large outdoor space, a small patio or are just looking for colourful plants in pots! Plants bursting with seasonal colour and texture can bring any outdoor space to life. Let us help you enjoy your outdoor space by finding the best plants for your project, and help you make it a growing success all year round.

We have one of the largest outdoor plant areas in the Southwest filled with superb quality plants hand-picked by our team from the very best nurseries. Our outdoor range of hardy garden plants carry a 5-year hardy plant guarantee and includes a varied selection of trees, shrubs, climbers and perennials. We also have plants for attracting wildlife, plants for sunny spots, plants that love shade, topiaries, herbs, and alpines. We also have a delivery service for larger items.

The plant guarantee scheme

We offer plants that are guaranteed to grow! As a member of the Garden Centre Association, we offer a 5-year hardy plant guarantee. This ensures that you can be confident of receiving the best possible plant quality and service.

For more information about the Garden Centre Association and the Plant Guarantee Scheme, ask about it in store or visit the GCA website at gca.org.uk.

Responsible sourcing

From seed to shelf, it’s important to know where our products are coming from, how they are being produced and the environmental care being taken in its production. Where possible, we always choose British grown first! Most of our British suppliers are working on growing media that is peat free, environmentally sustainable and responsibly sourced. We support the important work these growers are doing in researching and implementing biological alternatives to pesticides, water saving and recycling measures and many other ‘green’ growing initiatives to reduce energy consumption.

Being passionate about our plants means being passionate about our planet!

www.monktonelm.com

SEASONAL BEDDING PLANTS

HOUSE PLANTS

Whether its ‘grow your own’ vegetables, fruits and herbs or updating your borders and creating gorgeous seasonal pots and hanging baskets, our seasonal plants section always looks absolutely stunning! The varied plants and colours are an inspiration for all gardeners and novices alike. Whether you are chatting to Jane, Sharon or Amanda, the team are friendly, helpful and very knowledgeable about the perfect seasonal plants for your needs.

More people than ever are turning to plants to beautify their homes, purify the air and de-stress. Bring nature inside your home while also cleansing the air you breathe by picking up a houseplant today.

We are constantly ordering new houseplants, shaped by our customers’ needs and requests, and our houseplant selection is one of the widest ranges of houseplants in the West. Whether it’s a low light environment, full sun, to humidify the space or simply to enjoy being surrounded by plants – we have the perfect plant for you!

Patio

Need help with planning your outdoor garden areas? Our friendly and amazing patio team have advised customers on garden buildings, patios, fencing, flooring solutions, raised bedding, fountains and water features, arbours, stones, pebbles and pots for decades!

We have one of the largest garden and landscape supplies in Taunton and even in Somerset, with a wide range of decorative gravels, patio circle kits and patio paving kits plus all sorts of wooden trellis and fencing.

Create an inspired outdoor setting with our extensive range of furniture and décor items for that extra special summer space! Outdoor living is more than just enjoying a summer in the garden. It’s about extending the comfort of your home beyond the backdoor, creating an outdoor space tailored to your needs. Whether you are looking for a spark of inspiration or hoping to build your outdoor paradise from the ground up, Monkton Elm will provide you with all the products and advice you need to create and maintain your perfect outdoor living space, adding comfort and luxury to your home.

Because we know how important it is to build a garden that resonates with you – a garden that feels like home – we have a range of outdoor buildings, garden features and furniture that will give you all the inspiration you need to start designing and constructing your outdoor world.

& Pots

Furniture, Lighting & BBQ’s

GIFTS & HOMEWARE

Discover an array of products for your home in our gift and homeware section with designs and brands inspired by key trends. Our gift department compliments the wide range of cards on offer, with clothing, glassware, jewellery, books, children’s gifts and confectionary all available for you to peruse at your leisure.

Our Bathroom and Home fragrance department offers warm and welcoming scents, with candles, reed diffusers, botanical wax melts and much more to browse! With a wide array of fun and funky Bomb cosmetics, the more traditional and exquisite smelling English Soap Company, there is something for everyone!

Add some floral finishing touches to your home with our range of luxury artificial flowers, orchids, and potted plants. Choose your own flower stems to make your bespoke bouquet, or explore our delightful, dried flower arrangements.

Delicious, locally sourced food & drink all year round!

We are constantly sourcing fabulous local makers, growers, brewers, and farmers. Our everexpanding offering focuses on top quality, local, hand-made and freshly delivered products using only the best ingredients! Why not try one of our bespoke hampers as a special gift for someone? Our growing deli section contains a range of cheeses that have been carefully selected from premium local suppliers. We have cave aged cheddars from Cheddar gorge, beautiful hard cheeses from Glastonbury and delectable soft cheeses from Dorset and Somerset.

The meat and vegetables, bakery supplies and cakes in our restaurant and farm shop is all locally sourced. Our Farmshop sources locally produced alcoholic beverages, cheeses, preserves and much, much more!

OUR GARDEN CLUB LOYALTY SCHEME

Join the Monkton Elm Garden Club for exclusive offers, deals, and loyalty card points on everything you buy in-store or online.

Want exclusive offers on items you love? You can receive that and more when you become a member at Monkton Elm Garden Centre. Whenever you shop at Monkton Elm, you can earn up to 3 points for every £1 you spend!

SIGN UP TODAY AND START SAVING!

You’ll be able to save money by using your loyalty card every time you make a purchase. Don’t miss out on our special offers and events! Visit us, register for free and get your very own loyalty points card.

Why join our Loyalty Club?

When you sign up for a loyalty card, you’ll experience a range of benefits:

• Free membership! And no registration fee. Just speak to one of our friendly staff members. They will help get your very own loyalty card.

• Accumulate points to spend on a special purchase or your next transaction –whatever suits you.

• Earn and spend your points at our famous Elm Tree Restaurant!

• Get exclusive vouchers, coupons, and products for free, including news on special offers, sent straight to your inbox.

• Earn up to 3 points for every £1 you spend.

*Terms and conditions apply

OUR SERVICES

• Free Parking!

• Expert advice with over 250 years combined Monkton Elm Garden Centre experience

• Local deliveries

• Carry-to-car service

• Online shopping

• Click and collect

• Complimentary wheelchairs available and wheelchair access throughout the centre

• Baby changing facilities

The environment is very important to us, so we take many steps to minimise our impact on the environment throughout all areas of our business:

Recycling

• We started baling cardboard in 2003, and for the last 20 years, we have recycled over 7 tonnes of cardboard annually. That is 140 000 tonnes of cardboard recycled by Monkton Elm to date!

• Energy efficiency – we have 260 solar panels that are used to generate some of the electricity we use, changed to LED Lighting throughout the centre and are working on developing more practices to streamline our energy usages.

• We also recycle soft plastic, compost bags and plastic plant pots, which we invite our customers to assist with by dropping their plant pots with us whenever they visit!

• All scrap paper is placed in an on-site paper recycling bin, which is also available for customers to use.

• We also have a recycling bin for clothing in our car park. All our old uniforms were sent to Africa via this bin.

• We offer a used battery disposal facility instore.

• Our plastic carrier bags are made from biodegradable plastic, or alternatively, we sell re usable canvas shopping bags.

Local sourcing

Wherever possible, we stock plants from local growers, minimising the pollution from delivery vehicles and supporting local industry.

FSC policy

We mainly stock timber products with FSC certification.

Peat policy

We sell a wide range of high quality growing media and are committed to offering our customers the best options for their needs. In line with government guidelines, we offer reduced peat and peat free products. We have a wealth

of information available to our customers and our staff are available to assist with any questions regarding the use of peat alternatives and product options available.

Water saving policy

We have recently introduced water-saving flood benches across our in-door and bedding plant departments, to minimise water wastage, and make use of capillary matting in the outdoor plant area to aid water retention.

Our Commitments

Monkton Elm has been a Garden Centre for over 40 years. We have always been committed to conducting business in an ethical, responsible and community-minded manner. We continue to expand, improve and refine what we do and how we do it whilst maintaining our company values of:

• Creating a family centered environment run by family for families!

• We are an honest, ethical and fair employer.

•Where possible, we promote community initiatives, and play an integral role in the development and support of our local community.

A few examples of our support within our community in 2023/24:

• Sponsored local community gardens in Monkton Heathfield and Creech Saint Michael providing raised beds, composting, plants and expertise.

• Sponsored several initiatives to support the efforts in Ukraine.

• Raised over £5000 in 2022/23 for Parkinson’s UK Awareness.

• Raised over £500 for St Margaret’s Hospice

• Held fundraising initiatives and donated food, toys and accessories to our Pet Centres charity: Rushton Dog Rescue Centre.

THE ELM TREE Restaurant, Coffee Shop & Pondside Cafe

Enjoy a delicious breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea at the heart of Monkton Elm Garden Centre. Our award-winning Elm Tree Restaurant is the perfect pit-stop for anyone looking for hearty, traditional English food. We also have a good variety of vegan, vegetarian and ‘free-from’ meals to suit most dietary requirements.

From a full English breakfast to a Sunday roast, you can be assured that you’ll find a meal that suits your palette. And if you fancy a quaint afternoon tea with your mother-in-law, you’ll find our classic afternoon tea a delight! Or do you just fancy a cake and a cuppa? Our comfortable Coffee Lounge is the perfect place for you!

Free Play Area

Your kids will love our free play area! It is safe and convenient for your young ones, keeping them entertained and occupied.

For a more DOG FRIENDLY OPTION, our delightful Pondside café has a great atmosphere – keep warm, dry and cosy inside or, on sunny days, sit in the shade along our beautiful pondside walkway.

Where your pet is part of our family!

At Monkton Elm Pet Centre we understand that your pet is something precious to you. That’s why we have specialist staff on board to give you practical advice and recommendations that are tailored to your pet. Our store offers toys, accessories and natural food for all cats and dogs. We understand canines and felines can be very fussy, but with our extensive range of food, we are sure you will find something to get their noses twitching! We also have a wide range of small animal accessories and an Aviary with various birds and accessories on offer.

We stock a range of delicious natural foods, treats and pet essentials available to buy online too.

BUG WORLD

Our new BUGWORLD has everyone interested in invertebrates! As part of our sustainability programme, we have focused providing homes for all sorts of interesting insects such as Stick Insects, the Giant African Land Snail, Hissing Cockroaches, Ant farms and jumping spiders!

Meet Mike, Heather, Caroline and William, directors who are actively involved in the management and running of Monkton Elm.

As a second-generation family run garden centre, our core values of family stretches beyond ownership and to our staff, who have become family over the years. We pride ourselves on growing our sense of community with not only staff, but our loyal customers who have supported the centre through all its changes, creating a meeting place and hub of the local community.

We are one of the largest employers within our local area, employing over 100 staff members on our site. Our staff are the cornerstone of the business, and many have been with the garden centre for decades! This year we celebrate Stephen Searles’ 40th anniversary with us! With other long standing staff members, we have added it all up and the combined years of experience at Monkton Elm comes to over 250 years!