Garden Centres in the UK offer a variety of benefits to both individuals and communities. Not only are they the go to place to find gardening supplies, but they also encourage community engagement that connects like-minded people who share a love of gardening.
If you’re looking for some interesting garden centre statistics, then you’re in the right place! This piece will showcase some of the best garden centre statistics, taking a look at how Covid-19 affected garden centres in the years that followed.
Here at A&S Landscape, we are also passionate about the outdoors, which is why we have an array of garden centre canopies, each design uniquely suited for visitors and customers. With appropriate outdoor coverage, visitors are able to use all of your facilities regardless of the weather conditions outside.
Whether you need a garden centre canopy or just love the outdoors, let’s have a deeper look at some of these compelling garden centre statistics in a bit more detail.
20 Garden Centre Statistics
- Over two-thirds of British adults visit a garden centre every year. (Source: HTA)
- UK households collectively spent around £8 billion on retail garden products in 2023. (Source: HTA)
- There are an estimated 1400 garden centres and retail nurseries in the UK as of 2023. (Source: HTA)
- 78% of British adults have access to a private garden, which is approximately 43 million people in the UK. (Source: HTA)
- Over the past 3 years, demand in gardening and plants has ballooned at an exceptional rate and by 2025 is estimated to to reach £5 billion in the UK. (Source: Savills)
- The total UK garden-related spending has grown since 2021 at an average rate of 22%. (Source: Savills)
- The Garden Centre Association outline that turnover of houseplant sales has grown by 21% since 2020, with other increases in categories such as furniture and BBQs (+54%) and outdoor plants (+27%) as consumers make home and garden improvements. (Source: Savills)
- As of 2021, there were 570,000 jobs in the UK created by the ornamental horticulture and landscaping industries. (Source: Corker)
- Approximately 1.5 million children are involved in some form of school gardening. (Source: Corker)
- £2.4 billion is the average spend on the services of gardeners and landscapers annually. (Source: Corker)
- 25% of UK adults get their garden inspiration from television programmes. (Source: Corker)
- During the Covid-19 lockdown, the Government identified the UK garden centre sector as an ‘essential business’ contributing to mental health and well-being, allowing them to continue trading. (Source: AIPH)
- The average UK garden is 14m squared, with the average UK household spending £150 on their garden yearly. (Source: AIPH)
- Only 28% of people with a garden grow vegetables. (Source: Our Country Garden)
- Over 7 million people started gardening during Covid-19. (Source: Cladco Decking)
- Adults aged 45-54 spend more money than any other group on gardening. (Source: Corker)
- The biggest garden centre in the UK is Bridgemere Garden Centre, which covers an area of 50 acres and has over 1 million visitors each year. (Source: Bridgemere Garden Centre)
- 60% of UK-produced plants sold are through UK garden centres, meaning that the British supply chain is hugely dependent on UK garden centres. (Source: Blue Diamond)
- One in every 62 jobs is reliant on garden centres. (Source: The New Statesman)
- Across the country, 20% of garden centre sales come from in-house cafes and restaurants. (Source: The New Statesman)
Invest in a Garden Centre Canopy With A&S Landscape!
As we can see from the data above, garden centres have been recognised for their role in providing essential services and promoting mental health, especially since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Because of these benefits, garden centres were deemed essential businesses in the UK during the Covid-19 pandemic, providing essential services to the public while adhering to necessary safety measures. Gardening has significant mental health benefits, and access to green spaces was considered crucial during a time of isolation and stress.
Garden centres can be a source of inspiration for garden designs, with displays of plants and landscaping ideas, as well as providing a wide range of products including plants, seeds, gardening tools, and other essential items for gardening enthusiasts.
If you’re looking for an outdoor canopy for a garden centre or have any further questions, please get in touch. A member of our team will be more than happy to chat you through your options and talk about a personalised canopy for your sector!