A family-run Armagh garden centre are blooming up for a busy summer!
Woodview Garden Centre opened on the Armagh-Portadown road over 50 years ago by David Hutchinson on family land, nestled in the surroundings of acres upon acres of orchard trees.
The family operated a farm on the grounds previously with David seeing an opportunity to ‘branch’ out by merging farm life with retail, opening Woodview Garden Centre in the mid 70’s.
Not long after opening, and with the business ‘blooming’, David’s brother Brian joined the team. In recent year’s, David has taken a step back from daily operations with Brian taking a more present role.
To this day, the site remains an active, working farm with all the homegrown produce sold coming straight from the farm!
Planning on continuing the family legacy on, the next generation are already involved with Brian’s children – Nathan, Dan and Hannah – choosing to return home and scale the family business into the future after completing their own individual education and travelling.
Alongside the family, Woodview have a handful of experienced team members who all bring a wealth of knowledge to all things gardening and are on hand to help with any queries.
Brian said: “This is the busiest season starting from now, we always find April, May and June as our busiest time of the year once the weather picks up.
“What makes us special is all home grown produce and flowers. A large quantity of what we sell is all grown here on-site in our glass house.”
From farm to shelf, Woodview grow their own apples, pears, vegetables and pumpkins – with hopes to expand their fresh produce range even more in the future!
Brian continues: “Since COVID we have found more and more people have got into gardening especially the younger generation. Growing your own produce at home is also very popular now.”
For anyone who feels like dappling in growing their own produce, seeds and ready planted veg plants are available to purchase on site. Simply take home, replant, water and watch your produce come to life!
With a large variety of stock kept all year round, the spring and summer season see’s Woodview expand their stockage with the garden centre housing everything your garden could need from bedding plants, baskets and filled pots to gardening equipment.
Popular flowers to look out for this season include shrubs, perennials, and hydrangeas. With flower expert Charlene, having a green hand growing her own flowers on her farm to supply to the garden centre!
Over the years, Woodview has expanded from a garden centre, to introducing a gift shop and coffee shop – with everything on the grounds conveniently locate next to each other for an easy shopping and dinning experience.
Brian said: “We get a lot of regular customers who continue to support us which is great and you really can spend a couple of hours here browsing everything and relaxing with a coffee.”
Part of the Woodview complex for over seven years now, Arose café is run by the creative mother and daughter duo, Freda and Sharon.
Freda said: “Everything we have here, we make ourselves. We try to put our own spin on things but every single thing on our menu is made from scratch.”
With a large varied menu with something for everyone, Arose offer breakfast dishes available all day, rolling through to lunchtime classics!
Talking of her experience of working with as a team, Freda continues: “We love working with each other, we get on really well, which is rare but its great. Each department compliments the other and we all work really well as one team”.
Woodview Garden Centre is open Monday to Saturday from 9am-5pm.
Arose Café is open Monday to Saturday from 9am-4pm.
Click here to visit Woodview Garden Centre on Facebook
