Daily activities will take place from Tuesday 28th to Friday 31st with drop in sessions between 9am and 11:30am to keep children (and parents!) entertained during the holiday.

Celebrate spring and all it has to offer at Squire’s whilst your little ones get hands on planting their very own vegetable box with lettuce and tomatoes; encourage children to nurture these at home and you may even be able to encourage some positive eating habits!  Priced at £6 this activity will spark their interest in how things grow and keep them entertained from planting and beyond! (whilst stocks last, fist come first served)

There are exciting free activities to stimulate their minds too, join in our colouring competition and a fruit and vegetable treasure hunt which will teach them about the foods that grow, they can even win prizes for these too!

“Our half term events are extremely popular with the children and their parents,” said Sarah Squire, Deputy Chairman, Squire’s Garden Centres. “The youngsters always enjoy engaging in a whole range of different activities which keep idle hands busy, and they’re sure to be a hit with parents looking for inexpensive ways to entertain their children over the holidays.”

Come and visit our newly hatched chicks in the pets and aquatics department, and see the signs of spring in action! Squire’s fully trained staff will be on hand to present the chicks to children for light petting.

Our experts have cared for these little chicks since they hatched, and they’re now looking for new homes across Surrey and Hampshire! These gorgeous little chicks are priced at just £12.50 and make the perfect edition to your family and as they grow into laying hens, you’ll have fresh eggs every morning too!

These chicks will require some loving care from their new families and the experts at Squire’s are ensuring that if customers do not already have the facilities needed to rear a chick from such a young age, that they are educated on specific care needs. Heatlamps and a bulb are available to purchase.

Please note some Badshot Lea will be closed on Easter Sunday.

]]> http://www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk/press-release/meet-easter-chicks-at-badshot-lea/feed/ 0 http://www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk/press-release/welcome-wildlife-this-spring/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=welcome-wildlife-this-spring http://www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk/press-release/welcome-wildlife-this-spring/#comments Thu, 21 Mar 2013 09:23:37 +0000 graphics http://www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk/?p=5083 Continue reading →]]>  

Spring has sprung and Squire’s Garden Centres are launching their ‘Welcome Wildlife’ this spring throughout their group of 14 centres with inspiring displays, all-new information leaflets and plant information in store to assist their customers with wildlife gardening.

Globally there has been a huge decline in biodiversity, with a noticeable reduction in the numbers of bees, butterflies and other wildlife. With this is mind Squire’s Garden Centres are hoping to raise awareness about the drop in wildlife and to encourage their customers to promote and protect the local wildlife in their gardens.
To mark the launch of ‘Welcome Wildlife’ Squire’s Garden Centres have introduced new customer friendly wildlife leaflets throughout their centres and a new plant labelling system, which see’s all wildlife friendly plants stickered with “I Welcome Wildlife”.

Designed to help their customers attract a wide range of wildlife to their gardens the free, easy-to-use leaflet guides provide information on animal and bird friendly plants, how to attract and protect the wildlife in your garden and much, much more.

This collection contains four beautifully designed leaflets, and are all available at Squire’s centres now. The “Welcome wildlife this spring” provides general advice on looking after wildlife this spring whereas the “Bees in Spring”, “Birds in Spring” and “Butterflies in Spring” leaflets provide further information on attracting specific wildlife.

Welcome wildlife this Spring

At this time of year our gardens should be teeming with life: creatures emerging from hibernation; birds waking us up with the dawn chorus in their bid to find a mate; nests being built; many different wildlife species busy foraging to feed their young.

There are things we can do in the garden to help wildlife at this time of year but we should avoid disturbing existing hedges, shrubs and ponds, as wildlife will be breeding by now.

Tips for Spring:

-      Plant wildlife friendly shrubs, perennials, hardy annuals, herbaceous plants and summer bulbs.  Look out for “I Welcome Wildlife” stickers on Squire’s plants

-      Put up hanging baskets – wrens have been know to nest in them

-      Feed soil with home-grown compost and mulch beds and borders

-      Start weeding by hand

-      Keep bird feeders and tables well stocked as birds will be feeding new broods

-      Hand bundles of dry moss, tiny twigs, pet and human hair etc near bird feeders to help them in their search for suitable nest material

Also included in this leaflet are details of wildlife to watch out for and where to see it – look up in the trees to see female squirrels being chased at high speed by their male counterparts, and take a look at local ponds and even waterlogged ditches to spot frog and toad spawn.

Hedgehogs will be emerging from hibernation and this guide gives some handy hints on what you can do to attract these cute and endangered creatures into your garden. Tips include providing structures for hedgehogs to shelter in (a pile of logs in a tepee shape work perfect!) and providing special feed for emerging hedgehogs.

For all of these tips on how to ‘Welcome Wildlife’ and many many more, pick up a leaflet at your local Squire’s Garden Centre.

Easter Egg Hunts

This Easter make sure your Easter egg hunt is the best yet with the range of egg accessories available at Squire’s. 

Why not get creative and decorate your own eggs this Easter with this Paint your own Egg Kit. This cute kit, containing a pen to keep your eggs secure and a selection of paints, is sure to be a hit with children of all ages and will add colour and excitement to your Easter celebrations.  Available for only £4.99

We all know that the UK’s weather is notoriously unpredictable and we can’t guarantee that it will be a nice day for collecting eggs in the garden. So why not buy bright and beautifully decorated tins and boxes to store your well-hidden eggs in and prevent them from getting damp! 

These colourful, polka dot tin Easter egg containers; available in blue, yellow and red, would be perfect for storing eggs in on a rainy day. The tins fit a standard size Easter egg but are also ideal for holding smaller Easter gifts. £3.99

Once you’ve hidden all these eggs you will need something for your little ones to collect them in. The Gisela Graham range contains a large selection of baskets, tins and containers which are ideal for collecting eggs.

These vibrant, felt Easter Egg Hunt baskets with felt flower decoration are a lovely edition to any Easter egg hunt. Available in four colours these baskets would n

ot only be ideal for collecting and storing eggs, but would also make a lovely alternative to the traditional Easter Egg when filled with Easter treats. £3.99

Easter Home decorations

There is also a wide range of Home accessories and decorations available

this Easter season. This charming rustic Easter wreath has real twigs and very

realistic speckled eggs. This eye-catching decoration
would be perfect as a table centrepiece or to hang on a door, shelf or dresser over the Easter period. £19.99 

Turn any twig or tree into a lovely Easter Decoration with this set of 18 wooden decorations. Each box contains 18 individual hand painted figures hung from a deep yellow thread, presented in a lovely gift box.

These decorations come in 3 different designs, and are available for only £4.99.

For those bakers amongst you why not decorate your Easter cakes with these adorable decorations. The cute, colourful yellow bristle chicks and bristle bunny will be perfect for livening up any Easter cake! These bristle bunnies (£4.99) and chicks (£3.99) can also double up as table centrepiece decorations.

At selected centres

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For further information please contact:

Gemma Phillips
Tel: 01483 238 840
E mail: Gemma@kavanaghcommunications.com

Squire’s Garden Centres are launching a new range of outdoor furniture to ensure that your garden is stylish this summer. With everything needed to create the perfect social garden setting, from seating areas for just the two of you to large dining suites to accommodate the whole family, you can be sure that there is something to suit everyone. With a wide range of exclusive outdoor dining sets to suit all tastes and budgets, let Squire’s help you make the most of the warm weather this summer and bring meal times outside.

At Squire’s you’ll find everything you need for the coming season to help make the most of the longer days and (hopefully) soaring temperatures.

Hartman Bentley/Alexandra Lounger (£279)

This luxurious, comfortable wheeled lounger is made from a synthetic resin weave hand woven over a light but strong aluminium frame- which is totally weatherproof and virtually maintenance free.
The lounger has four reclining positions and also lies flat so is ideal for making the most of the summer sun and spending some time outside.

Hartman Palermo Lounger (£229) *Exclusive to Squire’s

Shepperton and Badshot Lea Made of rust proof aluminium & Textaline, this lavish lounger will resist the elements come rain, sun or snow. The Mediterranean inspired lounger was made with exceptional strength and durability in mind, meaning you’ll never need to store it away. Low sitting with four reclining positions for extra comfort, enjoy the Palermo Lounger with the papers in the morning or a cocktail in the evening!

Amalfi 2-seater Bench (£349)

This elegantly designed 2-seater bench is the perfect edition to your garden. Made from rust proof aluminium you can rest assured it will last through the harshest of British winters!

Helicopter Chair (£199)

Take off with this intuitively designed helicopter chair! Transform your garden in to a talking piece for all the neighbours whilst you relax under the sun in this hovering garden lounger.

Harbo Sunset Lounge Suite (EXCLUSIVE £499)

This handsome lounge suite enables you to create attractive, comfortable seating tailored to suit any space. The suites table and chairs have a woven edge using a mocha coloured weave making the furniture smooth to touch whilst retaining its natural look. Although suitable for indoor and outdoor use, this elegant set can be left outside and will withstand all elements.

Bellagio Savona 1.06m 4-Seater Round Suite (£499)

Bound to get lots of use throughout spring, summer and even autumn, this stylish round garden table set will help you enjoy your garden space to the full. Whether you’re enjoying morning coffee or a long lazy lunch with family or friends, you’ll find this high quality and weatherproof suite ideal to relax in.

Also available as a 2-seater without the parasol for £199!

Amalfi Oval 6 Seater Suite (£999)

This Amalfi suite combines classic design with stylish looks and outstanding levels of comfort. With an oval shaped table, host social afternoons in the sun or eat your family meals in the comfort of your garden.

Bramblecrest Sahara Modular Suite Including Cantilever Parasol (EXLUSIVE £1599)

When the sun shines, the Bramblecrest Sahara Modular Suite is the perfect setting throughout the day – from morning tea to a light lunch to evening drinks. Supremely versatile, relax under the cantilever parasol when it is hot and leave it outside when it rains!

Weber Genesis Gas 3310 BBQ (£999)

Cook up an outdoor feast for family and friends on this Weber BBQ. With work surface space either side and storage underneath this BBQ is perfect for the expert and novice alike! Whether you’re looking for a love seat for two, family dining sets for eight or corner sets for cosy gardens, Squire’s has a vast selection in store to accommodate all different sized gardens and budgets. Stock varies by centre and while stocks last.

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For further information please contact:
Gemma Phillips
Tel: 01483 238 840
E-mail: Gemma@kavanaghcommunications.com

 Work started in November 2012 and the £1M investment, as part of the Twickenham centre refurbishment includes state of the art kitchens, welcoming new seating areas and a beautiful outdoor terrace.  The Twickenham centre has been refurbished and modernised throughout making way for an extended plant area, offering customers a wider choice and for the expansion of the new Café Bar with additional seating areas.

 The new professional kitchen, which includes an all new grilling facility, provides increased capacity for the production of fresh homemade food. With a brand new menu, including modern creations such as the Cajun Portabello Steak Burger and Chilli & Crab Linguine plus with a fantastic range of light bites it makes the perfect setting for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

 For younger visitors there are hot meals from children’s food expert, Annabel Karmel, tasty and nutritious dishes with no added colourings, flavourings or preservatives, plus a pick and mix lunch box selection.

 The new Squire’s Café Bar also includes a more extensive drinks menu sourced by another local family run business Ellis of Richmond.  With a wide range of beers, ales and ciders plus champagne, sparkling and wine, the new Squire’s Café Bar offers picture perfect relaxed surroundings in which to enjoy your favourite tipple as part of your dining experience.

 To help you relax and enjoy your dining experience even more the new Squire’s Café Bar also includes a new ordering system, allowing you to order at the bar and have you food delivered directly to your table, so you can sit enjoy the atmosphere as you’re waiting for your fresh food to be prepared.

 “This is a fantastic development for our Twickenham Centre – especially as we’re celebrating my father’s 60 years in the industry this year,” said Sarah Squire, Deputy Chairman, Squire’s Garden Centres.  “Our restaurant was always popular but we’re now able to offer local customers an even finer selection of food and refreshments in a beautiful new environment.”

 Squire’s will be celebrating the refurbishment of their Twickenham centre and the official opening of their new Squire’s Café Bar on Friday 12^th April with a unique Afternoon Tea Party hosted by Colin Squire, Chairman of Squire’s.   This ticketed event will include a welcome glass of fizz, a selection of sandwiches, scones and Jam, loose leaf tea and celebration cake, plus will include some classical entertainment.

 Guest will also have the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets on the day of the event, with all money raised going to Twickenham Squire’s charity of the year St George’s Cardiothoracic Critical Care Unit.  Prizes include £250 of Squire’s vouchers, and outback gas BBQ and a champagne afternoon tea for two to name but a few!

Tickets numbers are limited and booking is essential, tickets are available to purchase at Squire’s Twickenham.

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For further information please contact:
Gemma Phillips
Tel: 01483 238 840
E mail: Gemma@kavanaghcommunications.com

Join us at Squire’s Shepperton from 10:30am where all are welcome to enjoy a free talk from James who will be sharing some of his top gardening tips and talking about some new ranges of fruits and vegetables to liven up your lunch box!

Spuds, sprouts and swede are a thing of the past. In his book “Homegrown Revolution” James Wong reveals the secrets to revolutionising the way you can use your garden. James demonstrates that even the smallest of garden spaces can be used to grow an array of edible exploits; from home grown saffron to goji berries, this book is set to revolutionise the concept of “growing your own.” Priced at £20, James will be signing copies for half an hour from midday, which would make an ideal gift for novice growers to allotment veterans alike.

In addition to signing his book, James will be providing further entertainment for customers with a more in-depth talk on growing your own in from 1.30pm onwards. For only £15 customers can join James for tea and cake and learn his secrets to “growing your own” and getting maximum flavour from small spaces, such as pots and window boxes. You’ll also get the opportunity to share in some food tasting whilst experiencing the famously taste-bud warping miracle berries!  This unique tasting berry will give you an experience like no other as it rewires the way the palate perceives flavour (for an hour or so) making even the most sour foods deliciously sweet.

Places are limited for this unique experience so advanced booking is essential.

Note to editors:
James will be available for a photocall from 10am.

 
For further information please contact:
Gemma Phillips
Tel: 01483 238 840
E mail: Gemma@kavanaghcommunications.com

This Valentine’s Day Squire’s Garden Centres are introducing this unique, multi-award winning ‘You’re beautiful’ rose plant. You’re Beautiful is a bushy plant that produces a succession of stunning bright pink roses throughout the summer. With dark green healthy foliage and a lovely, light scent what better way to say “You’re Beautiful” to the love of your life. These unique plants will not only make your sweetheart feel loved and appreciated but will serve as a constant reminder of your love for each other.

The You’re Beautiful rose has already earned several titles including ‘Rose of the Year’ and has been given the ‘Gold Standard Award’ proving the high quality of this gorgeous rose. This rose is resilient and has an exceptional health record so even beginner gardeners can expect a beautiful result. These magnificent rose bushes have a strong, neat growth making them ideal for border and containers.

So this Valentine’s Day why not consider swapping your clique, singular red rose for an elegant colourful rose bush that will provide fresh scent and beauty to your garden year after year.

Aside from this beautiful rose bush, Squire’s Garden Centres have a vast range of plants and flowers on offer to suit all of your loved ones this Valentines. A new variety of the ‘bleeding heart’, which flowers from spring to early summer, is another perfect Valentines gift for that special person. The scarlet flowers are suspended like tiny hear-shaped charms from arched burgundy stems above beautiful dark foliage.

For further information please contact:
Gemma Phillips
Tel: 01483 238 840
E-mail: Gemma@kavanaghcommunications.com

The new “Create & Grow” family activities are designed with young children in mind, giving them the opportunity to get creative, learn more about gardening, wildlife and the natural world whilst getting their hands dirty with a range of gardening and craft activities!

The programme was designed to engage children in learning about nature in a fun and exciting way, with a variety of activities the whole family can get involved in.

Having worked with local children in creating the programme, much of the design and activities included has been inspired by these young gardening enthusiasts.

Run by our expert friendly staff with lots of knowledge about gardening and crafts, the children will find the sessions fun, engaging and educational.

The first “Create & Grow” activity session launches for February Half Term, 18 – 22 February, daily activities will take place Monday to Friday with drop in sessions between 10am and 4pm to keep children (and parents!) entertained during the holiday.

Come along and paint one of our acorn shaped terracotta birdhouses, then take it home for the feathered friends in your garden. (£4.50 whilst stocks last, first come first served)

There are exciting free activities to stimulate their minds too, join in our Squirrel colouring competition (not a live one of course!) and a gardening treasure hunt which will teach them about the changes taking place in our gardens during spring, they can even win prizes for these too!

Sarah Squire, deputy chairman of Squire’s Garden Centres commented “We’re delighted with our new programme of children’s activities, designed for children to have some fun and explore their interest in gardening. It’s so important to support our children, giving them varied learning and development opportunities plus new and different experiences.  We hope that the children in our local communities will come and enjoy the activities we have on offer.”

The next “Create & Grow” activity session will take place just before Mother’s Day, giving the children plenty of time to plant a spring pot for Mum.

*Excludes Chertsey and Twickenham.  Twickenham sessions will begin w/c 4^th March and then be ongoing.

 This Christmas, Squire’s Garden Centres are standing up for the unsung horticultural hero of Christmas – the Poinsettia!  Squire’s wants everyone to not only fully appreciate this special splash of seasonal colour but also ensure that its Christmas cheer can even last from one Christmas to the next.

The Poinsettia’s combination of cheerful winter colour and good value makes it a nationwide favourite, both as a cheerful gift and as a decorative addition to the home, and Squire’s has a special commitment to the Poinsettia – every one of them is locally grown and brought into a Squire’s Garden Centre within an hour of harvesting.

Originating in Mexico, the popularity of the Poinsettia is centuries old and is almost global.  Over 4 million sold in the UK each year, mostly around Christmas time, and he stunning splash of colour it provides in the depths of our winter is an essential element in the British Christmas – but our familiarity with the plant and our casual treatment of it actually blinkers us to its true qualities.

Sarah Squire, Deputy Director of Squire’s Garden Centres, explains the company’s focus on the classic Christmas houseplant: “The Poinsettia is undoubtedly a seasonal favourite but we want everyone to appreciate the true qualities of this remarkable plant.  With just a little more care in selecting and caring for their plant we know that consumers can have a stronger, more beautiful and longer-lasting plant.

At Squire’s, we are committed to providing the best quality plants at good value prices but we also want to help our customers to ensure that they give each plant the care it needs and deserves.  Through the expert advice of our staff – both in-store and online – we can help them to enjoy their best ever Poinsettia this Christmas and beyond.”

The fact that Poinsettia last beyond Christmas may surprise many people – but that is perhaps a reflection of how little care the plant is often given!  Properly cared for, a Poinsettia can easily flower right through Christmas, flowering beautifully for up to 6 weeks.   Here is the Squire’s quick guide to getting the best from the colourful Christmas star of the plant world:

• Choosing & Transporting: Poinsettia are ubiquitous at Christmas, but they don’t all look the same and they are not all of the same quality.  Squire’s ensures that its Poinsettia are not only locally grown but also schedules regular deliveries to its stores within an hour of harvesting. Why the hurry? Well, Poinsettia are highly susceptible to draughts and this shorter haulage time leads to a higher quality of plant for the shopper. Although  the season’s favourite colour remain the traditional red, other colour options from Squire’s can include gentle hues of pink and white (available at certain centres)
• Squire’s also gift-wraps each plant beautifully      – free on any plant £5 and over – so that not only does it look attractive      but the wrapping also protects it on the journey home. Do avoid leaving  them in the car for too long, it’s likely to be too cold for them,  especially if left overnight.

• Positioning: Once indoors, give them a warm bright (draught free) spot with some natural daylight but preferably not in direct sunlight.
• For such a powerful symbol of Christmas the Poinsettia‘s  vulnerability to cold is remarkable – even an hour at a too low temperature (ie anything below 16°C) will threaten the plant.  Perhaps surprisingly, hot draughts are almost as dangerous – so that warm spot by the fire or near the cooker is not recommended!   It will thrive when properly cared for but once the leaves wilt, there’s no way to save it.

• Watering: It’s vital that you remember that over-watering is as damaging as under-watering.  Allow the compost to dry out a little before watering with tepid water; it needs to stay moist but not soaked. Ideally, use a saucer or plant dish and pour away any excess water.  This will maintain the plant in tip-top condition throughout the Christmas season and well beyond.
• Poinsettia can be maintained longer with a monthly feed of fertiliser  (high-potassium, low-nitrogen ratio) and this will help extend its bloom period.  It can also be moved outside in springtime in a warm, sheltered position and cut back to encourage new      bracts – you can even maintain it until the following Christmas and  beyond!

Further advice and information on all Squire’s plants is available on the Squire’s website: www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk

The humble Poinsettia is well worth this simple care and its link to Christmas is actually much more than the colour the plant brings to our homes; Poinsettias have a special place in the Christmas story.  Known in its home region of South America as ‘Noche Buena’  – meaning ‘Christmas Eve’ – it features in a local legend of a young girl too poor to provide a gift for the birth of Christ.  Inspired by an angel, the girl gathers weeds to plant at the church altar and these blossom into beautiful Poinsettia.  The star-shaped leaves are also said to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem.

This Christmas, Squire’s wants everyone to choose their Poinsettia carefully, care for it even more carefully – and enjoy it even more.  By following a few simple guidelines you will enjoy a beautiful traditional symbol of Christmas in all its colourful glory, right through the holiday season and beyond!