Dobbies Garden Centres

It might still be summer, but autumn is in flight at our stores across the UK, as our biggest range of spring flowering bulbs goes on display this week.    We’ve taken delivery of over six million spring flowering bulbs to help gardeners across the country get their gardens ready for a colourful season!     Six-year-old Ada was blooming excited by their arrival at our Edinburgh store – and we are too!     Big thank you to Taylors Bulbs for helping us ensure this is one of our best selection of bulbs yet!

Back in May, we announced the local winners in our Dobbies Community Gardens competition.    Since then, our stores have been busy helping to support schools, charities, community centres, playgroups and allotments up and down the country with their gardening projects.    Our Stapleton store spent a busy day with the people of Royal Court Residents accommodation with their communal garden space and they are ‘over the moon’ with the results!    Residents and their families have been making the most of the late summer sunshine in the garden, and they are looking forward to hosting a garden party later this month!     Well done to everyone involved and best of luck with the celebrations!   More information on Dobbies Community Gardens here https://lnkd.in/gQQbK8Ye

As National Allotment Week gets underway, we’re highlighting our support for our friends at the Stroke Association.    Throughout August, customers attending in-store Grow How sessions - this month covering the topic of allotment gardening - will have the chance to donation to this worthwhile cause.     We’ve worked with the Stroke Association for several years. More recently, supporting the launch of their first ever online digital garden – Strength in Bloom. Gardening is known to have a positive impact on both the physical and emotional recovery of stroke survivors and the charity supports several groups with allotment across the UK.    Grow How workshops take place every Wednesday at 10.30am across our stores, as well as on the first Saturday of every month.  Find out more here about Strength in Bloom here - https://lnkd.in/en-HsrJZ

We love the chance to support our local communities at Dobbies. And, even more so when it involves huge sculptures of fruit!     You could say we were ‘apple-solutely’ ecstatic to be given the opportunity to launch the 2024 Giant Red Apple Tour at our Cirencester store recently!    The red apple took pride of place at the entrance to the store before it set off on its tour of the region to promote the Malvern Autumn Show, the UK’s largest harvest celebration.    Sam Field, General Manager at Dobbies Cirencester said: “The Giant Red Apple was a fantastic sight greeting everyone when they arrive at our store and we hope it gives people a little seasonal inspiration, as we begin to prepare for the coming Autumn.” Thanks for the collaboration Encore PR

It’s never too early to start planning for Christmas and we’re continuing to countdown to this magical time of the year with the launch of our festive gifting look book for press and content creators.     Packed full of inspiration to wrap up Christmas at Dobbies this year, from gifts for indoor and outdoor gardeners, festive food, toys, home and pet. And, our fantastic range of festive dino decorations are sure to make a roarsome addition to homes this year.    The festive gifting look book is now available on our website, alongside decorations look book.     Please get in touch with our PR team to discuss bespoke content, feature ideas and press inspiration, or for a copy of our full Christmas Look Book - pressoffice@dobbies.com    We look forward to bringing you more festive inspiration as we count down to the most wonderful time of the year! https://lnkd.in/enA7ZUrV

We’re excited to launch the first of our digital Look Books for Christmas 2024.    The Christmas decorations Look Book brings our seasonal themes to life, providing inspiration to ensure that everyone can bring some Dobbies magic to their home and garden this year, whatever the size or budget.     The Look Book is now available on our website and please get in touch with our PR team to discuss bespoke content, feature ideas and press inspiration -pressoffice@dobbies.com    We look forward to bringing you more festive inspiration as we count down to the most wonderful time of the year! https://lnkd.in/evBY5pbs

We’re proud to support our friends at the Stroke Association in the launch of their first ever online digital garden.     The virtual garden - Strength in Bloom - invites visitors to donate by planting symbolic flowers and trees or selecting a plaque to dedicate to an individual.    Inspired by the Stroke Association’s debut at RHS Chelsea Flower Show this year, it aims to create a virtual haven that people affected by stroke can visit from anywhere, for years to come.     We think it’s a lovely and inclusive way for everyone to experience the joy of gardens and raise funds for a very worthwhile cause!    Take a look here:

We opened the doors of our little dobbies Stockbridge store last night for a special preview of our brand new terrarium workshop. Our guests were given the opportunity to create their own terrarium displays with Ivyline's beautiful glass planters, under the expert guidance of Dobbies Senior Houseplant Buyer Claire Bishop and Brand Manager Rebecca Stanton. Thank you to everyone who was part of this fun and unique event! Tickets are now on sale for little gardens at little dobbies: a terrarium workshop on July 25th. www.dobbies.com/events

We’re excited to launch an appeal to find our next charity partner. We have a long-standing history of supporting charities and communities at Dobbies and the new partnership, which begins next year, will form a key part of our 160th year celebrations. At Dobbies, we’ve supported Teenage Cancer Trust for the last nine years and we’ve raised an impressive £1.39m for them in this time. As our National Charity Partner, it’s amazing to see the fundraising efforts of colleagues across the business as well as customers making donations. We’re looking forward to hearing from charities who share our commitment to bring people and communities together. Applications close on Friday 16 August 2024 – apply here: https://lnkd.in/e2wSujW6

We’re excited to unveil our highly anticipated themes for Christmas 2024. Our five themes include everything you need to create a magical Christmas, whether that’s inside or outside the home. From a traditional Christmas full of heart in A Festive Tale; an elegant celebration of opulent tones with a modern twist in Classic Noel; a natural blend of the beautiful outdoors and cosy interiors in Magical Woodland; to Snow & Sparkles which takes inspiration from snowy landscapes and frosted tones; and a showstopping celebration of joyful colour and fun in Colour Pop, the choices are truly endless. And this year, we’ve expanded our offering to include doorways, dining spaces, hallways and patios that will spread the Christmas cheer throughout the home and garden. For more information, visit https://lnkd.in/dkb7_nh