Directories of garden centres, garden designers, nurseries and plant suppliers with a recycling, low plastic or plastic-free policy, plus links to blogs, websites, campaigns, and other relevant sources of information.
Garden centres
Bud Garden Centre Some biodegradable pots
Omer Drive, Burnage, Manchester M19 2JN http://www.budgarden.co.uk
Sells herbaceous plants in coir pots
Cleeve Nursery & Garden Centre Offers plastic pot and tray recycling service
138 Main Rd, Cleeve, Bristol BS49 4PW http://www.cleevenursery.co.uk
Good range of recycled plastic and biodegradable pots for sale too
Edibleculture Leading the way in plastic-free commercial gardening with a zero-plastic pledge at the start of 2018; ‘bags for life’ compost scheme + all plants removed from plastic pots and repotted into cardboard at point of sale
The Horticultural Unit, The Abbey School,Faversham, Kent, ME13 8RZ http://www.edibleculture.co.uk
Silver Springs Nursery and Garden Centre Some biodegradable pots
Fontley Road, Titchfield, Fareham, Hampshire PO15 6QX http://www.silverspringsgc.co.uk
Stocks alpines in Hairy Pots (biodegradable coir).
Stewarts Garden Centres Recycles all plastic packaging; provides pot drop-off points for customers
http://www.stewarts.co.uk
Three branches in Christchurch, Dorset; Wimborne, Dorset; and Fareham, Hampshire.
The Plant Centre Reuses pots and has plastic pot recycling facility for customers
Bromfield, Ludlow SY8 2JR http://www.ludlowplantcentre.co.uk
Churchstoke Shopping Centre, Powys SY15 6AR
Pair of small independent garden centres; good range of recycled and biodegradable pots
Whitehall Garden Centres Plastic pot recycling facility for customers, rigid plastic waste separated out for recycling
http://www.whitehallgardencentre.co.uk
Three branches in Lacock, Whitchurch and Woodborough, Wiltshire
Plant nurseries
Alluring Plants Uses only biodegradable pots
40 Reynolds Wharf, Coalport, Telford TF8 7HU http://www.alluringplants.co.uk
Based on a wildlife farm near Bridgnorth, Shropshire: specialises in pollen-rich plants for bees and butterflies. Uses peat-free compost.
Bluebell Cottage Nursery Actively invites customers to return pots for reuse
Lodge Lane, Dutton, Nr Warrington, Cheshire WA4 4HP http://www.bluebellcottage.co.uk
Choice perennials and a lovely garden to visit, too. Most stock propagated on the premises.
Fibrex Nurseries Some plants in biodegradable pots; plastic pots reused
Honeybourne Road, Pebworth, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire CV37 8XP http://www.fibrex.co.uk
Specialist growers of pelargoniums and ivies (holds National Collections of both), begonias and lots of other choice plants. Young pelargoniums for mail order raised in biodegradable pots; plastic pots on other plants removed before packing and reused. Trialling use of larger biodegradable pots.
Gardeners’ Cottage Plants Uses locally sourced reclaimed pots
Gardener’s Cottage, Bingfield, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE19 2LE http://www.gcplants.co.uk
Cottage garden perennials, wildflowers and other garden plants. Most stock propagated on the premises.
Paddock Plants All online orders sent 99% plastic-free (all bar the labels!), and plants sold in biodegradable Vipots or decanted into cardboard POSIpots at point of sale
Upper Toothill Rd, Rownhams, Southampton SO16 8AL
http://www.paddockplants.co.uk
Family-run plant nursery: perennials, grasses, ferns and shrubs including some more unusual varieties or plants new to the UK market, grown peat-free.
The Coastal Gardener Re-uses plastic pots and any new pots are biodegradable
Fakenham Farm, Eddington Road, St Helens, Isle of Wight PO33 1XS http://www.thecoastalgardener.co.uk
Specialises in plants which thrive in maritime conditions; most stock propagated on the premises.
Victoriana Nursery Removes plugs from plastic before sending, uses recycled pots, packs in straw or shredded paper
Buck St, Challock, Ashford, Kent TN25 4DG http://www.victoriananursery.co.uk
Fine range of vegetables and fruit including lots of heritage and unusual varieties.
Withypitts Dahlias Uses biodegradable pots for all stock
Turners Hill, West Sussex RH10 4SF http://www.withypitts-dahlias.co.uk
Highly regarded dahlia specialist supplying tubers and florists’ blooms
Plant wholesalers
Kirton Farm All plants grown and supplied in biodegradable pots
Crawley, Winchester, Hampshire SO21 2PJ http://www.kirtonfarm.co.uk
Cottage garden plants and herbs; home of the Hairy Pot Plant Company.
Mail order
Cotswold Garden Flowers Plants wrapped in newspaper for mailing
http://www.cgf.net/
Choice perennials: owned by plantsman extraordinaire Bob Brown.
Gee Tee Bulbs Undertakes to reuse plastic where possible and sends trays back to supplier
http://www.gee-tee.co.uk
Spring, summer and autumn-flowering bulbs
Incredible Vegetables Plants removed from plastic pots before sending and packaged in recycled materials
http://www.incrediblevegetables.co.uk
Perennial vegetables and other edibles
Simply Go Gardening Biodegradable pots for propagation; thereafter pots made of ‘high percentage of recycled material’
Palmstead Nurseries, Harville Road, Wye, Ashford, Kent, TN25 5EU (NB not open to the public) http://www.simplygogardening.co.uk
Huge range of plants from shrubs to trees, herbs, perennials – the lot, really. Nice range of sundries too. Pledges to use recycled or recyclable packaging ‘wherever possible’.
The Backyard Larder Plants removed from plastic pots and packaged in recycled bubblewrap
http://www.backyardlarder.co.uk
Perennial vegetables and other edibles
Garden designers
Scrumptious Gardens Policy never to use plastic pots
Central Scotland http://www.scrumptiousgarden.uk
Garden design & build partnership specialising in edible gardens
Gardening without Plastic 