Emporium

First thing this morning, I arrived at Bents garden centre to buy some bags of soil conditioner. It’s mulching time. And early, it’s quiet here - it can get very busy.

It’s our nearest garden centre, but it’s much more than that. An all round retail and leisure destination with a big restaurant and café. In fact so big it has brown signs signing it from the East Lancashire Road, and it’s own Wikipedia entry. And over 500 full and part time staff at peak season. It’s come a long way since the original Mr Bent started selling roses from his front door hereabouts in 1937. It remains a family owned and run business.

This glasshouse is huge. As usual, both robins and dunnocks were around. They must know when the automatic doors to the outside world are triggered. I would not be surprised if they nest inside, they are pretty safe from non human predators here.

In and out took me less than 15 minutes. My idea of shopping.