It’s hard to beat a combination of light shopping and greenery for a gentle and enjoyable day out with older people, so try these garden centres in Cambridge.
Whether rain or shine, garden centres are one of the best places in the UK to spend some quality and relaxing time. There’s enough going on to keep anyone with even the smallest interest in the outdoors alert and interested, these places generally lack the urgent hustle and bustle of conventional shopping centres or department stores which also makes them ideal when you want to get out and have a potter around somewhere a bit calmer and quieter.
A lot of older people like to get into gardening, whether just a succulent or two in a pot on the windowsill or full-on planting and growing your own fruit and veg, so taking seniors out to a local garden centre in Cambridge can be a lovely outing with something for everyone to enjoy.
Oakington Garden Centre, on Dry Drayton Road, is an independent, family run business with over 30 years of experience in horticulture and garden design, offering a large range of quality outdoor plants, presented in colourful seasonal displays. Their plant team are enthusiastic gardeners and experts in their field, ready to offer friendly help and advice on all your gardening needs. With the on-site Olive Tree Café providing seasonal, homemade meals for breakfast and lunch, enjoy a friendly and relaxing atmosphere whilst replenishing your strength with a hot drink and homemade treats.
Situated on Newmarket Road between the Airport Way roundabout and Junction 35 of the A14, Darwin Nurseries is more than just a farm shop, it’s a place you can slow down and spend some time with the family. Take some time to explore the 7.5 acres and meet the ever-expanding menagerie of goats, sheep and pigs, chickens, ducks, and rabbits. Take a wander round the fledgling woodland with its lovely hobbit house nestled amongst the trees for the children to investigate then check out the greenhouse stocked with seasonal plants, hanging baskets and vegetable plants.
The farm shop is well stocked with a wide range of produce from local producers. Relax with a drink and a delicious cake in our drinks area or if it’s lovely weather why not a picnic outside in the woodland area. With something for everyone, the whole family can enjoy a day out at Darwin Nurseries.
Dobbies Royston, is located just off the A10 towards Royston, with 75 centres nationwide, they are the UK’s leading garden centre retailer. Dobbies is not your average garden centre, dedicated to enriching people’s lives and nurture connections between people, the community, and the environment. Dobbies offer carefully considered ranges of products, high quality services, great restaurants, and cafés, as well as engaging experiences.
A family run collection of local garden centres in the Cambridge area. Gardening is their passion, and they welcome keen and novice gardeners alike into their stores with a promise that you will always find the highest quality products, the happiest, healthiest plants, and passionate, knowledgeable staff on hand to help no matter the question. They now offer a full range of services including pet food and accessories, garden furniture and barbecues (the Horningsea store is now a Weber World), a vast gifting area, food hall and even children’s toys and games. Each of the stores includes its own Sunflower Cafe which features the core Scotsdales menu options as well as a few personal variations between stores.
Whatever the weather, a trip to a local garden centre in or around Cambridge is a great option for seniors and carers to have a relaxing and low-exertion day that mingles shopping and a sit down with a good cuppa and a taste of nature. Most places are flat and well-covered with lots of benches and seating so ideal for the less mobile, and many will also have seasonal events and décor to lend an extra bit of excitement to a spur of the moment day out.