Heaton Fold Garden centre offers something for everyone

Tucked away just off of Chorley New Road, Heaton Fold Garden Centre is a true haven. The council-run space offers a fantastic day out at the same time as helping out the local community by providing work placements for adults.

Heaton Fold Garden Centre is a lovely space this summer. (Image: Leah Collins) There are currently ten adult learners on site per day, who have their own purpose-built facilities, including pool table, kitchen facilities and recreation facilities.

I’ve been to Heaton numerous times and was surprised to have never stumbled on this place before, needless to say, I will be returning!

Cafe manager, Marje, Manager Craig Brayshaw and gift shop assistant, Luke. (Image: Leah Collins) This special place is structured like a small community. Heaton Fold Garden Centre has it all, including an on-site café, a gift shop, a stage for life music and even monthly artisan markets.

First up was my visit to Claude’s café, named after the site’s late15-year-old tabby cat, Claude.

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The licensed café serves a range of snacks, homemade cakes and light lunches, including afternoon tea.

The cafe space was ambient. (Image: Leah Collins) The café was the perfect blend of cosy and ambient, with fairy lights and flowers decorating the walls. I felt right at home and chatted to customers, many of them regulars, about the space.

I opted for a slice of the poppyseed and lemon cake. (Image: Leah Collins) I had a slice of the poppyseed and lemon cake, which was absolutely splendid. Succulent and full of flavour.

Sally Leyland and Debbie Olujic had popped into the garden centre for a coffee and a catch up for the first time.

(Left) Debbie Olujic and Sally Leyland (right). (Image: Leah Collins) Sally said: “It’s our first visit here, we’re really enjoying the space. The menu looks great and there’s lots of variety, so we’ll be back.

“It seems like a great place to relax and chat.”

Next, I visited the site’s well-stocked gift shop, which sells an array of unique treasures, sweets, toiletries and garden supplies.

Café manager Marje said: “We try and sell special items here, items that people can’t get anywhere else, and we’ve worked really hard to curate the stock.

The gift shop sells lots of unique and special items. (Image: Leah Collins) “I would say that the scented items, toiletries, incense and body wash, these are always popular.

Seasonal giftware and toiletries are among the most popular with customers. (Image: Leah Collins) “There’s greeting cards, seasonal giftware, handbags, and a clothing fashion range, which is curated by myself.

“We also sell preserves, such as jams, honeys and different sauces. We have local cheese from Goosnargh suppliers; we try and support local businesses as much as we can.”

As well as the gift shop, staff look after the garden centre, pruning shrubs whenever needed as well as planting a large amount of the summer bedding to sell, which is different to some other garden centres that mainly rely on imported bedding plants.

A range of plants, exotic flowers and vegetables are available to buy. (Image: Leah Collins) The centre also has dozens of indoor and outdoor exotic flowers and plants, plus everything you could ever need for your garden, from tools to decorative pots and much more.

Manager Craig Brayshaw said: “Since taking over, we’ve seen a 300 per cent increase in what we’re taking in, the place has really been turned around.

“The staff members here and myself have worked so hard to get this place to where it is now. It truly is a special safe haven. We’ve worked tirelessly to make it what it is today.

“We have the artisan markets once a month, which hold up to 30 stalls, from different local businesses.

“We want to give back to the area, but this place is also so much more than just a retail business. Every penny goes on keeping it functioning and giving back to our learning disabled adults, keeping the centre open for their benefit.

The site boasts its own Japanese-style garden with a Koi pond. (Image: Leah Collins) “On site there is lots on offer for customers too with a Wild West market town mock-up, a Japanese themed Garden complete with a koi fishpond, a Caribbean-style ‘Tiki’ Bar, and beach hut.”

For adult learners such as Matthew Stones, 36, the space is absolutely invaluable in building confidence and developing specialist skills.

Matthew Stones has been working at the Garden Centre since 2016. (Image: Leah Collins) Speaking to The Bolton News he said: “I have worked here since 2016 and it’s really nice.

“I love the staff, like Kevan, they are friendly and it’s like a family.”

Sam Whitehead, 32, also an adult learner said: “I like it here, I have grown in confidence, and I enjoy watering the flowers most.”

Sam Whitehead is also an adult learner at the site. (Image: Leah Collins) In total, fifty places are available for the learners, who are referred through social services.

Craig added: “We’re so proud of what we do here, Peter Entwistle and the council have been great in helping us.

“We have something special, and we invite people to come and see what we’re all about.”

Heaton Fold Garden Centre is open seven days a week, from 9am to 4pm throughout the week, and 10am to 4pm on weekends and bank holidays.

Only assistance dogs are allowed on-site due to the safety of the adult learners and valuable plant stock.

The garden centre also hosts artisan markets throughout the year.