Garden centres have become more than seeds and shrubbery in recent years, with more and more boasting a range of great cafes and homeware sections.
As the seasons change and we welcome spring, many of us across the Tyne Valley are thinking about our gardens growing and what to plant.
We've rounded up the best garden centres across Hexham, Prudhoe, Haltwhistle, Wylam and Ponteland, according to Google reviews.
1 Down to Earth, Hexham
According to reviews, Down to Earth sells "excellent quality plants at great prices".
One Google review said: "Small but jam-packed with goodies -everything you knew you wanted, and lots you didn't know you wanted! Really friendly, helpful and knowledgeable with absolutely no pressure."
The business is open on Good Friday 9am-5pm, March 30 from 9am-5pm and is closed on Easter Sunday, reopening April 1 from 9am-5pm.
2 Harlings Garden Centre Bridge End, Acomb
Harlings Garden Centre offers a wide variety of good quality plants, according to Google reviewers.
One review said: "Great small garden centre with a good selection of plants and garden pots etc. Good prices plus excellent, helpful and friendly staff. Also has a small car park right outside the main entrance."
It's open 9am-5pm Monday to Friday, and on Sunday it opens 10am-4pm.
3 Bradley Gardens, Wylam
With a tranquil 18th-century walled garden, the business also has a homestore and a garden nursery.
"Very nice place, lovely to walk around. Some little shops plus a conservatory restaurant! Best to book a table as popular as!", one review said.
4 HGLS - Haltwhistle Garden & Landscaping Supplies
The business, which opened in 2021, is open Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm. On Saturdays they are open between 9am and 4pm and on Sundays they are open between 10am and 4pm.
READ MORE: 'This is something I'm doing for Haltwhistle' - Garden supplies centre has busy start to life
One review said: "Very helpful and friendly staff, good quality plants. Will definitely use again."
5 Tyne Valley Garden Centre, Stocksfield
The business has a cafe and a garden centre to spend an afternoon in. Its roots go back to the 1920s, when the enterprising village cinema owner branched out into market gardening.
It stocks plants of all kinds, from trees to alpines, houseplants to climbers, and plenty of fruit and vegetables.
6 Halls of Heddon, Heddon-on-the-Wall
The traditional family-run nursery centre at Heddon on the Wall was established in 1921 by William Nicholson Hall. In the early years, the nursery has grown many of their own plants and specialised in dahlias and chrysanthemums.
Today, the centres grows almost 150,000 plants annually and supply chrysanthemum and dahlia plants nationwide.
7 Shield Green Nurseries, Hexham
Offering an attractive range of perennials and shrubs, Shield Green also sells bird care products, eggs and cut flowers.
A review said: "We bought a number of plants from the lady selling them in Hexham Market. Lovely quality plants sold by a lovely friendly lady. We planted them the next day, and in less than a week, they have grown considerably. Really pleased with them. They look great."
8 Wylam Nurseries
Located at the end of Stephenson Terrace in Wylam, the nursery is open seven days a week.
It provides a variety of plants, vegetables, and more.
Wylam Nurseries has been rated 4.8 on Google reviews.
9 Dobbies, Ponteland
Dobbies branch is one of several based across the North East and is part of a national chain.
One Google review said: "Well-stocked garden centre on the outskirts of Ponteland. The garden centre indoor and outdoor stocks plants, hard and soft landscaping materials, as well as many peripheral items."
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