The Garden Shop got a new lease of life in September 2009 when Mark Thrower took it over after the previous owners had, to put it politely, not exactly nurtured it. Luckily for the shop (and local gardeners), Mark had already spent over 30 years in the garden retail industry, so he knew exactly what he was doing… most of the time!
Mark hasn’t done it entirely on his own though. His brother Lee has always been ready to lend a helping hand — and a bit of abuse — whenever it’s needed.
Since then, it’s been brought back to life as a proper local, independent, family-run garden shop — the sort of place where you can get good plants, honest advice, and a bit of friendly banter while you’re at it.
We’re big believers in growing your own. Especially veg, fruit, herbs. Allotment holders across Northamptonshire know us well, and plenty pop in regularly for supplies, advice, or just a chat about why the slugs are winning again this year.
At the shop you’ll find a huge range of seasonal plants, seed potatoes (when in season) and good old-fashioned loose seeds sold the traditional way — just like garden shops used to do before everything came wrapped in three layers of plastic.
The shop itself is a bit like Arkwright’s store. You might come in for a bag of compost, but don’t be surprised if you leave with seeds, a gorgeous hanging basket, a new trowel, dog food, and something you’re fairly sure you didn’t need until five minutes ago.
We are one of the biggest Calor gas suppliers in the area and we even offer key cutting too. Kia, Marks daughter, joined The Garden Shop in 2021 after helping us out during the rush of the COVID-19 Lockdown era. We had never been busier! She brought over four years of experience from working in a specialist key cutting shop — so if we can’t get it, no one can!
At the end of the day, we’re just a proper garden shop run by people who know their stuff and enjoy what they do. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener, a first-time grower, a serious allotment enthusiast, or just someone who likes a wander around a shop full of useful things, you’ll always be welcome.
Pop in, have a browse, ask a question, and don’t worry — the banter’s free.