Abercorn Plant &Garden Centre

Abercorn has grown plants on the edge of Chelmsford since 1962, and after more than sixty years on Beehive Lane in Great Baddow it remains an independent, family-run garden centre rather than a group-owned superstore. A good proportion of its shrubs and plants are raised on site, which keeps the stock suited to local soils and gives staff first-hand knowledge of what they sell. The centre carries trees, shrubs and bedding alongside pots, ornaments, garden furniture, tools, seeds, and landscaping and fencing materials, with a children's play area to keep younger visitors occupied. It sits close enough to the city to be a practical weekend stop yet keeps the feel of a proper nursery. For Chelmsford gardeners it is a long-standing alternative to the national chains, where the plants have often started life a few yards from the till.