A GARDEN centre has been named as one of the best in the UK.

Perrywood Tiptree has been recognised at the National Garden Centre Association Conference.

The popular site was listed as the second in the top 100 UK garden centre league table and placed in four awards.

It won the best indoor lifestyle department in the UK, the second-best plant area in the UK, third place in the Barton Grance Award for commercial creativity and innovation and third place in the Ian Boardman Indoor Plants Cup.

Gazette: Staff- Perrywood staff with their winners awardStaff- Perrywood staff with their winners award (Image: Perrywood Garden Centre)

The Garden Centre Association carries out an annual unannounced inspection of all its members and uses this to compile the league table.

The association scores several elements, including customer service, merchandising, sustainability, creativity and innovation, quality and range of products and much more.

The garden centre won the awards in the destination garden centre category, for garden centres with a turnover of more than £4m.

Simon Bourne, retail director, said: "There are some incredible garden centres up and down the UK, so to be named as the second best overall makes us very proud.

“This amazing achievement is thanks to our team's hard work, passion, and dedication."