Garden centre offers hands-on Mother’s Day experience

A garden centre is offering a new hands-on Mother’s Day experience.

Dobbies Garden Centres will be hosting the event at its Swindon store this March, combining a luxury afternoon tea with a seasonal planting workshop.

The Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea and Planting Experience will take place from Friday, March 28 to Sunday, March 30.

Guests will be able to explore a selection of new plants and flowers to create an outdoor planter bursting with vibrant seasonal colour.

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Attendees will enjoy a 90-minute experience that begins with a relaxing luxury afternoon tea.

This treat will feature three tiers of sweet and savoury delights, plus unlimited tea and coffee refills.

The luxury afternoon tea will offer an assortment of freshly made finger sandwiches, including soft cheese and cucumber, egg mayonnaise with watercress, and ham, rocket and red onion chutney.

Customers can also enjoy scones, served with Cornish clotted cream and a pot of jam, and a selection of sweet treats, including a gin and raspberry cheesecake, Victoria sponge with vanilla buttercream, red berry and matcha Battenberg and macaroons dipped in white chocolate.

Guests can upgrade the hot drink to a speciality tea, coffee, or hot chocolate for 50p, or make the occasion extra special by adding a 200ml bottle of Prosecco for £6.50 per adult (aged 18 and over).

After enjoying afternoon tea, guests will head to the plant area in the Swindon store where Dobbies’ Green Team will host a Q&A and guide them through creating a seasonal planter to take home (worth up to £40).

Each guest will receive gloves and all the tools they need, as well as a Cotswold planter made of 100 per cent recycled plastic (available in white or aqua) and a variety of spring plants, carefully selected by Dobbies’ Senior Buyer, Nigel Lawton.

Guests will learn planting tips and techniques before creating their very own seasonal planter to take home and enjoy for months to come.

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Dobbies’ Events Programme Manager, Ayesha Nickson, said: “Our Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea and Planting Experience, combining delicious sweet and savoury treats with a fun and creative activity, is the perfect way to celebrate the special women in your life.

“Whether you’re spending the day with your mum, a loved one, or treating yourself, we’re excited to welcome garden fans to this memorable event.”

Tickets for the Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea and Planting Experience are priced at £45 per person.