Family-run Garden Centre opens at Thorpe Farm Centre

Thorpe Farm is welcoming a new addition to the Centre on Saturday May 3rd with the opening of The Barn by Ling Group, a family-run Garden Centre.

Operated by landscaping and gardening expert Aidan Ling and his wife Sarah, the new Garden Centre will focus on garden planning, planting and maintenance for the home gardener, with the owners and their team happy to share advice and ideas to help shoppers’ gardens flourish.  There will also be tool servicing available, and the team are keen to add events later in the year such as ‘Beginner Gardener’ days and Wreath Making workshops. 

Aidan Ling is keen to share his passion for plants with shoppers.  He started gardening when given the opportunity to ‘help out’ whilst living in Germany.  He now landscapes and maintains a number of private gardens in the North East, and has, for several years, helped to develop the planting and landscaping at Thorpe Farm Centre.

Aidan commented: “This is the realisation of a long-held dream, we’re thrilled to be opening our own garden centre.  Come and shop at The Barn and the team will be happy to serve you, and to share ideas, hear about your gardening challenges and work with you to find the perfect planting solution. 

“Opening The Barn by Ling Group at Thorpe Farm Centre is perfect.  The Barkes Family and their team have shared their knowledge and expertise so that we have quickly turned an idea into reality.  We’re hoping soon to be nurturing our own plants from seed to sell in the garden centre, developing events, and even offering a ‘gift a gardener’ scheme.  We’ll be listening to our customers so that we can develop the kind of garden centre they’ll come back to again and again.”

Harvey Barkes of Thorpe Farm Centre added: “The Barn by Ling Group feels like the perfect addition to everything already on offer here at Thorpe Farm Centre.  Our central rustic barn has been given a new purpose, and we’re able to provide Aidan and Sarah with a great location to bring their dreams to fruition. 

“And for customers, it’s ideal.  With plenty of free parking here, a trip to the garden centre can now be combined with coffee and cake, a browse of the farm shop, a visit to our Peel House, or a chance to enjoy any of the other attractions here at Thorpe Farm Centre.  We’re sure The Barn by Ling Group will be a huge success.”

Sited in the former Reclamation Barn, immediately opposite The Courtyard restaurant and farm shop, the garden centre will be open daily from 9am to 4pm.