Longacres Blog

Christmas is just around the corner!  Where has the year gone?  Here at Longacres we have a huge array of Christmas trees ready for you to dress in your favourite colours and styles, with potted trees available from early November, and cut trees from the end of November. Whether you prefer a non-drop Nordmann Fir or a potted Blue Spruce, we have a range of trees and heights for you to choose from.  Don't forget to order early for any trees 10ft or above as they do sell out quickly!   You can order your tree online and pop in to collect it when convenient using our Click and Collect service. Fancy a bigger tree this year but worried you won't fit it in (or on) your car?  Worry not!  We provide a delivery service (local area only) with named-day delivery, 7 days per week, for just £5. If you don't have the time to decorate your tree, our lovely florists provide a tree decoration service in situ.  Please enquire for pricing. As well as trees, we have a range of holly wreaths, reindeer planters (which also make great Christmas gifts), and tree stands. If you're not keen on a real tree we have a large variety of artificial trees, including pre-lit ones, ready for collection.  Of course no tree would be complete without its decorations.  We have an amazing assortment of Christmas decorations available, from delicate glass baubles to strings of glittering lights, to complement your tree and your home, at this festive time of year.  Don't forget the fairy or star for the top! Before you plan your shopping trip to Longacres, remember that Santa is now in his grotto right up until Christmas Eve.   So, how about surprising the little ones with a trip to see the man himself?   For more information, click here. We hope to see you soon!

For most people, Christmas should be colourful. Decorations should come in various vibrant shades—from the Christmas baubles, to the presents and the table settings. A white Christmas is simply not an option. On the contrary, white Christmases are just as fun as the coloured ones. Some homeowners looking for chic and classic festivities place their faith in white—because a winter wonderland is the best theme for their home. Plan Ahead for Christmas An all-white Christmas theme does not come out of nothing. It is essential that you plan everything first to assure perfect execution. First, envision what you want to see in your winter wonderland. Also, know the rooms and areas you will be decorating; this gives you an estimate on your budget and timeframe. Remember to set your budget before shopping for ornaments. A budget keeps you from impulse purchases and encourages you to focus on what you need. Decorating your home can be time-consuming; set a schedule and make sure you follow it. Let’s Talk about the Tree Of course, Christmas trees are the piece de resistance of every winter wonderland. All you need is to buy an artificial Christmas tree and you are ready to go. Trees are available in their conventional green colour, as well as whiter shades to mimic the snow. With a white Christmas tree, your job is almost done. You only need to add some highlights or flocking to accentuate the beauty of the tree. For green pre lit Christmas trees, get creative and add some fake snow and ice for that winter effect. Remember, all of your decorations should be white or transparent. Try adding some see-through crystal to mimic icicles or frosted snow. Unleash your creativity as you decorate your home in white. For a successful white Christmas, do not forget about the basics—especially the tree. Longacres Garden Centre offers quality pre-lit Christmas trees in UK. Browse through our selection now and have a happy white Christmas!

When decorating your home for Christmas, you don’t need to spend a fortune to bring in the festive atmosphere indoors. All you need are a few clever tricks to spruce up your house and get it ready for the most-awaited holiday of the year. Recycle Ornaments You don’t need to replace all your decorations every year to have stunning trimmings for the occasion. You can give new life to your old ornaments by using or repurposing them. For example you can add natural seasonal items such as holly to bring them back to life. Purchase Decors Online If you don’t want to repurpose old ornaments, you can buy affordable Christmas decorations online.  It is easy to find festive ornaments like Lemax Christmas Village Collection to bring in the spirit of holiday season in your home. The best part is, you can find the right decor that suits your budget. You can purchase a small Lemax Christmas house or choose a larger scene for your home. Get Inspiration from Nature Walk around in your village or neighborhood to get inspiration. You’d be surprised at how many natural decorations you can take home with you. You can make your own Christmas tree garlands from fresh evergreens, although this may require time and art skills. You can also mix your DIY efforts with new ones to have thrifty ornaments you can be proud of. Go to Flea Markets Visit thrift shops and flea markets to find fabulous ornaments. You can also get plenty of inspiration for your Christmas décor here. Browse through our website today and find out how we can help you find great deals on Christmas trees and Lemax ornaments.

So many of us are renting houses or flats these days that not all of us have the luxury of a large garden, nor the time, to be able to make it lavish and beautifully planted. Similarly, many people are downsizing their gardens, or may only have some planters and pots on a garden patio. As a result of this, many people have begun a hobby of creating miniature gardens. The craze of creating miniature 'fairy-sized' gardens kicked off in the USA and has finally reached our shores, and we at Longacres are thrilled to be a part of it. Brand new to Longacres Garden Centre is the Vivid Arts Miniature World range, a wide selection of hand-painted and highly detailed fairy doors, cobbled paths, wildlife, lamp posts, garden gnomes, gypsy caravans, bridges, terracotta pots and much, much more. Along with our extensive range of plants, pots and planters we have everything you need to create your very own miniature world. You can view and order the Vivid Arts Miniature World range on our website. Alternatively you could pop in to our Bagshot store and see the beautiful display we have in our houseplants area if you require some inspiration, where our knowledgeable team will be able to offer some great advice on which plants would really complement your miniature garden. Prices of the ornaments range from just £2.49 to £21.99. Here are some of our top tips for creating a miniature garden: You can create them in a window box, an overgrown area, your garden's border - you can even revive an old broken pot too! So long as they are in an area where they won't be harmed by too much sunlight or water (it all depends on which plants you choose - feel free to ask a member of our plants team for advice if you are unsure!) Miniature gardens work both indoors or outdoors - just make sure you don't over water an indoor one! Be prepared to frequently maintain your miniature garden. They are living and breathing after all - just a few snips here and there will stop the garden looking overgrown. Cobbled paths and wooden fences really add to the realism of the garden. Dwarf and slow-growing plants work really well in miniature gardens!

Are you and your children planning to meet Santa in his grotto at Longacres Garden Centre, Bagshot between Saturday 21st November and Tuesday December 22nd? If so, then you can be in with the chance to win an amazing R54 Round Springfree Trampoline courtesy of Rainbow Play (worth a whopping £795!) Entering the draw is simple: Pick up a Grotto Activity Sheet which will be near to the entrance of the grotto Try and spot all of the animals hidden around the grotto - don't forget how many you've seen! At the end, circle the number of animals you spotted - 2, 5, 8 or 10 If you haven't already, ‘Like’ both the Longacres and Rainbow Play Facebook pages. Fill out the details on the back of the ballot and drop your entry into Father Christmas' post box Keep your fingers and toes crossed! The prize draw will take place on the morning of Wednesday 23rd December, so make sure your entry is in by the end of Tuesday 22nd December. Best of luck and enjoy your visit to Santa! If time is going to be short on your visit, feel free to give us a call before you arrive on 01276 476778 to check on the current waiting time. 

For anyone that might have missed our Bagshot Christmas Open Evening (or just wants more!), fear not, our Shepperton Open Evening is being held on Thursday 26th November. Santa will be making an extra special appearance and will be handing out sweets and treats to all the good girls and boys (a great incentive to get your kids on their best behaviour until then!) There will be floral demonstrations, carol singing and food tasting to get the festive spirit really under way. Don't forget to grab yourself a mince pie and a glass of wine on us! To thank all our customers for attending we will be offering a 10% discount on purchases made between 5.30pm and 8.30pm on the evening (excludes gift vouchers, wheelie bins stores, alcohol and sheds – sorry!)

Hellebores must be in the top ten of desirable garden plants, delivering flowers from December to May, and generally lasting for years if happy in your garden. The simple charm of the wild species has been supplemented by ever more complex hybrids to produce plants that are beautiful in both leaf and flower, excellent in a container as well as the garden. Helleborus niger the Christmas rose, has always been one of the earliest forms to flower, often, as the name suggests, around Christmas. In recent years showier forms have been introduced with marbled foliage and flowers that turn pink with age, an example being Helleborus niger HGC Snow Frills = 'Coseh 230'. The robust Helleborus argutifolius with its pale green scented flowers, is an old favourite and good for lightening shady spots. Its easy-going habit may not appeal to those who like rigidly disciplined plants. The Helleborus x hybridus forms look particularly good planted in the garden. There are both single and double-flowered forms in shades of black, purple, maroon, red, white, cream and yellow. Many of them hang their heads so, in the manner of snowdrops, you need to lift the flower gently upwards with a finger in order to reveal the beauty within. Those with light-coloured flowers, for example Helleborus x hybridus Ashwood Garden hybrids - cream-spotted are visible at a distance and can be positioned so they can be enjoyed from a window. The dark-flowered forms, like the dark beauty Helleborus x hybridus 'Hillier's hybrid slate', have an alluring mystery, so mysterious that they can completely disappear from view if incorrectly placed, so put these in the foreground. Elegant single-flowered forms, Helleborus x hybridus 'Harvington double yellow' for instance, can be combined with the many-petalled doubles. Hellebores can be planted in small well-spaced groups or dotted amongst spring bulbs, pulmonaria, epimedium and primroses. Plan for their summer foliage effect when spacing plants as hellebores can become substantial. The hellebore x hybridus varieties have large whorled leaflets and, as they mature, make a mound of dark green foliage that makes a quiet interlude when not in flower. They can usefully be planted in front of taller deciduous shrubs that will be a highlight in your garden at other seasons. They thrive in part or light shade and can be planted on the ‘shady side’ of large plants, provided there is an access path that can be used to view them.  During winter, when, or before the plant flowers, the old leaves are best cut to the ground so the flowers are visible, the young foliage swiftly re-grows. Luscious hybrids have been developed to maximise foliage, as well as floral appeal. These are both expensive and irresistible. They merit extra care, with soil that is always moist, a sheltered, partly shaded position and some space. They can work well as ‘spot plants’ in the garden, or often succeed best as specimens in large containers. Helleborus (Rodney Davey Marbled Group) ‘Anna’s Red' with pink and green marbled foliage, Helleborus x ericsmithii 'Pirouette' with jagged silvered foliage, and dusky pink Helleborus x ballardiae Snow Dance = 'Coseh 800' among many others, are good examples of these aristocrats. Enjoy! This blog post was kindly contributed by Susan A. Tindall

Santa’s elves and our talented team of seasonal staff have been working tirelessly to get the Christmas grotto ready for Santa’s big arrival on Saturday 21st November at Longacres Garden Centre, Bagshot. Walk with your children on a magical journey through a Winter Wonderland before meeting the bearded man himself in the heart of his cosy Christmas grotto. Each visit costs just £5 and includes a present from Santa if they’ve been good this year - an ideal incentive to get them on their best behaviour!

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away... Lego Star Wars arrived at Longacres!  We're celebrating the release of Star Wars Episode VII - The Force Awakens with an amazing collection of Lego to help you recreate great moments from these iconic films. Whether it's the Millenium Falcon or an AT-AT, we have Lego from both sides of the Force.  You can even build your very own Lego Darth Vader (you'll have to imagine the breathing noises that everyone in the office is now making). We also have a range of Star Wars books in the toy department, including one to help you build 100 of the best scenes from the first six films - in Lego naturally. Of course it's not all about Star Wars, as we have a huge Lego range in stock to suit boys and girls (and adults!) with whatever building and design they enjoy.  Whether you like Batman, dragons, cars, beach houses or Scooby-Doo, or just enjoy a box of Lego Classic bricks to let your imagination run wild, there is something for everyone. If you're planning your Lego City, a play mat is an ideal accessory to build your bustling metropolis or country village on.  Our play mats range from £8.49 to £24.99 and are available to buy in store or online (no road works or train delays included - sorry!). Of course you don't even have to be a 'master builder' to enjoy Lego.  Young children can start their creativity journey using the larger bricks from the Lego DUPLO range. As well as the new Star Wars film, another exciting event is just around the corner - Christmas!  Here at Longacres we have a huge range of toys and games to suit children of all ages. So for that special Christmas present or to find a little stocking treat, pop along to our toy section.  You can also check out the Lego building skills of our staff in the display cabinets around the Star Wars and Lego City sections.  In the words of Yoda "with you the Force may be".

We are delighted and extremely excited to be welcoming our good friends from The Green Olive Firewood Company and Kadai Firebowls through our doors this Saturday 24th October to host a series of demonstrations/tastings to show how their range of firewoods and firebowls can add fun and ambience to your Halloween and Bonfire parties this year! Come along and enjoy some roasted marshmallows and chestnuts whilst learning from the experts. The demonstrations are free to attend and will be running between 9:30am and 4:30pm. Don't forget that there will be special offers on all of the chimeneas, firebowls and firewoods on the day so bring your purses and wallets and don't forget to wrap up warm!

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!  Okay, we know it's only October but our huge range of Christmas decorations and lights has arrived and here at Longacres we're already getting into the festive spirit. A good way to get little ones to be on their best behaviour from the 1st of December until Christmas Day is to start with the Advent Calendar.  As well as tempting chocolate ones (yummy...chocolate for breakfast!), we also have wooden and material ones with pockets or drawers that you can fill with small treats. Of course, one of the main things we think about at Christmas is the tree.  Many of us love the smell of a real Christmas tree and enjoy picking that special one out as the centrepiece for our home.  Here at Longacres our potted Christmas trees will be available from 12th November, and our cut Christmas trees will be available from 26th November.  So if you're keen to reserve your one now, we have a fabulous offer for you: Order your real Christmas tree online by midnight on 22nd November and get a sparkling 10% off its price! You can then choose to have your tree delivered (£5 charge, local area only) or simply pop in to collect it when convenient using our Click and Collect service.  Click here to view the range. We also have a large range of artificial trees and artificial pre-lit trees in stock now to suit all budgets, from our mini 25cm tree - ideal to brighten up your desk - through to stunning 10' tall firs and pines. You don't even have to worry about missing that 'real Christmas tree smell'.  ScentSicles hanging ornaments come in a range of natural fragrances to give your home that real tree aroma. Not everyone likes the look of a plain tree stand, so if you prefer to hide yours from view, we offer a Woven Wicker Christmas Tree Skirt for £11.99. It will cover stands from 21" at the base to 16.5" at the top.  You can use the skirt for both artificial and real trees up to 7' tall. Of course, once you have decided on the tree, you need to choose your decorations.  Whether you go for specific colour schemes, traditional ornaments or prefer a modern twist, we have a wide variety of decorations to suit your style and individuality.  Personalised decorations make a lovely gift at Christmas time and children especially love to see a fairy or snowman with their name on it. We also carry a large range of battery operated LED lights.  These can be used indoors or out and each comes with a timer (6 hours on/18 hours off).  No more tripping over lead wires or hunting for a spare plug socket in your garage.  LED lights are low energy so one set of batteries can last up to 60 days use! As it's quite expensive to visit Santa at the North Pole, you might like to create your very own Christmas village.  Lemax, the miniature experts, have a wide range of buildings and characters for you to explore and enjoy, including a collection of new designs especially for 2015.  Music and lights bring your village to life; from circus acrobats swinging on the trapeze to Tchaikovsky's 'The Nutcracker' ballet with dainty dancers spinning around.  Whether you are just starting out , expanding your village collection, or seeking that special gift, we are sure you will be captivated by the range of models and characters available from Lemax. View the Lemax Christmas Village online range here. From wreaths to a stand up Santa, wrapping paper to candles - whatever you are looking for this Christmas, come down to see us at Longacres and add a little sparkle to your festive fun.  Ho, ho, ho!