Cowell's Garden Centre

Cowell's Garden Centre, a family-run nursery in Woolsington (Newcastle upon Tyne)

Cowell's Garden Centre is a family-owned garden centre and nursery established in 1978 and located on Main Road, Woolsington, on the outskirts of Newcastle upon Tyne. The business presents itself as an independent business with over forty years of experience in the horticultural sector and states that it has built a reputation based on offering one of the widest selections of plants and garden accessories in the region, continuously incorporating new products and ideas for the North East of England.

The centre serves customers from Newcastle and nearby towns such as Northumberland, Gosforth, Ponteland and Jesmond, and combines nursery activity with in-store and online sales.

Garden and indoor plants

The garden plant catalogue includes Japanese maples, alpine and rockery plants, bedding plants, camellias, climbers and wall plants, conifers, ferns, fruit trees, grasses and bamboo, heathers, herbs, perennials, rhododendrons and azaleas, roses, shrubs and trees. The selection is also organised by use, with specific sections for shade plants and pollinator plants.

In the indoor section, the shop offers new houseplant arrivals, an A-Z list of houseplants and a section of unusual varieties. Among the genera and groups available are Aeschynanthus, Aglaonema, Alocasia, Anthurium, Begonia, Calathea, Ceropegia, Chlorophytum, Dieffenbachia, Dracaena, Epipremnum, Ficus, Fittonia, Hoya, Monstera, orchids, Peperomia, Philodendron, Pilea, Rhipsalis, Sansevieria, Senecio, Schefflera, Spathiphyllum, Syngonium and Tradescantia, along with air plants, cacti and succulents, carnivorous plants, indoor ferns and trailing plants.

The website highlights Skimmia as plant of the month, with varieties such as 'Double Diamond', 'Pabella', 'Temptation White', 'Mystic Marlot', 'Rubella', 'Finchy', 'Perosa' and Skimmia japonica subsp. reevesiana. In the new outdoor arrivals section, among others, are Actaea 'Misty Blue', Agapanthus 'Blush Pink', Gaultheria 'Big Berry', Euonymus japonicus 'El Dorado', Hydrangea 'Macrophylla', Amelanchier 'Snowflakes', Physocarpus 'Little Angel', Prunus 'Kanzan', Coprosma 'Eclipse', Cyclamen Metis 'Victoria White', Mahonia 'Winter Sun' and Viburnum 'Lisa Rose'.

The Potting Shed: tools, growing media and plant care

Under the name The Potting Shed, the centre brings together a wide range of items for garden maintenance: compost and bark, garden tools and equipment, outdoor pots and planters, stones and gravel, plant supports, potting and propagation materials, plant feed and fertilisers, lawn care products, watering and irrigation, pest control, decorating and woodcare products, edging and log rolls, weed and clean, floristry tools and plant protection.

For indoor plants, the shop has specific accessories: indoor plant pots and vases, Soil Ninja growing media, potting media, feed and care, tools and supports, terrariums and their essentials, indoor watering and misting systems, decorative pot toppers and hydroculture.

Outdoor furniture, decoration and other sections

The centre sells garden furniture, barbecues, chimeneas and fire pits, garden lighting, arches, decorative items and water features. In the home and pets area it offers home decoration, home fragrance, lanterns, candles and holders, soft furnishings, artificial plants and flowers, dining and kitchen items, clothing and accessories, door knockers and hangers, gifting and self care items, pet supplies and doormats.

The grow your own section includes onion and shallot sets, garlic bulbs, fruit and vegetable feed, and seeds and bulbs. It also has wildlife care products: bird tables and baths, bird feeders, bird food, nest boxes and items for the care of hedgehogs, squirrels, bats, bees, butterflies, insects and ducks and swans. In winter it adds fuel and snow and ice clearing products.

The Christmas campaign includes fresh and artificial Christmas trees, Christmas lighting, artificial garlands and wreaths, Christmas home decoration, Christmas candles and holders, baubles and tree decorations, gifts, living Christmas trees and Christmas tree stands.

Workshops and events

The centre organises workshops and training activities, including a David Austin rose pruning masterclass led by experts, for which tickets can be booked. The programme is presented under the heading Events & Workshops and can be viewed on the website.

Online sales, guarantee and services

Cowell's has an online shop and offers plant delivery, which the company presents as a five-star service. It has its own gift vouchers, in electronic and physical card format, with garden and houseplant designs, as well as a National Garden e-Gift Voucher. The website mentions a plant guarantee, a returns policy, an environmental policy and delivery information.

Among the features the company highlights about itself are its family-run nature since 1978, expert horticultural advice and being dog-friendly. The centre identifies itself as a member of the Garden Centre Association.

Location and contact

Main Road, Woolsington, Newcastle upon Tyne NE13 8BW · Phone: (0191) 286 3403 · Email: office@cowellsgc.co.uk · Opening hours: Monday to Saturday: 09:00 - 17:00. Sunday: 10:00 - 16:30; on Sundays the doors open at 10:00 to visit the shop and the tills open at 10:30.