Profile of the Christian Community Charitable Trust Gardens

One could say that the garden centre started years ago when Chris Goodman first decided to take up a career in horticulture.

While still a youngster Chris worked part time for a local water plant perennial specialist in the Enfield area. At eighteen he started work full time at Windsor. The first year was spent in the Saville Gardens working with ornamental plants and the second year was in the Royal Park where the emphasis was on flowers and vegetables for the Royal Family. Chris then moved on to the Edinburgh Botanic Gardens. The time was spent in learning the trade by constant maintenance of the grounds plus lectures and study. After three years Christopher left with a diploma in horticulture, went to Worcester College and gained a Certificate in Rural studies.

Later after some time at Harlow council Chris left to join a church starting a small holding in Hampshire. This is where he met Robin Alexander. The two men formed a bond and soon the small holding gave way to a specialist herbaceous plant nursery around 1982.

The lease for the land ran out in 1985 and the Nursery was forced to relocate. Choosing to find somewhere near Manchester as the business base the Carrington site was discovered, an old vicarage, squashed in between Shell Chemicals and Air Products. Not the most hospitable place you might think, but the herbaceous plants and the business have continued to grow and to bloom.

Just like Chris and Robin back in 1985, many people still stumble across the Garden Centre and can not believe the 7.5 acre site can be such an oasis of colour and contrast to the monolithic structures on either side. Having seen the gardens many people describe the gardens as an oasis of tranquillity. They say seeing is believing but the really blessed are those who have not yet seen but are ready to believe. Can you be tempted to become a believer?

Would you enjoy the chance to get out of the house for an hour or two, learn something new, why not call and find out about Therapeutic Work as a "Friend of the Vicarage Garden" or see our contact page.