About Bud Garden Centre

 Bud is a bijou, independent garden centre in Burnage, South Manchester. Established in 2011 and run by me, Brenda.

 We sell:

 - UK Grown Plants

 - Peat Free Compost

 - Natural Feeds and Pest Control

 - Locally Made and Fairtrade Gifts

 Choose from a range of UK sourced plants and unusual gifts, knowing that care has been taken to minimise our carbon footprint and protect the environment.

 Why I support UK nurseries:

 - To help preserve and protect UK horticulture skills

 - More traceability

 - Fewer plant miles

 - Reduced travelling time, healthier plants

 - UK grown plants can be better adapted to our climate

 - Some UK nurseries don’t use peat

 All our home-grown vegetable plants and potted bulbs are raised in peat free compost. In addition, our herbs and ferns, and many of our shrubs and perennials are grown on peat free UK nurseries.

 At the garden centre, you can ask my advice on all aspects of gardening, whether you have a large garden, an allotment, or a few pots and window boxes. I’ll happily talk to you about chemical-free gardening, wildlife friendly planting schemes, or almost anything else – related to the garden, of course.

About Me

 Bud reflects how I live my life, and draws on my experience of being a member of a workers’ co-operative for 8 years. I’ve not always been interested in gardening. My horticultural journey began in 1999 when, inspired by a colleague, I grew a few bits and pieces in my tiny back yard in Levenshulme. It started with linseeds, scattered between the cracks in the old flagstones, flowering purpley-blue. It was a revelation.

 In 2001 my husband and I bought our first house, and it came with a small South facing garden. This gave me the space to experiment with growing vegetables, annuals and perennials from seed. Throughout, I read a lot of gardening books and magazines, including many about organic growing, and by 2004 I was completely hooked and keen to develop my learning. In that year I completed a City and Guilds Organic Gardening course and in 2005 I signed up for an allotment in Levenshulme, which I still tend my with husband.

 From 2006 to 2007 I volunteered at Debdale Eco Centre in Debdale Park, Gorton. Amongst other things I helped to run a Surestart project, which encouraged local mums and tots to get together to grow and eat healthy food. Continuing the theme of gardening in the community, I was a Sessional Worker in the garden at Salford’s Start mental health project from 2010 to 2011.

 In 2009 I got a part-time job at a community garden centre, and it was there that I met future friend and business partner, Severine Cochard. I moved to All Seasons Garden Centre in 2010 and with Sev, set up Bud on the same site the following year. All Seasons had long since been commercially viable and was in a considerable state of disrepair. After months of work, which involved pulling down decrepit fences and asbestos sheds, removing a 25 year stockpile of plant pots and toxic garden chemicals, erecting a polytunnel and sourcing great quality UK grown plants, Bud Garden Centre opened its gates in April 2011.

 A new chapter began at the end of 2014, which saw the departure of Severine to concentrate on her flourishing design business, Grassroots Gardening.

 Looking to the future, I would love to grow more plants to sell at the garden centre, but this relies on cash and land, both of which are in short supply in my world; if anyone has any ideas, please do let me know (I have a couple of leads to pursue, so watch this space!)

 My ambition is to carry on doing what I do, enjoying my work whilst earning a modest living, and learning as I go. Success for me isn’t about money, but earning respect for what I do, and hopefully making a small difference to people’s lives. It has become the flavour of Bud, which is something I never want to lose.

Bud in the Community

 Through the garden centre, I organise events that bring people together to celebrate their gardens and raise money for local charities. Burnage and Levenshulme Open Gardens raises money for Burnage Good Neighbours and Freedom From Torture. Proceeds from our annual Winter Warmer are donated to Burnage Food Bank.

 Building on my experience of gardening in the community, in 2014 I co-founded Incredible Edible Levenshulme with Abbie Kempson. It is an ongoing project that develops community spaces so they can be used to grow food, promote local produce and encourage people to eat healthy, seasonal meals. At the same time it improves the physical environment of Levenshulme for the benefit of residents and visitors to the area. If you’d like to know more or are keen to get involved, visit IEL’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/IncredibleEdibleLevenshulme/

Aims

 To provide quality plants and gardening products as sustainably as possible.

 To encourage creative planting and gardening, and a care for the environment through sustainable practices. We provide a range of gardening products suitable for organic gardening.

 To trade with customers and suppliers in a fair and sustainable way.