Monkton Elm Garden Centre

HARDY OUTDOOR BEDDING & SEASONAL HOUSEPLANTS LARGER PLANTS FRUIT TREES & BUSHES VEGETABLES & HERBS ROSES POND PLANTS GIFT IDEAS GARDEN DESIGN

GARDEN PRODUCTS BOOKS CLOTHING CONFECTIONERY

MP opens plastic pot swap & recycle area

PEOPLE who want to give their garden sheds and greenhouses a spring clean this month (March) are being invited to take part in an old plastic plant pot amnesty and ‘swap shop’ at a leading, family-run Taunton garden centre.

The free amnesty, which was launched by Taunton MP Jeremy Browne at Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre recently, means gardeners can dispose of or even swap their old plastic gardening pots or trays in an eco-friendly manner.

General Manager of the garden centre, which is located at Monkton Heathfield between Taunton and Bridgwater, Norma Moore said: “From March 1 visitors will be able to bring in any old plastic pots and leave them in our pot drop area. People can also swap pots and exchange any they do not want with other ones, which may have been dropped off by a fellow gardener.

“Gardeners tend to collect plastic pots when they buy new plants and while they can re-use some in their own gardens they normally have more than they need and may end up throwing away sizes they can not use. Our idea helps save resources and gives gardeners a chance to re-use and recycle their unwanted plastic pots and also any seedling or young plant trays.”

The scheme is part of Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre’s on-going green gardening and recycling initiatives taking place throughout 2008.

Mr Browne said: “I am very supportive of this excellent initiative. I hope as many gardeners as possible join in and drop off or even swap their plastic pots for others.”

This year the garden centre looks set to back more recycling initiatives designed to benefit the environment. Norma and her team are planning various ‘green’ themed displays and free events for visitors.

“We already offer customers the facilities to recycle aluminium, plastic, paper and clothing on site.”

Where possible the garden centre has already pledged in 2008 to reduce the number of ‘plant and product miles’ it is notching up by reducing the distance plants and products travel, and therefore cutting back on the energy required to deliver them to the garden centre.

Norma added: “We already buy many of the plants we stock from nurseries in the South West and some products from niche, local suppliers. Buying locally and supporting the local economy is just as important with regards plants and gardening products, as it is with food and reducing food miles, which is something we also try to do in our Four Seasons Restaurant.”

If you would like to recycle your old plastic plant pots and seedling trays, please take them to Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre, which is located just off the A38 at Monkton Heathfield between Bridgwater and Taunton, until March 31, 2008.

Designed and managed by CM Ventures Ltd, Norma Moore & Caroline Rutter | eCommerce by Sitemakers | Terms & Conditions