Dobbies Garden World opens at Ashford

PUBLISHED: 09:18 26 March 2011 | UPDATED: 19:06 20 February 2013

A garden centre with a strong emphasis on local Kentish produce is a welcome new addition to the retail scene

Dobbies Garden World opens at Ashford

Think garden centre and you dont automatically think of Kent food and drink producers unless youre shopping in just-opened Dobbies Garden World at Ashford, that is.

Founded 146 years ago in Scotland, the company has strong connections with Kent in 1894 Dobbie & Co bought land at Orpington for seed growing. Today, amid the fantastic garden, outdoor living, pets and gifts offer youll also spot quite a few familiar names in the Farm Foodhall, which is already supported by 30 local food and drink producers, with hopefully many more to come.

Look out for The Butcher of Brogdales fresh meat counter, Kentish ales, Thanet-grown vegetables, Wooden Spoon preserves, Opies cocktail range and much, much more.

Built with natural construction materials including a timber frame and renewable energy systems such as grey water recycling, Ashford is Dobbies most environmentally friendly store in England. It will be working closely with local community groups, schools and charities with initiativers such as a Here We Grow project and the Dobbies Little Seedlings Club.

9 of Kent’s traditional dishes

Thursday, March 19, 2020 Samuel Mathewson

Gypsy tart is an iconic Kentish dessert (photo: Thinkstock)

‘Kent, sir, everyone knows Kent. Apples, cherries, hops and women,’ proclaims a character in Charles Dickens’ The Pickwick Papers. We have gathered some traditional dishes from around the county that were borne of the fruitful orchards and seas of Kent