Orchard Park opened its doors in 2004 and is now North Dorset’s premier garden centre. It started as a new venture developed from two small local family-owned rural businesses that came together and combined their resources. Milton Garden Plants was a retail nursery based in Milton on Stour which built a strong reputation for plants of all kinds, and Lagan Farm Shop as the exclusive retail outlet for beef and other meats produced on Park Farm, next to the garden centre, from their rare-breed cattle and sheep. Orchard Park is purpose built on the edge of Gillingham’s Royal Forest, a beautiful ancient and historic location with views to the hills of Dorset and Wiltshire.
Orchard Park is still family owned and believes in providing a high level of customer service and maintains strong involvement with the local community. The business incorporates Lagan Farm Shop with a team of highly experienced and qualified butchers, offering great quality home-grown and locally sourced meat as well as a carefully selected range of groceries, cheeses and food treats of every description. The Farm Shop also supplies meat to local pubs, restaurants, care-homes and schools.
Plants are an important part of the business and the plant team work hard to put together their range of seasonal and everyday plants. Orchard Park’s friendly and qualified advice is guaranteed to help make gardening a success for all their customers. The shop stocks all the necessary plantcare products and also offers a great range of giftware, cards and wrap. The Orchard Florist is also on hand with gorgeous flowers for every occasion and event. Flowers can be ordered in store, over the phone or on-line at www.orchardpark.biz.
The Orchard Café is a popular meeting place and offers easy access to all, a great café style menu, delicious homemade cakes and scones and a welcoming environment.
Orchard Park is easy to find on the Shaftesbury side of Gillingham, with ample free parking and open 7 days a week from 9 to 5.30 except Sunday when the opening hours are 10 to 4.30.
Three other businesses now operate from Orchard Park as well. Valecraft who specialise in conservatories, windows and doors operating in the Blackmore Vale since 1989. Gillingham Hand Car Wash who provide a high quality service ranging from a simple exterior wash to a full valet clean and recent arrivals The Little Blue Emporium which is a fascinating mix of local crafts people with artisanal products that make unique and special gifts.
