The Secret Garden Centre was established in 1986 by Roger Cocks. We pride ourselves on offering truly high-quality plants, extensive knowledge, and friendly service. We believe this is what brings our customers back to us time after time.
Meet Roger
Roger started life as the son of a dairy farmer. He studied marketing at university and began a career that he did not particularly enjoy. Until one day in 1986, a close friend spotted that a site for a garden centre had become available and persuaded Roger to give it a go and stated that it would be easy! Little did Roger know what hard work it would be with little knowledge about horticulture.
About Our Team
Many members of our team have worked at The Secret Garden Centre for many years. Some have formal qualifications and others have years of experience. The Secret Garden centre team all live locally and are members of the community. Each member of staff has a specific role and responsibilities in the garden centre which include sourcing plants, looking after plant sections and developing specialised knowledge as-well-as general plant knowledge.
About the garden centre
The Secret Garden Centre started life as a bare patch of land that was used as a building site to store the materials to build the supermarket and surrounding Norwood Heights shopping area. With help from friends and family, Roger was able to transform this baron plot of land into a beautifully landscaped garden centre that consequently makes it an inspirational visit. The Garden centre consisted of a shed for a shop and plants on the ground. Over the 30+ years Roger and his team have developed the garden centre into many areas of interest including water features, benches, planted areas, and areas for each plant category.
About our growers and suppliers
We are quite picky at The Secret Garden Centre when it comes to plants and garden products. We have spent a lot of time and research to find premium plant growers and suppliers to give our customers the best quality garden products. We aim to source British-grown and made products of the highest quality. Some products are sourced from countries in the E.U if unavailable here.
Pepperpot Herbs
Neil and Catherine of Pepperpot have been our preferred growers of herbs for many years now. They grow a large range of traditional English herbs as-well-as some unusual varieties. Peat-free and grown in Hampshire.
James McIntyre & Sons
James McIntyre &m Sons are growers of soft fruits. They supply us with a range of quality soft fruit bushes all grown in Blairgowie Scotland.
Peter Eastwoods Plants
Peter and his son Adam have supplied us with quality bedding plants for over 20 years. They grow some of the best annuals for growing in hanging baskets and Patio pots. They also grow Poinsettia for us to sell at Christmas. Based in Ditchling West Sussex.
Cade Street Nursery
Cade st is a family-run nursery that grows a wide selection of quality perennials and bedding plants. They are based in Heathfield West Sussex.
Peter and his son Adam have supplied us with quality bedding plants for over 20 years. They grow some of the best annuals for growing in hanging baskets and Patio pots. They also grow Poinsettia for us to sell at Christmas. Based in Ditchling West Sussex.
Darby’s Nursery
Darby’s has been supplying garden centres with British-grown, peat-free premium plants for over 6 decades. A large percentage of Ornamental trees, Shrubs, Climbers, and Perennials are sourced for the Secret Garden Centre from Darby’s Nursery.
Bridge Nursery Perennials
We love the perennials supplied to us by Bridge Nurseries. This family-run company based in Essex. They grow an extensive selection of perennials. Each year they expand their catalogue of perennials which helps us to give you the customer an exciting selection. All perennials from Bridge Nursery are peat-free and they now come in grey pts which are recyclable. Based in Essex.
Frank Matthews
Frank Matthews is an expert grower and supplier of the widest range of ornamental and fruit trees. Founded in 1901 in Tennbury Wells and still going strong.
Check out their range here.