Springmount Garden Centre, 5kms from Gorey on the old main road to Wexford, came into being in the mid-seventies when Ella Warren opened a small nursery beside her house. She loved plants and flower arranging and developed a business making bridal bouquets and wreaths for funerals. Elaine, her daughter and current owner of Springmount, remembers often waiting with her mother for the train to arrive into Gorey station to collect flowers sent down from Dublin. The plants were dispatched in long boxes, without the benefit of cooling systems, and Ella would open them anxiously wondering in what condition the flowers would arrive! Some customers still remind Elaine of the long-since-gone little hut from where her mother sold antiques and bric a brac while feeding robins as she filled seed trays!
A lot has happened since those days and there have been many challenges on the way! Losing our tunnels and stock in the snow of 2010 was a major setback, and of course the recession that followed the snow was a long haul, but nothing has come close to the last 18 months and working through a pandemic. We have always benefited from the good will and kindness that comes with our customers, but never has it been felt so keenly as when our doors were closed due to Covid restrictions. In the 19 weeks we were either fully closed or operating a delivery only service, we were overwhelmed with encouragement and kind wishes from customers old and young. It was a lesson in how important our community is and the role we have in it.
The support from loyal customers after we opened again in May ensured the garden centre once again quickly became a hub of activity. The love for our outdoor spaces and homes has grown in the months of lockdown and reflection. Customers have said they have learnt to take their time and look after themselves. It is a wonderful new sensation for many! Some have seen how satisfying it is to grow their own vegetables and herbs, to show their younger family members how to grow from seedlings, and others how enjoyable it is simply to sit out in the garden or patio and enjoy precious time with family and loved ones.
Springmount has gained the reputation for offering an extensive range of good quality plants and associated garden necessities and we also try to find plants and gift ideas that are not everywhere else. As a result, customers often visit Springmount to find something ‘new’. As well as beautiful clothing, children’s toys, leather bags and satchels, there is a myriad of choice for the pet owner, book lover, and the person who just wants to find that little touch to enhance their home or garden!
Outdoor living has become a fundamental part of the business. Furniture, some of which is made from recycled plastics removed from the seabed, is displayed alongside firepits, BBQs, chimineas and solar lighting. Fountains and statues are to be found amongst terracotta and glazed pots. The new artisanal style café completes the ‘Springmount experience’. Covid necessitated an outdoor seating area and now we love to see customers relaxing, surrounded by colourful plants and the sound of fountains and birds singing in the background!
Springmount has become synonymous with good vibes; a destination where every effort is made to make the customer welcome. Dedicated, patient and approachable, the predominantly female workforce makes Springmount what it is – an integral part of the community.
