Cheshire Independent Issue 187

MAY 2024 4 STEPHEN Evans opened his first gar- den centre in Cheadle 40 years ago and with careful nurturing he has seen the business flourish and grow. From those early beginnings in 1984, Golden Days has also grown its reputation for offering something spe- cial to the area’s garden- ing aficionados. The business has branched out and today, as well as its original centre on Manchester Road, it has a second outlet in Appley Bridge, near Wigan. Looking back at those 40 years, Stephen, 66, says the opening of Golden Days in Cheadle was the fulfilment of a long-held ambition and a great love of gardening. He said: “I’d always wanted to work in hor- ticulture from being a schoolboy and I even had an allotment when I was 11 years old.” GOLDEN MOMENTS Garden centre celebrates 40 glorious years Garden centres were a relatively new concept in the UK when Ste- phen opened the doors of Golden Days to the public for the first time. He was well qualified to launch the venture, having studied horticul- ture at the University of Bath and then gathering experience working in top nurseries in other parts of the world. The first Golden Days was set up with the help of his parents and the use of his own savings. Ste- phen bought the Appley Bridge centre in the late 1990s, rebuilding and investing in the site. From small beginnings, today Golden Days sells more than 100,000 plants every year. Its first work- force could be counted on one hand, the group now provides work for hun- dreds of people. Stephen says: “The business has just gone from strength to strength. Garden cen- tres are now attractions in their own right. “Because of the sea- sonal nature of gar- dening you have to find something to support what you do and to ena- ble you to operate all- year round.” That is certainly the case at Golden Days. A peaceful gardening plants, fertilisers, gar- dening tools, BBQs, and much more. It also sells luxury homewares and artisan confectionary and cus- tomers will also find a quaint garden centre café – the Secret Garden Café – which is a perfect rest- ing spot for those making a day of their visit. Famous visitors to the Cheadle centre over the past four decades include the late television per- sonality Fred Dibnah, who came along to open a new shop, and former Prime Minister and cur- rent Foreign Secretary David Cameron. The latter’s arrival attracted not only the attention of other garden centre visitors but also the media. As it celebrates 40 years, Golden Days continues to look to the future. The business is on its own journey to become carbon neutral, with a focus on sustaina- bility, and through its sis- ter company Christmas Tree World is helping the climate by planting over 100,000 trees in Borneo. Stephen, who has no plans to retire, says: “I’ve really enjoyed growing the business over the past 40 years, knowing what I wanted to achieve and seeing it happen. It’s certainly kept me out of mischief! “It’s amazing how quickly the time has gone, it feels just like yes- terday when I was stood at the till welcoming the first customers in.” Grand opening: Fred Dibnah does the honours while the Evans family look on Visitor: David Cameron with Stephen and his son Lawrence Conference: David Cameron meets the press during his visit retreat, the Cheadle outlet offers the best outdoor and indoor