A family-run garden centre has celebrated its 30th anniversary, marking three decades of serving the local community.

Millbrook Garden Centre in Gravesend, invited customers to celebrate the achievement on March 30.

Entertainment was provided by Rock Choir Kent with a handmade birthday cake made by staff and a special gift for the first 300 people who made a purchase on the day.

Reflecting on the journey of the garden centre, which opened in Station Road in 1994, managing director, Tammy Woodhouse said: “It’s been a rollercoaster and a joy and there’s certainly never a dull day!

“I’m really proud of what my parents, Dick and Sue Allen achieved. The business has changed a lot over the years.”

Some of these changes include the addition of a 300-seater restaurant, food hall and butchers as well as offering environmentally friendly products.

“Thank you to all our customers – we wouldn’t be here without all of you – and thank you to our team who are hugely passionate and who really do grow smiles for our customers every day,” Tammy added.

Millbrook delighted its first 300 customers who made a purchase on the day, with a special gift of a beautiful Dianthus plant.

The day was marked by a charity donation when the managing director presented a giant cheque of £38,561 to the chairman of the charity Greenfingers.

The charity, which creates inspiring outside spaces for life-limited children and their families in hospices around the country, has made more than 70 gardens since 1999.

Upon receiving the cheque on behalf of Greenfingers, Millbrook’s founder and Chairman Sue Allen, who is also chairman of the charity, said: “Greenfingers has been going for 25 years and the first garden built was at Demelza House.

“Obviously, the cost of building these precious gardens is going up and up and the recent Demelza garden was around £150,000, so £38,000 is an amazing sum towards that.

“Every penny Millbrook has raised is so, so welcome. Thank you everybody!”

The money has been raised from customers and staff over the past three years during charity events at both of Millbrook’s Kent-based centres in Gravesend and Staplehurst.

The donation has already gone towards the construction and planting of a garden at local children’s hospice Demelza in Sittingbourne to ensure life-limited children and their families can benefit from an inspiring outdoor space.

Millbrook Garden Centre is part of the Millbrook Garden Company which is a family-run, independent company founded in 1979 and will mark another milestone this year with 45 years in the horticulture industry.

The company were forced to close the garden centre during the beginning of the pandemic and reopened with a big turn-out from the public.

The Staplehurst branch of the company opened in March 2013.