This hidden gem is tucked away on a street in south Manchester
17.09.2022 - 14:39
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
It’s the hidden gem tucked away on a quiet residential street in south Manchester - but the future of Bud Garden Centre is uncertain.
A haven for plant lovers, this quirky little business has been a fixture at the bottom of Omer Drive, in Burnage, for the last 12 years.
Owner Brenda Smith is now trying to decide the next steps after she was given notice by the landlords.
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News of its possible closure has been met with an outpouring of disappointment from customers, known as ‘Buddists’.
The team have applied to Manchester Council to have the garden centre listed as an Asset of Community Value, meaning they would have a right to bid on the land if it were to go up for sale. But Brenda is desperate to keep the ‘peaceful haven’ where it is.
“We're really sad at the prospect of leaving the neighbourhood which has supported us over the past 12 years,” she says.
“We're urging customers to talk to work colleagues, friends and local councillors about our plight, as local knowledge might help to save our business. If you're out walking, keep your eyes peeled for neglected pieces of land.
"We've had loads of support already, it's really helped us to keep going, but I've always known that our customers are the best.”
Nestled behind a solicitors’ office, just a stone’s throw from Kingsway, it can be easy to miss this tiny garden centre. “Lots of people are surprised when they find us, and it is really lovely listening to what people say when they walk through the gate,” Brenda says.
“Of course 'hidden gem' is what lots of people say, but many can't believe how much stock we fit into such a small space, or how