Former West End performer joins new musical for Poole premiere

Former West End show performer Darren Bartlett has joined new nativity musical ‘The Birth of a King’ for its premiere at Poole Lighthouse on December 4.

   Darren, who lives in Wimborne, will play the angel Gabriel. He has played romantic lead Marius in Les Misérables at the Palace Theatre and has sung in Christian concerts and musical theatre at venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, Wembley, the Hollywood Bowl, Las Vegas.

   He said: “I love the show and think it has enormous potential, the music is modern and very appealing – and of course it’s a story everyone knows.”

   He is joined by professional opera singer Elizabeth Ferrie, who plays Mary’s mother.

   Collaratura soprano Elizabeth lives in Upton and has performed professionally in most operas, including the challenging role of The Queen of the Night in Mozart’s The Magic Flute.

   Another Upton resident who will sing as part of the chorus, Lisa Francis, sang as a child in the West End show Evita.

   New producer Chris Burton said: “It’s such a great festive show and tickets are selling fast. It is due to première this December in three US venues and in Singapore.”

   The Birth of a King will have a full symphony orchestra, 120-strong chorus and 32 soloists.

   All tickets cost £15 and are now on sale at Poole Lighthouse.

www.the-birth-of-a-king.org      Picture by Phil Dowding

Christmas special events at Golden Acres and John Browns garden centres

Local bell-ringers and local cheese, jam and chutney tastings will feature when Golden Acres garden centre at West Parley hosts its annual pre-Christmas open evening on Tuesday November 29.

   Meanwhile a children’s puppet show and the Three legged Cross First School choir will join the bell-ringers at John Browns garden centre, at its event on Tuesday Dec 6.

   During the evenings staff will give away mulled wine and mince pies and there will be double customer bonus points, free prize draws to win garden centre vouchers, and special meal deals served in the cafe.

   Simon Edwards, director of the Golden Acres group which owns both centres, said: “It’s so easy to do your Christmas shopping at our centres, with free parking, no crowds, no pressure – and always something a little bit different for you to find for your friends and family.”

   The events will take place from 5.30pm to 8pm. There will also be displays of Christmas trees, decorations and gifts, with free delivery of Christmas trees bought on the night.

www.goldenacresgroup.co.uk   Picture by Phil Dowding

Gardening experts field questions from WI

Local gardening experts formed a question time panel to answer queries from members of the Ferndown branch of Women’s Institute, during their visit to John Browns garden centre at Three Legged Cross.

   Bob Holister from Country Garden Plant Sales in Corfe Castle joined Emma Green (Golden Acres‘ group plant area co-ordinator) and Pete Wood, plant manager at Golden Acres garden centre in West Parley.

   Bob specialises in vines, ferns and unusual shrubs. Both he and Pete have previously work at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

   A spokesperson for Absolutely WI (Ferndown) said: "More than 20 of our members attended – it was great fun; ladies came with questions about problem plants in their gardens and how to get the best from them and went home well informed.”

www.golden-acres-nursery.co.uk    Picture by Phil Dowding

Second Redditch garden centre acquisition in September, as Golden Acres makes it five

Redditch may be the next ‘in’ place to invest in garden centres – the area's second centre acquisition in September has been announced.

   Badger Nurseries has been acquired by the Golden Acres group of garden centres and nurseries for an undisclosed sum and will be re-named Badger Garden Centre.

   Golden Acres expects to spend £1 million on redeveloping the centre within the next 18 months.

   This follows news that nearby Hillier Redditch – in the same village of Studley, Warwickshire – has been sold to become the first outlet in the new Hillview garden centre chain.

   Golden Acres’ group operations director Simon Edwards said: “Is Redditch the new place to be? We are delighted with the sudden interest in the area and looking forward to raising the quality of garden centre offering in the area.

   “Badger is a great, family-run centre that is very gardening-focussed, which fits our way of business well. Staff there have looked after customers well and there is excellent loyalty to the centre in the area.

   “We aim to use all of our 30 years experience to build on all its strengths and improve the customer environment still further.”

   He added he was pleased that all the staff have been retained and that they were all extremely enthusiastic to see change.

   The three-acre site acquisition does not include Badger’s original wholesale nursery division, which will continue to supply the garden centre with locally-grown plants, run by owners John and Ann Alldrick.

   Golden Acres has stepped up its own production of bedding plants to supply the additional centre.

   The group already owns four garden centres, a trade wholesale business and nurseries in Dorset, Wiltshire and Hampshire and aims to continue its expansion in the southern half of the UK.

www.golden-acres-nursery.co.uk

www.badgernurseries.co.uk

Picture by Phil Dowding