The proposal to build a retail park at the site of an established garden centre off Doncaster Road anchored by Marks & Spencer continues to divide peoples opinions in and around Scunthorpe. Some argue it would add to the demise of the town centre whilst causing more congestion along Doncaster Road & Berkeley Circle, others welcome the return of Marks & Spencer and their investment to the town. Whatever the outcome may be it will, no doubt, be to the grievance of one camp or the other.

It was back in May 1985 that building work was well underway by Thealby contractors, John Tomlinson, on the construction of the garden centre at the site of the Frodingham Grange Farm, which was set to be one of the biggest gardens centres in the North of England creating around 20 full time jobs. The famers and landowners, Norman Jackson Ltd, had carried out an extensive study of garden centre operations both in this country and abroad and designed Trent Valley Garden Centre to all the latest trends. They were hoping to exploit the location of the sites convenient position close to the motorway network, which they hope would draw people in from Doncaster, Hull, Grimsby and Lincoln.

A spokesman said the facilities on the 10-acre site would appeal to a wide range of customers, catering for the family day as well as all specialist gardening needs. They would also be developing its own vineyard with the possibility of producing its own wine in the future.

The newly appointed managing director was John Donson who had advertised for lepidopterists to work as consultants for the centres specially constructed butterfly house. Over one hundred tonnes of Scottish rock had been transported from Aberfeldy in Perthshire for the creation of a rockery feature. Mr. Donson said, ”These rugged Scottish rocks where just the thing we needed to get the most natural appearance for our surroundings”. He continued, “When the centre opens, visitors will be able to see water cascade through the Highlands of Scotland without even having to leave Humberside”.

Also amongst the staff at the soon to be opened garden centre were Stephen Robinson, the centres manager and horticulturist, whilst answering the call for lepidopterists were Tom Leech and Marion Robinson who explained, “We collect them as little eggs, see them grow to the caterpillar stage and finally emerge as beautiful butterflies”.
The species in the butterfly house when it opened were native to many countries including Sri Lanka, Canada and Thailand as well as the South American continent.

The garden centre also boasted a restaurant headed by chef John Lee, promising gourmet food he said, “ I aim to offer an extensive range of fresh food specialities, such as game, venison and seafood, I’m prepared to cook whatever people request when they book a table – wild duck, pheasant or guinea fowl”.

Television actress Wendy Craig officially opened the Trent Valley Garden Centre on 17th August 1985, she was at the time best known as her character Ria from BBC1’s series, Butterflies.

Crowds had started to gather from as early as 8:30am, the first in the queue was 71-year-old John Goswell of Mary Sumner Way and within an hour another five hundred people had joined him. The extensive car park had been filled and people had resorted to using the nearby lorry lay-bys. By 10am when the doors opened there was estimated to be over one thousand people queuing at the garden centre.

Wendy played to the crowd quickly adopting her Butterflies character telling the crowd, “Ben and the boys send their love, and I’ve left them a casserole in the oven”.
Geoffrey Palmer played her on screen husband Ben whilst one of her on screen sons became more famous for playing Rodney Trotter in Only Fools and Horses.

Wendy thanked everyone for coming before cutting the ribbon to officially open the garden centre, she mingled with the crowd before visiting the 80oF humidity of the butterfly house, afterwards she headed to the outdoor lake were she pushed a button which set the waterfall off cascading water over the rocks. She then returned to the crowds where the star signed hundreds of autographs before being entertained for lunch by the directors in the centres restaurant. 

Since the opening of the Trent Valley Garden Centre many more have opened in the region and it's hoped that should Marks & Spencer move onto the Frodingham Grange site that the garden centre will relocate elsewhere.