Golden Acres Nursery, near Romsey, has won a top commendation in the prestigious garden centre industry awards for the second year running.

The nursery at Landford has been placed in the top three for two categories of the prestigious garden centre trade awards presented by The Nurseryman & Garden Centre Magazine.

Last year the group was shortlisted for two awards and this year it was again nominated in the shortlist of three for "Garden Centre of the Year - under £2 million turnover" for the centre at Landford and its associated nurseries at Ferndown and Yeovil were named among the best "Retail Nursery of the Year.''

"We are delighted to know that we are consistently being named in the top three for national awards but sorry to have been pipped at the posts into first two years running," said Golden Acres marketing director Simon Edwards.

"In the words of the old music hall song it's a bit like always being the bridesmaid but never the blushing bride. I am certain that the excellent team spirit we now enjoy throughout the whole organisation, our dedicated service to customers and our knowledge of all our product range that it is only a matter of time before we win a major national award.

"The magazine has yet again confirmed what our customers have been telling us since we modernised all three sites at Landford, Ferndown and Yeovil.

"We have up-graded facilities, increased the range of products and plants and invested in staff training so that everyone is aware of our customers needs.

"The main people responsible for Golden Acres being placed on this short-listing is the dedicated staff in each centre who, not only serve the public, but act as plant doctors, advisers and friends on a multitude of gardening and horticultural problems."