Page 25 - Oundle Life June 2021

You have £10 to give to charity, who do you choose? Sue Ryder Care at Thorpe Hall.
A charity close to my family’s heart.
The best thing about being near Oundle?
Riverside walks along the Nene, carpets of bluebells in local woods, Barnwell Country Park, streets resembling Hogwarts and amazing independent shops, pubs and cafés all on our doorstep. A wonderful ‘can-do’ community.
Most challenging moment? When the first lockdown was announced last March and we had to close our gates. Easter in garden centres is like Christmas for retail. We were full of stock for our busiest time of year and we had no idea when, or if, we’d be able to reopen.
What makes The Barn so special? We are a truly independent business and like all good independents, we offer that personal service. You can find different things that bigger high street chains can’t offer or source. Our staff have a wealth of knowledge and want to give customers the best experience they can. I live
here on site with my family and we are part of this wonderful community.
Dinner out or at home? Always out given the choice! We are spoilt with so many local pubs, cafes and restaurants to enjoy.
...and a tipple to go with it? A cold pint.
You have a day off, what do you do? A day off? What’s that? If I do get a rare day off, it would be a long dog walk followed by lunch and a pint or two at The Tap & Kitchen.
If money was no object, where would you visit? A road trip around the USA.
Dog, cat or iguana – who’s at home? We have a dog and a cat – Stanley the 8-year-old cockapoo and Winnie the cat, who likes the outdoor life and catching mice.
Any future ambitions? Yes! We’ve lots of space here to expand and grow further.
Jaffa cake or Hobnob? Jaffa Cake.
Who inspires you? George Bailey from ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’.
www.thebarngardencentre.co.uk
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