ACW Garden Centre, Canal Road, Bradford BD2 1AL
Local delivery & click and collect available
Call 01274 392344ACW Garden Centre, Canal Road, Bradford BD2 1AL
Local delivery & click and collect available
Call 01274 392344
Home / About ACW
Family-owned, community-rooted, and passionately green since 1971.
Our story
ACW Garden Centre was started as a part-time landscaping service in 1971 with a capital of just £40. Mick Walmsley and his wife Ann started the business from their home in Baildon. At the time Mick was a Senior Fire Officer based at Shipley, and the business was registered in Ann's name. ACW comes from her initials.
In 1974, the first venture into retailing began with the opening of Bradford's first garden centre on Hallfield Road. By 1977 the present Canal Road site had been acquired, previously derelict railway sidings hidden behind a 7ft wall, and the beginnings of today's garden centre took shape.
In 1982, a lawnmower repair and engineering works in Shipley was bought and became ACW Engineering, the forerunner of our lawnmower sales and service department. In 1985, Woodbank Nurseries near Bingley was added, and it now grows a large percentage of the plants sold at both sites.
On 18th July 2000, a devastating fire destroyed the entire covered sales area at Canal Road. The team kept trading from temporary buildings throughout the nine-month rebuild, and Good Friday 2001 saw the full reopening of a modern garden centre, risen from the ashes. The founding family are still actively involved today.
1971
Year founded
50+
Years trading
£40
Starting capital
3rd
Generation family
Established 1971
Originally Baildon, West Yorkshire
Retired original owners
1st generation
Chris, Beth, Andrew, Sally
3 generations + a 4th little star
Owner & Managing Director
2nd generation
The business was registered in Ann Walmsley's name, and ACW are her initials. The main reason was that, at the time, firemen were not allowed to do part-time work. As Mick explained: “Whereas helping your wife, unpaid, falls into the same category as helping with the washing up at home.” The name stuck, and ACW Garden Centre has carried Ann's initials ever since.
What we stand for
Plants are at the heart of everything we do. Our team are genuine plant lovers who are always happy to share their knowledge.
We've been part of the Bradford community since 1971, and we're proud to support local growers, suppliers and the families who've visited us for generations.
Still owned and run by the Walmsley family, the same family who started it all with £40 and a love of horticulture over 50 years ago.
From our lawnmower workshop to our aquatics hall, we have specialist staff in every department who really know their subject. Our fish and animals are cared for under a 5 Star Animal Welfare/Sales Licence (82623/629039).
Our journey
Over 50 years of growth, resilience and family dedication, from a £40 landscaping service to one of West Yorkshire's best-loved garden centres.
1971
Mick Walmsley and his wife Ann started a part-time landscaping service from their home in Baildon with a capital of just £40. The business was registered in Ann's name, so ACW comes from her initials.
1973
With 15 full-time staff, the business bought Springfield Nurseries in Baildon to house vehicles and equipment, before moving to Lowfold Nurseries to grow shrubs and plants for landscape customers.
1974
Retail began with Bradford's first garden centre on Hallfield Road, followed by a small garden and pet shop on Chapel Lane in Bingley.
1977
The present site was bought: derelict railway sidings hidden behind a 7ft wall. Stock from all three sites moved here to form the beginnings of today's garden centre.
1980
Andrew Walmsley, now Managing Director, joined on leaving school, followed two years later by his sister Sally, now Company Secretary of ACW's sister company in Harden.
1982
A lawnmower repair and light engineering works on Back Alton Grove, Shipley was bought and renamed ACW Engineering, the forerunner of today's lawnmower sales and service department.
1985
A semi-derelict 12-acre nursery near Bingley was bought to grow our own shrubs and plants. It now produces a large percentage of the plants sold at both sites.
2000
On 18th July 2000, fire destroyed the entire covered sales area, workshops, offices and store rooms. The team kept trading from temporary buildings during the nine-month rebuild.
2001
Good Friday 2001 saw the full reopening of a modern, 21st century garden centre on Canal Road.
Today
The founding family are all still involved in the business, and are always pleased to see original customers and their families still visiting.
The Walmsley family
Co-founder
Mick started ACW in 1971 as a part-time landscaping service while working as a Senior Fire Officer in Shipley. He later left the fire service to give all his time to the business, and in 1990 moved to run Woodbank Nurseries in Harden.
Co-founder & namesake
The business was registered in Ann's name, and ACW are her initials. Ann took charge of the office as the business grew, and has been a cornerstone of the company since day one.
Managing Director
Andrew joined the company in July 1980 on leaving school and has grown with the business ever since. As Managing Director, he leads ACW today with the same family values that have always defined the centre.
Visit us
We're on Canal Road, Bradford BD2 1AL, about 600 yards from Frizinghall train station and next to Dickinsons Caravans. Sat navs sometimes take you to the Hillam Road industrial estate, so keep going towards Shipley.
Canal Road, Bradford BD2 1AL
We'd love to welcome you to ACW Garden Centre. Whether you're after planting advice, a browse around our aquatics hall, or just a slice of homemade cake in the café, there's always something to discover.