There has been a massive rise in pet ownership since the start of the first lockdown last year, with an estimated 3.2 million households acquiring a ‘pandemic pet’, according to the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association.
But it’s not just furry animals that have been popular in lockdown, according to a leading garden centre group.
“We’ve noticed more people buying fish and aquariums,” said Dan Reep, pets & aquatics manager at Squire’s Garden Centres.
“Keeping fish is a great hobby and can be very rewarding, and a fish tank or pond adds tranquility and peacefulness to your home. Now is the best time to buy pond fish such as koi carp as our new season stock has just arrived, so there’s a wide range of colour varieties and sizes to choose from.
“We’ve also got an excellent range of plants, liners, pumps and filters to keep your pond in top condition and give you lovely clear water year-round.”
New season Koi are available now at Squire’s Garden Centres in Badshot Lea, Twickenham, Stanmore and Washington, including pure white platinum koi; Kohaku, which are white with red markings; Sanke, white with red and black markings; and gold Yamabuki.
Squire’s is a family-owned horticultural business with 16 garden centres across Surrey, Sussex, Berkshire, and North and West London.
The company is celebrating its 85th anniversary this year, having been founded by D.J. Squire in 1936, initially as a landscape gardening business.
It remains in the family under the leadership first of DJ’s son, Colin Squire – who is still actively involved in the business, and Colin’s daughter, Sarah Squire, who is now chairman.
All centres have a Café Bar serving breakfast, drinks, snacks, lunch and afternoon tea. Four centres also have extensive pets and aquatics departments – at Squire’s in Badshot Lea, Twickenham, Stanmore and Washington.
