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Black’s blooming with double celebrations to launch new gift shop on first anniversary

Black’s Home and Garden Centre are celebrating their one year anniversary and official launch of new a new gift shop – Shabby Duck Gifts and Vintage Finds – this Thursday, March 20.

Located on the Battleford Road, just a short five minutes’ drive outside Armagh city, Black’s garden centre and café are now being joined by a brand new gift shop!

From 6.30pm to 8.30pm this Thursday night, Shabby Duck Gift Shop have an exciting night planned – with double celebrations on the night to celebrate the one year anniversary of the garden centre and official launch night of the Gift Shop.

On the evening, visitors can expect nibbles, drinks and live music throughout the grounds of Black’s.

Gift shop owner, Kelly McKenna explained how her quacking new business venture came about: “I was incubating duck eggs for a local nursery school and then covid hit and the school had to close.

“I kept the duck eggs which eventually hatched into ducklings. I had a small gift shop at my home at the time and the ducklings where always watching me work so that’s where the inspiration for the name came from.

“Back before Christmas, Kevin [Black’s Nursery owner] asked me would I help organise the Christmas gift shop so I gave it a go and loved it and it was a great success.

“When he approached me with the opportunity to move my gift shop into Black’s garden centre full time I decided now was the right time.”

The giftshop offers traditional gifts, homeware, vintage crockery, jelly moulds, jewellery, baby gifts, tea sets and a range of handmade décor including candles and pressed flowers. They also stock local craft items such as Pointfield Crafts.

The gift shop will be hosting a range of different art workshops over the coming months including sketching, acrylic painting, landscaping, Jonathan Hackett storytelling, Joan of Art, cartoons and caricatures – Tickets are available to purchase on Eventbrite.

Black’s original nursery remains open with the retail end accessible from the road and ample parking available.

Owner of Black’s Nursery, Kevin Black explained how the new retail grounds came to be: “The nursery is the core of our business and it opened before Covid. We have built it up over the years and now it’s well established in its own name.

“We acquired the grounds for the retail end about five years ago and have just been slowly building it up.

“It was a great achievement to see where it’s at today. A lot of effort and time went into the designing process and installation with the team but I couldn’t be happier with the outcome.”

Black’s Garden Centre want to help you get your garden summer ready early this year!

Garden Centre Manager, Ausra said they are “restocked for the open night and ready for spring with new arrangements, bedding, spring bulb flowers, shrubs, herbs, seeds, pots and designer trees”.

You’re sure to find the perfect Mother’s Day gift at Blacks Nursery. Choose from a range of outdoor items in the garden centre, crafty keepsakes in the gift shop or vouchers are also available from both Shabby Duck Gift Shop and Blacks Garden Centre and cafe- there’s something for everyone!

The Garden Centre is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday. Click here to follow Black’s Garden Centre on Facebook

The Gift Shop is open 9.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Saturday. Click here to follow Shabby Duck Gifts and Vintage Finds on Facebook.

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