A MOTHER has been left ‘devastated’ after losing her ‘last lifeline’ following the closure of a garden centre play area.
The soft play area at Worcester Garden Centre in Droitwich Road has closed with owners Blue Diamond confirming it will be replaced with dog-friendly seating.
Steven Hatch, garden centre manager, said it is no longer viable to run the soft play area due to a decrease in customer usage, alongside significant investment and maintenance costs.
He added that the equipment has been sold to a nearby nursery, and the centre is exploring its options for a new children’s play corner.
Jemma Pinches, a mother-of-five and family content creator, said: “It’s devastating because it was really good.
“We haven’t got any soft plays this side of the river now. It was our last lifeline really.”
@mrspinchofficial We loved you Worcester Garden Centre, good bye 🫶🏻💞 #motherhood #parenting #fyp #viral #softplay ♬ original sound – MrsPinch
DEVASTATED: Jemma Pinches is devastated at the closure of Worcester Garden Centre’s soft play area (Image: Jemma Pinches)
After taking to social media to post about the closure, she was surprised by how many others were also upset.
The 39-year-old said: “I didn’t realise so many people would be as passionate like me.
“I’d say most mums and grandparents and carers of children do visit there.
“A lot of grandparents have loved taking their grandchildren there too.
“It’s quite busy with mums, nans, granddads.”
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BENEFITTED: Jemma Pinches said all five of her children have benefitted from the garden centre at some point (Image: Jemma Pinches)
Steven Hatch, manager at the garden centre, said: “We would like to inform our customers that we have made the decision to remove the soft play area from our Worcester centre.
CHANGE: Worcester Garden Centre put up a sign to announce the closure of the play area (Image: Jemma Pinches)
“Over recent years, the soft play facility has required a significant amount of investment, maintenance, and operational resource.
“Combined with a decline in customer usage, it is unfortunately no longer viable for us to continue operating the facility.
“This change will allow us to create much-needed additional space within our restaurant area, helping us improve the overall experience for the majority of our visitors.
“We are pleased to share that the soft play equipment has been sold to a local nursery, where it will continue to be enjoyed by children for years to come.”
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The garden centre is also exploring options for a new children’s play space.
Mr Hatch said: “We are also reviewing plans for a new children’s play corner featuring wooden toys, play kitchens, and other imaginative play activities designed for younger children.
“We appreciate that some families may be disappointed by this change, and we thank all of our customers for their understanding and continued support as we invest in improvements across the centre.”
