“The name Haskins was first connected with Dorset horticulture in 1882, when Harry Haskins founded a nursery in Poole.” Today, although the business has split into two companies, Harry Haskins’ great grandson Warren Haskins, now Chairman of Haskins Garden Centres and of the HobbyCraft Group, is very much involved in both of the continually growing businesses.

Well known internationally for its innovative and inventive approach to garden retailing and for introducing the first arts and crafts superstore to Europe, there have been significant milestones in the success of the business.

In May 1969, at the age of 20, Warren Haskins took over the business following the death of his father. At that time turnover was £17,000 per year and Haskins employed 7 staff.

In March 1973, Haskins opened a small retail shop on their nursery at Tricketts Cross (Ferndown), which was the start of the garden centre business of today. Over the next 21 years the site was developed and extended to cater for increased trade, as it became one of the south's largest and most popular garden centres.

September 1987 saw Haskins purchase a second Garden Centre at Fair Oak near Eastleigh, followed in October 1991 by the purchase of the old Swan Garden Centre at West End, Southampton.

In June 1992, Haskins agreed to sell their Tricketts Cross garden centre site to Sainsbury’s, and in January 1993 purchased derelict and industrial land at Ferndown to relocate the garden centre. Construction work began on the new £4 million Haskins Garden Centre at Ferndown in June 1993, and the new Haskins Garden Centre was officially opened in March 1994.

In April 1995, following the success and popularity of the Ferndown Haskins Garden Centre, plans were announced to completely redevelop the West End centre, near Southampton. The £5 million design emulated the Ferndown garden centre.

In March 1996 the Fair Oak Haskins Garden Centre was sold, to enable marketing and promotional activity to focus on the new West End centre.

In April 1996, the new Haskins Garden Centre, West End, Southampton, was opened. This new 70,000 sq ft centre stocked with over 25,000 different plants and products and includes a 250 seat café/restaurant, car parking to accommodate 450 cars, and an Information Centre where advice can be given on the plants and products displayed.

In August 1996, the purpose built HobbyCraft Arts and Craft Superstore at the West End site was opened. Again with Needle, Floral, Art, Kids and Craft departments, plus demonstration area, Europe's largest store of its kind soon exceeded the anticipated trading figures as had been experienced at the first HobbyCraft in Bournemouth.

In October 1996, the first HobbyCraft Arts and Craft Superstore on a retail park was opened at Northampton, this was followed four weeks later by its fourth store at Gloucester. The popularity and turnover generated by these 11,000 sq. ft. stores confirmed to the group that the trading style and vast range of stock was meeting the market need and the company started a rapid expansion programme.

In April 2000 the two businesses were de-merged and are now totally separate companies, Warren Haskins being Chairman of HobbyCraft Group Ltd and Non-executive Chairman of Haskins Garden Centres Ltd.

In November 2000, Haskins Garden Centres acquired Roundstone Garden Centre a large centre at Angmering, West Sussex and in October 2003 it acquired Snowhill Garden Centre, in Copthorne, West Sussex. It now owns four of the largest destination garden centres on the south coast.

In October 2008 Haskins Garden Centres completed an extensive £3 million update of its Ferndown centre which included doubling the size of the restaurant with seating for 400, an extensive refit of the retail area and renovation of the signage and landscaping.

By the end of 2008 HobbyCraft had grown to 39 stores and had added Card Making and Models to its product ranges, with further units in the pipeline.