The Barn by Ling Group garden centre closing at Thorpe Farm

The Barn by Ling Group at Thorpe Farm Centre, Greta Bridge, near Barnard Castle, announced on Saturday (January 24), that it will be closing after less than a year of trading.

Gardening expert Aidan Ling and his wife, Sarah, opened the centre last year on May 3, where they focused on garden planning, planting, and maintenance for home gardeners.

From left, Aidan and Sarah Ling with Harvey Barkes of Thorpe Farm, and Aidan and Sarah’s dog Rupert (Image: Ling Group)

In a statement on Facebook, the garden centre said: “After a lot of thought, we’ve made the difficult decision to close The Barn garden centre at Thorpe Farm. This is not the end, but a step we need to take to give the next step of our journey our all.

“We want to say a huge thank you to all our wonderful customers who have supported us over the past year – it has genuinely meant the world to us.”

Thorpe Farm, renowned for being a much-loved County Durham attraction has grown into a holiday park, complete with a campsite, farm shop and café.

After announcing the closure last week, the centre said they will be holding a closing down sale where customers can grab a bargain before its gone.

The post added: “Because of that support, we’re holding a closing down sale with up to 70 per cent off as we clear stock. There are some incredible bargains to be had, and once they’re gone, they’re gone.”

The garden centre has yet to announce an official closing date but teased about “exciting plans” taking shape in the future.

It said: “Although this chapter is coming to an end, it’s not goodbye forever. We’ve got some exciting plans taking shape behind the scenes, and we can’t wait to share more when the time is right.

“Thank you for being part of our story – please come and see us, grab a bargain, and help us close this chapter of our adventure.”