I don't actually own a garden but that's never stopped me enjoying a visit to the Edinburgh branch of Dobbies Garden Centres. And in December there's all the more reason to visit, because Santa will be there most days up until Christmas. For £5 (bookable in advance) youngsters can have a chat with Santa in his grotto at Dobbie and get a wee present to take home.

Dobbies also has one of the most extensive arrays of Christmas gifts, decorations, cards and trees that I have ever seen around Edinburgh. There's lots of free parking and a food hall (admittedly pricey), where you can pick up some gourmet treats for later.

It's just across the way from Butterfly World, owned by the same firm, which I was writing about in this earlier posting as a great place to warm up in Edinburgh's cold winter.

Many weekends I head out to Dobbies (husband likes window-shopping for sheds) with the family, for a cup of tea in their popular cafe, where you can get a decent, reasonably priced lunch or snack.

The aquatics and pets section is popular with young children, who enjoy looking at the fish, rabbits and small furry rodents (think they were guinea pigs but hard to be sure).

I often come home from Dobbies with another house plant for my collection and resolve that we must move to a house with a garden, so I can do more than just browse among the herbaceous borders.

Children also enjoy throwing pennies into the water features on display.

There's a great deal of simple pleasure to be had from a trip to Dobbies and it's given me much happiness over the many years I've been going there.

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Glad you had fun - and broken link Joel Rendle (87.113.135.xxx) 2009-12-09 22:49:55 Hi Helen We're delighted you had fun at our store near Edinburgh. And yes, the rodents you saw were guinea pigs - or hamsters. We noticed that you've got a broken link in your post, in the first sentence. The link you've used is: htp://www.dobbies.com/edinburghgaren-centre.as px The correct link is: http://www.dobbies.com/edinburgh-garden-centre .aspx If you are able, we'd love you to correct that link. Kindest regards, Joel Rendle Dobbies Garden Centres plc Reply

Hi Joel Helen (84.19.236.xxx) 2009-12-21 22:19:32 Hi Joel, Ah, so we're getting closer to an ID of the rodents. Excellent! Thanks very much for your comment. We've got that link repaired. The Dobbies stores are great; hope you've had a successful run-up to Christmas. Best wishes, Helen Reply

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