I first began the nursery in 1995 at my previous home near Chapel-en-le-Frith in the High Peak. The house did not have any garden and being in such an exposed spot at 1,000ft up in the Pennines I wanted to grow shrubs and plants that would survive up there and not just shrivel up and die. So I visited a local nursery to get some advice which was "Don't think you'll get much to grow up there, luv".
This was like a red rag to a bull, so I decided to begin growing from seed and cuttings myself to test out what would grow. After being there for 17 years, I managed to cultivate over 1,000 different varieties of herbs, wildflowers, hardy perennials and shrubs, including many wonderful old and species roses. Of course the ones that thrived I had too many of, so what to do with them?..... and hence the nursery was born! |
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The range of plants grown has changed many times as I like experimenting with new varieties, colour schemes and different plant combinations, and its boring growing the same things year after year! I was also lucky enough to be approahed to participate in supplying the plants for and building 4 Royal Horticultural Society show gardens, 3 at RHS Tatton Flower Show and one at the RHS Hampton Flower Show. One of the gardens at Tatton won us Best in Show back to back garden and a Gold medal.The garden at Hampton Court was extremely exciting filled with lots of wildflowers, including nettles and docks! I believe we were the first ever to "exhibit" these in an RHS show garden.
The nursery has moved over the years but still retains the same foundation principles, that is to grow plants that will survive in the harsh climate of the Peak District, use environmentally responsible, growing techniques and produce plants that will enhance the environment in which they grow by being bee and butterfly friendly and hopefully also smell or look pleasing to the eye. It is now situated at my new home near Longnor, Buxton. I still use the garden to trial varieties and see what will or will not survive and now have more than 20 years of experience to call on, and I am still learning!
The nursery has moved over the years but still retains the same foundation principles, that is to grow plants that will survive in the harsh climate of the Peak District, use environmentally responsible, growing techniques and produce plants that will enhance the environment in which they grow by being bee and butterfly friendly and hopefully also smell or look pleasing to the eye. It is now situated at my new home near Longnor, Buxton. I still use the garden to trial varieties and see what will or will not survive and now have more than 20 years of experience to call on, and I am still learning!