Our Story Continues… 2020 and Beyond

David was still recovering from his operation. He was getting back on his feet, slowly but surely, though he was still in so much pain. But if there’s one thing we know about David, it’s this pain never stopped him. He would grit his teeth, take a steady breath, and carry on. Out into the tunnels, checking plants. Into the warehouse, sorting orders. He simply refused to sit still. Initially he tried a mobility scooter on the very rocky ground.

2020 was a year none of us will ever forget.

And then… Covid hit.

Lockdowns.
Uncertainty.
Fear everywhere.

Almost overnight, we had to completely rearrange the business. Everyone had to work in their own section. Two metres apart at all times. Separate packing areas. Separate growing areas. Systems rewritten. Routines changed.

We didn’t have to close as we were a nursery, and plants don’t understand pandemics. They still needed watering, feeding, tending. Life had to continue.

But oh my goodness… we were not prepared for what happened next.

The sun came out. The skies were blue. And suddenly the whole country was at home, staring at their gardens thinking, “Right. Let’s sort this out.” The orders came in sooooo fast.

Every ping of the computer meant more plants to pick. More parcels to wrap. More labels to print. It was overwhelming. At one point we were running a full week behind. Delivery companies were stretched to breaking point. We were exhausted.

But we survived.

Through the lockdowns.
Through the long days.
Through the uncertainty.

We kept the plants alive and we kept the dream alive too.

Planning for 2021 and into 2022

Massive expansion - more poly tunnels

Not only did we expand poly tunnels but we also bought lots of water tables, these were easy to put together and fix to the floor in the nissen huts, but oh my goodness!!!! what a nightmare in a poly tunnel without a solid floor. This carried on into the spring of 2022.

Holes had to be created in the poly tunnels for concrete to be put in, when that was solid the feet could then be fastened to the ground.

New layout and construction for the water lily hut was also set out, walls were built.

The boys were undecided how to line the pond but Kayleigh and Dawn knew what they were doing and just got on with it.

Back to the Shows

When Covid restrictions finally eased, it felt like the world was cautiously opening its doors again. And we knew it was time to step back out there too.

We began planning for 2021. We were heading to:

BBC Gardeners’ World Live at the NEC Birmingham Kayleigh & Dawn
RHS Hampton Court Flower Show Tamsin & Dawn in the Floral Marquee for the first time

We were terrified...

After our first experience at RHS Chatsworth, stepping back into that world felt huge. But this time, we promised ourselves one thing, we would give ourselves time. No last-minute panic. No running to distant car parks, where the lorry trailer was parked, fetching plants to our display!

BBC Gardeners’ World Live – NEC Birmingham

We worked so hard on the display. Every plant was carefully chosen. Every space thoughtfully planted. We wanted it to feel natural, abundant, alive.

The organisers had asked us to place an object in the pond something with character. Kayleigh’s dad had an old grass cutter, and we thought it would look perfect, like it had been forgotten and reclaimed by nature.

We were so proud of what we built. When judging came, our hearts were pounding. We had to wait until the next morning to see what we had been awarded.

We were awarded SILVER.

We were proud… but if I’m honest, we were also disappointed. After everything, we had quietly hoped for more. The feedback told us the grass cutter looked too new, and the plants needed even more preparation for judging.

It was hard to hear. But we listened, and we learned.

RHS Hampton Court – Floral Marquee

This one was a whole new challenge. We built the raised pond from sleepers

Dawn and Tamsin led the build, working tirelessly to get the pond structure and planting just right. Hampton Court is enormous — everything is spread out. Organising lorry deliveries, forklifts, water in and out — it’s like a military operation!

We focused deeply on plant preparation this time. Conditioning them. Grooming them. Making sure they were at their absolute best.

When the judges came, we held our breath again.

We achieved SILVER-GILT

Progress.

We were asked something that made our hearts skip:

“Would you be interested in doing Chelsea?” Now that’s the pinnacle. The dream. The mountain. But Dawn said something very wise:
“I won’t do Chelsea until we achieve GOLD.”

And she meant it.

Advice from a Judge

At Hampton Court, we were fortunate to receive advice from Jon Wheatley MBE, an RHS judge. He came to speak with us, offering guidance on how to refine our displays — composition, maturity of plants, detail, storytelling through planting.

We listened carefully. Every word mattered.

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Autumn 2021

Further shows:

As Covid had cancelled the shows, by summer of 2021 things were starting to get back to normal, Chelsea Flower Show was to be held for the first time in September. Although we were not displaying we went along to help Arit Anderson (BBC Gardeners World presenter) with her garden of Hope, we not only supplied the plants for round the pond but we also went and planted them.

We also supplied plants for the Cop26 garden.

During the autumn of 2021 further expansion was needed more clearing and cleaning needed, this time it was the old Armoury. The roof needed some serious repair work before the plant packing team could move in here. They were seriously needing more space.

Before the start of the season 2022 the plant team were in the armoury.

2022 - The Breakthrough

In 2022, we went to RHS Malvern Spring Festival with everything we had learned.

But before we could go we had some excitement at the nursery, the BBC wanted to come and film. This was to be aired on BBC Gardeners World during the Malvern show.

So on the 26th April 2022 the film crew descended, filming took the whole day.

The preparation was different. The confidence was different. The planting was tighter, fuller, more mature.

And when the results came…

We achieved RHS GOLD.

You have no idea what you have achieved until the morning after judging when you come into the marquee to see the award waiting for you. We were over the moon. All the years of hard work. The early mornings. The storms. The setbacks. The surgeries. The lockdowns.

It all led to that moment.

And now?

Now we were ready.

Heading to Chelsea 2023

With GOLD under our belts, there was no more waiting.

We were heading to Chelsea Flower Show 2023.

The biggest stage of them all.

The planning began immediately and it was on a completely different scale.

And that is where our next chapter begins…

The preparation.
The pressure.
The nerves.

And the journey to Chelsea.