From Lettuse to Lupins

A green-fingered grower who started selling bedding plants from a wheelbarrow at the side of the road has now successfully established a nursery business serving the East Midlands, with help from Defra's Rural Enterprise Scheme.

John Jackson of Swarkestone Nursery, near the busy A50, received a grant of over #24,000 to create an outdoor sales area where shrubs, trees and perennial plants including lupins and lavender can be sold and displayed.

Traditionally a vegetable production business - farming 250 acres of vegetables for supply to major supermarkets and other wholesalers - Mr Jackson began to grow a few bedding plants in a corner of a glasshouse as a hobby.

As the plants began attracting an increasing number of passers-by John and his sister Helen Botham decided to take the business further.

John said:

"We recognised the increase in popularity in gardening and noticed the huge market for perennials, shrubs and trees but we were struggling to both stock and display the volumes we wanted to.

"After hearing a talk by Leading the Ornamental Challenge to the East Midlands Growers Association, I approached them for help.

"With the support of LOC we managed to get a Rural Enterprise Scheme grant from Defra to create a walled and landscaped outdoor sales area and additional car parking. We have just opened the area to the public and the response has been fantastic. Sales over the nursery as a whole have already increased by over a third."

Lyndon Mason, Project Manager for LOC, said:

"This is an excellent example of successful diversification away from main stream crops into a specialist niche product. We at LOC are very pleased to have been able to help Swarkestone Nursery to take this next step into developing a wider product range and are very pleased to see the increased sales that have been achieved since it has opened."

Peter Hayman, of Defra's Rural Development Service, said:

"Helping farmers and growers add value to their existing business or diversify into new and profitable areas is one of the main aims of the Rural Enterprise Scheme. We're pleased this grant has helped John Jackson to grow; his sales, business size and of course his plants."