How Rotherhill started
Before the nursery
What we now know as Rotherhill started life as the market garden for Rotherhill House. A lot of their produce was sent to market - they had wonderful, old, wooden grading machines in the barn!
1961
Flowers as far as the eye could see!
After it ceased to be a working market garden, it was leased by Terrance Allan who ran the site as a chrysanthemum nursery.
1983
The start of Rotherhill Nurseries
Ann and David started renting Rotherhill Nurseries from the local land owner in 1983 but were able to buy they site soon after that. They grew cut flowers and vegetables to sell from the shed (where our shop now stands today). Michael, Jemma and Julie can all tell you stories of washing seed trays for 2p/tray for pocket money and getting their first weekend jobs on the nursery.
Change and growth
From a simple start of growing salad crops Ann and David start to transform the nursery over the next 15years. In time they moved away from salad and in to retail shrubs, perennials and bedding. To meet the needs of this growing range of plants, shade tunnels and a tree section are added.
A new generation takes over
Mike was born at Rotherhill so you could say it's in his blood! After leaving school and studying at Merrist Wood, Mike returned to the nursery, knowing that he wanted to take it over in time. He worked alongside David and Ann for many years and, as they've moved into retirement, has taken over running the business. Mike's sister Jemma has now also returned to the nursery and now runs the bedding production and general sundries departments.
The future of Rotherhill
Ann, David, Mike and Jemma are now in partnership with Mike and Jemma taking the lead. They are rely on our expert team who support their vision of how Rotherhill Nurseries should look today.
Mike and Jemma now both have young families, all of whom are growing up on the nursery. Having young families has prompted us to close on a Sunday to allow us time with our family.
Rotherhill at RHS Shows, in the press and working with award-winning designers
In recent years we have been lucky enough to regularly see our plants in gardens at RHS Chelsea and Hampton Court Flower Show. We've featured in several articles for our plant excellence, been recommended by award-winning garden designers and are seen as a recognised source of valuable horticultural advice.
40 years of Rotherhill
We celebrated 40 years of Rotherhill in February 2023. It was a great opportunity to look back at all we have accomplished. It was also a chance to look forward to another 40 years of Rotherhill and the generations of Rotherhill horticulturalists to come.
