Everton Nurseries near Lymington and on the edge of the New Forest is a much-loved garden centre and nursery. In the Collyer family for over 100 years, Everton Nurseries is now under new family ownership that will allow the business to continue its passion of serving local gardeners.

Everton becomes the fifth garden centre in the Your Local Garden Centre group owned by local garden centre owner, Paul Richards. Richards was attracted to the business, valuing its heritage and the quality of the plants it grows as well as the leisure retail and catering on site.

The change of ownership facilitates the retirement of the third generation of the Collyer family. Richards said “It has been a pleasure dealing with the Collyer family and our values closely align.”

Helpful and knowledgeable staff are a great strength of the business and all jobs are safeguarded. “We have no plans for redundancies. Quite the opposite, we will want more staff as we act on our plans to develop the business and make sure it has many more successful years as a family owned and horticultural business.” Says Richards. Two members of the fourth generation of the Collyer family will stay on in management positions.

The retiring Directors commented “It was a difficult decision but it was important to us that all staff will be retained. We are confidant that the business is in safe hands and will continue to thrive and prosper. We wanted the business to carry on in a similar format and remain one business incorporating the wholesale nursery side and the garden centre. We are very grateful to all our loyal and longstanding staff and customers and we are confident that the decision has helped to secure the future of the business.”

The heart of the business is the nursery that grows plants sold in the garden centre and to wholesale customers. Paul Richards started his career as a nurseryman and owned the Golden Acres Nursery at West Parley. Paul’s daughter Charlotte is following in her father’s footsteps and now runs Plants For Trade as a cash and carry nursery at West Parley. The nursery at Everton will be run by Charlotte as a sister business to Plant For Trade.

Camillias, the on-site coffee shop restaurant will continue with its own bakery for cakes and treats, and it will continue to be the popular meeting place it has become. Everton Nurseries is more than a garden centre, it is a long-established local facility, and a visit can really boost your wellbeing.

Everton Nurseries Ltd was established in 1922 by Mr C G Collyer and grew over the years to some 25 acres, producing a wide range of Trees, Shrubs, Fruit Trees, Conifers, Roses and Herbaceous Perennials for retail and trade sales. The garden centre was opened in 1985. Following a substantial re-fit and expansion in 2006, Camellias Coffee Shop and Restaurant was then opened.

Retiring Directors are Simon and Toby Collyer and Maria Collyer. New Directors are Paul and Charlotte Richards and Tim Mason.

Fourth generation family of the founder continuing in managerial positions at the business, Lucy and Alessio Collyer.

Your Local Garden Centre Group operates four garden centres: Mappleborough Green near Redditch, Stansted Park near Chichester, Alver Valley in Gosport, Findon Vale in Findon.

The business has a head office at West Parley, near Bournemouth airport where Plants For Trade operates a cash and carry trade nursery.