Paul Kennett and his wife Vicky are to retire from Meadow Grange Nursery at Blean near Canterbury, the business Paul first worked for when he was 14 and then went on to run for 53 years.

The Kennetts grow around one million bedding plants a year for their local authority and gardening customers.

Now, aged 73 and 72, they are handing over the 10-acre site to Christine Buchan and her two sons, Wayne and Ross, a local farming family. Christine has worked as the nursery’s plant production manager for the past 11 years. The new owners may build the coffee shop for which Paul and Vicky got planning permission but never got around to.

“We know we are handing it on to a safe pair of hands and someone who is passionate about it, and that’s important for us and our customers,” said Jacky, who looked after the nursery’s accounting. “We are also still helping out during the handover, briefing them on the retail side of the operation.”

Paul says that while he’s not really ready to give it up, the business needs an injection of new energy to drive it forward.

 “I know I will miss the place and the customers and the banter,” he said. “As our house next door comes as part of the package, we are now looking for a new home.

“My perfect place would be somewhere where I could create a nature reserve,” he told Kent Online.

The Kennetts grow around one million bedding plants a year for their local authority and gardening customers.

Now, aged 73 and 72, they are handing over the 10-acre site to Christine Buchan and her two sons, Wayne and Ross, a local farming family. Christine has worked as the nursery’s plant production manager for the past 11 years. The new owners may build the coffee shop for which Paul and Vicky got planning permission but never got around to.

“We know we are handing it on to a safe pair of hands and someone who is passionate about it, and that’s important for us and our customers,” said Jacky, who looked after the nursery’s accounting. “We are also still helping out during the handover, briefing them on the retail side of the operation.”

Paul says that while he’s not really ready to give it up, the business needs an injection of new energy to drive it forward.

 “I know I will miss the place and the customers and the banter,” he said. “As our house next door comes as part of the package, we are now looking for a new home.

“My perfect place would be somewhere where I could create a nature reserve,” he told Kent Online.