Groves Nurseries has said goodbye to one of its longest serving members of staff – Annette Collins.

Annette started working at Groves 25 years ago by helping Clive Groves set up their original café, The Citrus Grove.

From modest beginnings it just sold coffee and cake and it was a small and friendly team who loved baking. Slowly things changed and the cafe grew its offerings to baked potatoes and full daily lunches. It became so popular that the idea of a bigger restaurant was taking shape. Instead of moving to the new Ivy House Annette saw the opportunity to move to working with plants and moved to the plant nursery.

An invaluable member of the team Annette liked nothing better that sowing seeds and potting up violets to create the wonderful array of plants you see for sale at Groves.

With the radio on in the sunny warmth of the greenhouse Annette spent countless hours nurturing plants and joining in the banter that gives the plant team a special bond.

Annette will be sorely missed but her legacy lives on in the beautiful flowers and plants that survive and thrive from her careful planting.