A New Forest gardening centre which has been run by the same family for over 100 years has been sold.
Everton Nurseries, which employs more than 50 staff, is reportedly set to be bought by Paul Richards of Your Local Garden Centre Group and Charlotte Richards of Plants for Trade West Parley.
Describing the decision to sell the business as a “long and difficult” one, the trio of current directors Simon Collyer, Toby Collyer and Maria Currie will step down and retire, with all other staff retained.
Everton Nurseries directors Toby Collyer, Maria Currie and Simon Collyer with Alessio Collyer and Lucy Collyer in the firm’s centenary year in 2022
However, family links to the business will continue with Simon’s daughter, Lucy Collyer, remaining in her role of garden centre manager, and Toby’s son Alessio continuing as office manager.
Toby said: “It was a difficult decision but it was important to us that all staff would be retained. We are confident 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.
Everton Nurseries has been sold
“We are very grateful to all our loyal and longstanding staff and customers, and we are confident that this decision has helped to secure the future of the business.”
Everton Nurseries marked its centenary year in 2022 with a series of events and celebrations, including a children’s painting competition.
In 1922 Cecil – known as Gordon – Collyer, fresh from studying botany at Reading University and garden design at Farnham Art School, bought three acres of land for his nursery. More was added over the next 40 years, growing to the 25 acres it has now.
Everton Nurseries in about 1929/30
In the early days, one labourer and a “lad” were employed; that team has now grown to more than 50 staff, with seasonal increases in the spring.
War put a stop to the industry in 1939, and the site was turned over to food production, employing the Women’s Land Army along with additional women and children. By the war’s end, however, Everton Nurseries was back producing its usual stock, with many of its original staff returning.
A succession of Gordon’s family joined the company over the years, and his two sons Michael and John had become directors by the time he died in 1982. The current directors are Gordon’s grandchildren.
Everton Nurseries founder Cecil ‘Gordon’ Collyer in the late 1960s
The garden centre opened on the site in 1985 and, following a substantial re-fit and expansion in 2006, Camellias Coffee Shop and Restaurant opened.
Currently around three quarters of the hardy plants sold in the garden centre are “home produced”, and stock is also supplied wholesale to other nurseries, garden centres and landscape contractors across the south of England.
Maria said: “Our popular local suppliers Meadowbrook Produce and Wheelers Traditional Fishmongers will also remain – everything will really be staying much the same, it’s just that we won’t be here.”
Toby added: “Right from the beginning we have been very lucky to have such loyal and hard-working staff, some of whom have spent their whole working life with us.
“We are grateful to our local customers – both retail and trade – who have supported the business and watched it grow.”
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