You can still see the original Yates’ seed drawers inside as the seventh generation of the same family celebrate 200 years in business at this hidden gem garden centre
Plumleys Garden Centre is run by father and son due Andy and Sam Yates (pictured) – the 7th generation of the same family running the business(Image: MEN)
Walk into Plumleys Garden Centre in Cheshire, and the first thing you’ll see is an antique wooden seed cabinet providing the backdrop to assorted gardening gifts and plants. The cabinet’s history, like the business itself, stretches back 200 years to when the Yates family first began their business in horticulture.
Now, the sixth and seventh generation of the family are celebrating that extraordinary 200 year anniversary as they plough their own future at their “hidden gem” garden centre in the pretty Cheshire village of Plumley.
It boasts an array of colourful blooms outside, while inside there’s now a gift shop, boutique and also a popular cafe with homemade bakes and lunches and the option of indoor or outdoor seating with the backdrop of all the floral delights at the centre.
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George Yates founded the family’s original seed business in Manchester back in 1826. Today the business is run by his ancestors – Andrew Yates, 54, alongside his father Peter, 86, with Andrew’s son Sam, 26, now representing the seventh generation of the family to work in the business.
Sam Yates pictured with the original seed units that his great-great-great grandad used when starting up the family business 200 years ago(Image: MEN)
You can still see the original Yates seed signs on your way in, while there are nods to the business’s past dotted all across the garden centre. Operating on its current Plumley site since 1935, the business has survived war, recession, lockdowns and huge changes in retail, whilst remaining proudly independent.
During the Blitz in 1941, the family’s Manchester seed shop was destroyed by incendiary bombs, forcing operations to move fully to Plumley, where seeds were packed throughout the war and vegetables were grown to support the war effort.
The Yates family later supplied specialist grass seed mixes to Manchester United and other North West football clubs after helping rebuild the pitch at Old Trafford following the Second World War.
The Yates’ seed business was well known across Greater Manchester and beyond.(Image: Plumleys Garden Centre)
The direct train line to Manchester in Plumley, with the station still in operation today, allowed business, and visitors, to head to this rural part of Cheshire that in all other respects is hidden away from the urban sprawl. In the early years, it was also useful as a sort of early version of “mail order” sending seeds back in to customers in Manchester.
Its hidden gem location was even used for its name at one stage during its history – when it was called the “Hidden Nursery”. But since 2017 the garden centre was renamed Plumleys, as Sam explained: “Everyone would call it Plumleys Garden Centre anyway so it seemed the obvious thing to rebrand it too.”
The old Yates seed signs on the way into the garden centre(Image: MEN)
Today, Plumleys has evolved into a destination garden centre known for its plants, gift shop, homemade food and hugely popular Christmas trees with customers travelling from as far as Yorkshire each festive season.
The business is currently undergoing another refresh, with new home and garden ranges, an expanded gift department and a new pet section called “The Doghouse” launching later this year.
The coffee shop has also expanded in recent years, and is now famed for its homemade cakes and daily changing quiches as well as roast dinners on Sundays.
The cafe boasts homemade cakes(Image: MEN)
Andrew said: “We’re incredibly proud to still be here after 200 years and seven generations. Independent family businesses are becoming rarer, especially in horticulture, so it means a lot to continue building on everything the generations before us created.”
Sam added: “The industry has changed massively, and you have to keep evolving. We’re blending our heritage with new ideas to make sure Plumleys continues to thrive for future generations.”
The business also has strong RHS roots. Before taking over Plumleys, Andrew ran a successful landscape and garden design company, winning Gold and Best in Show honours at the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park in 2010.
Sam Yates as a baby with dad Andrew and grandad Peter Yates.(Image: Plumleys Garden Centre)
Andrew’s father Peter was also a well known figure in the garden centre world, previously having the garden centre in Timperley in the 1960s. That would go on to be sold to Dobbies, and more recently it has been sold again to become a new Lidl supermarket, a decision that has had a mixed response from local residents there.
Sam said: “My grandad was very well known in Timperley, so I’m sure people there will be pleased to know he’s still keeping an eye on everything we’re doing here at the age of 87.”
Sam in among the hydrangeas at Plumleys Garden Centre(Image: MEN)
As for what the key gardening trends have been this year, Sam says there has been a return to “big and blousy instant impact” old favourites for an impressive home display. The garden centre is currently packed with gorgeous white hydrangeas, lavenders and colourful geranium.
Plumleys Garden Centre is located on Plumley Moor Road, Knutsford (WA16 9SD). It is open Monday to Saturday from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm and Sundays from 10 am to 4 pm.
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