West Sussex nursery says reopening of garden centres is 'too little, too late'

“Its great that the garden centres are going to open, and great for the general gardening public with all this increased leisure time that the shutdown has created, but it’s not going to solve the problem for the growers.”
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Those were the thoughts of Alex Newey, director of the UK’s second largest nursery, based in Lagness, near Bognor Regis, following the reopening of garden centres after the government eased lockdown restrictions.

Newey Limited, which has 40 acres of nurseries in Chichester, including Newlands Nursery, said it is ‘too little too late’ for the industry and the government’s ‘lack of support was very short-sighted’.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The nursery had previously welcomed the reopening of some DIY stores in April and hoped garden centres would follow.

Alex Newey, director of Newey Ltd  the UKs second largest nurseryAlex Newey, director of Newey Ltd  the UKs second largest nursery
Alex Newey, director of Newey Ltd the UKs second largest nursery

Mr Newey said: "The government think that they have fulfilled their obligation to the ornamental horticultural sector but it is no help for our business.

"For our industry it is too little too late, and we can’t afford to be ignored."

The company has been been trying to secure a Grower Compensation Scheme, as used in Germany and The Netherlands, but growers in the UK were forced to 'turn our industry off like a light' in the middle of March.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"Horticulture in these countries is very strong and recognised as so," Mr Newey added. "For example, the Dutch government has just put a 654 million Euro bail out scheme in place.

Mr Newey said his business had to stop producing plants for seven weeks and throw away millions of others 'because we didnt have a route to market'.Mr Newey said his business had to stop producing plants for seven weeks and throw away millions of others 'because we didnt have a route to market'.
Mr Newey said his business had to stop producing plants for seven weeks and throw away millions of others 'because we didnt have a route to market'.

“There is nothing like that from our government. We had to stop producing plants for seven weeks and throw away millions of others because we didn’t have a route to market.

"We didn’t know when DIY stores or garden centres would be allowed to open, so could not take the risk of preparing seedlings to be ready for when retailers might suddenly want to sell plants."

Eight weeks ago, Newey Ltd was left staring at a 'huge loss' that it thinks might take as long as ten years to recover from.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mr Newey said: "Newey Ltd is a well invested high tech company with high volumes to compensate for low margins but is not representative of the majority of horticultural businesses.

Newey Limited has 40 acres of nurseries in Chichester, including Newlands NurseryNewey Limited has 40 acres of nurseries in Chichester, including Newlands Nursery
Newey Limited has 40 acres of nurseries in Chichester, including Newlands Nursery

"The fabric of our industry is made up of family-run companies, often three generations old, with growing skills that are inherited. It’s a low margin industry often helping drive a local economy.

“Therefore it is highly likely that half of the industry won’t be able to respond to pent up demand and will go to the wall.

“The UK government’s lack of support is very short-sighted.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Newey has been able to shift the plants which have come to maturity in the meantime through its plants2people.com courier delivery service, 'which has now gone nationwide'.

The focus is back on supplying its main clients, which the company said, in some cases, has meant that Newey has teamed up with other nurseries nearby to fulfil these new orders.

A spokesperson said: "Its touch and go, but it looks like Newey will survive. But whether some of these smaller nurseries will be able to bounce back is debatable."

Last month, Newey Ltd contributed to the supply of more than 2,500 plants to NHS Nightingale Hospital in London, which is now on standby. Read more on that here and watch the video at the top of the page.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Meanwhile, home improvement retailer and garden centre Wickes is set to reopen more than 100 of its stores. The company is beginning a phased reopening of its stores – with social distancing measures in place – today (Thursday, May 14).

This includes the store in Shripney Road, Bognor Regis, and in Barnfield Drive, Chichester, and the roll-out follows the successful trial opening of six stores which implemented new social distancing measures. Read more hereBarratt and David Wilson Homes’ Southampton division has also started the phased re-opening of its 12 construction sites, including The Furlongs in Westergate and Madgwick Park in Chichester.

A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton:

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news, I am asking you to please purchase a copy of our newspapers.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspapers.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Stay safe, and best wishes.