Retirement dream becomes someone else's opportunity as renowned Cumbrian nursery comes to the market with H&H Land & Estates.
After more than a decade of transforming a neglected horticultural nursery into one of Cumbria's best-known specialist nurseries, Lynne and Duncan Wilson are preparing to hand over the business they have lovingly built as they look forward to the next chapter of their lives.
Pine Tree Nurseries, at Gamblesby near Penrith, has been brought to the market through H&H Land & Estates, offering what is believed to be a rare opportunity to acquire an established and profitable nursery business with a loyal customer base and an outstanding reputation. This property is being offered for sale as a whole with a guide price of £200,000 through the Carlisle office of H&H Land & Estates.
The nursery occupies approximately 1.97 acres together with a further 0.34 acres of woodland, which includes the property's natural water supply. The off-grid site benefits from an integrated irrigation system, extensive growing areas, polytunnels, retail sales space, storage facilities and ample parking. All fixed equipment required to operate the nursery is included in the sale, allowing a smooth transition for a new owner.
Janet Flintoft, Chartered Surveyor and Associate Director at H&H Land & Estates, said, “Opportunities like Pine Tree Nurseries rarely come to the market. It is a well-established business with an excellent reputation, loyal customers and all the necessary infrastructure already in place.
“For anyone looking to realise a horticultural ambition or develop an established business with further potential, this represents an outstanding opportunity to build on everything Lynne and Duncan have created.”
For Lynne and Duncan, however, the sale is about far more than bricks, mortar and growing areas. It marks the end of a journey that began in 2012 when they purchased what was then a derelict site with a vision of creating a specialist nursery dedicated to plants suited to the Cumbrian climate.
“We always wanted to create somewhere that gardeners would enjoy visiting,” said Lynne. “When we bought the nursery, it needed a huge amount of work. We completely redesigned and modernised the site, developing the growing areas and infrastructure behind the scenes.
“We've absolutely loved every minute of it. It really has been our dream, and we've been incredibly fortunate to spend our days doing something we're passionate about.”
The site itself has a long horticultural history, having originally been established as a market garden in the late 1930s eventually evolving as a horticultural nursery selling ornamental plants. Over the decades, it passed through a number of owners before falling into disrepair.
Today, it has been transformed into a thriving specialist nursery renowned for plants that flourish in Cumbria's often challenging climate.
“We've always concentrated on stocking plants that we know will perform well in Cumbrian gardens,” explained Lynne. “Trees, shrubs, alpines and perennials have become our speciality, and we grow the majority of our perennial plants ourselves.”
A qualified garden designer with more than 20 years' experience and a degree in garden design, Duncan has developed a successful design consultancy alongside the nursery, creating gardens across the region.
That combination of retail sales, garden design and attendance at plant fairs and agricultural shows has enabled Pine Tree Nurseries to establish a loyal following. Around half of the business is generated through customers visiting the nursery, with the remainder split between garden design projects and plant fairs throughout the region.
“Although we're in quite a rural location, people travel from right across Cumbria and beyond to visit us because they know they'll find plants suited to local growing conditions,” said Lynne. “Many of our customers first met us at plant fairs before coming to the nursery, and we've been delighted to see so many return year after year.”
While retiring is not an easy decision, Lynne says the time feels right.
“We bought Pine Tree Nurseries as a semi-retirement project, but it quickly became so much more than that. We've worked incredibly hard to build the business and its reputation, and now we'd love to see someone else take it forward and write the next chapter.
“We're genuinely sad to be stepping away because we've lived our dream here. Now it's time for someone else to do the same.”
For full particulars of Pine Tree Nurseries or to arrange a viewing strictly by appointment, please contact H&H Land & Estates on 01228 406260.