TRIUMPH OVER ADVERSITY

Horticultural experts, brothers Pete and Chris Bristol are delighted that Newlands Nursery is now fully stocked with home-grown plants and ready to welcome visitors to their site in Chatburn. Photography: Kirsten Platt

Last year was a turbulent year for most businesses and, like many, Pete and Chris Bristol endured a bumpy ride. In March 2020 the horticultural duo realised their lifelong dream when they opened Newlands Nursery – only to be shut down three days later when lockdown hit.

But they bounced back with a triumphant second-launch in May that saw them selling thousands of plants and shrubs, that are home-grown on their five-acre site on Sawley Road at Chatburn.

“When we reopened it was such a relief to be up and running again and to see a surge in sales – we sold thousands of plants within a matter of days. It’s certainly was a turbulent year, but we’re now fully stocked again and ready for spring and summer!” explains Pete.

The brothers, who have worked in nurseries throughout the North West since their early teens, left school at 16 and attended Myerscough Agricultural College where they spent three years studying for a National Diploma in Horticulture. After leaving college they worked in landscape and maintenance for 15 years, but they admit that their sights were always set on opening their own plant nursery.

“That was always our aim so when we found the perfect location in Chatburn we set about transforming it,” recalls Pete.

In 2019 the brothers started work on the site, levelling it, building a customer car park and siting a multi-span five-bay polytunnel along with building benches for their hand-reared plants. To boost their eco-friendly credentials, they installed a system to enable all plants to be irrigated with rainwater caught on site.

“Plants are grown from seeds, cuttings and plugs. We specialise in growing plants that we know will thrive here in the Ribble Valley. We know they will do well in this climate,” adds Pete, who with Chris, can usually be seen working on-site along with other members of the team, who are always available to answer questions and give advice to customers.

“We love to be able offer our advice – there’s always one of us on site to meet customers and tell them what we think will grow well in their garden.”

At Newlands both novice and expert gardeners will feel at home amidst the comprehensive collections of perennials, shrubs, grasses, heather, Alpines, bedding plants, hanging baskets and pots along with fruit and vegetable plants.

Spring homegrown plants are now available including Alpines such as Phlox and Saxifraga along with firm-favourite perennials such as Lupins. Also, bringing much-need colour to the garden at this time of year is a good selection of springtime hanging baskets and planters.

As a family-run nursery, Newlands looks forward to welcoming all gardeners to their site, where there is ample customer parking as well as lots of friendly, gardening advice from the experts!

Newlands Nursery
Sawley Road, Chatburn
Clitheroe BB7 4LD
07701 056951
newlandsnurserychatburn.co.uk

Opening hours
Monday to Saturday: 8am-5pm 
Sunday: 9am-4pm

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