Plumleys Garden Centre in the Cheshire village of Plumley is celebrating 200 years of family business, with the seventh generation now at the helm. The centre still displays the original Yates seed cabinet, a nod to its origins in 1826 when George Yates founded a seed business in Manchester.
Seven Generations of Horticulture
Today, the business is run by Andrew Yates, 54, his father Peter, 86, and Andrew's son Sam, 26, representing the seventh generation. The family has operated on the current Plumley site since 1935, surviving war, recession, and lockdowns while remaining independent.
Historical Milestones
During the Blitz in 1941, the family's Manchester seed shop was destroyed by incendiary bombs, forcing operations to move fully to Plumley. 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 Old Trafford pitch post-WWII.
The direct train line from Manchester to Plumley, still in operation, allowed business and visitors to reach this rural area. In early years, it served as an early version of mail order, sending seeds back to Manchester customers.
Evolution to a Destination Garden Centre
Since 2017, the centre has been renamed Plumleys from its earlier name, the Hidden Nursery. It now features a gift shop, boutique, and a popular cafe known for homemade cakes, daily changing quiches, and Sunday roasts. The business is undergoing a refresh with new home and garden ranges, an expanded gift department, and a new pet section called The Doghouse launching later this year.
Andrew Yates 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 Yates 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."
RHS Roots and Gardening Trends
Before taking over Plumleys, Andrew ran a successful landscape and garden design company, winning Gold and Best in Show at the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park in 2010. Andrew's father Peter previously ran a garden centre in Timperley in the 1960s, later sold to Dobbies and now a Lidl supermarket.
Current gardening trends include a return to "big and blousy instant impact" old favourites like white hydrangeas, lavenders, and colourful geraniums, according to Sam.
Plumleys Garden Centre is located on Plumley Moor Road, Knutsford (WA16 9SD), open Monday to Saturday 9:30 am–4:30 pm and Sundays 10 am–4 pm.
