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Introduction to members

Why is there so much horticulture in West Sussex?

West Sussex is one of Britain's premier glasshouse areas producing salads, herbs, cut flowers, pot plants and hardy nursery stock that are enjoyed by consumers nationwide. The mild climate and high light levels are the reasons for West Sussex enjoying a reputation for excellence in commercial horticulture for well over a century.

Statistics

The members of the Association are generally producers of protected crops, i.e. those crops grown under glass or polythene. About a quarter of the membership are growing hardy nursery stock which whilst the crop starts off under glass or polythene it is hardened off outside. Some members produce crops in the fields - lettuce, etc.

The area of protected horticulture in West Sussex is approximately 200 hectares. This is approximately 10% of the overall UK protected crop production of around 2000 hectares)

The below link will take you to the Defra site 1998 census results

Defra Site 1998 census results

We estimate the combined turnovers of the various companies involved in horticulture in West Sussex are in the region of £300 million. This figure is based on the value of the goods as they are sold off the nurseries, not the eventual retail value which would be much greater.

The total wage roll paid by these companies is in the region of £30 million employing approximately 2500 persons (full time equivalent).

The Changes in Horticulture

The face of horticulture has substantially changed in West Sussex over the last two decades. At one time the industry consisted largely of the smaller family run nurseries. Some of these businesses have struggled to keep up with the pressures on price within what is an extremely competitive market place, especially in recent years where the strength of the pound has caused an influx of cheap produce entering the market place from outside of the UK, the effect of which is to severely depress the UK market prices. This has unfortunately meant a reduction in the number of the smaller nurseries as they have ceased business. We do however see some fantastic success stories within the area with certain companies having instigated expansion programmes in the last decade in order to take advantage of the corresponding economies of scale and hence improve their ability to produce crops at an ever lower unit price and yet maintain the quality demanded by today's consumer.

Despite the loss of the smaller nurseries, horticulture within the area has expanded over the period and continues to do so with new glasshouses being erected by existing companies and other companies moving in to the area. As to how much it will grow — well that's anyone's guess. We believe that we will continue to see slow steady growth in the area, although the rate of this would be dependent on the general global economic slow down and the effect that this will have on the strength of the pound in comparison to the Euro (where much of the competition is based). A weakening of the pound will help return nurseries to profitability and allow them to invest once again in their businesses. If the strength of the pound continues then the picture is a little bleaker.

Learn more about a selection of our membership

In order that you may learn a little more about the activities of members of the West Sussex Growers' Association, a few of our members are detailed below along with some information about their companies. Some have included links to their own websites.

 


Our Members

Yoder Toddington

Toddington Lane, Littlehampton, West Sussex. BN17 7PL.
Tel: 01903 731744
E-Mail: sales@yoder-toddington.co.uk


Yoder Toddington has been trading for over 30 years to the horticultural wholesale sector. The business was started in 1963 by Keith Butters and Ron Fouracre, to grow chrysanthemum cuttings for the UK market. It was 22 years later, in 1985, that Yoder Brothers purchased the business, from which point the Company began trading as Yoder Toddington. In 1998, Yoder Brothers sold their European Operations to Kirin Agribio, a subsidiary of Kirin Brewery, Japan . Yoder Toddington is now part of the Southern Glasshouse Produce Group in the UK, which is also wholly-owned by Kirin Agribio.

Yoder Toddington has two distinct business units.

Chrysanthemum Cuttings Yoder Toddington supplies UK growers with chrysanthemums from the Kirin Agribio Kenya, production farm. Yoder Toddington has an 80% market share, which means that if you buy UK-produced cut or pot chrysanthemums, there will be a very good chance that these plants passed through the hands of Yoder Toddington at some stage in their life.

Container Plants Yoder Toddington also produces garden plants, which are sold through the co-operative, Farplants Sales.
Yoder Toddington is currently the UK's largest Ceanothus producer. We also grow a wide variety of other plants from Choysia to Ornamental Cabbages. In fact, we are always looking for exciting new garden plants to extend our range, so if you notice any unusual mutations or sports in your own garden please contact us at Yoder Toddington. You never know... you may have found the next big thing.

See the link to our website for more details Yoder Toddington

 

 

 

Tangmere Airfield Nurseries Ltd

Old Airfield Tangmere, Chichester, West Sussex. PO20 2GP.
Tel: 01243 533696


Tangmere Airfield Nurseries Ltd is a leading European pepper grower, based near the market town of Chichester in West Sussex, with further large areas of glass in both Somerset and Extremadura, Central Spain.
In Spain, an abundance of natural light and water allows a high quality crop to be produced between December and July thus supplementing the English production cycle.
This highly sophisticated and efficient European operation, now covering in excess of 100 acres of biologically controlled crop, allows customers to receive a reliable and continuous supply of top quality sweet peppers all year round.

The company is based on the famous Battle of Britain airfield, which was originally the home of RAF Tangmere. The airfield closed in the late 1970's and gradually fell into decline until 1989 when Dirk Houweling established Tangmere Airfield Nurseries Ltd with the purchase of the land.
The airfield is now the home to one of Europe's largest pepper nurseries with more than fifty acres of some of the most modern glasshouse facilities in Great Britain.
Our Spanish site was acquired by the group in 2001 and our 30 acre state-of-the-art glasshouse was built in two main stages.

Learn more about Tangmere Airfield Nurseries and our products on our website Tangmere Airfield Nurseries

 

 

 

Fargro Ltd

Toddington Lane,Littlehampton, West Sussex. BN17 7PP.
Tel: 01903 721591


Fargro Ltd. was established in 1946 as a grower co-operative to market fruit and supply growers with the necessary fertilisers, chemicals and compost to grow their plants. Now owned by 300 growers Fargro has developed in to the leading requisite supplier to horticultural growers in southern England. In addition Fargro market a range of exclusive products throughout the UK including agrochemicals, pots, hanging baskets and ground cover. We work with many of the leading agrochemical manufacturers developing products for the UK market and staff make regular visits to China and India to source new requisite products.

The Fargro technical team provide a technical advisory service to growers and supply a range of biological pest controls with full technical support. Fargro has developed in to the leading supplier of energy to horticultural businesses supplying oil, natural gas, electricity and LPG. Staff are actively involved with many industry organisations providing expertise and support.

See the link to our website for more details Fargro Ltd

 Fargro office

Binsted Nursery


Binsted Lane, Binsted, Arundel, West Sussex. BN18 0LL.
Tel: 01243 551277


E-Mail: grabey@binstednursery.co.uk

Binsted Nursery produces garden plants which are sold through our marketing co-operative, Farplants, to garden retailers throughout the UK.  The business was founded in 1978.
 
Our range of products includes herbs, hardy perennials, garden succulents, spring bulbs and promotions of especially good plants including some unusual varieties.  In addition to producing finished plants the nursery also propagates a proportion of our own young plants from seed or cuttings, and has an active new product development program. 
 
Facilities have been built to optimise quality through meeting the differing production needs of a broad range of garden plants, including greenhouses with automatically opening roofs and sides.
 
Currently about 60 people work at the nursery, as managers, supervisors, team leaders and skilled and general workers.  Environmental management includes habitat creation to benefit wildlife around the production areas.

Walberton Nursery


Yapton Lane, Walberton, Arundel, West Sussex, BN18 0AS


www.walberton-nursery.co.uk

 

Star Plants

Lane Lane, Barnham, West Sussex, PO22 OAQ


He started out in 1983 as a one-man band with just two acres of rose and conifer production – but 24 years later, James Turner has gone far beyond his original 20-acre dream. 


In fact, he’s expanded his Star Nurseries business to 26 acres producing shrubs, climbers and herbaceous plants, and now employs 16 full-time staff as well as seasonal and agency workers.


The nursery – which has an annual output of some 900,000 units – includes a propagation area, which allows for better quality control over young plants.


The business is spread over two sites – including 3 acres of unheated glass at Lake Lane, and a further three acres of glass and polytunnels at Eastergate Lane. 


James – the son of phormium grower John Turner, whose nursery is almost next door -  aims for the top end of the market with his products, which include everything from ever-popular dianthus, cottage pinks and hardy lilies to penstemons, antirrhinums, cordylines, hollyhocks and strawberries. All of Star Plant’s production is sold through the  Farplants marketing co-operative.