Trevena Cross Nurseries is celebrating 40 years of business this year, a very important milestone for owners Graham Jeffery, his wife Rachel, and his mum Pam Jeffery. From little more than a market stall, the business has today become the biggest independent producer of plants in Cornwall – quite some achievement, and something its owners and staff are very proud of.

Spanning more than 35 acres of land, the nursery growing area supplies the garden centre with more than 90% of the plants that it sells, which is unique for a garden centre locally. From its roots specialising in rare and exotic plants, Trevena Cross has broadened its horizons to become a garden centre for everyone – stocking a huge range of shrubs, perennials, hedging plants, specimen trees, seasonal bedding, patio plants, and a huge range of purposeful plants, such as its big coastal range, shade loving collection and grow your own assortment.

Graham comments:

“Over the years we’ve come to realise that the needs of every customer is different, and while challenging, it is our responsibility to try and cater for each and every one, whether they be an experienced plant expert or someone who has never put a plant in the ground before”.

“Customer trends have changed over time. While real plant fanatics were responsible for the bulk of our business at one time, these days it is mainly about making life easy for people who want to enjoy beauty and colour in their garden, but don’t have the knowledge required or time to spend growing from scratch. Providing simple solutions, with clear guidance along the way is enabling so many of our customers to enjoy their gardens with increasing confidence, and that’s what it’s all about”.

While plants have always remained at the heart of the centre, it has made a name for itself in other areas too, developing one of the biggest gift departments in West Cornwall in its shop, and just last year doubling the size of its popular on site Garden Kitchen Café.

These areas of the business continue to grow at a rapid rate, and Trevena Cross continues to adapt to growing visitor numbers – increasing growing space in the nursery with new heated tunnels, installing new biomass boilers in the nursery and on the garden centre, extending the overflow carpark, and generally facilitating future growth as well as a destination for events, such as its big Christmas weekends when Trevena Cross draws crowds from far and wide.

Of the people that have helped get the business to where it is today, Graham comments:

“Our customers are our biggest asset. We have so many loyal customers who have remained with us over the years, and we want to thank them so much for all their support. Forty years on, it is also still a great pleasure to welcome new faces through the doors on a daily basis and show them what we’re all about”.

“It is family run, independent businesses like ours that need local support in a business world where multi-national chains and conglomerates increasingly try to dominate”.

Trevena Cross Nurseries has remained in the same family since its launch in 1976 when Graham and his late father took control of little more than a market stall each – one in Helston town, and one at the current Old Cattle Market site. They could have only imagined the business it would become in 2016, and who knows where it might be in another 40 years!

Trevena Cross will be marking its 40th anniversary in various ways and with a number of offers as the year progresses, so look out for updates on our Facebook page.