Who We Are

Johnsons Nurseries Ltd is a three-generation family business located in North Yorkshire, equidistant between York and Harrogate, with over 100 years experience in growing and supplying trees, shrubs and plants to UK-wide planting schemes.

11 members of the family have an active role within the business, from senior leadership positions and administration to more hands-on roles on the shop floor. Our team is made up of 130 full-time staff, which increases by 50% during peak seasons.

From those in the office, on the shop floor, or on the ground tending to the plants and trees, we strive to nurture and develop all our staff. Each staff member plays an important role in the growth of the business.

What We Do

Spread across five production sites covering 200 acres across North Yorkshire, we are one of the longest-established and largest commercial nursery businesses in the UK, growing and supplying millions of plants, shrubs and trees to the UK trade for 100 years.

We supply in excess of five - six million plants and trees annually, which enables us to operate across three channels to market. The business operates from our headquarters in Whixley, where all operational, administration and management functions converge.

Sectors

Wholesale Commercial

From contract growing to continuous commercial supply, our vast range of plant stock allows us to cater for large-scale public and private sector landscape schemes ...

Garden Centre Sales

We are one of the UK’s primary suppliers of plants, shrubs and trees to independent garden centres across the country and also supply to other retail chains and outlets.

Wholesale Xpress

Our on-site professional trade outlet supplying landscape gardeners, garden designers, tree surgeons, estates, caravan parks and Universities, with a large variety of stock all year round.

Services

General Production

General Production

We grow and nurture a wide variety of our own stock across 150 acres of land on the exposed Vale of York of maximum hardiness. From hedging seedlings to extra heavy mature trees shrubs our supply is in excess of 6.5m trees and shrubs annually via a combination of home production and dedicated specialist supply partners.

General Production

Contract Growing

We grow products within an agreed timescale for a wide range of horticultural projects, providing quality assured stock in bespoke sizes and forms at cost-effective prices - even outside the traditional growing season. We can accommodate bespoke customer requirements and budgets and offer advance payment options for greater discounts.

General Production

Commercial Projects

We have years of experience in providing plants and trees and shrubs for a variety of commercial projects, from retail parks to heritage sites and are a trusted solutions provider, working with contractors for public and private sector schemes across the UK.

General Production

Nationwide Delivery Network

We have our own fleet of lorries and vans, covering the length and breadth of the UK, giving us the flexibility to deliver quickly and efficiently, but with the necessary control over schedules to ensure quick turnarounds.

General Production

Established Supply Chain

While we grow the majority of our stock on site, we also have a trusted supplier network in the UK and Europe, which we can tap into for ornamental, indigenous and nonindigenous stock at all stages of the season.

General Production

Customer Service Team

Each of our divisions has a dedicated team of account managers, to guide you throughout the buying process. They will provide estimates within 24 hours, understand your specific planting requirements and ensure you receive the correct pricing, plant material and delivery options every time.

Environment

Johnsons is one of the few businesses that can claim to be a true net contributor to the environment and we invest a significant amount each year to ensure our continued contribution to the world around us.

From reducing our use of plastics in the business to low-emission vehicles, we actively manage and audit the environmental system through a number of dedicated internal managers.

Johnsons Nurseries Ltd has been committed to reducing the use of 100% peat substrate mixes in our production for over a decade; for most production, a substrate containing 40% peat alternatives is currently used.

For certain crops such as Lavandula, a peat-free mix is already in use, and in early 2021 peat free trials were initiated across a broader range of crops as the next step towards further reducing our reliance on peat-based substrates.

On 17th May the HTA released ‘Peat and responsibly sourced growing media in horticulture: an industry position on a planned and manageable transition’ https://hta.org.uk/asset/D44C6871-7935-41BB-9A09F09369745360/ , Johnsons will support the HTA in its work with government in order to secure a practicable path to commercially viable peat free growing.

Read our full environmental contributions, commitments and credentials.

Careers

Our Bespoke Ordering

Johnsons Nurseries Ltd is a three-generation family business that has been supplying the nation with millions of quality plants for 100 years.

We employ a workforce of 120, rising to 150 seasonally across our three sectors, Commercial, Retail and our onsite cash & carry, operating from five sites located between Harrogate and York, just off junction 47 of the A1 with train links every half an hour.

We are proud of our low staff turnover and ability to identify, recruit and develop staff members who go on to give 20, 30 or even more than 40 years’ service, and endeavour to recognise and reward long service.

 

Careers at Johnsons include:

 

 

Interested in finding out more about careers at Johnsons? Click here to go to our careers page

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