Jacksons Nurseries, located in Bagnall, North Staffordshire, has entered a new era of family ownership. Luke Jackson has left his career in corporate finance with Barclays to lead the garden centre, giving his parents, Roger and Ruth Jackson, the opportunity to retire. Luke’s new role coincides with his and wife Priya’s recent celebration of welcoming their son, Edward, into the family.
Over the past 65 years, Jacksons Nurseries has become a beloved destination for gardeners and food enthusiasts. Nestled in the scenic Staffordshire Moorlands, the centre is known for its vast selection of plants, its cosy tea room offering delicious home-cooked meals, and a farm shop stocked with local produce, homeware, and gifts.
Speaking about the change, Luke Jackson said: “It’s a big change to swap Canary Wharf for the village of Bagnall and exciting to take on the challenge of running the business full time. We’re fortunate to have a fantastic, friendly and hard-working team who are committed to protecting our heritage and family-run ethos while driving the business forward into the future. I enjoyed taking cuttings when I was growing up and helped build Jacksons’ first ecommerce website, so transitioning into the business now is a natural next step.”
Jacksons Nurseries was founded in the 1960s by Peter Jackson, a school teacher whose passion for plants and roses inspired him to start a market garden. Today, the business operates from a 10-acre site, producing over 300,000 plants per year, sold through the garden centre and an online shop offering nationwide delivery.
Committed to enhancing the customer experience, Jacksons now offers personalised consultations with plant experts. Ben Mills, a customer who used the new service, said: “The advice from Jacksons plant expert Peter Lea was second to none. He was very knowledgeable and gave us lots of ideas and inspiration. We are looking forward to putting the planting plan that Peter produced for us into action.”
The nursery is also expanding its plant offerings, with production manager Hayden explaining: “We’re currently in the process of growing 160 new varieties of perennials, ready for the coming gardening season. This includes smaller plants we will offer in 9cm pots at a lower price point, as well as our existing larger two-litre pot size. We’ll be announcing the new varieties in spring, so watch this space.”
Community support remains integral to the nursery’s mission. This year, Jacksons provided 16 root-balled Christmas trees for Pontypool council and contributed to displays at Bagnall’s St Chad’s Church. Local resident Esther Buckle remarked: “Jacksons have historically supported St Chad’s at Christmas time. This year they kindly provided the lovely tree which looked particularly festive in the entrance to the church. We are always very appreciative of Jacksons help.”
Located on Thorney Edge Road in Bagnall, ST9 9LE, Jacksons Nurseries continues to grow while staying true to its family-run ethos. To learn more, visit www.jacksonsnurseries.co.uk.
