A garden centre in west coast Cumbria celebrated its 20th year in business on Friday, June 16.

Whitehaven garden centre is a small, independent business owned by Stuart Murfitt, 62 and Nicky Perkins, 46.

The duo originally bought the centre in 2003 when it was a concrete slab business but Perkins’ passion for plants soon saw it transformed into an outlet focused on flora.

Money raised from patio slab sales initially paved the way for it to become the garden centre it is today, but it is perhaps the specialist knowledge that the duo possesses that sees it continue to flower in its 20th year.

Murfitt said: “There are no scented candles, no coffee shops, nothing like that. The knowledge that we have got between me, Nicky and the staff is what makes us unique.”

Like many other local businesses, Whitehaven garden centre was forced to adapt to the challenges that coronavirus presented.

Suddenly, with people no longer able to visit the garden centre in person during the peak of the pandemic, the business was sending members of staff out on regular trips, making deliveries from Gosforth to Cockermouth to Maryport.

However, with customers now free to return to the garden centre and deliveries continuing, the business looks to be in a strong place for the future, even if Murfitt isn’t sure if he will still be plying his trade in Whitehaven in another 20 years time.

He said: “Nicky is certainly looking to keep the business going from strength to strength. She is always looking for new plants and suppliers in the north west.

“That’s the big thing about us. We trust the plants that will prosper in the area, rather than a plant you might have seen on Gardeners World that won’t grow here.”

Friday saw staff celebrate with champagne and cake, and locals can be safe in the knowledge that this won’t be Whitehaven garden centre’s last anniversary.