About Us
At Nepeta England, our mission is to connect people with nature through the changing seasons by offering a curated selection of plants and garden products that embody beauty and sustainability.
We are committed to working closely with British growers, craftsmen, and artisans to promote sustainable gardening practices. By drawing inspiration from nature and the latest trends, we aim to create serene and inspiring outdoor spaces that encourage a harmonious relationship with the natural world and foster a community that values and nurtures the environment.
Nepeta England is a place to inspire people and connect them with nature. Offering our visitors something a little different, a little out of the ordinary. Our commitment to work with nature and the change of seasons, sustainably and creatively accompanies our enthusiasm and expertise in curating beautiful gardens and outdoor spaces.
History
Nepeta England was founded by brothers Tom and Sam Cunningham and although a new business, the nursery has a wonderful history.
The story of Handcocks Farm began in the late 1950s, when Bill Hollands and his mother purchased the property in a completely derelict condition. Over the following years, they lovingly restored the farm, transforming it into a working pig farm on the land opposite what is now the nursery.
During this time, Bill balanced two demanding roles: running the farm alongside his day job as a manager for a forestry company. When the pig farm eventually closed in 1988, the farmland behind the pond was sold, and Bill retired from his position in forestry.
However, retirement was never going to mean slowing down for Bill.
Keen to keep himself busy, he began making deliveries for a local wholesale nursery, who paid him not in money, but in plants. What started as a simple arrangement soon blossomed into something much more.
Bill and his wife, Daphne, began selling the plants from their driveway beside the pond, gradually expanding their collection by sourcing additional stock themselves. Before long, the little roadside nursery had become a familiar destination for local gardeners. Customers would park along the road to browse the plants, often bringing their children and a little bread to feed the ducks and fish in the pond.
It was these simple beginnings that laid the foundations for the nursery we know today.
In 2006, Bill and Daphne purchased the land that would become the nursery’s present site and car park. Over the following three years, they worked tirelessly to prepare the grounds, erect polytunnels and establish the infrastructure needed to bring their vision to life.
Their dedication was extraordinary. For decades, Bill and Daphne opened the nursery every single day, taking just two days of annual holiday, which they spent attending a horticultural trade show in Cheshire. This remarkable commitment continued until Bill fell ill in 2016.
Together, they spent more than 30 years creating a much-loved destination for passionate gardeners and horticultural enthusiasts. With the development of the new site, the nursery became particularly renowned for its herbaceous perennials and bedding plants, alongside a diverse selection of shrubs and other garden favourites.
What began with a handful of plants sold from a driveway grew into a cherished local nursery, built on a shared passion for horticulture, years of dedication and a genuine love of gardening.
For Tom and Sam, the nursery has always held a special place in their lives. Growing up, they would often visit with their parents, never imagining that one day they would become part of its story.
When Tom established Cunningham Gardens, Nepeta’s sister company, in 2017, the connection continued. Bill and Daphne’s nursery became a familiar source of plants for the company’s landscaping and planting projects, strengthening a relationship that had begun many years before.
Nestled within the beautiful Kent countryside, the one-acre nursery has grown into a wonderful collection of polytunnels, glasshouses, outdoor display areas and thoughtfully arranged planting displays, each offering something different for visitors to discover.
Sadly, Bill passed away in 2021 following a period of illness. Daphne continued to care for and run the nursery with the same dedication until 23 August 2024, when she began her well-deserved retirement.
For Tom and Sam, taking over the nursery is both a privilege and a deeply personal opportunity. Having known the nursery since childhood, they are honoured to continue the legacy that Bill and Daphne spent so many years creating.
As the nursery begins its next chapter as Nepeta England, their vision is to build upon those cherished foundations, preserving the character, passion and horticultural heritage that have always made this place so special.
