Poet’s Cottage Nursery was started in the late 70’s by legendary plants woman Hilda Rees, who built the garden and started selling cuttings over the garden gate. 

The nursery developed through the 80’s and 90’s, gaining a reputation for variety and value.  When Hilda reached 83 years young she wanted to step back a little.  Ilona, who worked in the nursery in the early days, has now taken over with her husband Steve.  Hilda still comes out to help serve ‘only not during the snooker tournaments’ – when she must not be disturbed!

The garden was rebuilt at the home of local poet John Castillo, famous for Yorkshire dialect poems and is frequently referred to as ‘Poets Corner’ which is in fact the burial plot of former Poet Laureates in Westminster Abbey.

You’ll be amazed at the lengths we go to in sourcing plants and trees, throughout the country and even overseas.  You can be sure that if a specimen survives in the chilly north-east it will thrive in milder climes.  Our growing-on nursery ensures that we are well stocked for the future. 

Poets Cottage is open 7 days a week, with a wide variety of plants available.