On 2014-10-15 10:55:22 +0000, Sacha said:

On 2014-10-15 10:01:46 +0000, Chris Hogg said:

On Wed, 15 Oct 2014 10:22:54 +0100, Sacha
wrote:

On 2014-10-14 17:16:10 +0000, Chris Hogg said:

On Tue, 14 Oct 2014 17:43:11 +0100, sacha wrote:

We've heard from three sources that it's closing down.

Would that be the Duchy Nursery just outside Lostwithiel? If so, I
hope you're wrong! I was there only three weeks ago and it seemed to
be going strong. Restaurant was quite busy. They had an excellent
range of plants, all in first class condition, and not expensive IMO;
very good value for money compared to some of the national chain
garden centres. Must be one of the best nurseries in Cornwall. It's
only disadvantage is that it's a bit out of the way.

I gather the Café is always packed but I'm afraid it is indeed that
Nursery. Quite a number of years ago now the Prince fought tooth and
nail to keep it going when the Duchy money-men wanted to close it. It
seems probably that it just hasn't been doing well enough. Last time we
were there we were very disappointed to see that all the more
interesting plants were being sold off and a typical 'garden centre
range' was being brought in. The fact that it's value for money may
well be the problem if it's not getting the turnover!

I remember them in their early days, in the 1980's (we liven in that
area then). There was no car park (you parked in a little lay-by
outside the entrance); there were one or two wooden buildings IIRC,
and the plants were laid out on terraces running up the hillside. It
improved over the years, but they had a fire ten years ago that
destroyed the main building (http://tinyurl.com/mr3f6rm), but with
HRH's support it was all rebuilt and is as you see it now.

As you describe it is just as I first saw it and Ray has known it for a
lot longer. We had a short break at the Nare a year or so ago and
called in on the way home and were astounded at the change! The old
manager there used to pop in here two or three times a year and keep an
eye on the Duchy Nursery, too, in a benevolent sort of way. Now, of
course, I've had a total brain fade and forgotten his name. Charlie
will remember it. I hope he's still with us because he's a favourite of
ours and of course, his horti knowledge is simply stupendous. Maybe the
surname was Baker - Jim??? Sigh...! But I'm glad all those rumours
are false. I don't know how these things get started but maybe their
current sale triggered it. I do know another nursery near Highgrove run
by former Duchy staff was sold a few years ago, so perhaps there's
some kind of link to that in peoples' minds.

Eric Baker! Ray thinks the closing down rumour might have started
because, according to those who spoke to him, there have been several
redundancies and the plant sale may have been the trigger. I suppose
that if it's going more towards gc than nursery, jobs will go,
unfortunately.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon