Customers walk from the carpark towards the welcome desk then take a few steps further and are confronted with thousands of plants in hundreds of varieties. Each time there is an open day, there are different batches of plants which are at their peak and so different plants prove to be best sellers on the day. Everything is heavily discounted so that visitors are paying virtually trade prices. In the past, some people have chosen plants to completely restock their gardens in one or two visits; others have bought large numbers of plants for a hedge. A few just buy the one plant that they’ve been particularly looking for.

The production staff on the nursery have over 100 years between them of working at Barters and so have built up a great fund of knowledge. They’re more than happy to pass this on, but there are always queries that leave us stumped. It’s also good for them to hear compliments about the plants. We sell mostly to garden centres, landscapers and designers and so my colleagues rarely get to hear feedback from the final customer about our plant range and quality.

The nursery is currently stocked with over 50,000 plants. These range from small herbaceous perennials to large specimen plants and also include climbers, hardy ferns, ornamental grasses and shrubs.

The refreshments are always a very popular part of the Open Days. There’s always a wonderful selection of cakes – especially popular with the staff. This time, the first set of open days tie in with the annual Macmillan Cancer Coffee morning. The second set will be in support of the Wessex Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre in Warminster. Over the years, thousands of pounds have been raised for good causes.

So come clothed for the British weather and a good walk, as the nursery covers several acres; be prepared to get your feet muddy and for your children to love splashing in any puddles they can find.