In The Beginning…

Hidden away in the tiny hamlet of Melkinthorpe in the Eden Valley is one of the country’s great horticultural gems. Established by the Cumbrian landscape designer Peter Stott, the owner in 1984, the business has grown from originally providing plants for his landscaping business into a true garden of Eden with a thriving nursery.

Romanesque walls, draped with greenery, act as a backdrop for the plant displays bursting with mature stock plants that have been cultivated on the local land.

There’s an intimacy and tranquillity to these gardens, which have been cleverly planted and arranged in a series of outdoor rooms. Over the years, Peter has worked tirelessly to create romantic settings with pathways that lead the visitor on a journey through abundant herbaceous borders dotted with giant urns and statuary. Some structures are lined with Italianate pillars and rambling walls that look as though they have been there for centuries.

Art lovers…

Combining his love of art, beauty and good architecture Peter and his wife, Jo, have worked with his team of experienced craftsmen to create Larch Cottage Nurseries, which also houses the Red Barn Gallery on two floors. Upstairs, the gallery has a reputation for showcasing the work by some of the country’s most highly regarded artists, sculptors and craftspeople. From decorative teapots to figurative pieces, the diverse range of ceramics include works by Christine Cummings, Peter Hayes, Tim Andrews, Morag Muir, Mathieu Van Der Giessen and Lisa Hammond.

Exhibitions change bi-monthly with a host of fine artists and ceramicists on show. The display cabinets are filled with bespoke jewellery by popular contemporary makers including David Weinberger, Jane Marshall, Rachel Brown and Annabel Humber.

The Lower Red Barn is rapidly becoming the place in the local area for those wishing to purchase inspirational, original gifts, homewares, throws, mirrors, a multitude of candles and scents by Millefiori. There are leather bags and purses, affordable jewellery, hats and scarves.

The bells did ring at Larch Cottage Nurseries…

On the 26 July 2014, Peter and Jo were married in the chapel located within landscaped gardens at the bottom of the nursery here at Larch Cottage. A real labour of love, Peter designed and built every aspect of the chapel from foundations to bell tower. The interior of the chapel has been frescoed by Artist James Walsh – A work of art in its’ own right!

In July 2015, Peter received an honorary fellowship from the University of Cumbria in recognition of his lifelong and outstanding contribution to horticulture and landscape design within the Cumbrian economy.

Peter and Jo are bringing up their four young children in an idyllic setting where, over the last few years, they have completely transformed a field into their own magical private garden, complete with its own pond and a chapel, where the couple were married. Designed and built by Peter, the gardens consist of meandering paths, bordered by lush flower beds, a wildflower meadow, an orchard and lawns with a stream leading down into a small lake with the chapel at its head.

In 2017 they became a partner garden with the RHS and the private gardens are open to the public on specific days with an admission charge going to charities including the British Red Cross and Hospice at Home.

Horticulturists paradise…

Today, horticulturalists travel from all over the world to explore this secret garden and to discover the vast selection  of plants, the majority of which are propagated on-site. Peter and his team specialise in rare and unusual shrubs, perennials, and climbers, Japanese acers, old fashioned roses, and slow growing and dwarf conifers. For many of these varieties they are the country’s only suppliers as listed in the RHS Bible, The Plantfinder.

Larch Cottage has supplied plants to Kew Gardens, Botanic Gardens Durham, RHS Wisley, plus many National Plant Collections as well as Sheffield Botanical Gardens, Worcester College, Myerscough College, Gardening Which, the University of Warwick and Alnwick Gardens.

 

 

 

Growing and propagation…

We take pride in cultivating and propagating many of the plants for sale right here at our nursery. In recent years, we’ve expanded our fields to accommodate our growing stock, incorporating new polytunnels to create optimal conditions for nurturing our young plants.

At larch Cottage, we are committed to minimizing our carbon footprint by implementing various environmentally friendly measures. These include adopting a self-sustaining irrigation system, transitioning to green and sustainable pots, decreasing our reliance peat, working towards becoming completely peat free, and employing natural pest control methods such as utilizing our flock of Bantams!

Additionally, we maintain a flourishing, entirely organic kitchen garden, that provides the restaurant with fresh fruit and vegetables.

Our dedicated team of field and gardening staff work tirelessly across all seasons and are instrumental in maintaining the nursery’s pristine appearance and ensuring it remains abundantly stocked with healthy, beautiful plants. 

 

Mail Order

Throughout most of the year, our mail order service operates, delivering plants, statues and furniture across the UK

We recycle materials within the organisation and use them in our packaging process to ensure that your orders arrive in excellent condition.

 

Relax and Enjoy…

Visitors can peruse the nurseries at a leisurely pace and choose gifts before taking refreshments in La Casa Verde Restaurant. With a terrace overlooking the gardens and the Pennines beyond, the restaurant is popular with both locals and visitors.

A light Mediterranean style menu is served using only the freshest of ingredients with organic seasonal vegetables, fruit and salad leaves coming straight from the organic kitchen garden. All other produce is sourced locally where possible, with everything made on site from first principles.

So come and spend an afternoon with friends. Relax and enjoy a delicious lunch accompanied by a glass of chilled wine or even afternoon tea – what could be nicer?