Garden centre to close after almost 100 years

Barker's Primrose Nursery, Whalley Road, is shutting following the retirement of proprietors Bill and Barbara Barker and the emigration to Australia of their 34-year-old son, Nic.

Bill's dad, George Barker, acquired the nursery from Clitheroe horticulturalist Sam Bridge 52 years ago and built a thriving business.

Nursery records reveal that garden produce has been traded from the site for at least 100 years, and for many residents the sight of the Barker's barrow laden with produce being pushed up Whalley Road to the town's market is a lasting memory.

Bill, 56, said it was time to call it a day after son Nic headed for Australia with wife Nicola and children Lewis, nine, and five-year-old twins Charlie and Kate.

He said: "There has been a market garden here since before the First World War and prior to that there were allotments, so things have been grown at this site for a very long time.

"My father expanded the business to include a garden centre about 40 years ago, when the Clitheroe bypass opened and passing trade increased.

"I semi-retired two years ago, when my son, Nic, took over the running of the business, but he has decided to emigrate, so it's time to call it a day."

The nursery's seven staff, who are horticultural and floristry experts, have either been snapped up by other garden centres or have chosen redundancy. "We have mixed feelings about leaving. This business has been my life. I have worked here all my life, literally, and remember coming home from school and weeding plants before doing my homework. I went straight from school into the business full-time.

"Some of our customers are quite upset, but if I'm honest the idea of retiring has grown on me and I am looking forward to putting my feet up from tomorrow!" Bill added.

The site has been sold for redevelopment after a buyer for the nursery and garden centre as an on-going concern could not be found.