Our story

Growing for almost one hundred years.

Decades of hard work have gone into the soil at Holden Clough.

A family business,
a team effort.

Holden Clough is owned and run by John and Kate Foley, supported by a talented team that brings their vision to life. When John was only twelve years old he collected crocosmias, so it is perhaps not surprising he went on to be crowned BBC Young Gardener of the Year in 2012.

The hundred-year heritage of Holden Clough is central to John and Kate’s philosophy for the nursery, which still sees plants grown the traditional way today.

Growing through the years

1927 — Nursery beginnings

Originally the kitchen garden for Holden Clough House, in 1927 the site was turned into an alpine nursery by Richard Milne-Redhead.
1978 — The Foley family arrives

The nursery was purchased by the Foley family and the range of plants grown was expanded beyond alpines. By exhibiting at specialist flower shows and plant fairs up and down the country, Holden Clough started to make a name for itself.
1987 — John was born

John Foley was born in 1987, and spent his childhood at the nursery, building dens, growing ferns and expanding his plant knowledge every day.
2009 — John and Kate take the reins

John took over the nursery with his girlfriend Kate, and together they made big plans to transform the nursery into a destination for gardeners. Awards for the quality of the plants began to roll in, and John was in great demand for his landscaping skills around the Ribble Valley.
2012 — A big year for the business

A significant year, as John and Kate were awarded their first RHS Gold Medal, and John was named BBC Young Gardener of the Year. The nursery saw big expansion, with the opening of The Garden Kitchen, and our small team of five became 30 across the nursery, café and landscaping business.
2021 — Time to grow

With numerous gold medals under their belts, John and Kate made plans for further expansion. The Glass House, The Potting Shed and The Botanical Room provided much needed indoor space, and the nursery began expanding into the field next door with more growing beds. A new area down by the beck was landscaped, and our Croft Pod was installed.
2023 — RHS Tatton Park Master Grower

We continue to grow, with new buildings and more parking, but the highlight of the year so far has to be our selection as Master Grower at RHS Tatton Park. We also made an appearance on BBC Gardener’s World making it one of the most exciting years yet for Holden Clough. Watch this space to see where we are headed next.