Blossoming Chichester delivery business saves plants ‘destined for the bin’

A new Chichester business which delivers plants to people’s doorsteps is bringing joy to residents in lockdown – and saving hundreds of plants otherwise destined for the bin.
Matt and Camilla, the pair behind Hope Plants in ChichesterMatt and Camilla, the pair behind Hope Plants in Chichester
Matt and Camilla, the pair behind Hope Plants in Chichester

With gardens centres closed due to the coronavirus outbreak, nurseries across the Chichester district have been left with nowhere to sell their plants.

Read More
How Coronavirus is impacting West Sussex’s horticultural industry

The pandemic also resulted in Matt Skinner, from Bracklesham Bay, who has many years of experience in the industry, losing his job as Head of Sales in the horticulture sector.

One of the flower collections by Hope PlantsOne of the flower collections by Hope Plants
One of the flower collections by Hope Plants
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Matt and his fiancee Camilla, with whom he has three children all under the age of four, were wondering how they were going to pay the bills and keep a roof over their heads when they came up with the idea of using Matt’s contacts to sell plants directly to the customer.

He said: “A lot of my friends and colleagues are in the same place, looking at millions of pounds worth of stock that’s destined for the bin.”

While the Horticultural Trade Association has estimated that the crisis will cost the industry £250million, Matt said: “I think it will be potentially worse than that.

“It’s really a very difficult time for the horticulture industry.”

One of the flower collections by Hope PlantsOne of the flower collections by Hope Plants
One of the flower collections by Hope Plants
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And it is not just a short-term problem, according to Matt.

“If these businesses disappear this year, how will people buy plants for the foreseeable future?” he said.

“It’s going to cause a real knock-on effect for many years.”

The couple set up Hope Plants with the aim of doing a few local deliveries with a van – but thanks to a ‘phenomenal’ response on social media, they have seen orders go ‘through the roof’.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Matt is now coordinating eight delivery vehicles a day to keep up with demand.

“It’s a perfect storm really in that the weather is fantastic and people are stuck at home, looking at their gardens,” he said.

Hope Plants, which is partnered predominantly with one Chichester nursery, offers four colour collections of plants in baskets or containers, as well as a range of grow-your-own vegetables which have been ‘very popular’, particularly with families.

“A lot of people said they’ve got kids at home and are trying to find creative ways to educate them,” Matt said.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Many grateful customers have welcomed having something to keep them focused, he said, adding: “It’s heartwrenching, so many people are housebound and lonely.

“For people’s health and wellbeing, plants make such a difference.”

Search @HopePlantsUK on Facebook to find out more.

A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton:

Thank you for reading this story on our website.

But I also have an urgent plea to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality local news on this free-to-read site and in print, please purchase a copy of our newspaper as well. With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on our town centres and many of our valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you buying a copy.

Our journalists are highly trained by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards anywhere in the world. Our content is universally trusted - as all independent research proves.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

As Baroness Barran said in a House of Lords debate this week on the importance of journalists: “Not only are they a trusted source of facts, but they will have a role to play in rallying communities and getting the message across about how we can keep ourselves and our families safe, and protect our NHS. Undoubtedly, they have a critical role.”

But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis. In return we will continue to forensically cover the local news - not only the impact of the virus but all the positive and uplifting news happening in these dark days.

In addition, please write to your MP urging the Government to provide some additional financial support for local newspapers and their websites like this one and ensuring that supermarkets continue to stock them. I cannot stress enough how important such an intervention would be.

We thank all our readers and advertisers for their understanding and support - and we wish YOU all the best in the coming weeks. Keep safe, and follow the Government advice. Thank you.

Related topics: