About us
This business has been in the Thompson family for three generations. My Grandfather, Roderick E.Thompson, bought the site in 1948 and worked it with my father, Colin, growing commercial glasshouse crops in an acre of glass (salad & flowers) and supplied them to London & the Home Counties. We grew in natural soil, adding organic fertilisers and manure. During this period we learned a great deal about plant nutrition and soil conditioning, and how and where to source the purest and most fertile growing materials. We still adhere to those high standards today when buying soil. We only purchase green field loams.
My Father and Mother took over the business from my Grandfather in 1975. I began to work for them after school and in the holidays, and joined the firm full time in 1977. During the 1980’s most of the businesses in Crews Hill changed from nurseries to garden centres and in this time of transition our role here at Thompsons also changed.
In 1982 we commenced selling soil and soil conditioners. We progressed to stock most types of soil, fertilisers, mulches, composts, and anything, in fact, connected with soil. We began a delivery service and started to stock turf. In 1990 we ceased commercial growing and changed the whole site to the garden supply business embracing rockery stone, cobbles, pebbles, chippings, aggregates, sleepers, etc.
I took over the business in June 2009, following the sad death of my father, Colin, and my mother, Mavis, the previous year. With my wife, Jan, and our children, Bill and Claire (fourth generation) and a loyal team of staff we have continued with the Thompsons tradition of “unrivalled for quality and service” and have updated much of the plant and machinery as well as running a modern fleet of vehicles which comply with FORS gold standard.
In 2013 we added a Paving Centre to our existing site which sources only the finest quality porcelain, natural and man made paving ensuring a wide variety of choices to suit every budget.
Many of the products that we sell are bagged on site and we have invested in a modern robotic bagging plant for 2022 .
We will endeavour to continue to provide you with an unrivalled service and thank you for your custom.
Rod Thompson