A Place to Grow!
By Steve Meays, Head of Habitat
At Mires Beck Nursery, we believe in creating a space where people can grow, connect, and thrive in a beautiful rural setting which is surprisingly rich in biodiversity for a very active site. Our social day care service provides a welcoming and supportive environment for adults with both learning and physical disabilities, giving them the opportunity to develop skills, build friendships and experience the many benefits of working with nature.
The primary focus of our work is to provide horticultural therapy and training in a very real work environment. Every week up to 100 service users take part in a wide range of horticultural tasks across seven teams including Perennials, Herbs, Wildflowers, Trees, Gardens, Kitchens and Anniversary Garden. These tasks are very meaningful and range from plant care and propagation to conservation and groundskeeping. With guidance from our dedicated and experienced staff and volunteers they gain confidence, independence, increase fitness levels and develop a deep sense of purpose. All this is achieved while making friends and enjoying the friendly and caring atmosphere.
For over 30 years the nursery has specialised in the growing of a wide selection of Yorkshire provenance wildflowers for large to small conservation projects throughout Yorkshire and Northern England. These have included quarry restoration projects, improvements to local and national nature reserves, supporting National Parks to create and restore species rich habitats and river-bank improvement schemes with government agencies. All our wildflowers are grown using hand-picked seed, taken from sustainable populations, in peat free compost and using recycled plastic. We grow over 100 species of plants covering a wide range of habitats to suit the specific needs of any complex location.
Ten years ago, the nursery also chose to create a brand-new Tree team with the aim of producing 10,000 high quality, cell grown whip trees yearly for use in conservation projects locally. In 2025 this number increased to 450,000 trees and the nursery supplies projects all across England. We are the leading supplier to the Humber Forest and also supply City of Trees Manchester, White Rose Forest, Forest of Mercia, Trees on Tees, North-East Community Forest and Plymouth and South Devon Community forests as well as many others. This work has generated a strong winter income for the charity at a time when all other plant sales have ceased.
After learning about us, do you think Mires Beck might be able to help you, your project or your organisation? Do you need wildflowers for a conservation project? Do you need high quality cell grown trees for planting projects either now or in the coming years? Do you need expert environmental and conservation advice to assist you to create, enhance or manage nature areas? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Visits to your sites can also be arranged to provide the best tailored advice or you can come visit us (we have cake). Contact Steve via email, ring 01430 421543 or simply come visit the nursery, Monday to Friday.
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