New Forest garden celebrates successful nursery appeal led by supported gardening team
13 February 2026
Furzey Gardens in the New Forest has successfully reached its fundraising target, raising £6,007 to reinvigorate its plant nursery following an appeal shaped by the people with learning disabilities who work and learn there.
The plant nursery produces thousands of plants each year for the tens of thousands of visitors to this popular charity garden.
After a tricky few years in the nursery, plant stock had reduced and equipment had become worn or unsuitable. This limited opportunities to practise key horticultural skills such as propagation, potting on and plant care.
The appeal aimed to raise funds for plants, seeds and essential gardening equipment to help the nursery increase production for visitors to buy, while strengthening the skills of the people who work there. Thanks to generous donors, the full £6,000 target has now been surpassed.
The fundraiser was developed following conversations with the supported gardening team about their priorities and ambitions, ensuring they shaped it based on their experiences.
The nursery plays a central role at Furzey Gardens, offering people with learning disabilities a structured, supportive environment where they learn through real horticultural work.
Nursery Wishlist and Tools
David working in the Nursery
Abbie Jones, Landscape Gardener at Furzey Gardens, said:
“The Nursery is a quiet place for people to come to, it’s peaceful, and it’s a really, really important drive behind keeping this going. One of my priorities is increasing our plant stock and diversity. This will give the people we support access to more interesting species and varieties, boost morale, and help us properly build momentum and bring this growing phase together.”
Funds raised will now be invested in specific, practical items identified by the nursery team themselves. These include everyday hand tools such as hand trowels, pruning snips, secateurs and clippers, as well as larger tools including spades and forks. The team will also begin increasing and diversifying plant stock so learning can continue without interruption.
These plants allow people to practise different skills at different stages of growth, while also producing healthy, varied plants for visitors to take home.
Furzey Gardens is well known for its beautiful grounds, but Tom, a supported gardener, emphasises that without the people who work and learn in the nursery, much of what gives the gardens their character and purpose would be lost.
Tom said:
“It’s part of the character of Furzey Gardens for people with learning disabilities to be supported here. We benefit from it, to have skills and confidence to be able to garden. Without us, without the instructors, we would just be any other garden!”
Furzey Gardens would like to thank everyone who donated or shared the campaign. The successful appeal ensures the nursery can move forward with renewed stock, improved equipment and continued opportunities for horticultural learning.