Ransoms Garden Centre is celebrating six decades of “helping Jersey grow” this year.
In celebration of its 60th anniversary, the independent family-run business has been running gardening celebration days and children’s art competitions.
Ransoms staff are looking forward to more special celebrations and giveaways throughout the year as they approach their pinnacle Christmas season.
The firm was recently awarded third place for Garden Centre of the Year in the South East region of the UK and the Channel Islands by the Garden Centre Association.
Ransoms Tearoom and Restaurant was also awarded first place for Best Garden Centre Restaurant.
The garden centre originally opened in May 1966 by David and Janet Ransoms, on the site which is now the Tearooms.
The business moved to its current location in 1991, with the café set up the following year.
The seed for the business was planted during David Ransoms’ time working in a nursery in California, where he learned the pioneering technique of growing plants in containers.
This technique moved away from the seasonal windows of British nurseries as it allowed plants to be sold all year round.
David and Janet returned to Jersey with their first daughter Katherine. They noticed a lack of horticultural expertise on the Island, and decided to open Jersey’s first garden centre at the historic 15th-century farmstead at Faldouet in St Martin.
Founder David and daughter Rebecca Ransom are both graduates of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Gardens.
Sisters Katherine and Rebecca Ransoms run the garden centre today.
Rebecca said: “Our parents built Ransoms on a passion for plants, hard work, and a love for the Jersey community.
“To carry forward the legacy they started is an honour, and we’re proud to keep that expertise alive at the heart of everything we do today.”
Katherine added: “While our roots are in gardening, Ransoms has always been about offering a place where Jersey families can come to find ways to make their homes flourish.
“Over the six decades, we’ve watched generations of Jersey families grow with us.”
The family business that once started out as a garden centre and nursery has transformed over six decades into a multifaceted business, offering extensive shopping from home, garden, pets, outdoor furniture departments, alongside Ransoms Tearoom & Restaurant.
A year ago, Ransoms introduced a new loyalty programme, Ransoms Rewards, which provides customer points and special offers.
Katherine explained: “We want to truly reward our customers; as after all, they have been integral to helping us grow.
“As we look ahead, our commitment remains the same: offering exceptional quality and customer service, independent spirit, and a warm welcome to everyone who walks through our doors.”
