Woottens of Wenhaston, renowned for its irises, pelargoniums, primula auriculas, and hemerocallis, has become a sanctuary for plant enthusiasts.
Established in 1991 by plantsman Michael Loftus, the nursery has been managed by Gillian and Jenny Stafford, supported by a dedicated team of passionate plant growers committed to sustainable and organic cultivation.
In a pressing plea for assistance, the Staffords revealed that the nursery is facing a water crisis, threatening its existence. Like many other regions across the United Kingdom, Suffolk is grappling with severe drought conditions. Notably, the spring rainfall totals for 2025 have been exceptionally low, raising concerns about water scarcity. Rainfall levels in East Anglia are currently reported to range from 31% to 78% of the long-term average.
Regrettably, Woottens of Wenhaston has lost access to its sole water supply, with less than a month’s worth of water remaining. The primary water source, originally provided by a local farmer, was directly fed from a borehole into the nursery’s water storage tank. However, the farm has ceased operations, and the land and borehole have been sold. Consequently, the water collected from poly tunnels at the nursery is insufficient to adequately water the entire nursery.
“Without water, we cannot grow, we cannot care for our plants — and we cannot stay open,” they explained.
In addition to growing pelargoniums, auricula, and iris, the nursery houses valuable plant collections which are now also at risk. Woottens manage the Plant Heritage Heritage National Collection of Pelargoniums and have a large collection of Primula auricula and historic bearded irises (around 300 different bearded irises and many iris species including Iris sibirica, Iris spuria, Iris reticulata and Iris versicolor).
“We have both worked at the nursery since 2005. After the death of its founder Michael Loftus, we took it on in 2016 — as a mission to save the remarkable plant collections and keep Woottens alive. Since then, we’ve poured our hearts into this place, weathering COVID, cancer, a cyber-attack, and all the daily challenges of running an independent nursery. We’ve never asked for help before. But this time, we truly can’t do it alone,” added the Staffords.
Through a crowdfunder campaign, Morris and Stafford aim to secure the necessary funds (£20,000) to establish a borehole. In addition, by raising awareness of the threat to the nursery, the duo also hopes to encourage (new) customers to purchase (more) plants, as “the more you buy, the less we have to water.”
