About Us

The Highway Garden and Leisure story is all about the High Family - Joe and Janet and their children.

Joe - the heart of it all - began his horticultural career in 1951 when he left school to work for his father Sam, growing and selling fruit, flower and vegetable crops. A six-year partnership with brother Allan followed from 1959.

In 1965 Joe decided to ‘go it alone’ - growing and selling horticultural crops from his own rented smallholding. His first glasshouse was set up in 1970 - which enabled him to start selling bedding plants on site - and in 1981 he bought the first 11 acres of arable land on a new site nearby; gradually moving the existing glasshouses from the smallholding and also building a new home for the family and a barn.

In 1991 Joe was able to turn the site into a nursery and garden centre and he doubled the size of the retail area in 1999. An additional acre of glasshouse followed - to be used to cope with the high level of demand for own-grown plants - the site is now some 19 acres in total!

The Autumn of 2005 saw the biggest new building development so far with the opening of a brand new retail store, improved facilities and new offices and 2007 saw the complete refurbishment of the superbly appointed Restaurant and the development of a separate Coffee Shop.

The new building is now packed full with “goodies” and we are already wondering where Joe’s imagination will take us next!

The High family still enjoy running Highway with Joe and Janet still working hard and with daughter Kim and son-in-law Paul taking more and more responsibility for the smooth running of your favourite garden centre!

And let’s not forget Eve and Amber - the grand-daughters who have grown up with this terrific centre almost in their garden. With these two young ladies the long term future of Highway is assured!