SINCE Highfield Garden World opened its doors on the A38 for the first time in 1992, the family owned and run business has seen it all from Chelsea Flower Show gold medals to the launch of a 450 seat restaurant.

Over the years the business has survived a recession, gone from strength to strength and also enjoyed enormous commercial success thanks to garden lovers and green fingered residents across the county.

Now the leading independent garden centre in Gloucestershire, Highfield employs 140 local staff and welcomes around 10,000 customers every week.

It boasts a turnover nearing £10m and sells around 25,000 different products ranging from peonies to pavlovas and cushions to cat baskets.

When the business launched in a quarter of a century ago, it celebrated with a champagne breakfast and 15 staff to its name.

Now Highfield employs 140 local people, and celebrated 25 years with a special birthday breakfast for staff complete with birthday cake.

Stroud News and Journal:

Stroud News and Journal:

Photos by Stuart Bliss