A group of small nurseries are taking on the big boys to compete in one of the world's greatest garden showcases.

It comes as Plant Fairs Roadshow (PFR) announced the first ever co-operative nurseries stand at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

The PFR is made up of a collective of more than 40 nurseries from across Kent and the south of England, keen to promote British growers, and specialist nursery men and women.

Eight members of the group have been invited to create a stand at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May 2023 to raise their profile even further and share the beauty of buying plants from local growers.

Kent exhibitors include Chelsea veteran Graham Blunt of Plantbase in Wadhurrst, between Kent and East Sussex, Colin Moat of Pineview Plants in Wrotham, Rachael Castle of Swallowfields in Elmstead, and Steve Edney of No Name Nursery near Sandwich.

Colin Moat, who is also chairman of the PFR committee, said: "We are really delighted to have been allocated a place at the Chelsea Flower Show.

"Eight of our nurseries will work together to showcase a diverse range from house plants, to maples, shade-loving and sun-loving to perennials and bulbs too - all in one area."

The 10 sq m stand in the floral marquee will be divided into eight smaller spaces for each individual nursery to design and showcase their speciality, with a central plant information hub manned by the specialists.

Mr Moat added: "RHS Chelsea is a big commitment, especially if you are a small nursery or one-man, one-woman band. Sharing the space, but delivering a unique snapshot of each nursery enables us to help each other both at the show and at home too.

"We can work together on the build, or man the stall at the show while someone else is needed for watering back at the nursery."

Mr Moat explained how Chelsea first-timers like Miles Hayward from Miles Japanese Maples or Rachael Castle from Swallowfields will benefit from the knowledge of veteran Chelsea exhibitors like Annie Godfrey and Graham Blunt.

He said: "I’ve had people build parts of my nursery here in Wrotham. For people like myself who grow 80% of our plants, propagated here on site, working together helps keep costs down."

Steven Edney, from No Name Nursery, explained how smaller nurseries like his can benefit from the exposure that groups such as PFR can give them.

He said: "We can get people's attention thanks to the venue. As a small independent nursery, because we're not open to the public, we go out to plant fairs and that is how we sell to the public.

"They can't come and visit us at the nursery because it's too small. So for a lot of these independent micro nurseries or small scale growers, we can then take our offering to the public without selling online and get great visibility."

The group also hope that it will raise the profile of the Plant Fairs Roadshow itself as they embark on a 13 date ‘tour’ of some of the best castles, gardens and museums in the South East in 2023.