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Johnsons Nurseries Supplies Plants For Rockliffe‘s Multimillion-Pound Transformation



One of the UK’s largest plant nurseries, Johnsons Nurseries Ltd, has continued its long-standing relationship with the five-star luxury resort, Rockliffe, supplying more than 17,000 plants and trees for its newly landscaped grounds as part of its multimillion-pound transformation.


Set within 375 acres of historic parkland near Darlington, Rockliffe has undergone an extensive transformation, including the restoration of its Grade II-listed Old Hall, enhanced accommodation, new dining experiences, and the creation of a standalone restaurant pavilion named Atlas.


The ambitious project has seen the resort's gardens and outdoor spaces transformed to complement the renovated and new buildings, creating an attractive and welcoming environment for guests.


The landscape and planting scheme was designed by Colour Landscape Architects, while Johnsons Nurseries supplied an extensive selection of shrubs, trees, instant hedging, ornamental grasses, flowering perennials and topiary, creating year-round interest throughout the newly landscaped grounds.


Among the varieties supplied were mature Scots pines, multi-stem Amelanchier lamarckii and Magnolia trees, alongside instant Carpinus betulus hedging and ornamental Taxus baccata topiary. The planting scheme also features an extensive mix of flowering perennials and ornamental grasses, including Anemone 'Honorine Jobert', Geranium 'Rozanne', Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm', Calamagrostis and Deschampsia, providing seasonal colour, texture and movement throughout the gardens.


The landscaping was carried out in-house by Rockliffe’s Estates team, led by Head of Engineering & Estates Phil Mennell.


Despite one of the hottest and driest summers, the team worked tirelessly to establish thousands of plants and trees, extensive hedging and new lawn areas, overcoming challenging conditions and tight deadlines to complete the grounds ahead of the resort's reopening.


Group Managing Director at Johnsons Nurseries, Graham Richardson, said:

"We're incredibly proud to have supplied the plants for Rockliffe’s newly transformed gardens as part of this prestigious development."

"From the restoration of the historic walled garden to this latest transformation, it's rewarding to see how the grounds have evolved. The finished gardens look fantastic, and we're delighted to have played a part in creating outdoor spaces that guests can enjoy for years to come."


Phil Mennell, Head of Engineering & Estates at Rockliffe, added:

"This has been one of the most ambitious landscaping projects we've undertaken at Rockliffe, and I'm incredibly proud of what our Estates team has achieved. Working closely with Johnsons Nurseries has been invaluable, ensuring we had the quality and variety of plants needed to bring the designs to life."

"It's been fantastic to see the gardens transform, and I'm looking forward to watching them establish and mature for our guests to enjoy for many years to come."


Emma Fletcher, Director at Colour Landscape Architects, said:

 “Johnsons have been a great support on the delivery of the new gardens at Rockliffe, assisting us on species choices and availability from early design stages and providing flexibility in deliveries to align with the challenging project programme."

"We are delighted that the completed gardens have been so well received, and a large part of that is the impact that the planting beds and stock have had.”


The completed gardens complement the resort's historic parkland setting, enhancing the guest experience and marking another chapter in Johnsons' long-standing relationship with Rockliffe, which reopened at the beginning of September.


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Loughborough Lightning have bolstered their front row options with the signing of England Under-20s international Catherine Wells.


Wells progressed through Worcester Warriors’ Centre of Excellence Programme while representing Barkers’ Butts after starting her rugby journey for fellow Coventry-based club, Old Coventrians.

The abrasive ball carrier also played county rugby for Warwickshire before signing senior terms with Warriors in March 2022.


Wells found herself without a club entering the 2023/24 season following the demise of Warriors in October but will restart her career at the elite level of English women’s rugby after agreeing to join Loughborough Lightning.


“We’re really happy to have Catherine on board after what sadly happened at Worcester,” said Lightning head coach Nathan Smith. “Catherine is an England Under-20s loosehead who is comfortable playing tighthead too."


“She fits in with our recruitment strategy, we want young hungry players who want to develop and want to kick on to the next level. We have great competition among our props. We feel over the next six months we can develop and evolve Catherine into a quality Premiership prop.”


Wells, who recently turned 20 years of age, has been training with Lightning for three weeks and was delighted to get her career back on track at the elite level.


“I am so excited to be at a new club and the girls have been amazing with me,” said Wells. “I knew a few of them through playing for England Under-20s so that has really helped."


“What happened at Worcester was horrendous, I had been there a long time and progressed through their Centre of Excellence and into the senior squad. But I am happy to be at Loughborough Lightning and now it is all about proving myself as I want to play Premiership rugby.”


Wells is available for Saturday’s Premiership Women’s Rugby Round 5 trip to Heywood Road to face Sale Sharks, kick-off: 3pm.


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