Meet The Growers
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The Birds
Pelistry Farm
Mervyn’s father took over the tenancy of Pelistry Farm in 1962. Mervyn was born and raised on the Islands and started working on the farm after going to Agricultural College in Devon.
The farm produces Narsissi flowers which they manage along side a beef suckler herd and some diversification into tourism. Mervyn now manages the farm with his wife Stephanie and middle son Dan. They have 2 other children who are always keen to help out when they're home!
Mervyn says his top tip is ‘when ordering flowers ask for ones from Pelistry Farm!!’ (We won’t tell the other farmers you said that Merv!!) -
Mike Brown
Sunnyside Farm
The Brown family moved from Tresco to Sunnyside Farm in 1920 and have been growing narcissus flowers for 100 years now. Over the years dairy and beef cattle have been reared as well as pigs, chickens & turkeys. Mike took over the farm in 1988 and over the years the acreage has increased from 15 to 36 acres. He decided to concentrate on bulbs and has broadened the varieties and increased the crops grown.
Mike supplies wholesale flowers primarily to Mainland Marketing as well as to one or two postal flower businesses throughout the winter months. In the summer, bulbs are exported to the UK and Europe, there are three holiday lets and a small bulb shop on the farm to tend to also.
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The Hales
Tremelethen Farm
Keith and his son Rob are the tenants of Tremelethen Farm. Keith's father John and his Scillonian wife moved to Tremelethen in 1951 where he was herdsman and later manager, taking over the tenancy in 1965. Keith took over the reins in 1973 specialising in scented narcissi and Rob joined him in 1999 after 3 years studying at Seale Hayne Agricultural College. Now, with three grandsons working on the farm, the future looks good.
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The Hicks Family
Maypole Farm
Maypole farm is a flower farm that has been run by the Hicks family for a few generations. The late Tommy Hicks and his wife Antoinette took it over in 1979 from Tommy's later father Billy, and carried it on as a flower farm. Darren and his family moved back to the islands in 2008 and have been working on the farm so that one day he can take it over and be the 3rd generation to carry it on.
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The Mays
Seaways Farm
A significant milestone in Andrew’s parents’ farming careers was achieved in the 1950s when they started farming at Seaways. Both came from agricultural backgrounds themselves, one from Cornwall, one on the islands with each of their parents and grandparents being involved in farming. Andrew and Juliet returned to Seaways Farm in the early 1980s and were joined shortly afterwards by Mark Dolbear, the young son of parents who were at that time farming on St Martin’s. Today, Mark is Seaways Farm’s manager and has a number of local long-standing full time and seasonal colleagues.
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The Rogers Family
Lunnon Farm
Penny, Peter and Matthew (Ned) Rogers farm in partnership at Lunnon, ably assisted by Matthew's wife Claire, and their two sons Jonathan and Michael. The family can trace their ancestry back nearly 400 years in the Porth Hellick area of St. Mary's, and Matthew's great-great grandfather was amongst the first farmers to send Narcissi flowers from the Islands. The farm is well supported by a small team of island based full time, part-time and seasonal employees, and as well as flower and bulb production, the farming business encompasses a number of diversified activities, including a horse riding centre and self-catering accommodation.
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Sarah Paulger
Borough Farm
Sarah is the 3rd generation of her family to take on the farm tenancy for Borough farm and one of the very few Scillonian lady farmers to do so. On Borough they mainly grow scented narcissus but also like to grow a few double daffodils -Golden Ducat, Tahiti and a few old fashioned varieties like Actaea. Sarah's brother Sullivan now helps her on the farm and her husband Luke kindly transports her flowers up to the Scented Narcissi stores for her. She is hoping her young son Edward may one day take over the farm.
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The Hosken Family
Trenoweth Farm
Francis and Christine started Trenoweth flower farm some 30 years ago and have built it up from almost nothing to what it is today, along side their daughter Jenny and more lately granddaughter Daisy. It’s now a very successful flower farm growing flowers all year round including summer flowers, supplying florists, hotels, guest houses and postal flowers. The Hosken family supply Scented Narcissi with their beautiful winter narcissi flowers.
