William 'Bill' Wheat

Young 'Bill' Wheat had worked down the pit since he was 10 years old. Born in 1908, the first of six surviving children, he was determined to educate himself and to work in horticulture. Like many miners, he had an allotment and eventually in 1937 he left the Derbyshire town of Church Gresley and started a new life in the small rural community of Streetly. Bill took a job at Hardwick nurseries in Hardwick road working for Charlie Timmings as nursery manager. He rented a cottage in Aldridge road, Streetly and it was here with his new wife, Phyllis, that together they built their first greenhouses and started selling produce from the garden gate to supplement their income.

As time went by Bill and his son Brian expanded their business firstly selling from a stall at Erdington market and then in 1957 they built one of the first 'garden centres' at the nursery in Hardwick road, which they now own. Their reputation for quality and service grew. Floristry became a big part of the business too, as demand from the many prosperous local residents for flowers for all sorts of parties, functions and weddings led them to Wm Wheat and Son. Gradually Bill took a back seat and Brian took over the running of the company with his brother Colin.

Bill and Phyllis Wheat

Hardwick Road premises

However, after Bill's death in 1989 the brothers parted company and in 1994 the business moved premises to its present site at Chester Road, Little Aston, where Brian and his son Philip, together with several helpers, redeveloped the derelict Bourne Farm Garden Centre. Today the company continues to thrive, providing a top-quality floristry service, growing and selling plants on a unique site that incorporates historic Bourne pool and a wetland habitat.

The long awaited Waterside Café opened in 2017 to critical acclaim which along with the popular Fairy Trail attracts guests of all ages.