Les's great-grandparents began market gardening in the 1880's. They had nine children, all involved in horticulture. Fred and Emma Halman, Les's grandparents, started this business in 1914 at Wythensawe Manchester,
originally growing a wide range of flower and general market
garden crops, the aim was to have crops to sell every week of the year. These
would include Rhubarb to sell both forced and from the field, Brussels Sprouts,
Cabbage, Lettuce, Spring Onions and Beetroot.
On the
Ornamentals side a wide range of bunched flowers was produced, along with some
perennial flowers marketed 'bare root' Emma Halman sold all the produce on
Manchester's Smithfield Market this having been transported to the City on a
horse drawn cart. Fred and Emma were the first market gardeners in the area to
own a motor lorry, bought in 1924 at a cost of £140. Following the Second
World War Les's father took over the business and moved to the present nursery
at Lower Peover. Having gained the N.D.H. (now Master of Horticulture R.H.S.),
Les with his wife Mavis took over the business in 1972. In the Summer of 1995
son Stuart completed a B.T.E.C. National Diploma in Glasshouse Production and
Management at the Welsh College of Horticulture and came to work full-time on
the nursery.