Dean Chalton and his dad Glenn launched Hooton’s Walled Nursery in Rotherham in march 2024, and it’s quickly become a favourite for gardeners looking for something special.
They launched the nursery on a beautiful four-acre site on Doncaster Road, part of the historic Wentworth Estate. Once the kitchen gardens for the Earl of Stafford Manor House, the site is now home to hardy perennials, ornamental grasses, and textured foliage which are all grown from seed, without the use of harmful chemicals.
Dean’s passion for plants and his wealth of valuable experience stems in part from the years he spent working in some of the country’s best-known gardens, at Great Dixter and Beth Chatto Gardens. This experience shines through in every corner of the nursery. Visitors to the nursery love the traditional country feel and the unique varieties on offer, a refreshing alternative to big chain garden centres.
Dean said “We’re restoring this nursery to its former glory and creating a traditional feel, where people get a friendly welcome and all the help and advice they need. “
Recently, Dean featured at the RHS Wentworth Flower Show and was interviewed on BBC Gardener’s World which aired on 17 July 2025. Dean is putting Rotherham on the horticultural map through his fantastic business.
From Seed to Success: How Launchpad supported Dean's journey behind the scenes
The Launchpad team as part of RiDO are proud to have supported Dean’s journey through our start-up business support programme, providing him 1:1 business advice, workshops, and funding support.
Speaking on the expert support received from Launchpad, Dean stated: “Julia and the team at Launchpad have been a great support. Their workshops which they run by day and in evenings, allowed me to be able to attend around our opening hours. The sessions on marketing, branding and photography have been invaluable to us”
To find out more about Dean and Hooton’s Walled Nursery, click here
For more information on the full range of support supplied by the Launchpad programme, visit here
The full episode of Gardener’s World which features Dean, can be viewed on the BBC iPlayer or YouTube.
