The team at Prenplants Sussex Limited have a vast amount of experience under our belts and we’re dedicated to providing the very best peat-free herbaceous perennials. Get to know us a little better:
Chris Corke
Managing Director
Chris has owned Prenplants since 2014. He had previously run a Garden Centre nearby and has been in the horticultural industry for over 20 years. He oversees everything that happens in the business and can be found putting your orders onto our system. Favourite Treat: A Pint of Parody from Firebird Brewery, Rudgwick.
Ellen Corke
Director
Having given up her corporate job, Ellen now focuses all her time on Prenplants. She will probably be the one answering your calls or emails. Ellen is also a super cake baker, which is appreciated by all the staff and volunteers.
Sally Coldwell
Nursery Supervisor
Sally joined us in 2017 having worked in garden centres for 14 years. She has many different roles in the business, from designing the bespoke labels, getting plants ready for dispatch, to doing our day-to-day accounts. She also is responsible for creating our catalogue each year. Favourite Treat: Belgium Bun
Vanessa Osgood
Despatch Supervisor
Vanessa is our longest serving member of staff having been with the business for 30 years. She is responsible for checking all orders before they leave the nursery. Vanessa also creates our availability list each week. She isn’t known as the ‘Oracle’ for no reason!
Joanne Miller
Propagation
Jo started working for us in 2018. She ensures all the seeds are sown and the cuttings are taken. She is most likely to be found in our propagation tunnel singing to her ‘babies’ to make them grow.
Jane Wort
Nursery Worker
Jane started with Prenplants in 2005 and is a key member of our dispatch team. She will be picking up your orders and getting them ready to come out to you.
Harry Clee
Nursery Worker
Harry started working on a Saturday for us when he was studying horticulture at Brinsbury College in 2016. He is now a full time member of staff and will help out with any jobs on the nursery. You may even see him unloading the lorries with the forklift!
Favourite Treat: Grandma’s Rock Cakes
Helen Osgood
Nursery Worker
Helen has worked at Prenplants on and off since she was 16. She helps us cleaning up plants for dispatch but also with any general nursery chores. She does admit that potting Irises is her favourite thing!
Meg Grobbler
Nursery Worker
Meg joined the team in 2024 to work on dispatch and to do general nursery chores, but has really shown her green fingers in our propagation department.
Favourite Treat: Eton Mess
Katie Allan
Nursery Worker
Katie joined us in 2021 and comes and helps us out on her free days from her ‘proper’ job! She finds the cleaning up of plants therapeutic and just loves being outside.
Favourite Treat: Chocolate
Bev Marshall
Nursery Worker
Bev has worked on and off at Prenplants over the last couple of years. She used to fly all over the world but likes the chance to work outdoors. She helps with cleaning of plants for dispatch and any other nursery chores.
Duncan Lawrence
Nursery Worker/Odd-Job Man and Occasional Driver
Duncan joined Prenplants in 2018, he works on the nursery but also does the odd delivery. When he is not helping with nursery jobs or delivering, he is likely to be found doing repairs or utilising his woodworking skills on the nursery! Favourite Treat: T-Bone Steak
Tony Felgate
Driver and Odd-Job Man
Tony joined Prenplants in 2019 as a driver. He especially likes delivering to place with a good café or farm shop on site! Tony can also be found on the nursery doing everything from plumbing to concreting!
Mike Evans
Driver
Mike joined the Prenplants team in 2024 as one of our drivers. He doesn’t mind an early start, so your deliveries may be there for when you arrive (or before!) Favourite Treat: Jam Doughnut
Mike Smith
Driver
Mike joined the Prenplants team in 2021 as our relief Driver. He loves the long distance deliveries and will always leave here early, so expect him for breakfast time!
Jack Strange
Nursery Worker
Jack started with us in 2019 and is part of our Saturday team. He is a key part of our potting process, getting the plants out to the beds from the potting machine.
Mowgli Corke
Head of Security
Being head of security is often a tiring job, he can be seen around the nursery making sure everything is running smoothly. He does like a trip out to visit customers when he has time.
Favourite Treat: Doggy Kebabs
Velma Corke
Head of Pest Control
When Velma is not sleeping in the office or on the grasses bed, she loves to patrol the site looking for pests that like to eat our plants. She sometimes has a team of helpers with Daphne and Cagney,
Favourite Treat: Anything Meaty!
Cagney Corke
Head of wellbeing and cuddles
Cagney came to us as a wild cat but has made herself an integral part of the team. Her cuddles are legendary and if our staff are ever feeling down she is always on hand to cheer them up. She is also an important part of the pest control team.
Favourite Treat: She doesn’t mind any treats as long as there are lots of them!
Daphne Corke
HEAD OF HELPING
Daphne came to Prenplants in March 2021. They have an enthusiastic approach to life sometimes getting a little too excited! They loves to help out where possible but are often distracted by Nepeta, which they love to chew and play with. They also aids with pest control but is not the seasoned pro like Velma. They can often be seen playing with Mowgli or sleeping in a box.
Our Volunteers
We have a great group of volunteers who come potting on a Saturday or during the week. The nursery literally could not run without them.
During the height of the season, they do all our potting for us allowing the rest of the team to concentrate on getting all the orders out the door. During the winter months they find other jobs round the nursery to keep them busy. They say they only come back each week because of the cakes that Ellen makes. They also have lunches provide monthly and parties in the summer and at Christmas.
If you would like to become a volunteer please contact Ellen.
- Birch Copse, Haven Road, The Haven, Billingshurst, West Sussex, RH14 9BG
- sales@prenplants.co.uk
- 01403 822437
- 01403 823087
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2024 Prenplants Sussex
Limited. Registered in England no. 09180992. VAT no. 201554844.