Bosses of a family-run plant nursery which has served garden lovers for more than 30 years have announced they are retiring.

Handcocks Farm Nursery sold more than 100 varieties of plants from its site in Bethersden Road, Shadoxhurst since it opened in 1993.

Founded by husband-and-wife team Bill and Daphne Hollands, the pair's enthusiasm for horticulture first led to them selling the likes of tomato and peony shrubs from their Tudor farmhouse driveway.

The couple, who married back in 1956 and went on to have three children, then decided to take up their dream of running a large-scale plant nursery by purchasing land directly next to their home.

However, when Mersham-born Mr Hollands suffered a stroke and died aged 88 two years ago, the business was left to Daphne, 89, and two of her children, Pam Cairns and David Hollands, to run.

Yet Ms Cairns says her father's death has taken a toll on the family and the business.

The family will officially depart today (August 23) and although it is being taken over by new owners, a reopening date is yet to be confirmed.

The 66-year-old explained: "Mum recently had a fall and so myself, my brother David and a contractor called Dave have soldiered on with the nursery.

"She didn't really know what to do when my father died so the nursery was sort of open here and there in the months afterwards.

"She made the decision last spring to open for one more season in honour of him, but isn't up to it unfortunately anymore and so it just feels like it's time now."

Ms Cairns, whose hobbies include genealogy and teaching modern jive dancing, insists her mother is proud of the nursery’s journey.

"Handcocks was about good quality and good value plants with pretty much everything £5," she added.

"We have stocked more than 100 varieties like thalictrums and diervillas.

"We specialised in trying to provide a variety of plants which people couldn't always buy at a garden centre.

"But doing a lot of annual plants for example is very resource-hungry and requires a lot of potting and labour, so we made a decision to stop selling many of those.

"The nursery had some loyal customers though, including from north Kent, but also some famous actors like Anna Calder-Marshall and David Burke who shopped here."

Mr and Mrs Hollands had run a pig farm before their nursery adventure took shape.

And Ms Cairns, who now lives with her mother having previously worked as an estate agent in the Lake District for 50 years, says the pair’s devotion to work was one of the main reasons Handcocks has successfully traded for more than three decades.

She said: "Dad was a very old-school person and didn't want a coffee shop as he said it was a nursery, not a garden centre.

"He even worked at the nursery until the week before he died.

"Both mum and dad were very traditional in how they have run it and I don't think there's many people left like that who grow plants and nurture themselves.

"They have had a reputation for being blunt, but my mum is actually very shy and has never had any training in customer service.

"I just hope my dad is looking down proud and is approving of what we have done."

Handcocks will continue trading as a nursery under new ownership and Ms Cairns says the family are happy they can leave "on their own terms".

"I have to take my hat off to my mum who is prepared to let change happen and allow the nursery to evolve," she said.

"We have been very emotional of course and probably will be even more so in the next few weeks.

"But we can all relax a little bit now and not worry so much.

"We're excited because the land is ours and so we can rent it out, but also because someone can give the nursery a facelift and massive overhaul.”

Some of Handocks' regular clientele have also voiced their sadness at the family’s decision to walk away.

Joanne Atkins said: "Will miss it a lot. Always a lovely, peaceful shopping experience enjoying the plants and the countryside. A beautiful place."

Meanwhile, Wendy Fisher added: "Got some of my best plants from you over the years. Enjoy your retirement - you will be missed."