Taylors Bulbs, the worlds finest bulbs

 

It was in 1919 that the Government set up a number of smallholdings for ex-servicemen of the First World War. One of these Crown Colonies was at Holbeach in Lincolnshire . Otto Augustus Taylor, as a result of being gassed in the war, was unable to return to his occupation as a retail pharmacist in London .  He applied for one of these pioneering new holdings and was successful. With his wife and two sons, Stanley and Percy, he moved to the new settlement with a house and ten acres of land.

 

He soon realised that working the holding, as a small-scale version of the local neighbouring farm was unlikely to provide a living for his family. He decided to grow flowers and bulbs and became one of the pioneers of bulb growing in this country. Although Otto died in 1946 his two sons, Stanley and Percy had joined him in the business and it had already grown considerably from its early beginnings.

 

By 1968 the family owned some 300 acres of prime Lincolnshire silt and the nursery facilities were expanded. John, Roger and Brian had joined their father Percy, and uncle Stanley, and in 1970 O.A. Taylor & Sons Bulbs Ltd was formed to supply bulbs to nurseries and garden centres. With the retirement of their father and death of their uncle in 1982 the management of the business passed to the three brothers.

 

 

In 1985 the company was awarded The Royal Warrant as Bulb Growers to Her Majesty The Queen. Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother’s Warrant followed this in 1991.

 

The firm also incorporates the Gold Medal winning Walkers Bulbs as a specialist division.

Taylors were recognised as an Investor in People Company in 2002 and won a National Training Award in 2004.


 

 

Taylors in the year 2008

Our specialist daffodil division Walkers Bulbs was successful in winning a hat trick of gold’s this spring at RHS shows nationwide including a Premier Award at Harrogate and their 14th consecutive Gold Medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.co_field.gif (14975 bytes) Taylors now farm 317 acres of daffodils; and 1860 acres of other crops include vegetables, cereals, potatoes and sugar beet. Taylors are one of the largest bulb companies in the country, with their own Dutch purchasing company and sourcing all types of bulbs from around the world, all to be packed at our site in Holbeach.

Taylors force 150 tonnes of daffodil bulbs each year for flower production under glass from early November to February, after which, over 20 million outdoor blooms are harvested, much of which are exported.

We will have in excess 3,000 tonnes of daffodil bulbs pass through the yard, and at peak times more than 20 vehicles from 24-tonne trailers to 35-cwt vans will be distributing bulbs throughout the U.K. Speedy order processing and delivery make it possible for Taylors to deliver bulbs somewhere in the UK every three minutes of the working day.

Still a thriving family business employing over 250 staff at peak times, training is playing an increasing role in ensuring high standards. In addition, training courses for garden centre staff are held annually ahead of the autumn bulb selling season - part of Taylors policy of working closely with their customers to promote and market bulbs.

Taylors are committed to Investors in People and are tested against the new I.I.P. Standard.

25h April 2008