No Water, No Woottens - Help Us Dig a Borehole

Our Story

We are Gill and Jen, two dedicated women running Woottens Plants – a specialist nursery in Suffolk with a passion for rare and historic plants.

We’ve both worked at the nursery since 2005, and in 2016, after the death of its founder, we stepped in to continue his legacy – not to build a business empire, but to save the unique plant collections we had come to love. Since then, we’ve poured everything into keeping Woottens alive. We’ve battled through a pandemic, serious illness, and even a cyber attack along with the day-to-day challenges of running a small independent nursery.

But now, we are facing a crisis!

Why We’re Asking for Help

We’ve lost access to our only water supply, from a borehole belonging to a neighbouring farmer. The farm and land have been sold and the water is no longer available to us.

We now have just half a tank left – enough to last a few weeks at most. Without urgent action, our plants will not survive, and we will be forced to close.

Woottens is home to plants which are increasingly rare in UK horticulture:

This nursery is not just a business – it’s a living archive of rare and beautiful plants.

Please help us to protect it — so that we can continue to grow and share our unique and historic plants with gardeners across the UK.

Our Goal: A Borehole

We need to raise £20,000 to fund the drilling and installation of a borehole — our only viable long-term solution for a secure, sustainable water supply.

Estimated costs:

Borehole drilling and casing: £11,000

Pump, filters, and installation: £6,000

Water testing and setup: £3,000

How You Can Help

Whether you’re a long-time customer or a first-time supporter, there are many ways to get involved:

Donate – every pound makes a real difference

Share – spread our story on social media, in garden clubs, or with friends

Buy – buy a plant, buy us time and ease the pressure on our precious supply

We’ve never asked for help like this before. But time is running out — and we truly believe this nursery, and everything it represents, is worth saving.

Please help keep Woottens growing.

Why This Matters

This campaign is about more than just water. It’s about protecting rare plants, supporting independent horticulture, and keeping a unique nursery alive for future generations.

With your support, we can survive this crisis and emerge stronger, more resilient, and even more committed to growing the plants you love.

Thank You

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for reading and for anything you can do to help – whether it’s donating, sharing, or offering advice. Every act of kindness helps us keep Woottens growing.

Gill & Jen

Woottens Plants