Passion for plants cultivates couple's new Sudbury business Nell and Green Botanics

A husband-and-wife team have fulfilled a lifelong ambition by establishing their own business, specialising in a range of unusual indoor plants.

Ellie and Lee Bishop opened Nell and Green Botanics in East Street, Sudbury, in March – only to see the coronavirus outbreak put a stop to their new venture before it had really begun.

“This has been our dream for a long time,” said Ellie, who used to manage a veterinary hospital in London.

“It was a labour of love to get the business up and running, but we both have a passion for plants and we knew it was something that would be well-received.

“Growing up, my mum was a bit of a plant enthusiast. I can remember her growing spider plants and having cuttings on the window sill, so a part of that obviously brushed off on me.”

Having dreamed of opening her own plant shop, the 40-year-old was forced to quickly adapt the make-up of the business to navigate the UK-wide lockdown, establishing a website and delivery service.

Expressing her gratitude to the loyalty of their customers, she said: “I feel we owe the community of Sudbury a lot because they have really supported us. At times, it has been really overwhelming.”

Among the extensive range of indoor plants on offer in the shop are a variety of rare species.

“We have enjoyed searching for unusual plants – it’s been exciting,” she added.

Before moving to Clare in 2019, the couple lived on a house boat on the River Stour in Essex for seven years.

“It was hard work, but it was amazing,” said Ellie. “It was brilliant to be part of a community, which was a real melting pot of people.”

Husband Lee is also opening a café called Bishop’s Coffee at the former post office site in East Street.