BUSINESS is blooming for Judith Heaphy, known as Minehead’s ‘Plant Lady’, who this week launched her ‘Christmas Extravaganza’ to raise money for three local charities from the flowers and vegetable plants she sells from under awnings by her front door in Quay Street.

Her seasonal displays of pots of bulbs, table decorations, holly, ivy, mistletoe and variety of flowering plants are already being snapped up by visitors and regular customers.

“Since the first lockdown, things have gone crazy,” said Judith, who has been selling plants from her home for four years. “It seems that everyone has suddenly realised the joy of gardening and I can sell everything I can get my hands on.

“This year I have raised over £8,000 for three organisations – the radiography equipment charity SURE, HomeStart and Hope for Tomorrow’s Bumble Bus. They are vital services which need to be supported but my little garden is simply unable to keep up with demand.

“Luckily people are incredibly generous in donating all sorts of plants, vegetables and shrubs, and I’m able to borrow greenhouses from friends. I was even given three walnut tree saplings, which I thought I would never get rid of, but they went in just a few days.

“I have strictly observed personal distancing and all the health rules throughout the pandemic to deal with an increasing number of customers – in the summer it was up to 30 a day, ranging from someone buying a couple of plants after a walk on the beach, to somebody going off with a car-load.

Judith, who has a degree in plant science, added: “I have never advertised. People hear about me from friends and many come back year after year. Plants have a wonderful way of cheering us up and this Christmas especially we need all the help we can get.”

To buy or donate plants, contact Judith at [email protected] or visit her at 3 Quay Lane, Minehead.