History

Meadow Croft was acquired by  W.D. Smith & Son in 1999 from the Snellings who had founded Meadow Croft Nurseries (as it was then called) shortly after the end of the Second World War. They first specialised in growing rose bushes. 

The Meadow Croft you see today is quite different from the original footprint.  Most of the original buildings have made way for the greenhouse, restaurant, car park and plant area.  With 4 generations of horticultural growing experience behind it,  Meadow Croft continues to grow from strength to strength.

A Family Business

The ‘Smiths’ arrived in South Woodham Ferrers as market gardeners before 1900, but soon began to specialise in growing garden plants from seed.

In 1939, William Smith left his father's business to start his own nursery and W.D. Smith & Son was formed. In 2019, W.D. Smith & Son celebrates 80 years in business and is still run by the Smith family,  the family have been growing for 4 generations. Fast forward 80 years and W.D. Smith & Son supply plants to retail nurseries and garden centres all over south-east England. As industry leading bedding plant growers they have been at the forefront of change both technically and culturally, striving constantly to improve the range and quality of their plants. Every year searching out the new, the biggest and the best, to keep the range of plants on sale at Meadow Croft Garden Centre the very best selection available.