The Cottage Herbery, based in the Teme Valley at the border of Worcestershire and Shropshire, is a small family run nursery growing the highest quality herbs as well as aromatic and scented foliage plants.

Kim & Rob Hurst first established the business in 1976. From the very beginning, every plant has been grown naturally & peat-free. This ethos stems from the belief that if you are producing a plant for natural flavouring, healing and fragrance then that plant should be produced naturally. In addition to the herbs, aromatic and scented foliage plants there has been a gradual increase in the selection of interesting hardy perennials and the more unusual edibles.

The Cottage Herbery is an award-winning nursery having won numerous awards over its 45+ years of growing including Chelsea Gold Medals, on more than one occasion. Their first Chelsea Flower Show was way back in 1992 making them the first organic & peat free nursery to exhibit there.

Kim & Rob can be found at a number of the Rare Plant & Plant Hunter Fairs throughout the season & locally at other venues such as Hergest Croft, Hellens Garden Festival & Local to Ludlow Food Producers fortnightly gatherings from April onwards.

Rob Hurst

After graduating from agricultural college Rob grew arable crops, specialising in hops. As time went on and Cottage Herbery grew he become more than a pair of extra hands. In 1989 Rob developed the peat free compost that The Cottage Herbery still uses to this day, which is Soil Association approved and carries its own symbol as the only coir based compost to be organic. Its trade name is ‘Fertile Fibre’, and has been under new ownership since 2004, it can be found via its website www.fertilefibre.co.uk. Rob can still be found either potting up on the nursery or selling at the stand at the various shows and fairs The Cottage Herbery attend each year.

Kim Hurst

Kim established The Cottage Herbery at the couple’s cottage near Far Forest in Worcestershire in 1976. Over the years Kim has lead the business from its humble beginnings to the Chelsea Gold award winning nursery it is today. Kim was awarded in 2024 the prestigious Associate of Honour Medal from the RHS in recognition of distinguished service to Horticulture. She feels this is an award for Rob to as he has played a huge part in the success of The Cottage Herbery over the years.

Having served as an RHS judge for several years she now commits most of her time to the nursery as well as to writing. Her latest book ‘Hidden Histories: Herbs: The Secret Properties of 150 Plants’ has been a big success and is still available to buy online, including from the website through the online shop.