RARE flowers, herbs and chillies are growing at a new plant nursery in Churchill.

Keith Wheeler, of Sandford, has relocated to North Somerset from Cornwall to kick-start Wheatfields nursery.

With years of experience running nurseries, he moved to the area after successfully securing a lease for the site, which is opposite Churchill Community School.

He now has an array of produce growing in two large greenhouses and a 19,000sqft polytunnel.

Father-of-three, Keith, said: “We are excited about this business and its future and hope the community and customers will support us.

“The site has been empty for about five years now and we are hoping to expand and make it a success.”

Another full-time employee works at the nursery, in Churchill Green, and Keith, aged 47, said he hopes to employ more people as the business grows.

They already supply Roundtrees garden centres in Congresbury and Tickenham and hope to take on more staff.

Keith added: “We have all the common herbs such as rosemary, thyme and mint, many bedding plants and will soon be getting in some rare perennial flowers.

“We are also in talks with Bridgwater College about getting some apprentices too.”