The original 11 acres had been cropped continuously with nursery stock for 150 years. RCN recognised the urgency for fresh land. In 1899, he rented Martlesham Field, buying it in 1931, (this land was only sold at the start of the Centenary year). Creek Farm was rented in 1907, and bought in 1925, with the adjacent Sluice Farm being purchased the following year.

All this land was of sandy soil, but not so that of the bankrupt Rose Nursery of Morse Brothers at Gazebo, purchased in 1934. This was sticky heavy clay so staff received an extra 2d an hour for working there. Special handles were essential on spades as ordinary ones broke.

The horse was the nurseryman's "best friend". Suffolk Punches were used for putting out manure, ploughing and cultivating, and then, in the summer, for hoeing between the rows of plants. In the autumn, they carted plants from the outlying fields to the packing shed on the home nursery .

RCN bred Suffolk Punches on the marshes at Creek and Sluice Farms. All foals born on the Nursery were registered with the Suffolk Horse Society, and given the prefix "Kyson" after the name of the point where Martlesham Creek joins the River Deben. Once twin foals were born, most unusual for Suffolk Punches.

Other than the work of horses, everything was done by hand, machinery not appearing until after the Second World War. Planting was by spade and fork, and when finished it was said, "the land was as level and even as a billiard table". The skills of knife work on budding, grafting and pruning continued unchanged, as they had been for centuries.

Hours were long, with only two days holiday per year. In wet weather staff either worked or lost the time. Staff had to provide their own tools; the wooden handles were worn to the shape of the hand and it was a heinous nursery crime to use another man's spade.

Much secrecy existed between departments of the nursery. Greenhouses were locked to prevent access by unauthorised staff, and fruit trees were labelled by numbers, not names; this however had the advantage of making things easier for those with limited reading ability.

Apprenticeship was, and remains, the recognised way of acquiring skills. Apprentices have always filled both junior and senior positions on the nursery. RCN indentured his first apprentice in 1898 and by 1915 a total of 13 apprentices had been engaged. One was Johnny Crane, funded by a Seckford grant, who received £2, £3, £5 and £7 during the 4 years of his apprenticeship. Johnny became an expert plantsman in charge of the propagation department. When RCN obtained a cutting or two of a new plant, he said to Johnny "I will give you a shilling if you can root these." It was said that Johnny could root "a 10 year old walking stick." Johnny later became Nursery Manager and then Director. He was a member of the RHS Floral Committee B, and an RHS Associate of Honour, finally retiring after 52 years' service.

Prior to the purchase of Woods Nursery, a young boy aged 14 started work - affectionately known as "Dummy" Berry, as he was deaf and dumb from birth. Staff developed their own sign language to explain how to use a knife, and he became as skilled a craftsman as any, finally retiring after 67 years service.

During the gruelling nursery year there was one special highlight - the 'annual outing'. This took place on the Saturday between the Woodbridge and Ipswich Flower Shows. Throughout the year each member of staff paid a shilling a week into a fund, and drew the money out the night before the outing - 52 shillings in the pocket made everyone feel wealthy! Usually a charabanc was hired and Yarmouth was the most popular venue. Lunch was provided by RCN and there were as many as three speeches. Serious drinking, however, seems to have been the main objective and this would begin upon leaving Woodbridge. On one occasion Charlie Catchpole (nursery staff, 1918 1969) was drunk by lunch time, and slept all afternoon on the beach. The following morning RCN reprimanded him with "Don't get drunk before lunch again Catchpole". On the next occasion he went even further, becoming so inebriated he kissed RCN! Unfortunately there is no record of the reaction.

Family and Management: 1945 - Present

Following a wide career in botanical gardens and the nursery industry Frank Knight (FPK) joined the nursery as General Manager in 1944. Arthur Metcalfe, who had succeeded Edward Thatcher, became the Sales Manager and Johnny Crane was promoted from propagator to Nursery Manager.

The nursery was still trading as the "Executors of R C Notcutt". Stephen Abbott Notcutt(IV), Maud's nephew and a solicitor in Ipswich, advised in 1946 that a limited company should be formed with Maud as Chairman and SAN (IV) and Gareth Salisbury, a local accountant, as External Directors. Frank Knight became the Managing Director. Ernest Bilney was the Company Secretary for the first year, being succeeded by George Green, who remained so for 32 years. This was the team that Maud Notcutt had with her to face the immediate post war years.

On a regular basis, and often on a Sunday, FPK would report to Maud on the activities of the nursery. She remembered her late husband's management style and would ask older members of staff to come and have a chat, telling her exactly what was going on. On FPK's next visit he would have to explain why! Thus Maud, known affectionately as "The Old Lady", continued to guide the nursery, although increasingly blind.

In 1954, when aged 80, she was heartened to hear that her grandson Charles had started his horticultural training following National Service as an officer in the Royal Artillery.

1955 was another critical year. In January FPK left to become the Director of the R H S gardens at Wisley, and Maud died in August, aged 81. SAN (IV) was appointed Chairman, a position from which he could oversee the training of Charles who joined the company in 1958.

Charles initially assisted Johnny Crane and tackled the unending task of stock control. He became responsible for field production and in 1963 passed this on to Brian Mortimer. Brian retired at the start of the Centenary year in 1997, after 46 years service, 34 years of them in charge of the nursery fields.

In 1964 Charles married and became Managing Director. His daughter Caroline Jane was born the following year and in 1967 his first son Roger William was born.

Realising that he needed other young management assistance, Charles asked a fellow ex Pershore Horticulture College student, David Clark, to join him and run the Garden Centres, by then numbering three.

As the company expanded its operations, so the management team grew. In 1972 Michael Bizzey joined as Management Accountant, later becoming Financial Director and Company Secretary. Michael retired in 2001.

In 1974 SAN (IV) retired as Chairman, being succeeded by Charles. David Clark became Nursery Production Director and Stuart Veitch succeeded him as Garden Centre Director

In 1975, Andrew Charles, the last of the fourth generation was born.

Charles has been involved in many aspects of the horticultural industry especially research and education. In 1977 he was awarded the Pearson Gold Medal by the Horticultural Trades Association. In 1986, he became the first Treasurer of the newly formed Institute of Horticulture, and President in 1988/89. He has been a member of the council of the RHS since 1989. In 1993 he received an OBE for Services to Horticulture and the RHS awarded him the Victoria Medal of Honour in 1997, the Centenary Year of both Notcutts and of the VMH.

David Clark was UK President of the International Plant Propagators Society in 1972 and has served on the Joint National Farmers Union and Horticultural Trades Association committee for many years. In Notcutts Centenary Year he won the 1997 Nursery Stock Grower of the Year award. David retired from Notcutts in 2001, but continues as a consultant.

Caroline gained a joint Honours degree in Economics and Philosophy and has a second degree in Landscape Architecture. She currently has her hands full looking after Samuel, Alice and Matthew. Andrew, having read International Relations and Politics at the University of Southampton, is now pursuing a career in marketing for a multi-national corporation, based in London.

William graduated with an Honours degree in Horticulture. He joined the nursery in 1993 as a Management Trainee after several years as an officer in the Royal Navy. His first responsibility was at Waterers Nurseries on stock and quality control, 36 years after his father tackled a similar task. He returned to Woodbridge at the start of the Centenary Year and was appointed Group Managing Director in July 1999.