FORMER apprentices who have worked together at Durham County Council’s Morrison Busty plant nursery since it opened more than three decades ago have been recognised for their combined 70 years of service.

James Handy and Ken Graham started apprenticeships together with the former Derwentside District Council in 1983, before moving to the nursery at that authority’s Annfield Plain depot when it opened in 1987.

The 52-year-olds, who have become close friends over their 35 years together in local government, have been key to the nursery producing an average of 750,000 plants every year - a staggering 23,250,000 over the 31 it has been open.

The nursery, which passed to the county council following local government reorganisation in 2009, supplies all its annual bedding requirements, including hanging baskets and planters.

It provides them to the authority’s Hackworth and Chilton depots and notably has supplied the greenery which has won the council Britain in Bloom, Northumbria in Bloom and Green Flag awards across the county.

The site also provides plants for a wide variety of organisations, including town and parish councils.

The nursery further welcomes visits from community groups along with schools and organisations which work with disadvantaged children.

James, of Tanfield Lea, works as a gardener at the site and carries out all plant production along with three seasonal staff.

He said: “All four of us, we love being here, we treat it like it is our own. We do get a lot of pleasure from working here.”

Ken, of Dipton, is Clean and Green North team leader, meaning he oversees litter picking and play areas in addition to fulfilling the nursery’s contracts and the ordering of seeds, plugs and materials.

He said: “My main passion is obviously looking after the nursery, it is a lovely facility for the county council to have.

“It is great seeing the products from the start to the finished article and seeing them planted out in the county and getting the awards and hearing the feedback from the public.”

Oliver Sherratt, the council’s head of direct services, said: “County Durham has a growing reputation for its excellent flower displays across our towns and villages, which really enhance an area, especially in the summer months.

“Whilst much of this is down to an army of volunteers and community groups, it’s my absolute pleasure to also praise these two valued members of the council team that actually produce many of these plants that we all see.

“You only need to spend five minutes with Ken and James to realise how knowledgeable and committed they are in providing exactly the right conditions for their plants to thrive, before sending them out to the big wide world.

“We are very proud of their considerable accomplishment of 23 million plants.”