A greenhouse is an unusual location for Hopgrove Post Office and its popular postmaster marks 30 years' milestone

• Chris Small marks 30 years running Hopgrove Post Office
• Based at family-run Orchard Nurseries in York
• Branch is in a greenhouse where plants are grown and sold

A greenhouse is one of the most unusual places where a Post Office is based, and this month postmaster Chris Small is celebrating 30 years of running the branch.

It’s based at family-run Orchard Nurseries at 48 Hopgrove Lane South, York, YO32 9TG, inside the glassed-paned greenhouse where plants are grown and sold.

The equipment for the part-time branch is brought out two mornings a week, then safely stored elsewhere at other times.

The nursery is open daily (Monday - Saturday: 9am – 5pm; Sunday: 10am – 5pm). This means that parcels for collection from the Post Office can easily be delivered by Royal Mail and Parcelforce. Kind-hearted Chris lets customers collect parcels outside of branch times.

Orchard Nurseries on the outskirts of York is straddled between two parishes and serves customers from these communities, but he also gets passing trade as he’s close to the A64 and there’s plenty of free parking.

Interestingly Hopgrove Post Office had been inside the previous postmistress’s conservatory prior to Chris taking on the branch, so it went from one glass building to another upon her retirement.

Postmaster Chris Small said: “It’s unusual having a Post Office inside a greenhouse, but it works well as I can run it alongside my nursery business growing perennials, bedding plants, shrubs and trees. I know that there are some Post Offices inside garden centres, but they are in traditional buildings, not a greenhouse.

“Locals know that I offer Post Office services, but many gardeners coming to buy from the nursery don’t. So, I let them know that they can do their everyday banking here, buy stamps, send parcels, pay bills, collect parcels, drop & go mail services and top up their Post Office Travel Moneycard.

“There has never been a bank near here, but my bank in York has recently closed. My nearest branch is in Leeds, which is an hour away, but I can do my banking here. I let customers know they can do personal and business banking here, including free cash withdrawals. This saves people travel time and parking costs to do their banking when Hopgrove Post Office is open. There’s free, plentiful, parking here. I love my chats with my Post Office and nursery customers, including one regular customer who is a stamp trader and sends letters across the world.”

A 30 Years’ Post Office long service award has been presented to Chris Small, who also worked throughout the pandemic to maintain vital services to the community.

Post Office Area Manager, Cath Oglesby, said: “Hopgrove Post Office is definitely the most unusual location that I support, but it’s located where it can serve two parishes as well as commuters. I want to sincerely thank Chris for his long and loyal service to this York neighbourhood for three decades.”