The Worm that Turned brings garden style to Nottingham's Derby Road

On Derby Road, a short walk from Nottingham city centre, is a shop that has been helping people make the most of their outdoor spaces for more than 20 years. The Worm that Turned is the creation of Stuart and Heather Isbister, who met while working as buyers at Boots.

After leaving Boots, Stuart held a number of directorships in marketing services businesses, while Heather, who had helped develop Boots' gift shop offer, went on to advise retailers including WH Smith and Woolworths.

Their love of gardening, and frustration at seeing good ideas watered down inside big companies, led them to strike out on their own. In the autumn of 1998 they decided to focus on developing their own products, and The Worm that Turned launched its first six ranges at the 1999 Spring Fair at the NEC in Birmingham. In 2004 they opened their first shop in Nottingham.

The name is certainly memorable. The couple say it came out of a long lunch spent searching for the right title, and that it echoes a line from Shakespeare's Henry VI Part 3: "the smallest worm will turn, being trodden on". They are keen to point out that it was not borrowed from the Two Ronnies sketch of the same name.

Their products have travelled widely, and the founders recall the thrill of finding them on the shelves of a boutique in Soho, New York.

The Nottingham showroom at 66-68 Derby Road stocks outdoor furniture from brands including Fermob, Cane-Line, Gloster and Skagerak, alongside outdoor lighting, clocks, garden decor, seasonal pieces, rare garden books and oil-cloth for tables. There are also one-off and vintage finds that are only available in store.

Customers clearly love it. One review on the shop's website describes the Nottingham store as "More Kings Road than Derby Road" and "an absolute gem of a place".

The showroom now works on an appointment basis, with staff on hand to help choose pieces for any size of space and free gift wrapping on request. Visits can be booked through The Worm that Turned website.