The new garden centre company set up by former Golden Acres Group owner Paul Richards is scheduled for official launch during the next month.

Richards told GTN Xtra that intellectual property on the name chosen for the new business, was still being checked. Meanwhile, Badger Garden Centre near Studley becomes the foundation stone for the new group, following the sale of the other four former Golden Acres group sites to Wyevale Garden Centres last month.

Richards is to re-build the Badger outlet, which will be re-named Mappleborough Green Garden Centre. He is aiming for a group of five to 10 centres, with a mix of new-builds and revamps, initially targeting an area south of the Warwickshire site.

Richards still owns the Golden Acres production nursery at West Parley, Ferndown, which he rents to Dorset Plants, and his daughter Charlote now runs the cash and carry business under the Plants for Trade Ltd name.