Highgrove Garden Centre at Marden near Maidstone, which this week became the Millbrook Garden Company’s third outlet, has a thoroughbred horticultural pedigree.

The site has been traded as a garden centre since the 1990s, when it was owned by Dick and Thelma de Jager, the famous importers of quality Dutch bulbs and suppliers to the Prince of Wales at the ‘other’ Highgrove.

The centre was bought in 2003 by the Homeleigh Timber & Building Supplies company, which has three outlets in Kent specialising in timber, landscape and garden buildings. Highgrove was their only garden centre.

A Certificate of Lawful Planning Use recently obtained by Homeleigh will give Millbrook, who have centres in Crowborough (Sussex) and Gravesend (Kent), scope for building turnover. The centre has a café, large pet centre with livestock sales, a flower shop and conservatory and shed concessions. The site is 20 minutes drive from Leeds Castle, a popular tourist attraction.

Millbrook’s MD Tammy Woodhouse said Millbrook had been looking for a third site for some time. “It presents us with a really good opportunity and we are looking forward to developing and moving Highgrove forwards,” she said

Homeleigh’s MD Trevor Jenkins said: “Millbrook is a well-run business that shares our culture and ethics. We are confident this agreement secures an exciting future for our staff.”

Gilbert Evans who handled the sale. Mike Gilbert said Highgrove was a good fit for Millbrook. “The deal is a very good one for both parties,” he added.

The purchase was completed on Friday, 22 March, by when Millbrook’s website had  already been updated with the acquisition.