Haskins have appointed Matt Hill as general manager at their Ferndown centre near Bournenouth.

For Matt, it's a case of returning to his roots. He started there as a retail assistant in 1995, the year after it opened, and for the past eight years has worked at the group’s Southampton centre as assistant manager, then general manager.

Son of well-known local horticulturalist and sweet pea expert Chris Hill and a former horticulture student at Kingston Maurward college, he will be responsible for 150 staff at Ferndown, which gained a Highly Commended certificate and six merit awards in Garden Centre Association inspections this year, the centre’s 20th anniversary year.

Julian Winfield, Haskins chief executive, said: “As our longest established purpose built centre, the pressure is always on to ensure that the high standards which are appreciated by our loyal customers are maintained. Matt’s successful leadership qualities demonstrated in Southampton will ensure the ongoing success at Ferndown.”

The Ferndown centre was opened on the 10-acre site in March 1994 and now boasts a turnover of more than £10 million.

Below: Haskins chief executive Julian Winfield congratulates Matt Hill on his new job.