Subject to final agreement, Notcutts will take over the 26-acre site at Ditchling in the South Downs National Park next Friday, 6 December.

Garden Pride, whiuch sits on a busy road between Burgess Hill and Brighton, has a turnover of more than £5m and has a strong horticultural offering and a popular restaurant.

The centre has been run for more than 20 years by Trevor Wenham for over 20 years, who plans to retire but will be stay on in a consultancy role, along with fellow director Kathleen McDonald.

Notcuitts are to retain  the existing workforce of more than 70.

Andrew Staff, Notcutts’  interim CEO said the centre was a great fit with the business. “It is an independent garden centre with all the qualities that are important to us as a family-owned company; great service, strong local reputation, quality ranges and a real focus on plants and gardening. We are delighted to welcome the colleagues into the Notcutts family”.



Trevor Wenham and Kathleen McDonald.

Wenham said: “I am delighted to be selling to a family owned business that I know will continue to provide excellent ranges and service for the local customers  and continue to look after my valued staff."

Wenham declined to reveal the selling price but told GTN Xtra: “It’s a good sum.”

Notcutts say acquisition is “a key business objective” for the group in.

Garden Pride takes its portfolio to 18 centres in what Staff describes as a positive and progressive move.

The group will open its new garden centre at Tunbridge Wells in Spring 2014 – and its name has been linked in recent weeks to the potential purchase of at least one other high-turnover centre.