The former Wyevale on the High Street in Podington officially started trading as Podington Garden Centre by Cherry Lane last week as the retained team of 40 staff geared up to make big changes.

Now the country's ninth biggest garden retailer, Cherry Lane is the UK's only value garden centre group. From Wednesday, there was an initial 50% sale on selected Wyevale stock before the centre started stocking plants grown in the group’s three nurseries around the UK.

A new 140-seater café bistro  – The Watering Can café – is planned, as well as a new Garden Tots indoor play area.

The centre will eventually will stock an extensive outdoor living range including garden furniture, sheds, tools and accessories, plus homewares, kitchen products and furniture, gift ranges and toys. There will also be wild bird,wildlife and pet products.

The centre will remain open during the improvement works, which are expected to be completed by the end of September.

Nick Rubins, chief executive of the QD Group which owns Cherry Lane, said: “Our aim is simple, to sell high quality items at the lowest possible price, so that there's always excellent offers and spectacular deals to be discovered. As a family-run business, we are also keen to make the centre even more family orientated with additions like the new café and indoor soft play area. We are also looking forward to organising lots of fun events and providing some great seasonal offerings including our famous Christmas department with Santa's grotto."

Podington by Cherry Lane is the group’s 14th garden centre.