Blue Diamond secured the first garden centre purchase of the year when the Channel Islands-based group bought the award-winning Newbridge Nurseries to take its portfolio of stores to 17. And the speculation has now turned towards which garden centres are next on the 'hit' list especially after the Wyevale CEO told managers and suppliers last week they were talking to a group of over 30 centres.

There has been a lot of gossip recently about the future of Dobbies Garden Centres, which has 35 stores throughout the country, particularly in light of the troubles facing its owner Tesco and GTN Xtra learnt this weekend from several sources that Kevin Bradshaw, CEO of Wyevale Garden Centres, told an audience of Directors, Managers and suppliers last week at their Stoneleigh Trade Show and Conference they were talking to a chain of over 30 stores and that they would be continuing on their aquisition plan to add another 10 centres this year.

Could the sale of Dobbies help to generate much-needed funds for the beleaguered supermarket giant and help it to focus on its core grocery proposition? GTN Xtra tried to speak to Dobbies MD Andy King this week to see if he was prepared to shed any light on the matter but we were politely told "It's quite a busy planning period for us so this wouldn't be possible."

On the surface it appears it's business as usual for Dobbies, which celebrates its 150th anniversary (click here for more details). But whether another big chain, from either the garden centre or DIY world, is trying negotiate a deal with Tesco is difficult to substantiate.

One thing we do know is that Tesco did scrap its plans for a joint venture with Dobbies in East Kilbride. The project, which was to have been the first new-build initiative between the garden centre retailer and the supermarket, was given the green light last summer but then ditched last month.

So is it more likely that a small independent garden centre will be next on the shopping list of a company like Wyevale Garden Centres, whose current portfolio stands two short of 150.

Here at GTN Xtra we keep our ears close to the ground, and as soon as we hear anything we will breaking the news. If you get tipped off of an imminent deal then we'd love to hear from you. Email trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

Interesting times lie ahead.