A BUSINESS group of 145 garden centres which was first started in Hereford has been put up for sale.

Wyevale Garden Centres was originally set up by Harry Williamson, a Herefordshire nurseryman and pioneer in the garden centre world, in 1932.

It started as a mail-order nursery and the first Wyevale Garden Centre was opened in Kings Acre Road in Hereford in 1966.

Since the 1990s it expanded rapidly and today there are 145 garden centres in the group in the UK.

In 2012, the group was acquired by Terra Firma, a private equity firm, which has decided to put the portfolio up for sale.

The garden centres could be sold individually, as sub groups or as a portfolio.

Specialist property adviser Christie & Co has been appointed to advise on the process.

Steve Rodell, managing director of retail at Christie & Co, said: "The sale of Wyevale Garden Centres presents a unique opportunity for a wide range of buyers from financial institutions, existing garden centre operators, independent business people and entrepreneurs to buy well invested local garden centres within the price range of £200k to £35m."

Located across the UK but with a weighting towards the South East of England, the sites range in size from one to 108 acres.

Roger Mclaughlan, CEO of Wyevale Garden Centres, said: “This investment provides a fantastic opportunity for new long-term owners looking to enter the market and existing operators seeking to expand their current operations."

The garden centres include 144 restaurants and cafes and 700 concessions with 240 partners.