PLANS to open an apothecary garden and cookery and horticulture schools are one step closer to becoming a reality at Bents Garden and Home in Glazebury.

Having previously secured planning permission from the council for improvements, developers have submitted an application to vary the approved design for cookery school, school of horticulture and a half an acre apothecary garden.

Both schools will run courses for garden centre customers as well as providing a much needed in-house training facility for Bents’ colleagues.

The apothecary garden will feature more than 200 different culinary herbs and medicinal plants with an emphasis upon promoting wellbeing.

The garden will also provide a quiet place for people who would benefit from such an environment such as those with dementia.

Matthew Bent, managing director at Bents Garden and Home, said: “Our family business was not only born from a love of gardening, but also because my grandfather was advised to take a job outside due to health reasons; gardening provided the perfect solution.

“We have seen this first hand with the success of our community allotments and we have long been focussed on introducing gardening to the younger generation with our Garden Explorers club.

“We now want to extend this expertise, enthusiasm and knowledge to a wider audience.”

The proposals will require a further 52 full and part time staff and, subject to obtaining planning approval, the development will commence in late 2019.

Bents is also looking to become a gardening hub in the north west.