A COUNTY business specialising in features from the past now has its eye firmly fixed on the future.

English Salvage, formerly known as Leominster Reclamation, has acquired the Wyevale Garden Centre at Wellington and the new owners point out that the nurseries will continue to operate while gradually adding “relevant” garden and architectural pieces from their site on the Old Ludlow Road at Leominster.

Rupert Woods, who co-owns the two businesses with his wife Pru, explained that work was ongoing to “revamp” the café at the nurseries.

He said: “The café had become rather a sorry affair selling cakes and paninis so we are gutting it and making it much more interesting using reclamation materials and we are taking on a new chef.”

The plan is to make the nurseries a “destination business” with the upgraded café and ranges of locally sourced plants and more unusual varieties.

“We want to be less corporate and we are trying to be a bit different and unusual in what we sell.”

Eventually the Woods will be incorporating pieces of architectural salvage from their sister enterprise at Leominster. “We’ll do that where it is relevant and fits in with what we do at the garden centre.”

English Salvage, launched in 2003, has become the largest and most comprehensive resource in the country with clients ranging from English Heritage and the National Trust to Disney and Jamie Oliver Restaurants.

Their website states: “We may supply global brands but never forget our humble roots. We’re just as likely to be supplying a period wash basin to a homeowner as we are the latest James Bond movie set.

Pru said this week that the newly upgraded café was expected to be open shortly.