Ben Laing announces Laing family have concluded deal to buy Threaplands garden centre and restaurant from Higgins family
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OWNERSHIP of a Moray garden centre has changed hands.
Over the past 30 years brothers Scott and Grant Higgins and family have owned and developed Threaplands at Lhanbryde.
Ben Laing joined the company in 2014 as part of Grant’s landscaping team after 10 years in the motor trade.
He was instrumental in the design and build of the new garden centre and restaurant in 2018, with his family investing in the venture at that time.
Ben and his father Neil have now concluded a deal for the business. Ben's wife Julie will also be involved in the running of the garden centre.
Scott Higgins retired in 2022 and Grant is focussing on his landscaping business.
Ben said it was a natural step for his family to take over the garden centre.
"Scott is now enjoying his retirement travelling in his motorhome with wife Linda whilst Grant owns
and runs Threapland Landscaping, a completely separate business from the garden centre.
"It has been an incredible journey and we are very thankful you (customers) have been part of our continued
growth."
The land that the new Threaplands Garden Centre stands on was purchased in late 1950’s by Scott and Grant's grandfather James (Piggy) Milne and was operated as a pig farm for many years.
The brothers bought the land from their parents with the aim of setting up a new garden centre, and after a huge effort planning permission was finally achieved.
The hard work continued as they promoted landscaping supervisor, Ben Laing, to project manage the establishment of the building.
The build really started taking shape as Ben pushed the many different contractors along; also roping
in members of both families at weekends, including his father and shareholder Neil Laing who worked full time on many aspects of the build.
In 2018 the new centre opened but the hard work continued with the expansion of the restaurant, a new dog friendly covered area, and a new play area for the kiddies.
Scott is enjoying family time with his four grandchildren.
Meanwhile, Grant has purchased the landscaping arm of the business and will continue to operate this from the adjacent site also owned by the Higgins family.
In a statement, the Higgins brothers said: "Scott, Grant and the rest of the Higgins family wish the Laing family every success for the future, and no doubt they will be popping in for bacon butties or lunch in the years ahead."
