A £3 MILLION make-over at a Studley garden centre - including a new restaurant and two fashion shops - has created 30 more jobs for the area.

Bournemouth businessman Paul Richards, who bought the former Badger Nurseries in Birmingham Road, Mappleborough Green, four years ago, has now achieved his vision for the site.

It has been renamed Mappleborough Green Garden Centre after a six-month redevelopment in which staff often worked until 2am to make sure the new facilities opened on time.

Attractions now include The Gardener's Kitchen, an air conditioned coffee shop and restaurant, created on the plot formerly occupied by a dilapidated greenhouse.

The building is designed so that all 150 seats look out on to the plant area to maintain the centre's theme and there is a outdoor seating, including a covered part so that al fresco refreshments are not interrupted by a summer shower.

The centre is also home to a new Klass ladies' fashion outlet and Brantano shoe shop and, linked to The Gardener's Kitchen, is a new retail section featuring a fine food department and expanded gift shop.

There are children's play areas and free parking.

Garden centre manager James White said: "We worked until 2 in the morning to get the shop open on schedule.

"It was worth it and regular customers could not believe how fast it was changing in the weeks before we opened."

Mappleborough Green Garden Centre staff managed the development themselves and set a priority of awarding contracts to local businesses.

Andrea Browning, The Gardener’s Kitchen manager, said: “It is a challenge starting a new business and we have been so pleased with the positive customer comments about the standard of our food.

"Customers also love the bright and comfortable seating areas.”

The garden centre is privately owned by Paul Richards who has worked in the horticultural industry for more than 30 years.

He said: “I am a perfectionist and I wanted to draw on everything I have learnt over many years to build the best garden centre possible.

"I really hope everyone who visits will feel we did a good job."

There had been a nursery on the site for many years, selling a wide range of products but from leaking greenhouses.

Mr Richards first invested in building a new plant area, followed by the erection of a "cool" greenhouse and "Phase 3" - the creation of the restaurant and retail areas.