The new 50,000 sq ft Garden World is Dobbies' second in the Kent area following the opening of a 48,000sq ft centre in Ashford last Spring.
The new centre will bring 120 new jobs to the local community and was built with natural construction materials, including a timber frame, and features grey water recycling.

Gillingham's new Garden World features a farm foodhall offering locally-grown produce from the area, as well as a restaurant, pets and aquatics department, and an outdoor living and gift offer.

The centre will once again feature Dobbies' iconic men's urinals shaped like wildflowers, while the opening also marked the arrival of egg-laying hens, which went on sale at the new store.

The opening was officially performed by Garden ER host David Domoney and some local schoolchildren from Gillingham, who won £500 of garden equipment for a new eco-garden at their school.

Dobbies' chief executive James Barnes said: "We are delighted to open our newest centre in Gillingham... as we believe it is the blueprint for a new generation of garden centres across the UK.

"The Garden World is in keeping with our heritage as expert horticulturalists since 1865, whilst providing a modern destination for today's customer. We're looking forward to welcoming our first customers to Gillingham, who we hope will love Dobbies and our new state-of-the-art centre."