Paul Barker, who has 19 years’ experience in the industry, takes up role at the Garden Centre Group branch.
In his role as general manager, Mr Barker, from Durham, will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the garden centre, which is located on the east side of Gosforth Park Racecourse and is part of The Garden Centre Group.

He said: "I am delighted to have been appointed to this position and I am pleased to be joining the garden centre's team.

"I have worked in the garden centre industry for most of my life and I have gained a wealth of knowledge and experience that will help me in my new role at Peter Barratt's Gosforth Park Garden Centre."

Mr Barker replaces previous garden centre general manager, Chris Brannigan, who has been appointed as a regional manager for the Group. Mr Brannigan now oversees the running of 14 garden centres in the region.

Mr Barker, who has 19 years' experience in the industry, has a degree in horticulture from the University of Central Lancashire. He began his horticultural career by working as a Retail Nursery Assistant at Beamish Clematis Nursery in 1990.

He has since worked as a garden landscape restorer for the Merchant Seamen's War Memorial Society (MSWMS) as well as in various horticultural roles including assistant manager at Peter Barratt's Gosforth Park Garden Centre, where he was employed for five years.

Alyson Haywood, regional manager for The Garden Centre Group, said: "We would like to welcome Paul to Peter Barratt's Gosforth Park Garden Centre and we look forward to working with him. He brings with him a wealth of experience from the horticulture industry."