The supermarket retailer has opened 129 temporary garden centres in recent months - and it looks as if these are here to stay as it revealed this week that the new additions to its stores will remain open over the lucrative summer period.

It comes just months after rumours circulated about the grocer's interest in buying The Garden Centre Group, which was eventually sold to Terra Firma in a £276m deal last month. The new garden centres have sprung up in Morrisons' car parks and spaces around existing stores, with plants on sale ranging from £1 to £70.

The grocer has reportedly claimed its customers can find anything they would in a traditional garden centre but for cheaper prices.

Meanwhile, the retailer is continuing to show its green fingers with its Let's Grow programme, aimed at schools and community groups. More than 5,000 sq metres at 340 UK schools will be weeded, watered and sown with flowers and crops from sprouts to squash, using tools given away by Morrison's as part of Let's Grow and The Big Dig.

The Big Dig is the springboard for Let's Grow and will culminate in a Big Lunch in July, where the schools will get to enjoy the food they've been growing.

Morrisons communities and social partnership manager David Hewitt said: "We are delighted that so many people will be turning out for the Big Dig throughout this month. It's a great way to kick start our Let's Grow activity for this year and we are hoping to help more schools than ever to engage with their local community and learn about growing."

As part of last year's campaign, Morrisons gave away 111,322 seeds, 54,690 garden tools, 18,380 pots and planters and 808 weather monitors.

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