Poole-based plant and homeware store Wild Roots is doubling in size after securing the neighbouring unit at KINGLAND Crescent. The expansion comes just four years after the store opened, riding on a wave of strong sales and community support.

The refurbished shop, spanning 1,740 square feet, is set to open by the end of October 2024. Once complete, the new space will allow Wild Roots to host hands-on workshops, including terrarium and festive wreath making, further connecting with the local community. Additionally, the larger premises will enable an increase in stock, offering a wider range of plants and lifestyle products for shoppers.

Store owner Hope Dean reflected on the business’s success, expressing her gratitude: “I am so thankful for the loyalty the local community has shown me since I opened the door to Wild Roots just over four years ago. I can’t wait to unveil our expansion and share our new events space. I am currently working on a workshop programme to include some free community events.”

Hope started Wild Roots after losing her job during the pandemic, becoming one of the first independent businesses to open in KINGLAND Crescent following its 2020 regeneration. This initiative, led by Legal & General, was partly funded by Poole residents who contribute to Nest pensions. Through this partnership, approximately 130,000 local pension holders helped breathe new life into the town’s high street.

Speaking about this unique aspect of her store’s journey, Hope said: “I pay into a Nest pension myself and am a Nest employer, but I had no idea that my pension is invested in local assets such as KINGLAND. In a way, my team and I are reinvesting in our business, and so are everyday people in the community.”

KINGLAND Crescent’s revitalisation has created opportunities for local entrepreneurs like Hope. As part of the project, the first wave of businesses at KINGLAND enjoyed two years without rent or business rates, a pioneering move by Legal & General that aimed to foster local talent and innovation.

Looking ahead, Hope remains excited about the future: “I am so proud of what I have achieved in my first four years of business and am so grateful to already be expanding the store. I always dreamed of owning a shop, and the KINGLAND scheme has enabled me to take the business further than I could have ever imagined.”

Wild Roots, located at 18 Kingland Crescent, is open daily, offering an eclectic mix of houseplants, distinctive plant pots, and vibrant homeware. For more information, visit www.wildrootsgreenery.co.uk.