WHAT could be better than a stroll around the garden centre on a weekend, choosing plants for the home or just browsing.

We Brits love pottering among the plants and flowers - and another thing we love is a nice cup of tea!

Visitors to Heaton Fold Garden Centre will soon be able to combine our two favourite pastimes when a new tea room, staffed by the Women's Royal Volunteer Service (WRVS) opens.

Heaton Fold is already a popular destination for Bolton's gardeners and is well known for the marvellous work it does with adults with learning disabilities.

But it's never had somewhere you can sit down and enjoy a good cup of tea and an informal chat.

Marketing and development manager for the centre, Rebecca Winrow says: "We're often asked if we have any catering arrangements and, until now, we've had to disappoint our customers. But we decided the time had come to take action."

Rebecca approached the WRVS and their volunteer and communications manager, Janet Fletcher says: "We were delighted to step in and help out. It's a new venture for us - we've never been involved with a garden centre before - so we're looking forward to starting work there."

The tea shop will be located in a room currently used as a canteen for the centre's students, but Rebecca is keen to point out they won't be deprived because the tea shop will only be open at weekends.

And, once that is up and running, the centre is planning to open a gift shop.

"Staff and students work really hard to make the centre a successful business," says Rebecca, "so we're planning to expand the range of goods that we sell. This, along with the tea room, will enhance our services to our regular customers and hopefully attract new ones."

But, before the first cup of tea is served, staff must be found to man the cups and saucers.

And this is where the WRVS comes in. Janet says: "We are looking for volunteers for the tea room, which will be open Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 4pm.

"We'll be serving tea, coffee, hot buttered toasted tea cakes, toast, cakes and confectionary. Existing WRVS volunteers have already offered their services but we need more."

She adds: "What could be better than working in such beautiful surroundings?"

"And," says Rebecca, "all volunteers get 10 per cent discount off everything in the centre."

Anyone, aged over 14, who feels they have the time to spare can offer their services and join the WRVS - expenses are paid - should contact Janet Fletcher on 01204 699741 or 0771 489 8636.