As a child I used to find garden centres the most boring places in the world - where I would be dragged moaning loudly by enthusiastic parents, invariably on a Sunday.

So at first I failed to understand all the interest in Hereford chain Wyevale and the ongoing battle for control.

But it soon became apparent this is a fight which doesn't seem particularly right.

To recap: Wyevale is the UK's largest garden centre chain, with 114 sites across the country. Earlier this year, the activist investment group Laxey Partners, which now owns 27.6 per cent of the group, decided it wanted to oust chairman David Williams.

In his place Laxey wanted Robert Ware, the former deputy chief executive of property company MEPC, and called for an EGM on the issue.

As a major shareholder, this is all perfectly acceptable.

But Laxey's proposals were voted down by a huge majority by shareholders who were quite happy thank you very much. Laxey is now trying again and has requisitioned another EGM on the same issue to be held on December 22.

After Laxey rejected a compromise where Mr Williams would stay on as chairman until April with Mr Ware joining as a non-executive, Wyevale battened down the hatches and prepared for another scrap. Mr Williams is now stepping down, and Wyevale has branded Laxey's antics as an attempt to take over the company via the back door.

Their view: if Laxey wants to take control, then they should make a formal offer to shareholders. Meanwhile Wyevale is plodding on in the tough retail environment - and isn't doing too badly.

Like for like sales are "modestly positive", while analysts Numis have said its medium term prospects look more exciting than most.

It is also rolling out a new strategy, the imaginatively titled Wyevale Way to focus on the larger sites and increasing sales by converting outside areas to covered space where sales are higher.

Other factors to take into account are Britain's aging population, who do have a love affair with garden centres, and the increasing leisure time enjoyed by all of us to spend pruning the roses.

The majority of Wyevale's properties are freehold, so it is less exposed to rental inflation that is causing retailers so much difficulty in the current trading environment.

Also, the fact that the average spend of its customers - £14.50 - is low, means they are less likely to cut back heavily on items, unlike larger purchasers.

So, the new board at Wyevale has a lot to do, but are experts in their field and have been managing garden centres since 1932.

Meanwhile Laxey is acting as a predatory investor looking for big one-off profits by maximising the land values of the sites in perhaps some sort of sale and leaseback.

After all - why would you want to appoint a property expert?

A quick buck today, stuff the long term consequences and move on to the next target. British short termism at its worst.

I never thought garden centres could be so interesting.