The deal will mean that the existing Godfreys business currently based at Hailsham in East Sussex will transfer to Burden Bros, and that located at Wokingham in Berkshire will transfer to Farol.

Godfreys will continue to trade as a main homeowner dealer from its premises at Otford Road, Sevenoaks in Kent, along with the Tylers garden equipment trade business that was acquired in June 2015. Godfreys will retain its John Deere homeowner dealer franchise at Sevenoaks.

The majority of Godfreys staff from the Wokingham and Hailsham branches and those directly involved in the John Deere professional turf business will transfer to the new dealerships. Farol will retain the existing Wokingham premises, while Burden Bros will relocate the Hailsham business to its existing outlets in East Sussex and Kent.

“I am extremely proud of what we, as a team at Godfreys, have achieved over the past few years,” says director Peter Bateman. “We have built a strong turf business throughout the south-east of England. In order to continue building on this success, I and my fellow directors believe that it’s necessary to operate as a combined John Deere agricultural and turf dealership, as both Burden Bros Agri and Farol are able to do.

“Equally, the Godfreys homeowner and Tylers trade businesses are very much aligned and have many opportunities to develop and grow together. All our homeowner, commercial and trade customers can be confident that this deal will continue to deliver the best possible sales, service and parts support. We believe this decision is the right one for our people and the company as a whole.”