Publication of Prospectus

RNS Number:9282R
Dobbies Garden Centres PLC
09 April 2008

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO, THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, JAPAN
OR THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR INTO ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD
BREACH ANY APPLICABLE LAW.

Date: Wednesday, 9 April 2008

EMBARGOED UNTIL 07.31

Dobbies Garden Centres plc ("Dobbies")

    PUBLICATION OF PROSPECTUS IN CONNECTION WITH AN OPEN OFFER OF NEW SHARES

Dobbies announces that it intends to raise approximately £150 million (before
expenses), subject to, inter alia, shareholder approval through the issue of up
to 12,446,208 new ordinary shares ("New Ordinary Shares") at 1200 pence per
share by means of an open offer on a 6 for 5 basis (the "Open Offer").  Copies
of a Prospectus in connection with the Open Offer are expected to be posted to
shareholders shortly.  The Open Offer is being underwritten by Tesco Holdings
Limited (a subsidiary of Tesco plc).

Dobbies shareholders will be mailed the Prospectus (which includes notice of the
Annual General Meeting to be held at 10.00 am on 21 May 2008), a Form of Proxy
in respect of the Annual General Meeting and (other than certain overseas
shareholders) an application form in connection with the Open Offer.

Copies of the Prospectus will be available in due course from the Company's
website at www.dobbies.com and will be available for inspection during normal
business hours on Monday to Friday each week (public holidays excepted) from and
including the date of publication of the Prospectus until 22 May 2008, at the
registered office of Dobbies at Melville Nursery, Lasswade, EH18 1AZ and at the
offices of Dickson Minto W.S. at 22/25 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1DX. Copies
of the Prospectus will be made available free of charge upon request.

Dobbies hereby gives notice that copies of the Prospectus are being submitted to
the UK Listing Authority for approval and will shortly be available for
inspection at the UK Listing Authority's Document Viewing Facility at the
Financial Services Authority, 25 North Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HS.

Contacts:
Dobbies Garden Centres plc                           0131 663 6778
James Barnes, Chief Executive

Brewin Dolphin Limited (Nomad)                       0131 529 0272
Sandy Fraser

Shore Capital (Joint Broker)                         0151 600 3701
Clive Black

Bell Pottinger Corporate & Financial (PR)            020 7861 3232
Ben Woodford/Emma Kent/Antonia Coad                  
               

Brewin Dolphin Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial
Services Authority in the United Kingdom, is acting as Nominated Adviser to
Dobbies and no one else in relation to the transaction and will not be
responsible to anyone other than Dobbies for providing the protections afforded
to clients of Brewin Dolphin Limited nor for providing advice in relation to the
proposed transaction.

This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an
offer to acquire or subscribe for New Ordinary Shares and/or to take up any
entitlements.  The offer to acquire New Ordinary Shares pursuant to the proposed
Open Offer will be made solely on the basis of the information contained in the
Prospectus to be published in connection with the proposed Open Offer.

The information contained in this announcement is not for release, publication
or distribution to persons in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand,
Japan or the Republic of South Africa or in any jurisdiction where to do so
would breach any applicable law. This announcement is not an offer of securities
for sale in, into or from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand,
Japan or the Republic of South Africa. The New Ordinary Shares have not been and
will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933 (as amended) or under
any relevant securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United
States, and will not qualify for distribution under any of the relevant
securities laws of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan or the Republic of
South Africa.  Accordingly, the New Ordinary Shares may not be offered, sold,
taken up, exercised, resold, renounced, transferred or delivered, directly or
indirectly, within the United States (absent registration or an applicable
exemption from registration) or within Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan or
the Republic of South Africa.

The availability of the Open Offer to persons who are not resident in the United
Kingdom may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions in which they
are located.  Persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom should inform
themselves of, and observe, any applicable requirements.






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