A new independent plant shop is set to open in Shepton Mallet after being chosen for the town's 2025 Retail Incubator at 10 Market Place.

The Black Thistle, founded by local entrepreneur Ami Hensman, will offer a range of plant products alongside educational sessions and hands-on workshops.

The business was selected from 27 applicants, with a panel narrowing it down to four finalists before choosing The Black Thistle as the next participant in the incubator programme.

The initiative, run by Interim Spaces, provides budding retailers with a rent-free unit for nine months, as well as a £1,500 capital grant and mentorship, giving them the opportunity to establish a business with the potential to transition into a permanent retail space.

Dan Simon, director of Interim Spaces, said: "After a highly competitive selection process, which showcased an array of fantastic retail ideas from Shepton Mallet and beyond, we are thrilled to announce Ami Hensman's The Black Thistle as the next Retail Incubator placement for 2025, and we can't wait to see her shop bloom. We are very grateful to all the applicants who put forward their ideas, and we hope this process encourages even more aspiring retailers to take the leap into the high street."

The incubator programme is part of a wider effort to support Shepton Mallet's high street, encouraging independent businesses to test their ideas in a physical retail setting. The first business to take part in the scheme was The Green Room, a homeware and lifestyle shop that launched in 2024.

The Black Thistle is expected to open soon, adding to Shepton Mallet's growing independent retail scene.