Kingsley Baker Men For All Seasons
Why did you start a ground maintenance business?
Growing up on a farm in Brentor I learned to appreciate and respect the great outdoors. My mum taught us about nature and to identify trees, plants and shrubs, and even as a child I loved helping out in the garden and farm. My dad also taught me about running a business, but the most important thing they both taught me was to listen and treat others with respect. I started the gardening business 23 years ago just to supplement our income as I already had a full-time job working nights. It soon took off though as clients recommended me to friends and family. I then had so much work I left my other job to concentrate on gardening, upgrading to a more suitable vehicle.
What training is important?
Many of my original clients were older and would love to share their decades of knowledge and experience on gardening, so I learnt a huge amount from them. NPTC and Lantra qualifications are also needed for certain types of machinery. As I got busier, I employed people with other expertise so we could offer more services and move into landscaping. There is no ‘I’ in team and having the right people working with you is so important.
What services do you offer?
All hard landscaping: fencing, decking, paving, stone/brick/block walling; all soft landscaping: planning, planting, turf laying; ground and garden clearance including rough cutting for bramble and brush clearance; hedge and tree work: planting, trimming, reducing, shaping and removal; garden maintenance; pressure washing, patio cleaning and gutter clearing.
How do you go the extra mile for customers?
Through good communication and by being approachable, so the customer feels at ease and can ask questions, or even change something partway through.
What do you most enjoy about your role?
I love helping people release the potential of their gardens, and seeing a transformation, whether small or large, to make a space more enjoyable. There are no such things as problems - only solutions!