The Penketh business shaping the town’s landscape and greener future

David Ramsbottom is committed to getting people outside and enjoying the great outdoors.

Here, in our latest Trader of the Week feature, David – owner of EDR Landscape Management Solutions Ltd – tells us why he started his own business ten years ago and why he wants to encourage people to enjoy their own outdoor spaces.

If you want to be our Trader of the Week, email heidi.summerfield@newsquest.co.uk

David Ramsbottom, owner of EDR Landscapes

What’s the name of the business?

EDR Landscape Management Solutions LTD

What’s the address?

Operational Depot: Unit 9, Penketh Business Park, Penketh, Warrington, WA5 2LE

Correspondence Address: 1 Maple Crescent, Penketh, Warrington, WA5 2LE

Are you the owner/manager?

I’m the managing director.

When did you open the business?

The business started trading in 2013 and became a limited company in 2018.

EDR Landscapes started in 2013 and became a limited company in 2018

Has it always been in the same location?

We have always traded from Penketh but we moved to a new operational depot last year as we’d outgrown our original premises and we needed more space.

Are you local to the area? Did you grow up here?

I grew up in Rochdale but moved to Warrington after university. I have lived in Warrington for the past 20 years.

Tell me a bit about your business

We are a grounds maintenance business operating from north Cumbria down to the south Midlands region and into north Wales.

What do you do? What services do you provide?

We provide an inclusive grounds maintenance service as well as a local domestic gardening service. We are an award-winning business, having achieved the International Green Flag Award back to back for the past three years. We work with local people and organisations as well as household brands. We look after the business locations of some of the UK’s most well-known businesses. We support as many local charities and organisations as we can throughout the year.

The company has been winning awards for its green ethos

Why did you decide to open your own business?

I decided to open this business after an early career in landscape management. I had so many ideas to bring a higher standard of service to customers, while working hard to improve the way that the landscape industry is viewed. We are a business with sound ethics and provide employment to qualified local people.

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What’s your business background?

This is the first business that I have opened but I have been employed in the same industry for many years. I have since opened two other businesses, which provide residential services.

Why this type of business?

Open spaces have always been in my blood. I have worked with local and national governments to raise the profile of parks, open spaces and natural landscapes as well as the benefits of being outdoors. Starting this business was a natural progression as I wanted to raise the standards of outdoor spaces and make them more user-friendly, so that people can explore and enjoy their own outdoor spaces.

How did the Covid-19 pandemic affect your business?

During Covid, we closed for a short period due to concerns for our staff and customers. Covid had a big impact on the business as money wasn’t coming in but we still had overheads and costs. The initiatives that the government put in place to assist small businesses financially just about saved us. We have been lucky to rebuild since we re-opened and we are now strong and continuing to grow.

An eye for detail in the north west's parks and open spaces

What makes your business different to others in the same area/field? What sets your business apart from your competitors?

We set ourselves apart from other similar businesses because of our approach to work. We are customer focussed primarily and we ensure that proper horticultural work, delivered by qualified and experienced operatives, is available to clients at competitive prices. The industry has, unfortunately, many rogue traders, and we have worked hard with local authorities to try and change that. We never leave a customer unhappy and have a long list of returning clients, both domestic and commercial, who come back to us because we are friendly, dedicated and fair with our costs. In addition, our voluntary work within the communities of Warrington allows us to demonstrate our commitment to local people.

Why do loyal customers return to your business?

Our customers trust us. They know who we are and where we are based. They know that we are a legitimate contractor, with the relevant licenses and insurances and they know we will do a high quality job and charge fairly. We will advise and guide free of charge, even if that means that we don’t take on a task, and everything we do reflects on our business.

What’s next? What do the next few months hold for you and your business?

Over the next few months, as we head into spring, we have some new developments. We are expanding our domestic gardening services following high demand last year. We are also developing franchise opportunities after working with a leading franchise consultant.