Dream Team
Create your own corner of paradise with the aid of the specialists at Wyre Gardens, as Bridget Rowan discovers. Photography: Michael Porter
Hidden away on a Garstang trading estate is a fruitful enterprise where business remains grounded – in gardens. At the heart of the action is Mark Sargeant and Ashley Illman, who created Wyre Gardens three years ago and now head a team of nine inspired and dedicated professionals.
Landscape gardener Mark, and Ashley, a garden designer, planned for sustained growth when they formed Wyre Gardens. But even they have been surprised by their rapid success. Last year they dealt with 49 projects, from remodelling small gardens to transforming the grounds at country house hotel Thurnham Hall near Lancaster. Now they aim to build on the successes of the past three years.
“It’s been a journey,” admitted Mark, an outdoors pursuits enthusiast and the father of a three-year-old son. “I had confidence in what we were doing, but I didn’t expect it to grow so quickly in just three years. The aim now is to keep going, to build on what we have created and keep opening up new areas.”
Success has proved an inspiration for Mark and Ashley, who remain focused on developing and expanding the team’s expertise. And that means taking the best approach to the job, whether that’s Ashley creating his dramatic designs with hi-tech 3-D images or going retro and turning to heritage craftsmanship if necessary, such as at 12th century Thurnham Hall where the team reverted to traditional pointing for old stonework.
“Sometimes, you just have to use the old methods,” said head of production David Jack. “Traditional pointing takes a lot longer but it’s nice to keep the old skills in use and pass them on. With a place like Thurnham Hall you really have to use traditional methods and if we can reuse stuff that’s already there, we will. Old things clean up nicely. The old Thurnham flags cleaned up really well and now look new again.”
Josh Taylor, who works closely with Dave and joined the company last June, was among the craftsmen who worked at Thurnham Hall and was delighted to learn a historic technique. “Traditional pointing has many different aspects to it,” he said. “It’s much more chilled out than modern pointing. It was good. I’ve been developing new skill sets since joining the company. I enjoy doing everything but at the moment I’m really happy to keep progressing and learning as I go.”
This ongoing professional development is something that has galvanised the entire team and they all speak enthusiastically about it.
Paver Lorimer Hill, who joined the staff a year ago, said: “We all have a well-rounded skill set. We each have different strengths – we help each other and learn from each other. I’m always learning. There isn’t a day goes by without me adding to my skill set. My skills have grown massively since coming here.”
His ex-farm worker colleague Jack Bonney agreed. “I love it here. I love working outside,” he said. “We’re a great team, we all get on and we’re learning something new every day. We are all developing new skills all the time.”
The other members of the team are Joe Spencer, Chris Wright and Oliver Singleton.
Ashley, who has a three-year-old daughter, once worked in theatre and has brought his production flair to garden design. He is also the man on the spot, talking to clients and showing them exactly how and when their dreams will become reality. He said: “It’s been a real eye-opener the way it has all cohered and taken off, particularly in the last 18 months. Now we hope to continue our growth and see where we go from here.”
The firm’s distinctive fleet of four vehicles with its green and white livery has become a familiar sight in the area. So, for a glorious garden makeover, follow the fleet to join the happy band of satisfied Wyre Gardens’ customers.
Wyre Gardens
Garstang
01995 676882
wyregardens.co.uk
