About Us

Abbey Horticulture was set up by Richard Smith with an aim to showcase a higher level of horticulture to both domestic and commercial clients.

Richard started his career in horticulture as a plant assistant in a local garden centre at the age of 15, which is where his interest in plants started to grow. From there he went on to study Amenity Horticulture at Writtle College for 3 years which covered all aspects of hard and soft landscaping. Richard graduated from Writtle College with a National Diploma in Amenity Horticulture and then joined the Royal Horticultural Society at their Hyde Hall garden.

After a year as a trainee and having gained an NVQ level 2 qualification, Richard was offered a full time position with the RHS where he progressed to become a team leader of the Estate and Development team. During the 11 years working at Hyde Hall, Richard assisted with many high profile projects including working on the Dry Garden, Modern Rose Garden, Robinson Garden, Serpentine beds, wildflower meadows and the development of the new visitor areas & car park. Richard played a big part in the development of the outer estate and the Wild Wood project which has seen him and his team plant in excess of 100,000 trees and nearly 6 miles of hedgerow plantings, as well as assisting with the on-going maintenance and up keep of the RHS garden.

In 2011 Richard left the RHS to join a local company which specialises in hard and soft landscaping, where he became head of the garden maintenance team.

In 2012 Richard set up his own company and worked as a sub-contractor for a small number of horticultural companies, assisting on many exciting projects such as building a garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2015, which won a silver guilt. Richard also co-operated with the planting at the Sky Garden at 20 Fenchurch Street, London and worked on several other projects for high profile clients.

2016 sees an exciting start to Abbey Horticulture and Richard is now utilising his extensive skills and horticultural knowledge to help his clients achieve their perfect garden.

Alongside the numerous horticultural qualifications, Richard is also fully trained and certified to use various tools and machinery including:

• PA1, PA6, PAW spraying licences
• Chainsaw Licence
• Excavator up to 7.5 ton
• Dumper up to 5 ton
• Tractor ride-on and pedestrian mowers
• Hedge cutters and Brush cutters