Go Furness

Grounds for Success

Richards happiest memories of being educated during his formative years, came from time spent with his father, measuring areas of woodland and volumes of timber, learning of tree and plant types and their soil suitability. Richards’s playground was Park Ground enclosure in the New Forest – playing was unrestricted and unaffected by media and closeted mind set – strength of character and personality was founded there.

For Richard the ingrained, formal Education system was an alien environment – in hindsight he’s likened it to “a conveyer belt system, fabricating and conditioning robots to secure UK dominance of world commerce, with little or no consideration for the individual character or personality foundation.”

He started his forestry career at the age of 16 on a private estate in West Sussex where he embarked upon his ambition of becoming a forester. After 6 years of block release courses in forestry he completed his qualifications with a NEBSS (National Examination Board for Supervisory studies) in 1981. Here he gained priceless experience in a working environment between courses.

In 1983 Richard started his own business in forestry contracting, tree surgery and landscaping. Landscaping became his passion as the artistic side of his work emerged naturally; this was further enhanced at Merrist Wood College where he took block release courses in landscape design and construction. He has always appreciated the natural lines and curves of the landscape and has a deep understanding of how to manage the natural ecosystem within, working in harmony with it.

In 1989 a large landscaping contract was secured for a play equipment manufacturing company. This was Richards’s introduction to the Play industry, a path that would eventually take him to Cumbria as the North West sales manager for Playdale Playgrounds.

He settled in Cumbria and was offered the challenge of setting up a northern operation base for Abacus Playgrounds, a Kent based company specialising in the supply and installation of Insitu Rubber Safer Surfacing for playgrounds. He spent three years successfully establishing the Northern base for Abacus at the Bardsea Business Park near Ulverston.

Richard noticed that schools were becoming more pro active in developing their grounds, curricular guidelines were leaning more toward learning through outdoor environments and Dfes were actively promoting school grounds as a positive learning resource. He felt that this was the opportunity to form his own business in School Grounds Development.

Richard formerly incorporated Primary Landscapes as a Limited Company in January 2007 and has had a successful year consulting, designing and installing 10 multi functional outdoor developments for schools in Cumbria and County Durham. The Coniston CE Primary School ground development designed and installed by Primary Landscapes is due to be formerly opened by Tim Farron on the 28th February 2008.
Richard is at present actively involved with the Sandside Lodge School ground development in Ulverston. Having worked with the staff and pupils in drawing up the plans and curricular activity designs, the school was successful in gaining Lottery funding for the £100,000 scheme which should be completed by the end of May 2008.

His main challenge will be getting the right people on board to organically grow the business through emulating his passion, enthusiasm and the Primary Landscapes business ethos, which is to create outdoor environments that will influence and engage a childs natural desire to learn. Richard believes this will have a significant rippling effect, benefiting staff, School, local community and ultimately the country as a whole.

His advice to other young entrepreneurs?

Key: Identify a true need for what you are producing or the service you are providing. Identify a true belief and enthusiasm for what you are about to embark upon.

Your most important tool for starting your business will be your business plan. Invest time and the necessary money in getting this up and running, it will be your personnel business bible for focussing you on your business development and goals. It will need to be updated periodically.

Identify that your unique character and personality is your unique selling point.

Adopt a positive attitude towards overcoming obstacles.

Don’t rush ideas into place, take time and let them evolve.

Don’t worry about the money; it will come if you are organised, have the determination, passion, motivation and enthusiasm.

If you are distracted or you start to lose your passion, start asking yourself a new set of questions. Don’t beat yourself up if your path comes to a dead end – there will always be another one to pick up on and follow.

Posted by Kay Hebbourn on 22nd February.