Roots Shoots and Leaves

Our mission is to redefine the grounds care industry. We deliver on promises others only make, driven by unwavering reliability, continuous education, the use of advanced technology, and a genuine commitment to sustainability.

We're building a business that invests in your outdoor spaces, in our team, and in the environment and creates a lasting, positive impact on the landscape.

Our Story

In 2006, we embarked on a mission to redefine gardening and landscape management, delivering services that are not only reliable but also rooted in horticultural and arboricultural expertise.

We believe in nurturing long-term partnerships, striving to build lasting relationships through consistent, high-quality garden maintenance contracts. We are proud that we still work with clients who joined us from the beginning.

We run an apprenticeship program as well as additional training provided, to ensure development of skills as we grow.

Our People

We invest heavily in our staff and are very selective about whom we employ and ask to represent our business.
Our people are often the main point of contact on-site, and so we only take on those who happily adopt our core values and philosophy.

We are proud to invest in staff who are passionate about horticulture and arboriculture. We commit to the education, training, and apprenticeships of all our staff from top to bottom. In return, our staff commit to providing a service they can be proud of.

Our journey has been one of continuous learning and growth and we have grown to a 25-strong team.

Services Get in Touch

James Gillate

Managing Director

James Gillate founded Roots Shoots Leaves in May 2006, following Horticultural and Countryside Management qualifications and working up through the horticultural industry. “I started Roots Shoots Leaves Ltd to provide a gardening service to property management companies and the commercial sector. I found that these clients often dealt with gardening businesses that were providing poor service, both in terms of the on-site work standards and the presentation of their accompanying paperwork. It became apparent that what clients desired most was reliable, technologically capable and horticulturally educated gardening and grounds maintenance operatives. So, I created Roots Shoots Leaves around those principles.”

Answering clients' requests for a reliable tree surgery contractor, we introduced Tree Surgery as an RSL service, based on the same core values. Added to this is the range of Soft and Hard Landscaping services that we offer our clients, to provide a well-rounded service package that meets our clients’ expectations and requirements.

Management team

Management Team

Jules Lawrence

Co-ordinator, Tree Surgery

Jules does a wonderful job of maintaining the tree surgery sales pipeline, completing all the Tree Preservation Orders, and handling the logistics for the tree surgery department.

Michelle Nolan

Sales Manager

Michelle joined us with a wealth of sales and customer service experience and qualifications. With her excellent Tender writing, organisational skills, and sales management, she makes the busy office environment a great place to be.

Simon Pearce

Operations Manager, Grounds Maintenance

Simon has been an integral part of Roots Shoots Leaves, working his way up to the Operations Manager position. He has a wealth of experience and qualifications and lives and breathes RSL. His management of staff and exceptional planning skills keep the ship firmly on course.

Jordan Goggins

Horticultural Team Leader

Jordan arrived at RSL without gardening experience and had not previously worked in the industry. Her enthusiasm and personality shone immediately. Recently, Jordan not only passed her Level 2 Horticulture apprenticeship, but she smashed it with a Distinction. She has been promoted to Horticultural Team Leader and is now progressing towards Horticultural Sales Co-ordinator, to further her career. She is our greatest success story and a shining example of what hard work and dedication can achieve. She is the heart and soul of the business, a pleasure to work with, and demonstrates that if a business invests in the right personnel, the business gets the investment back tenfold.

What Does a Commercial Tree Surgeon Do?

A commercial tree surgeon ensures trees on managed land remain safe, healthy, and compliant.

This involves inspecting, maintaining, and, where necessary, removing trees that pose a risk to people, buildings, or infrastructure.

Our Tree Surgery Services Include:

Tree safety risk assessments & condition survey

Tree pruning, lifting, cutting back

Deadwood removal

Tree removal & felling

Stump grinding/removal

Emergency tree works (storm damage, fallen trees)

Planned tree maintenance programmes

Site clearance

Tree planting

Site Assessment

We visit your site to assess tree condition, risks, and requirements

Clear, practical advice on required works and priorities

Scheduling

Works planned around your operations and access requirements

Delivery

Professional execution by qualified and insured teams

Ongoing Support

Optional maintenance plans to keep your site under control year-round

What Our Customers Say

“I just want to say thank you to Scott and Jordan of RSL, who have done a fantastic job on the grounds, a very happy Development Manager and residents. They are excellent and very respectful.”

Dean, Outco

“I must say the gardeners did a good job today. Great work today by Jordan, Henry and Courtney of RSL. Clearly an effective team; they have got lots done. We are really pleased with how the estate is looking. Please pass on to the guys who were here today that they’ve done a great job!”

Darren, Earlswood Park

“Just a quick email following several conversations I have had today with residents on the Picket Twenty Estate. They have all asked if you can pass their thanks to the team on the ground. Hedges trimmed, well weeded (even the roads), and generally looking very well presented.”

Tony, Remus & Picket 20 residents’ association

Get in Touch

If you are looking for a reliable, experienced team to take care of the outside space for your property management company, commercial property company or private estate, please get in touch.

Email info@rsl-gm.com, phone 01344 985 885, or fill in our online form, and one of our team will be in touch.

About Roots Shoots Leaves