A Cumbrian landscaping firm is celebrating 30 years in business this year.
Strawberry Cottage Landscapes, based in Curthwaite, near Wigton, is marking the milestone with an investment that is already delivering benefits to the business.
Founded in 1996, during the pandemic, Strawberry Cottage Landscapes identified a need to reduce reliance on supplier deliveries by collecting materials directly.
To test the approach, the business initially bought an older trailer. While it proved the concept, it quickly became clear that a more reliable and higher-capacity solution was needed.
With support from grant funding of £2,256, a Rural England Prosperity Fund provided by Cumberland Council and accessed through Cumbria Business Growth Hub, the company invested in a new, larger-capacity trailer from Alan Tuer Trailers.
The new trailer has made an immediate difference. With an additional 700kg carrying capacity, it allows the team to transport larger loads safely and efficiently, reducing the number of trips required.
Improved towing performance has also enhanced day-to-day operations, while the addition of cage sides has made transporting pruning waste significantly safer and more practical.
The new equipment is saving an estimated two hours per week on average, the firm said while fewer journeys have also helped reduce fuel costs – a valuable efficiency gain in day-to-day operations.
Darren Johnston, of Strawberry Cottage Landscapes, said: “As we approach 30 years in business, it’s important for us to keep improving how we work.
“The new trailer has helped us save time, reduce fuel costs and work more safely on site.
“Without the grant support, this investment would have been much harder to justify, so it’s made a real difference to the business.”
