From farmyard roots to regional success: local turf business marks 25 years by returning to its very first delivery in Finedon
An Olney-based landscaping supplier that began with a trailer in a Buckinghamshire farmyard is celebrating its 25th anniversary by recreating the very first delivery that launched the company.
George Davies Turf & Stone, founded in Olney in 2001, has grown from a one-man side venture operating out of his father’s farm into one of the UK’s largest independent suppliers of turf and landscaping materials. To mark the milestone, the company delivered turf once again to the first address George Davies ever supplied, just down the road in Finedon, Northants, where he delivered his first roll of turf 25 years ago.
The business was born in the yard of George’s father’s farm, where the very first rolls of turf were stored, loaded and collected. What started as a small diversification idea quickly became something much bigger.
Founder George Davies said the moment was a chance to reflect on how far the business has come since its earliest days.
George explains: “When I started selling turf it was simply a way to supplement income from the farm. After university, I was working on my dad’s farm and looking at ways to diversify. I explored alternative crops, but the upfront investment was too high. Being close to Milton Keynes, which was rapidly growing, I realised there was strong demand for turf and decided to invest my £15,000 savings into a franchise. Once I’d done that, I had no choice but to make it work.”
“Everything started in my dad’s yard. That’s where the turf was delivered, stored and where customers would come to collect. It really was the heart of the business in those early days.”
“Back then I was delivering turf myself using a Peugeot 306 with a trailer and operating an honesty box for people collecting from the yard. Recreating that first delivery feels like a lovely way to mark the journey and remember where it all began.”
In the early days, George handled every part of the operation himself, unloading deliveries into the farmyard and hand-balling up to 25 tonnes of turf each day, with every order delivered using his own car. As demand grew, he invested in a 7.5-tonne Mercedes 811D lorry, increasing delivery capacity significantly, although he continued to unload every delivery himself. His father supported the business as a back-up lorry driver during this time.
Word of mouth quickly helped the business grow as landscapers and homeowners began to rely on the company for fresh turf and reliable deliveries. Because the business initially supplied rather than grew turf, George focused on differentiating through exceptional customer service, a principle that continues to underpin the company today.
Today, George Davies Turf & Stone delivers more than 1.4 million rolls of turf and over 13,000 bags of landscaping materials every year across Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire and Hertfordshire. A key early milestone came in 2003 when the business rebranded to George Davies Turf and introduced its first HGV, finished in a distinctive bright red that would go on to define the company’s fleet. This marked a real step-change in delivery capacity.
The business now operates from sites in Olney and St Albans, employs a team of 30 staff and supplies landscaping projects ranging from domestic gardens to high-profile venues including Silverstone Circuit, St James’s Palace and the Chelsea Flower Show.
Over the years the company has expanded beyond turf to supply a full range of landscaping materials including topsoil, paving, decking and decorative aggregates, helping landscapers’ source everything needed for a project in one place.
Another major milestone came last year when the company moved into new offices, supporting continued expansion and improving operations for the growing team. Alongside commercial growth, the business has remained closely connected to the local community.
The team regularly supports Olney’s famous Pancake Race, one of the town’s best-known traditions, and has also partnered with Hertfordshire Zoo, supplying turf free of charge to help develop new animal habitats including the zoo’s Lions of India enclosure. Community involvement has always been an important part of the company’s values.
George said: “We’ve always believed in supporting the communities that support us. Whether it’s local events or projects that help conservation and animal welfare, it’s important that our business gives something back.”
Looking ahead, the anniversary is a reminder of the business’s strong foundations and the opportunities still ahead. As George explains: “We’re incredibly proud of the journey so far but with a great team around us and continued demand from customers, the future feels just as exciting as the past.”