From side hustle to dream job: How I built my garden business during COVID
When the world shut down in 2020, I found myself reassessing everything – my career path, and what truly mattered. At the time, I was working nights as a Butchery manager, commuting to London for a demanding role that left little room for personal passions. Yet amidst the lockdowns, a long-held passion had room to bloom: gardening.
What began as a hobby, swiftly evolved into a side business. Balancing full-time work and a budding new business wasn’t easy, but each garden I transformed brought back a fulfilment my previous job lacked.
By late 2021, rising demand gave me the courage to take the final leap of faith. I left my full-time job to focus solely on my garden business which quickly became one of the best decisions I ever made. This transition opened doors to remarkable opportunities, including assisting the display team at Cambridge University Botanic Gardens and participating twice in the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show.
Today, the business has flourished beyond what I could imagine. I now run a full-time specialist garden business and have worked on over 100 gardens, from tiny urban courtyards to large suburban gardens. More importantly, I get to spend every day doing what I love – helping people bring their garden dreams into reality.
Contact Glenn at GTD Gardening Services: glenn.duddy@tiscali.co.uk | 07513 195860
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