A soft landscape specialist at a Crondall firm is in a field of his own after receiving a prestigious award from the Royal Horticultural Society for five decades of service.

Peter Bassett, managing director of Goddards (Landscape Contractors) Ltd, was recently given the RHS 40 Year Service Award for service and contributions within the horticulture and landscape industries.

The award came as a surprise to Peter whose family and colleagues had kept the nomination secret.

He said: “It was very much a surprise, but very well received.

“I consider myself lucky to have forged a successful career in an industry I love and have had the opportunity to meet and make strong bonds with clients, colleagues, suppliers, and industry associates over the last 40 years.

“My time at Goddards has seen growth, success, and industry recognition – and this one gives me that extra special buzz of personal pride.”

Peter studied landscaping at Sparsholt College and started his career at Hone Landscapes in Farnham in August 1985.

Over the following decades he gained substantial experience in the industry and was appointed managing director of Goddards in 2017.

Since then, the company has received several National Landscape Principal Awards from the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) for work across the south east, including largescale ones at Wembley Park and Appleby Blue Almshouses in Bermondsey. These awards are considered the Oscars of the landscaping industry.

Peter oversees soft landscape works which involves sourcing plants, trees and nursery stock across UK and Europe as well as directing the operation of the sales, project, works, grounds maintenance and landscape teams.

The team at Goddards sent a message via the Herald: “We would like to congratulate and thank Peter for his 40 years’ service to UK landscape and horticulture – and look forward to many more”.