Wilton · Somerset
How to Start a Gardening Business in Wilton
What you need to know about licensing, insurance and getting started -- specific to Wilton and the wider Somerset area.
Open the Gardening Business Launch Kit to see everything included — £22Wilton is as reasonable a place as any to start a gardening business -- there's no general licence requirement, just a few specific activities to be aware of across Somerset.
What the rules say
Gardening itself needs no general licence in the UK. What does need sorting: waste carrier registration if you remove clients' garden waste yourself, and separate certification for chainsaw/tree work or pesticide application. None of this is a barrier to getting started, but it's worth knowing before you take on jobs involving these specific tasks. Public liability insurance stays optional in law for a sole trader but expected by most clients.
Quick answers
Do I need insurance to start a gardening business in Wilton?
Public liability insurance isn't a legal requirement as a sole trader, but it's widely expected by clients across Wilton and Somerset. Employers' liability insurance is a legal requirement once you take on any staff.
Do I need a chainsaw licence to work in Wilton?
There's no single government licence for chainsaw use, but adequate training is a legal duty under PUWER 1998, whether you're working in Wilton or anywhere else. A recognised competence certificate (commonly NPTC or Lantra Awards) is the standard way to evidence this.
Can I use pesticides as a gardener in Wilton?
Applying certain pesticides commercially requires specific certification, regardless of whether you're working in Wilton or elsewhere in the UK. Many gardeners choose to avoid this route entirely and focus on cultural/mechanical methods instead.
Do I need equipment of my own to start in Wilton?
Most new gardeners in Wilton start with core equipment -- mower, strimmer, hedge trimmer and hand tools -- building up as the client round grows rather than buying everything up front.