Greenspace SOS is a non-profit Community Interest Company based in South Wales.
We deliver professional grounds maintenance services alongside community and environmental projects, working with organisations and local communities to create, improve, and maintain outdoor spaces.
Profits from our commercial work are reinvested into providing free or heavily supported services for people and community groups who need additional support.
Our Story
Our story began in 2020 with ecoCaretaker, a zero-emission landscape maintenance business founded by Gavin Harvey. Alongside its commercial services, ecoCaretaker donated profits to local causes and contributed time to community initiatives. Paul joined shortly after its founding, and together they developed the business over the following three years.
Gavin and Ian had known each other for several years through their local community and football club. After seeing Gavin and Paul attend the Green Heart Hero Awards in Westminster for ecoCaretaker's environmental work, Ian approached them with an idea: to build on what they had started by developing a service focused on helping people and community organisations who couldn't access the practical support they needed.
Working alongside their existing jobs, the three began delivering free projects under the name Greenspace SOS. Early work included creating a safe forest school space for a local school, helping a grieving social housing tenant facing eviction, improving the gardens of an extra-care residential home, and restoring an inaccessible communal garden at Neath Port Talbot Hospital.
As the projects were shared online, referrals and requests for help increased. The response demonstrated a clear need for the service and showed that the combination of professional landscape services, environmental responsibility and community support could form the basis of something bigger.
In 2023, Greenspace SOS became a non-profit Community Interest Company. Ian left Tata Steel, while Gavin and Paul brought ecoCaretaker into the new organisation. Together, they combined ecoCaretaker's environmental principles with the community-focused approach of Greenspace SOS, creating one organisation dedicated to creating, improving and maintaining gardens, landscapes and community greenspaces across South Wales.
How We Work
Greenspace SOS combines professional commercial services with community and environmental projects, using a non-profit business model to deliver lasting benefits across South Wales.
We provide professional landscape, grounds maintenance and estate services to organisations across South Wales. Profits generated through our commercial work are reinvested into Greenspace SOS, helping us deliver free and supported services and create wider social and environmental benefit within the communities we serve.
Commercial Services
We work with funders and partner organisations to deliver community projects across South Wales. Funding is ring-fenced for the specific projects it supports, enabling us to create and improve outdoor spaces, increase participation and deliver meaningful benefits for local communities.
Community and Funded Projects
Environmental responsibility is embedded in how we operate and has been part of our approach since the beginnings of ecoCaretaker. From zero-emission battery-powered machinery and responsible green-waste management to rainwater harvesting, habitat creation and biodiversity enhancement, we look for practical ways to reduce our environmental impact and create greater value for nature.
Environmental Responsibility
Our work is designed to create value beyond the immediate project or contract. We create opportunities for volunteering, training and progression into employment, support local communities and supply chains, and reinvest commercial profits to deliver wider social and environmental benefit across South Wales.
Social Value
Meet the directors
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Ian Walters
Ian brings extensive experience in leadership, organisational development and business management. During a 14-year career with Tata Steel, he progressed through operational, training and leadership roles before becoming a Sustainable Operational Excellence Coach, working across departments including operations, engineering, finance and management.
In this role, Ian designed and delivered sessions focused on efficiency, teamwork, wellbeing and organisational performance. He also has experience in property development through Walters Property Management, managing projects involving budgets, contractors and property professionals, and holds a Diploma in Team Leadership and IOSH Managing Safely.
At Greenspace SOS, Ian leads on strategy, finance, organisational development and partnerships, as well as supporting funding, commercial opportunities and business systems. His focus is on building the relationships and organisational foundations that enable Greenspace SOS to grow sustainably and deliver increasingly ambitious projects.
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Paul Lewis
Paul brings extensive experience in facilities maintenance, landscape management and commercial service delivery. Before establishing ecoCaretaker with Gavin, he worked within Beacon Housing's Extra Care Schemes in a multi-skilled facilities role covering landscape management alongside internal and external maintenance.
He holds qualifications in RHS Practical Horticulture and Facilities Management and is also a qualified bricklayer, bringing additional experience in construction and hard landscaping. His background combines practical delivery with experience working within the standards and systems of a large social housing organisation.
At Greenspace SOS, Paul leads commercial contract delivery, overseeing teams, scheduling, health and safety, risk assessments, subcontractors and client liaison. He also coordinates work with residents and client systems, helping ensure projects are delivered safely, efficiently and to a consistently high professional standard.
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Gavin Harvey
Gavin has worked in horticulture and landscaping for more than 25 years and holds qualifications in RHS Practical Horticulture and Facilities Management. In 2020, he founded ecoCaretaker, Wales' first completely zero-emission landscape maintenance service, combining professional grounds maintenance with environmental responsibility.
As a former Sustainability Coordinator within social housing, Gavin helped develop more environmentally sustainable estate services and community initiatives. In 2021, he received the Leadership Award at the CIH Welsh Housing Awards and is also a qualified Green Flag Award judge, with experience assessing the management, accessibility, biodiversity and sustainability of public greenspaces.
At Greenspace SOS, Gavin leads community and environmental project delivery, from design and costing through to on-site delivery, and leads the organisation's environmental strategy and biodiversity work.
our team
Behind Greenspace SOS is a dedicated team bringing together practical experience, horticultural knowledge and a shared commitment to delivering high-quality work.
We're proud to be an accredited Living Wage Employer and to create opportunities for people to develop their skills and progress into employment. Through our work with ITEC Skills, we've supported trainees in gaining practical experience, with individuals subsequently progressing into paid employment with Greenspace SOS.
We invest in developing our people and work collaboratively to deliver professional grounds maintenance services alongside community and environmental projects across South Wales.
Work with us
Whether you're looking for a professional grounds maintenance provider or interested in collaborating on a community or environmental project, we'd love to hear from you.
Get in touch to discuss how we can work together.