About us

Maydencroft Rural aims to set a benchmark for the very best in rural practices with a wide range of services to improve our natural environment.

Based in Hertfordshire, in close proximity to the hub of the motorway network, we provide landscape and environmental solutions throughout the UK.

Our experience and expertise enables us to work with our clients to tailor-make solutions to complex problems and gives us the capability to complete projects of any scale, on time and on budget.

The Management

Tom Williams BSc (Hons), Managing Director and founder of Maydencroft Rural Limited

Tom holds a degree in Landscape Management from the University of Reading, is a trustee of the Hitchin Cow Commoners and sits on the East of England Grazing Forum.

Previous experience includes working for the Royal Parks as Assistant to the Park Manager of Kensington Gardens and for a farm management company where for three years he had been instrumental in widening the horizons of their groundcare division.

"We are all increasingly aware of the necessity of protecting our natural surroundings. I recognised the substantial business potential for a company of this type and had the experience and qualifications required." Tom set up Maydencroft Rural Limited in October 2007.

Christopher (Digger) Cooke-Hurle BSc (Hons), Contract Manager

Digger joined Maydencroft Rural in January 2008 and holds a degree in Countryside Management from Newcastle University. He has been working within the environmental sector for his entire career and brings a broad range of skills to Maydencroft Rural.

He is currently managing one of the largest estate restoration contracts in the country, Nyn Park in south Hertfordshire.

Chris Beer, Operations Supervisor

Chris's background is in agriculture. He joined Maydencroft Rural from McVeigh Parker where he was their deputy manager.

Having joined us in 2010 he manages our maintenance contracts, runs the yard and is also the company driver.

He has an array of qualifications including a Heavy Goods Vehicle driving license and various spraying and forklift certificates.

Paul Beatty, Project Leader

Paul has over 25 years of experience working on civil engineering contracts.

He is typically responsible for Maydencroft Rural's most technical groundwork and is an extremely skilled digger driver.

Christopher Baker, Project Leader

Chris is a highly experienced project leader and has been working for Tom for many years. His background is originally in engineering but like Maydencroft's other project leaders, he has developed a wide variety of practical qualifications including chainsawing and full plant machinery certification.

Chris manages all our contracts within the 5 year landscape contract for Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council.

David joined us from a grounds maintenance company but his heart lies in the countryside. Trained at Oaklands College in St. Albans, he has a wealth of experience in agricultural contracting, woodland management and building work.

Having worked on country estates all his life, he has the skills required to manage our agri-environment scheme work and operates a full-time fencing team.

John Howe, Project Leader

John joined us in October 2011, he has worked in the rural and environmental contracting field for a number of years and specialises in habitat improvement works.

John was originally trained in horticulture and has has followed this path throughout his career. The combination of his extensive horticultural knowledge and an array of practical qualifications make him a valuable member of the team.

Tom Ruffle, Tree surgeon

Tom is a fully qualified tree surgeon with many years experience. He has a wealth of qualifications, as well as being a fully qualified arborist, he also carries the certificates to do power line work and stump grinding.

With his team he is capable of carrying out any task, from forestry work to specimen tree pruning, crown thinning and crown reductions.

James Dyke, Tree surgeon

James is Maydencroft Rural's second climber, he became a fully qualified arborist in 2008.

Working alongside Tom Ruffle, James' acrobatic skills in the canopy are impressive, and his experience has made him a safe and very efficient operator.

Linda Eldridge, Office Secretary

Linda has been with Maydencroft since its inception in 2007.

An invaluable member of the team, Linda looks after the accounts and payroll for Maydencroft Rural, Farm and Land Advisory, and manages the office.