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  James January 13, 2009 at 9:32pm

  As you say Nicky I moved from Cheshire up to Edinburgh. I was probably a bit navie at the amount of work it has needed to re-establish myself. I was lucky in the fact that I didn't have many ties and my girlfriend already lived in the city so I was able to make some quick contacts etc.
  
  I decided to take a Job with Green Thumb just to get me through the winter. This proved to be a good move,I learn't alot about the city and made good contacts with potential clients while working for someone else !
  
  It has taken quite a while to get my name out there and I'm still working hard at it. This will be my second spring/summer up here so i'm hoping this year things will move forward. I was aprehensive that there are already alot of landscapers, garden designers and gardeners in Edinburgh and it seems very competitive but I think there is always going to be room for another business that builds a good reputation.
  
  It has also taken sometime to find the best suppliers etc but I guess thats a bit of trial and error.
  
  I really fancied a change of scenery and i'm glad I did it, I do sometimes have my moments when I think have I done the right thing ? but they are very few and far between. I hope the scottish summer is better than last year !
  
  If you do go for it, best of luck to you
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  Kevin Munt January 13, 2009 at 9:46pm

  Hampshire is beautiful with lots of large homes with gardens that require landscape work! Problem is there are a lot of landscapers here. If you are good you will do well here. Go for it and good luck.
  
  Kev
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  Nicky @ GardenImprovements.com January 15, 2009 at 10:01pm

  Thank you both for the encouragement and for the frank response regarding possible difficulties. I reckon there would be quite alot of work involved in changing address to a new town - especially on the advertising front. There is also the competition factor, but Glasgow has had enormous competition in this industry in the last few years also so perhaps not a huge set-back.
  
  One benefit might be in being closer to the centre of the world - London - where the prospect of recognition and entry into prestigious competitions might bear fruit. It was the same concept as when I studied to be a film and TV director and storyboarder - all the really juicy stuff was in London. Same for my wife in the Cheffing industry; London is the place to be. It seems that anything creative in the uK revolves around London - generally speaking. Obviously there is masses of creative talent all over the country but I think the epicentre (so to speak) is London. Or perhaps I'm being naive about this - what are the thoughts of the rest of the nation?
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  Nicky @ GardenImprovements.com January 17, 2009 at 12:16pm

  Clive Warwick said:

  Yes we moved our business from London to Dorset, wow what a difference in lifestyle.

  
  Hi Clive, so do you think you have been there long enough to decide which area you preferred?
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  Colin Elliott January 17, 2009 at 4:26pm

  Hi Nicky,
  
  We went through the process you have started, due to an illness my wife suffered. It took quite some while to get where we now are: in central France.
  
  We used to have 15 landscapers involved in the construction of domestic gardens but after nearly 15 years "let them go" and worked with a small landscaping company on a commission basis. With this arrangement, we continued to rent an office and promoted the company as we always had, undertook all the designs and produced the quotations. The landscaping was then undertaken under our name by this third party.
  
  In September 2008 however, we closed down the office and moved to France. We hope to create a new garden design business down here and also to teach CAD to landscapers and designers. We are loving it in France and are currently renovating a great looking house which will become our home and office.
  
  Its been a long, long time since we earned any money and starting a new business in France is like starting one anywhere else: its hard work. Add to that the additional problems of a different country, different market and the strange rules and regulations and you can see you need a sense of humour.
  
  One big difference between us and several other Brits I have bumped into is that although we may have a tough time surviving we have no intention of going back to the UK at any point. Once you burn your bridges then you have no option but to make a success of it. In the short time we have been here several other Brits have returned home. For me, France is now home.
  
  Colin
  www.gardendesignfrance.com
  www.garden-design.co.uk
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  Susan January 17, 2009 at 6:52pm

  oh wow, I would love to move to France....well done for having the courage!
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  Kerrie John-The garden design Co January 17, 2009 at 6:56pm

  I agree, it was very brave. Presumably your French is pretty good?
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  Phil Voice January 17, 2009 at 6:59pm

  Hi Colin
  
  I would like to have a chat with you about landscaping and France at some stage - perhaps this coming week?
  
  I love it here too (nearly four and a half years for me).
  
  All the best
  
  
  Phil