Kevin Hare operates Totnes Gardening, a service focused on "quiet gardening" and ecological practices across Totnes and the wider South Hams area. Drawing on over 20 years of experience—including training at Dartington Hall Gardens—he specializes in sustainable and low-impact horticulture.

Kevin Hare’s Totnes Gardening focuses heavily on blending traditional garden care with a highly ecological, low-impact approach. Drawing on over 20 years of experience and training from Dartington Hall Gardens, his services cater to everything from small town courtyards in Bridgetown to large country estates in Staverton.

Here is a deep dive into the specific services his company offers:

Core Garden Maintenance & Overhauls

  • Lawn Care & Groundwork: Beyond standard mowing, he provides full turf laying using local turf, grass seeding, aeration, mulching, and moss control. His approach moves away from "green deserts" to lawns that actually support biodiversity.

  • Weeding & Border Care: Detailed hand-weeding and seasonal care to preserve soil health.

  • Hedge Trimming: Shaping for ornamental hedges and maintaining agricultural boundaries.

  • "Lifesaver" Clearances: One-off, heavy clearances designed to reclaim completely overgrown spaces. He typically runs these in late winter (to prep for spring) or late autumn (to clear before frosts), ensuring that dormant bulbs and soil structure aren't damaged in the process.

  • Winter Gardening: Dormant-season structural work and pruning.

Rewilding & Ecological Restoration

Kevin is known for treating gardens as living ecosystems rather than just plots of land.

  • Wildflower Meadows: He uses a bespoke "Totnes Mix" of native seeds—including Yellow Rattle, which naturally suppresses aggressive grass—to create self-sustaining ecological corridors. He uses a specific "Reset, Sow, Tread" methodology to ensure the seeds take hold in the local heavy clay soil.

  • Habitat Creation: Building log piles and installing wildlife ponds (specifically designed without fish to protect insect larvae).

  • Organic Landscaping: He avoids synthetic chemicals entirely, opting instead to feed the soil using homemade compost tea, local Devon seaweed extract (to strengthen plant cell walls against frost), and winter green manures like clover or phacelia to naturally fix nitrogen.

Soft Landscaping & Specialist Design

  • Planting Plans: Sourcing shrubs and trees guaranteed to succeed in specific local soil and light conditions. For urban courtyards, he focuses on fragrant, low-maintenance options like lavender, rosemary, and climbing jasmine.

  • Japanese Gardens: Drawing on the meditative atmosphere of the Dartington estate, he designs and maintains "Devon Zen" spaces featuring moss gardens and specialized cloud pruning (Niwaki).

  • Cold Plunge Pools: Design and installation of outdoor cold plunge pools.

Storm Rescue & Recovery

Because the South Hams area is prone to rough weather, he offers priority "Post-Storm" rescue services.

  • Rapid clearance of wind-blown debris, heavy branches, and fallen leaves.

  • Safety checks for unstable structures or loose tree limbs.

  • Fence stabilization and repair.

The "Quiet Gardening" Operations Model

Kevin operates strictly on a "Quiet Gardening" ethos. He uses 100% professional battery-powered tools to reduce noise pollution by 70% and eliminate petrol fumes entirely.

He is fully insured and operates as a registered Environment Agency Waste Carrier (CBDL612576), meaning all green waste is ethically and legally removed for composting.

Typical Rates:

  • Standard Maintenance: ~£35 per hour.

  • Specialist/Rewilding/Design Projects: £35–£45+ per hour.

Core Garden Maintenance

  • Lawn Care & Maintenance: Precision mowing, turf laying, grass seeding, aeration, and mulching.

  • Plant Care & Weeding: Hand-weeding, border care, and seasonal pruning (including winter structural pruning).

  • Hedge Trimming: Shaping ornamental hedges and maintaining agricultural boundaries.

  • "Lifesaver" Clearances: Heavy garden clearances to reclaim overgrown spaces, usually done in late winter or autumn to prep the soil and avoid damaging dormant bulbs.

  • Storm Rescue: Rapid cleanup of wind-blown debris, heavy branches, and leaf litter following bad weather.

Specialized & Ecological Projects

  • Rewilding & Wildflower Meadows: He creates biodiversity-rich corridors using a bespoke "Totnes Mix" of native seeds (like Yellow Rattle) that thrive in the South Devon climate.

  • Habitat Creation: Building log piles and installing wildlife ponds (designed without fish to protect larvae).

  • Organic Landscaping: He feeds the soil using organic methods like homemade compost tea, local seaweed extract, and winter green manures (like Clover) rather than synthetic chemicals.

  • Japanese Garden Design: He designs meditative spaces featuring cloud pruning (Niwaki) and moss gardens.

His Approach and Rates

Kevin is known for his "Quiet Gardening" philosophy, exclusively using professional battery-powered tools to minimize noise pollution and eliminate petrol fumes. He is fully insured and a registered Environment Agency Waste Carrier, ensuring all green waste is removed and composted legally.

  • Standard Maintenance: ~£35 per hour

  • Specialist/Rewilding Projects: £35–£45+ per hour

Contact Information: