Excavators on a reduced-level dig

Car Parks, Groundwork & Machine Services Across Devon & Bristol

Complete car parks built from the subgrade up — including solar car ports, EV bays and the quarterly cleaning that keeps them earning. Plus excavation, drainage, clearance and landscaping, all from one contractor.

Car ParksSolar Car PortsCommercialAgriculturalDeveloper Support
Free Online Quotes
Machine-Led Specialists
Devon & Bristol Coverage
Commercial & Domestic
Reliable Project Management
Fast Response
What we do

Serious groundwork. Proper machinery. Built to last.

High-value machine-led services, delivered by one contractor from first cut to finished ground — led by car park construction and solar car ports.


Car Park Installation and Surfacing

Car Park Installation

Complete car parks built from the subgrade up — drainage, kerbing, surfacing and marking, plus solar car ports and EV bays.

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Digger and Operator Hire

Digger & Operator Hire

Experienced operator included on every machine — this is skilled machine work, not self-drive plant hire.

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Drainage Solutions

Drainage Solutions

Practical drainage solutions for gardens, driveways, land, commercial yards and development sites.

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Site and Ground Clearance

Site & Ground Clearance

Fast, machine-led clearance of plots, gardens, paddocks and overgrown land — cleared, grubbed out and left ready for what’s next.

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Commercial and Development Work

Commercial & Development Work

A flexible subcontract and project-support service for developers, builders, commercial clients and property managers.

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Landscaping and Garden Transformations

Landscaping & Garden Transformations

Substantial garden and landscape transformations — machine work, levels, drainage and complete outdoor projects.

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Driveways, Tracks and Hardstanding

Driveways, Tracks & Hardstanding

Strong, correctly prepared access routes and hardstanding for homes, farms, estates and commercial sites.

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Tree Work and Vegetation Management

Tree Work & Vegetation Management

Tree removal, reductions, hedges, stumps and vegetation management — frequently combined with clearance and groundwork.

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Commercial Exterior Cleaning

Commercial Exterior Cleaning

Exterior and site cleaning for commercial, industrial and hospitality premises — one-off deep cleans and scheduled maintenance.

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Agricultural and Estate Work

Agricultural & Estate Work

Reliable machine work and land-management support for farms, estates and rural properties.

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Foundation excavation and footings prepared for concrete
Who we are

Built For Bigger Jobs.


The GroundFather is the premium new identity for our established groundwork and machine services. We specialise in projects where machinery, planning and experience make the difference.

Whether you’re preparing land for a new build, transforming a large garden, clearing a commercial site or installing drainage, we provide dependable workmanship with a straightforward approach from start to finish.

You deal with Jacob directly — one point of contact who quotes it, plans it and takes responsibility for delivering it.

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Why choose us

The straightforward way to get ground work done


One Point of Contact

You deal with Jacob from first call to finished ground — no call centres, no chasing.

Professional Machinery

The right excavators, dumpers and attachments for the job, always with an experienced operator.

Reliable Scheduling

Agreed dates that hold. You’ll know when we arrive, what happens and how long it takes.

Transparent Quotes

Clear written quotes with the scope spelled out — no vague day rates, no surprise extras.

Residential & Commercial

From back gardens to development sites, holiday parks and industrial yards.

Respect For Your Property

Ground protection, tidy working and a proper clean-up before we leave site.

Machine-Led Efficiency

Machines do the heavy work — jobs that take a crew of labourers days are done in hours.

Large-Scale Capability

Set up for bigger and more difficult projects: bulk dig, clearance, access and multi-stage work.

Clear Communication

Straight answers, photo updates and one plan everyone understands.

Project showcase

The work speaks for itself


Cleared, mulched ground after machine clearance
Overgrown scrub before clearance
BeforeAfter

Overgrown scrub, brambles and saplings — cleared and mulched back to usable ground by machine. Drag to compare.

Newly surfaced car park with fresh bay markings
Car Parks

Car park rebuild & resurfacing

Dug out to formation, drainage corrected, rebuilt in compacted layers and marked out from scratch.

Newton Abbot
Solar car port canopy with EV charging point
Car Parks

Solar car port & EV bays

Canopy foundations, ducting and charger bases installed during the dig, ready for the array above.

Cullompton
Completed garden after dark with integrated lighting
Landscaping

Garden transformation — day to night

Levels, drainage, porcelain patio, raised planters and integrated lighting through the whole plot.

Totnes
Commercial

Trusted By Businesses, Developers & Estates


One-off projects or ongoing contracts — The GroundFather works as the groundwork, clearance, machine-work and exterior-services arm for commercial clients across Devon and Bristol.

BuildersDevelopersHotelsHoliday ParksIndustrial EstatesCommercial Property ManagersEstate OwnersFarmersFacilities ManagementLandlordsSchoolsHousing Associations
Discuss Your Project
How it works

From first photo to finished ground


Send Photos

Text or WhatsApp photos and a rough description of the job.

Initial Advice

You’ll get honest first thoughts on approach, access and budget.

Site Visit

If the job needs eyes on it, we visit and measure up properly.

Detailed Quote

A clear written quote with scope, materials and timings.

Project Scheduled

Dates agreed, machines booked, work delivered as promised.

Coverage

Areas We Cover


Based in Bovey Tracey, working across all of Devon plus Bristol, Bath and the surrounding area.

Bovey TraceyNewton AbbotExeterPlymouthTorquayPaigntonTeignmouthDawlishTotnesAshburtonTivertonBarnstapleBrixhamKingsbridgeOkehamptonBristolBathPortisheadClevedonKeynsham
Reviews

What customers say


Work across Devon and Bristol — car parks, drainage, clearance and the contracts that keep them running.

“We'd been patching the same potholes for three years. Jacob dug the whole thing out, showed us the base had never been deep enough, and rebuilt it properly. First winter without standing water since I've worked here.”

Rachel VernonNewton Abbot — Car Park Installation

“Quoted, programmed and delivered exactly as promised. They phased it so we never lost more than a third of the car park, which for a working surgery mattered more to us than the price did.”

Alan PethickCrediton — Car Park Installation

“Put the canopy bases and ducting in while the car park was already open ground. Cost a fraction of retrofitting it and the array was live months earlier than we'd planned for.”

Marcus ElleryCullompton — Solar Car Port Groundworks

“Our drainage had already beaten two other contractors. Jacob walked the field, told us where the water was actually going rather than where we assumed, and had it fixed in four days.”

Sue RadmoreOkehampton — Drainage

“Half an acre of bramble and self-set sycamore gone in two days. Mulched on site so there was nothing to cart away, and left level enough to get a mower over.”

Peter SandersonBideford — Site & Ground Clearance

“Quarterly clean on the panels and the car park. They send photographs after every visit, which sounds like a small thing but means I never have to go out and check.”

Hannah DoidgeTotnes — Quarterly Cleaning Contract

Before you publish: the six reviews above are written examples showing how the section reads when it is full — they are drafts, not real customers. Swap each one for a genuine Google review and delete the draft class on the card to remove the “Example” tag. Publishing invented reviews is prohibited under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 and the CMA has enforced it since April 2025, so this is worth ten minutes before launch.

FAQ

Straight answers to common questions


How do I get a quote?
The quickest way is the free online quote form — add photos and a short description and you’ll get initial advice fast. You can also call or WhatsApp Jacob directly on 07397 042753. Quotes are free and without obligation.
Which areas do you cover?
All of Devon — including Newton Abbot, Exeter, Torquay, Plymouth, Totnes and the surrounding towns and villages — plus Bristol, Bath and the surrounding area. If you’re not sure, ask; we regularly travel for the right projects.
What machinery do you use?
Excavators, dumpers and attachments matched to the job — from tight-access machines that fit through a garden gate up to plant for bulk excavation and site clearance. Every machine comes with an experienced operator; we don’t offer self-drive hire.
Do you take on commercial contracts?
Yes. We work with builders, developers, holiday parks, hotels, landlords, facilities managers and industrial sites — both one-off projects and ongoing scheduled work.
Do you do tree work?
Yes — tree removal, felling, reductions, hedges, stumps and vegetation clearance, usually as part of wider clearance or groundwork. Tree work is subject to site assessment, access, project requirements and any necessary permissions.
Can you fix waterlogged ground or drainage problems?
Yes. We install and repair practical drainage — French drains, land drains, soakaways, channel drains and surface-water systems — for gardens, driveways, yards, fields and development sites.
What counts as groundworks?
Everything that happens before and below the finished surface: excavation, footings, trenches, levelling, sub-bases, concrete base preparation, drainage and ground preparation for construction or landscaping.
How far in advance do I need to book?
Lead times vary with the season and the size of the job. Smaller jobs can often be slotted in quickly; larger projects are best booked ahead. Get in touch with your dates and we’ll tell you straight what’s realistic.
Do you remove waste and spoil?
Spoil, green waste and rubble removal can be arranged as part of most projects, and it’s priced clearly in your quote. Hazardous materials are excluded.
Can you supply materials?
Yes — hardcore, sub-base stone, decorative aggregates, topsoil and other materials can be supplied and installed as part of the job, so you’re not coordinating separate deliveries.
Are you insured?
Yes. We carry public liability insurance, together with any further cover the work requires. Documentation is available on request — just ask and we will send it over before work starts.
What about tight or difficult access?
Difficult access is a speciality, not a problem. Tight-access machines, careful planning and the right kit mean we can work in back gardens, courtyards, slopes and awkward sites others turn down.
How long will my project take?
It depends on scope, ground conditions and weather, but your quote will include an honest estimate — and because the work is machine-led, most projects move quickly once we’re on site.
How does payment work?
Payment terms are agreed up front in your quote. Larger projects are typically staged, so you always know what’s due and when.
Do you charge for site visits?
No — site visits for quoting are free within our coverage area.
Free quotes · No obligation

Let’s Build Something Proper.

Whether you’re preparing land for construction, transforming a property or clearing a commercial site, we’d be happy to discuss your project.

Car Park Installation & Surfacing

Complete car parks built from the subgrade up — dig, drainage, sub-base, kerbing, surfacing and line marking. Plus solar car ports, EV bays and the quarterly cleaning that keeps them earning.

The service

What we do


A car park is the most heavily-loaded, worst-drained, hardest-worn surface most sites own — and it is nearly always the first thing a visitor stands on. It is also, unlike a roof or a yard, a piece of engineering: falls, build-up depths, edge restraint and drainage all have to be right before a single tonne of tarmac is laid.

We build car parks as one continuous sequence. Strip and dig, formation proof-rolled and signed off, drainage and ducting in, sub-base laid and compacted in layers, kerbs and edge restraint set on concrete, then surfacing, bays and signage. One contractor holds the levels from formation to finished surface, which is the only reliable way to stop water sitting where cars park.

That covers everything from a six-bay staff overflow to a full commercial car park with access road, drainage, lighting ducts, EV bays and a solar canopy over the top.

Who it's for

  • Businesses and offices expanding or resurfacing staff and visitor parking
  • Schools, village halls, surgeries, churches and community buildings
  • Pubs, hotels, farm shops and holiday sites needing proper customer parking
  • Developers and main contractors needing the parking and access element delivered
  • Landlords and property managers with tired, potholed or badly-draining car parks
  • Farms and estates converting yards and hardstanding into usable parking

What's included

  • Site strip & reduced-level excavation
  • Formation preparation & proof rolling
  • Geotextile separation & capping layers
  • Type 1 sub-base, laid & compacted in layers
  • Surface-water drainage & gullies
  • Linear channel & ACO drainage
  • Soakaways & SuDS attenuation
  • Kerbing, edging & concrete haunching
  • Tarmac surfacing (binder & surface course)
  • Resin-bound & block-paved finishes
  • Permeable paving construction
  • Bay marking & thermoplastic lining
  • Disabled bays, hatching & directional markings
  • Speed tables, ramps & traffic islands
  • Ducting for lighting, CCTV & EV points
  • Solar car port bases & foundations
  • Kerbed planting islands & landscaping
  • Pothole repair & overlay resurfacing
The part you never see

A car park is mostly what's underneath it


Almost every failed car park failed below the surface. Too shallow a dig, no separation over soft ground, sub-base laid in one thick lift instead of compacted layers, or no edge restraint to stop the tarmac creeping. Here is the build-up we work to, and why each layer is there.

Depths shown are typical for car and light-van parking. Delivery lorries, refuse vehicles, coaches or heavy plant need a deeper build-up — commonly 40mm surface, 80mm binder and 300mm-plus of sub-base. The dig depth is confirmed on site once we see the ground, and it's in your written quote before we start.

Solar car ports

The car park stops being dead space


A car park is a large, flat, south-facing, entirely unused surface that a business already owns and already maintains. A solar car port puts a canopy of PV panels over the bays: the cars get shelter, the building gets electricity, and the EV chargers get something to charge from. It is the most obvious use of commercial land in Britain that almost nobody has got round to yet — and the sites that move early get the grid connection and the grant money while both are still available.

Solar car port canopy over parking bays with an EV charging point Rows of solar car port canopies over a commercial car park

Why they make sense

No roof needed

Ideal where the building roof is shaded, north-facing, asbestos, fragile, leased, or already full. The car park has none of those problems.

Powers your EV bays

Chargers fed largely from generation directly overhead, rather than pulling everything through an already-loaded incoming supply.

Sheltered parking

Staff and customer cars kept out of rain, frost and summer heat — the benefit people actually notice day to day.

Visible commitment

Unlike roof panels, everyone who visits the site sees it. It reads on tenders, ESG reporting and planning applications.

The numbers, honestly

Installed cost

Commercial solar car ports typically run £800–£1,400 per installed kW, or very roughly £10,000 per bay once the steel, foundations, panels and electrical connection are counted. A 50kW system usually lands between £40,000 and £70,000 excluding VAT.

Payback

Generally 5–10 years, driven mostly by how much of the generation you use on site rather than export. A site that runs machinery, refrigeration or chargers through the day pays back fastest.

Service life

25–30 years for a properly engineered structure and good panels, with the frame typically outlasting the first set of modules.

Ongoing cost

Government modelling puts maintenance at roughly £1,400 a year for an 80-space canopy. Cleaning is the main variable — see below.

Figures are industry benchmarks for budgeting, not a quotation. Real cost depends on span, wind loading, ground conditions, grid connection and how far the DNO makes you go. We give you a site-specific figure after a survey.

Planning: easier than most people assume

Since December 2023, England has had a dedicated permitted development right — Class OA — for solar canopies over off-street parking at commercial premises. It removes the need for a full planning application in most cases, though you still submit a prior approval application to the local authority, which commonly takes around eight to ten weeks.

The Class OA conditions

No part of the canopy above 4m in height. Not within 10m of the curtilage of a house or block of flats. No advertising on the structure. Not on, or within the curtilage of, a listed building or scheduled monument. Where the canopy sits over a permeable surface, run-off has to be directed back to a permeable area within the parking area.

Devon's complication

Dartmoor National Park and the county's National Landscapes bring extra scrutiny, and conservation areas and Article 2(3) land can pull a scheme back into a full application. Working from Bovey Tracey we deal with Dartmoor's planners regularly — it's worth a conversation before you design anything.

Not England?

Class OA applies in England only. Schemes in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland follow their own routes and will usually need a conventional application.

Drainage still matters

A canopy turns a permeable car park into a collecting surface. Where run-off increases, the drainage design has to absorb it — which is exactly the groundworks half of the job.

Grants, tax relief and funding

There is no single national cash grant that pays for commercial solar — anyone promising one is usually recycling a closed scheme. What genuinely exists is a mix of EV charging grants, tax relief and export income, and stacked together they move the numbers a long way. Here is the position as things stand in mid-2026.

Workplace Charging Scheme

The one that is actually a grant. Up to £500 per socket since 1 April 2026 (raised from £350), covering up to 75% of purchase and installation including VAT, for up to 40 sockets per applicant — a ceiling of £20,000. Open to businesses, charities and public bodies with dedicated off-street parking. Sole traders and domestic properties are excluded, and it must be claimed through an OZEV-authorised installer. It has been extended for a final year and closes 31 March 2027.

Annual Investment Allowance

Solar counts as plant and machinery, so the AIA lets a business write off 100% of the cost against taxable profit in year one, up to £1m of qualifying spend. For a company paying corporation tax at 25%, that is roughly 25% of the project cost back as tax relief in the first year. The most valuable incentive on this list for most businesses.

0% VAT

Zero-rated VAT on qualifying solar equipment and installation is confirmed to run until at least 31 March 2027. Straightforward saving, no application, but worth timing a project around.

Smart Export Guarantee

Licensed suppliers must pay for surplus electricity exported to the grid. Rates vary considerably between suppliers, so it is worth shopping the tariff rather than defaulting to your existing one — but self-consumption is nearly always worth more than export.

Local Growth Fund

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which used to fund up to 75% of SME solar, closed to new applications on 31 March 2026. From 1 April 2026 it is partly replaced by the Local Growth Fund — £1.5bn over three years, administered through Combined Authorities. Availability is patchy and geographic, so check what your local authority is actually running.

Rural & public sector routes

Rural business funding can cover 25–50% of project cost with awards typically between £5,000 and £50,000 — relevant across much of Devon. Public bodies, schools, NHS trusts and councils can access Salix interest-free loans. State-funded schools also have their own charging grant rate, which dropped from £2,500 to £2,000 per socket on 1 April 2026.

Power Purchase Agreement

The genuine zero-capital route. A third party funds, owns and maintains the system and sells you the power, usually 15–30% below grid rates. You get cheaper electricity and no capital outlay; they get the asset and the incentives. Worth modelling against buying outright before you commit.

Schemes that have closed

Both the EV Infrastructure Grant for staff and fleets and the Commercial Landlord EV Chargepoint Grant closed permanently on 31 March 2026. If you find a page still advertising them, the page is out of date.

Two honest caveats. Grant rates, deadlines and eligibility change often — everything above was correct in mid-2026, and should be confirmed against GOV.UK and your local authority before you budget on it. And to be clear about our own role: we build the car park, the foundations, the drainage and the ducting, and we work alongside accredited PV and EV specialists for the panels, the electrical work and the grant claim itself. We'll tell you who to talk to, and coordinate the sequence so the trades aren't tripping over each other.

Discuss a Solar Car Port
Aftercare

The Quarterly Clean


A solar car port only earns what reaches the cells. Panels sit at a shallow angle, so rain alone does not rinse them properly — dust, pollen, moss, lichen, tree sap, salt and bird mess build up along the bottom edge of every module and stay there.

On a clean urban site that soiling might cost a few percent of annual yield. On the sites we actually work on across Devon — next to fields, under trees, on the coast, near farm traffic or a busy road — it goes well beyond that, and a shaded strip along one edge of a panel drags down the whole string, not just the dirty part.

So we run a quarterly cleaning contract for every solar car port we build, and for ones we didn't. Four visits a year, scheduled around your site, keeping the array at full output instead of quietly losing a slice of it every season.

It is the same crew and the same equipment as our commercial exterior cleaning arm — deionised water, telescopic pure-water poles, no detergents and no abrasives that would void a panel warranty. We already own the access kit, which is why we can do it at a sensible price rather than a specialist call-out rate.

What each visit covers

  • Full panel wash, deionised water, no chemicals
  • Bottom-edge soiling and moss growth removed
  • Bird fouling and lichen treated
  • Visual check of fixings, clamps and frame
  • Gutter, downpipe and outlet clear-through
  • Drainage channels and gullies checked
  • EV charger housings and bollards cleaned
  • Bay markings and signage washed down
  • Short written report with photographs
  • Anything found flagged before it becomes a bill
Price a Cleaning Contract
Not our installation? That's fine — we clean and maintain existing solar car ports and canopy arrays across Devon and Bristol regardless of who built them.
The details

How the work is delivered


Machines used

Excavators and dumpers sized to the site, rollers and plate compactors for the sub-base, and a laser level on the job from formation onward. Larger surfacing is laid by paver with our surfacing partners; smaller areas and repairs are hand-laid and rolled.

Phasing & access

Most car parks belong to a business that still needs to trade. We phase the work section by section, keep marked routes open, and where it suits the site we work evenings or weekends so you never lose the whole car park at once.

Drainage & SuDS

Falls are set so water runs to gullies and channels rather than into the building or across the entrance. Where a soakaway or attenuation is needed we design and build it in, and we can construct in permeable materials where run-off has to be controlled.

Markings & compliance

Bays set out to standard dimensions, with disabled bays, hatching, directional arrows and signage. Thermoplastic for long life on busy commercial sites, paint where a lighter or temporary finish suits.

Ducting for later

Ducts for lighting, CCTV, barriers and EV points go in during the dig, while the ground is open. Retrofitting them afterwards means cutting a car park you've just paid to build.

Waste & materials

Planings, spoil and muck-away are priced into the quote. Where the existing surface can be crushed and reused as sub-base on site, we'll say so — it usually saves a meaningful sum on tipping and haulage.

Recent work

On site


Newly surfaced car park with fresh white bay markingsKerb laying and concrete haunching during car park constructionAerial view of a completed car park with kerbed planting island and drainage

More photos being added — see the project gallery.

FAQ

Common questions


How long does a car park take to build?
A small car park of ten to twenty bays is usually one to two weeks from strip to line marking. A larger commercial scheme with drainage, kerbing and an access road runs three to six weeks. Phasing to keep the site trading adds time but is nearly always worth it. You get a programme with your quote, not a vague estimate.
Can you resurface rather than rebuild?
Often, yes. If the sub-base is sound and the problem is surface wear, planing off and overlaying is far cheaper than a full rebuild. If the failures are potholes that keep coming back, edges breaking up, or water sitting in the same places every winter, the base is the problem and overlaying it just buries the fault for a year. We'll tell you which one you've got — including when the honest answer is the cheaper one.
Do I need planning permission for a car park?
Resurfacing or repairing an existing car park generally does not. Creating a new one, changing the use of land, or significantly increasing hard surfacing often does, particularly where surface-water drainage is affected. Solar canopies over existing commercial parking usually fall under Class OA permitted development in England but still need prior approval. We'll flag what applies to your site early on.
Can you install EV charging points?
We build everything up to and including the ducting, bases, bollard foundations and bay construction, and we work with accredited EV installers for the chargers and the electrical connection. That matters for grants: the Workplace Charging Scheme has to be claimed through an OZEV-authorised installer, so the electrical side needs to be someone who holds that authorisation.
Is a solar car port worth it on a smaller car park?
Below about ten to fifteen bays the per-kW cost climbs and the business case gets harder, unless you have high daytime consumption or you're building the car park from scratch anyway — in which case the foundations go in during the dig for a fraction of what they cost to retrofit. Even if the canopy is years away, putting the bases and ducting in now is cheap insurance.
Do you clean solar car ports you didn't install?
Yes. The quarterly cleaning contract is open to any solar canopy or car park array in Devon and Bristol, whoever built it. We use pure water and no detergents, so there is no risk to panel warranties.
What about the rest of the groundworks?
Car parks are what this page is about, but they're one part of a broader groundworks operation — foundations, footings, drainage, service trenches, concrete bases, site preparation, levelling and bulk excavation. If your project needs the ground sorted before anything else happens, that's the same crew and the same machines.

Related services

Free quotes · No obligation

Let's Build Something Proper.

Whether you're resurfacing a tired car park, building one from scratch or putting a solar canopy over the top of it, we'd be happy to discuss your project.

Drainage Solutions

Practical drainage solutions for gardens, driveways, land, commercial yards and development sites.

The service

What we do


Standing water ruins lawns, floods driveways, makes fields unusable and undermines buildings. The fix is rarely complicated — it’s correctly specified, machine-installed drainage that moves water where it should go and keeps it there.

The GroundFather installs and repairs practical drainage across Devon and Bristol: French drains and land drains for waterlogged ground, soakaways and storm-water systems, channel and ACO drainage for driveways and yards, and ditch clearance and reshaping for rural land. Every system is dug, laid, stoned and backfilled properly — because drainage only works if the groundwork behind it is right.

Who it’s for

  • Homeowners with waterlogged gardens or flooding driveways
  • Farmers and landowners with wet fields, blocked ditches and gateways that won’t dry
  • Commercial yards and car parks with standing water
  • Builders and developers needing surface-water drainage installed as part of a wider project

What’s included

  • Drainage installation
  • French drains & land drains
  • Surface-water & storm-water drainage
  • Soakaways
  • Drainage trenches
  • Channel drains & ACO drainage
  • Yard, driveway & garden drainage
  • Field drainage
  • Waterlogged ground solutions
  • Drainage repairs & improvements
  • Ditch clearance & reshaping
  • Culvert clearance where appropriate
The details

How the work is delivered


Machines used

Excavators with trenching buckets cut clean, accurate falls quickly — far faster and neater than hand digging, especially in heavy Devon clay.

Access

Tight-access machines mean drainage can be installed in established gardens without wrecking everything around the trench line.

Waste & spoil

Trench arisings are removed or reused on site as agreed in the quote.

Materials

Perforated pipe, clean drainage stone, membranes and channel systems supplied and installed.

Recent work

On site


Drainage Solutions — project photoDrainage Solutions — project photoDrainage Solutions — project photo

More photos being added — see the project gallery.

FAQ

Common questions


How do you know what drainage I need?
We look at where the water comes from, where it sits and where it can legitimately go, then recommend the simplest system that solves it — and tell you honestly if a bigger fix is needed.
Will my garden be destroyed in the process?
No. Machine choice, ground protection and tidy trench work keep disruption to the working line — and we reinstate as agreed.
Do you clear existing ditches?
Yes — ditch clearance and reshaping is routine work for farms, estates and rural properties, and culvert clearance where appropriate.
Can drainage be added to a driveway or landscaping project?
It should be. Drainage is designed into our driveway, hardstanding and landscaping work from the start — it’s much cheaper than retrofitting it later.

Related services

Free quotes · No obligation

Let’s Build Something Proper.

Whether you’re preparing land for construction, transforming a property or clearing a commercial site, we’d be happy to discuss your project.

Digger & Operator Hire

Experienced operator included on every machine — this is skilled machine work, not self-drive plant hire.

The service

What we do


Sometimes you don’t need a full project managed — you need a digger, a dumper and someone who genuinely knows how to use them. The GroundFather provides machine-and-operator hire across Devon and Bristol for builders, landscapers, farmers and homeowners: you point at the work, we make it disappear.

Every machine comes with an experienced operator. That matters: a skilled operator does in a day what an inexperienced one does in three, without wrecking the lawn, the drains or the machine. We don’t offer self-drive hire.

Who it’s for

  • Builders who need excavation, trenching or muck shifting on their programme
  • Landscapers who need the heavy dig done before their finishing work
  • Farmers and smallholders with tracks, ditches, banks and yards to sort
  • Homeowners with a big dig and no appetite for a hand-shovel weekend

What’s included

  • Digger & operator hire
  • Mini digger with operator
  • Excavator & operator hire
  • Dumper & driver hire
  • Tight-access excavation
  • Garden excavation
  • Commercial & agricultural machine work
  • Loading & material movement
  • Soil & spoil movement
  • Ground grading & levelling
  • Bank reshaping & ground reduction
  • Trenching & breaking out
  • Site clearance with machinery
  • Track & access creation
  • Material spreading & muck shifting
  • Vegetation clearance with machinery
The details

How the work is delivered


Machines used

Micro and mini excavators for tight access through to larger machines for bulk work, plus dumpers and attachments — breakers, grading buckets, grabs — matched to the task.

Access

If it fits through the gap, we’ll get it in. Tight-access machines and ground protection make courtyards, back gardens and sloped sites workable.

Waste & spoil

Muck away and spoil removal can be added to any machine work booking.

Materials

Stone, aggregate and topsoil can be delivered, moved and spread as part of the same visit.

Recent work

On site


Digger and Operator Hire — project photoDigger and Operator Hire — project photoDigger and Operator Hire — project photo

More photos being added — see the project gallery.

FAQ

Common questions


Is this self-drive hire?
No. Every machine comes with an experienced operator — that’s where the speed, safety and finish quality come from.
Do you charge by the day or by the job?
Either. Day-rate machine work suits builders and rolling projects; fixed-price quotes suit defined jobs. You’ll get a clear figure before we start.
Can you work under a main contractor?
Yes — we regularly slot into other trades’ programmes and take direction from site managers.
What if my access is really tight?
Tell us the narrowest gap and we’ll match the machine to it. Difficult access is one of the main reasons people call us.

Related services

Free quotes · No obligation

Let’s Build Something Proper.

Whether you’re preparing land for construction, transforming a property or clearing a commercial site, we’d be happy to discuss your project.

Driveways, Tracks & Hardstanding

Strong, correctly prepared access routes and hardstanding for homes, farms, estates and commercial sites.

The service

What we do


A driveway or track is only as good as what’s underneath it. Skimp on the dig, the sub-base or the drainage and it ruts, puddles and breaks up within a couple of winters. Build it properly and it works for decades.

The GroundFather builds access that lasts: excavation to firm ground, geotextile where it’s needed, compacted stone sub-bases laid in proper layers, drainage designed in, and a finish to suit the setting — from clean gravel drives to heavy-duty farm tracks and commercial hardstanding.

Who it’s for

  • Homeowners replacing tired or rutted driveways
  • Farms and estates needing tracks, gateways and yards that survive winter
  • Developers and builders needing construction and site access
  • Commercial sites needing parking areas and hardstanding

What’s included

  • Driveway excavation & preparation
  • Sub-base installation
  • Gravel driveway preparation
  • Stone driveway installation
  • Farm tracks
  • Private access roads
  • Construction & site access tracks
  • Parking-area preparation
  • Hardstanding & yard preparation
  • Commercial parking preparation
  • Pothole repairs & track grading
  • Aggregate installation
  • Kerb & edging preparation
  • Driveway drainage
The details

How the work is delivered


Machines used

Excavators for the dig, dumpers for stone movement and compaction plant to build the base in proper layers — not one thick tipped load.

Access

Tracks are often in the worst-access places by definition. Machine choice and staged stone delivery are planned around it.

Waste & spoil

Excavated material is removed or regraded on site as agreed.

Materials

MOT-type sub-base, crushed stone, decorative gravels and edging supplied and installed.

Recent work

On site


Driveways, Tracks and Hardstanding — project photoDriveways, Tracks and Hardstanding — project photoDriveways, Tracks and Hardstanding — project photo

More photos being added — see the project gallery.

FAQ

Common questions


Why do driveways fail?
Almost always the base: too shallow a dig, no compaction, no drainage. We build from the ground up so the surface has something worth sitting on.
Can you repair rather than rebuild?
Yes — pothole repairs, regrading and stone top-ups can extend a track’s life considerably, and we’ll tell you honestly which is worth doing.
Do you build tracks for construction access?
Yes — temporary and permanent access tracks for builders and developers, built to carry site traffic from day one.
Is drainage included?
Where it’s needed, yes — falls, channels and soakaways are designed into the build rather than bolted on after the first flood.

Related services

Free quotes · No obligation

Let’s Build Something Proper.

Whether you’re preparing land for construction, transforming a property or clearing a commercial site, we’d be happy to discuss your project.

Landscaping & Garden Transformations

Substantial garden and landscape transformations — machine work, levels, drainage and complete outdoor projects.

The service

What we do


This is landscaping for gardens that need real work: sloped sites, bad levels, poor drainage, tired layouts and full transformations. The heavy stages — excavation, levelling, terracing, retaining structures, drainage and bases — are where a landscape project is won or lost, and they’re exactly the stages The GroundFather is built for.

From stripped ground to finished garden, one contractor manages the sequence: dig, drain, level, build, surface and finish. The result is an outdoor space that looks sharp on day one and still works after ten Devon winters.

Who it’s for

  • Homeowners planning a complete garden transformation
  • Owners of sloped or waterlogged gardens that need levels and drainage solved first
  • Developers needing new-build gardens and communal landscaping
  • Commercial and holiday-park sites needing durable, low-maintenance grounds

What’s included

  • Complete garden transformations
  • Hard & soft landscaping
  • Garden excavation & levelling
  • Sloped garden solutions & terracing
  • Retaining structures
  • Patio & paving preparation
  • Path installation & garden steps
  • Raised areas & planting-bed preparation
  • Lawn & turf preparation
  • Topsoil installation
  • Gravel & decorative stone areas
  • Garden drainage
  • Fencing & boundary preparation
  • Garden clearance
  • Commercial & new-build landscaping
  • Low-maintenance garden preparation
The details

How the work is delivered


Machines used

Tight-access excavators do the shaping, digging and lifting that breaks backs and budgets when done by hand.

Access

Established gardens with narrow side access are normal for us — machine size and ground protection are chosen to suit.

Waste & spoil

Clearance, green waste and spoil removal are built into the project plan and the quote.

Materials

Topsoil, turf, stone, aggregates, timber and hard-landscaping materials supplied and installed.

Recent work

On site


Landscaping and Garden Transformations — project photoLandscaping and Garden Transformations — project photoLandscaping and Garden Transformations — project photo

More photos being added — see the project gallery.

FAQ

Common questions


Do you take on small planting or decorative jobs?
Our landscaping work is built around substantial transformations — levels, drainage, structures and complete gardens. For light decorative-only work, a garden maintenance firm will usually serve you better.
Can you fix a sloped garden?
Yes — terracing, retaining structures and regrading turn unusable slopes into level, usable space. It’s one of our most requested jobs.
Will you handle drainage as part of the garden?
Always where it’s needed. There’s no point laying a lawn or patio over ground that holds water.
Can I see the plan before work starts?
Yes — scope, levels, materials and stages are agreed in writing before machines arrive.

Related services

Free quotes · No obligation

Let’s Build Something Proper.

Whether you’re preparing land for construction, transforming a property or clearing a commercial site, we’d be happy to discuss your project.

Site & Ground Clearance

Fast, machine-led clearance of plots, gardens, paddocks and overgrown land — cleared, grubbed out and left ready for what’s next.

The service

What we do


Overgrown ground stalls everything: sales, planning, builds, fencing, grazing. The GroundFather clears it properly — vegetation, brambles, scrub, saplings, stumps and roots taken out by machine, not strimmed over and left to grow back.

From single gardens to building plots, estates and field edges, clearance is done with the end use in mind: cleared for construction, cleared for fencing, cleared for development or simply cleared so the land is usable again.

Who it’s for

  • Developers and self-builders with plots to clear before work starts
  • Homeowners reclaiming overgrown gardens and boundaries
  • Farmers and estates clearing paddocks, hedgelines and field edges
  • Agents and landlords preparing land and property for sale or use

What’s included

  • Full site clearance
  • Building-plot clearance
  • Garden & commercial site clearance
  • Agricultural & overgrown land clearance
  • Vegetation, bramble & scrub clearance
  • Hedge-line clearance
  • Small tree & sapling clearance
  • Stump & root removal
  • Green-waste, soil & rubble removal
  • Pre-construction clearance
  • Post-demolition ground clearance
  • Access & boundary clearance
  • Clearance for fencing & development
  • Machine-led estate, paddock & field-edge clearance
Real result

Before & after — machine clearance


The same ground cleared and mulched after machine clearance
Overgrown scrub and saplings before machine clearance
BeforeAfter

One visit. Usable ground.

Scrub, brambles and self-set saplings taken back to clean ground in a single machine visit — cleared, mulched and left ready for grazing, fencing or development. Drag the slider to compare.

The details

How the work is delivered


Machines used

Excavators with grabs and flail-type attachments clear in hours what hand crews clear in weeks — and take the roots out, not just the tops.

Access

Overgrown sites usually have terrible access. We plan the way in first, and cut it if we have to.

Waste & spoil

Green waste, soil and rubble removal arranged as part of the job. Hazardous materials are excluded — if we find them, we’ll tell you and point you to the right specialists.

Materials

Cleared sites can be graded, stoned or prepared for the next stage in the same visit.

Recent work

On site


Site and Ground Clearance — project photoSite and Ground Clearance — project photoSite and Ground Clearance — project photo

More photos being added — see the project gallery.

FAQ

Common questions


Will it just grow back?
Not if it’s cleared properly. Machine clearance takes out roots and stumps rather than trimming the surface — the difference between clearing land and mowing it.
Can you clear a site ready for construction?
Yes — pre-construction clearance, grubbing out and levelling so your groundworks or build can start straight away. Often we do both stages.
Do you handle the waste?
Yes — removal of green waste, soil and rubble is quoted up front. Hazardous waste is excluded.
Is there anything you won’t clear?
Protected trees and hedgerows may need permissions before work — we’ll flag anything that looks like it needs checking rather than pretending it doesn’t.

Related services

Free quotes · No obligation

Let’s Build Something Proper.

Whether you’re preparing land for construction, transforming a property or clearing a commercial site, we’d be happy to discuss your project.

Tree Work & Vegetation Management

Tree removal, reductions, hedges, stumps and vegetation management — frequently combined with clearance and groundwork.

The service

What we do


Trees and overgrowth are usually in the way of something: light, access, a fence line, a build, or simply a safe, tidy site. The GroundFather handles tree work as part of complete ground solutions — felling, sectional dismantling where appropriate, reductions, hedges, stumps and vegetation management, with the machinery on hand to clear, grind and finish the ground afterwards.

That combination is the difference: most tree firms leave you with a pile and a stump. We can take the job through to cleared, level, usable ground.

Who it’s for

  • Homeowners with overgrown, storm-damaged or badly placed trees
  • Landowners and estates managing woodland edges and boundaries
  • Developers and builders needing trees and vegetation removed before work
  • Commercial sites needing grounds kept clear and safe

What’s included

  • Tree removal
  • Small & medium tree felling
  • Sectional dismantling where appropriate
  • Storm-damaged & fallen tree clearance
  • Tree reductions & crown lifting
  • Pruning & deadwood removal
  • Site-clearance tree work
  • Tree & scrub clearance
  • Stump grinding & stump removal
  • Root extraction
  • Hedge cutting, reductions & removal
  • Vegetation management
  • Commercial grounds clearance
  • Woodland-edge clearance
The details

How the work is delivered


How work is assessed

Tree work is subject to site assessment, access, project requirements and any necessary permissions. Some trees are covered by Tree Preservation Orders or conservation-area rules — we’ll flag anything that needs checking before a saw starts.

Access

Confined spaces, gardens and awkward drop zones are planned for — with rigging and sectional dismantling where appropriate.

Waste & spoil

Timber and arisings can be removed, processed or left as agreed — logs and chip stay on site if you want them.

The full job

Stump grinding, root extraction and ground reinstatement mean the job ends with usable ground, not an obstacle course.

Recent work

On site


Tree Work and Vegetation Management — project photoTree Work and Vegetation Management — project photoTree Work and Vegetation Management — project photo

More photos being added — see the project gallery.

FAQ

Common questions


Can any tree be removed?
No — permissions matter. Tree work is subject to site assessment, access, project requirements and any necessary permissions, and we’ll tell you straight if something needs council consent first.
Do you grind the stump too?
Yes — stump grinding and full root extraction are available, which matters if you’re fencing, building or landscaping over the spot.
What happens to the timber?
Your choice: removed, processed into logs, chipped for mulch or left stacked on site.
Can tree work be part of a bigger clearance?
That’s where we’re strongest — trees, vegetation, stumps and ground clearance handled as one job with one quote.

Related services

Free quotes · No obligation

Let’s Build Something Proper.

Whether you’re preparing land for construction, transforming a property or clearing a commercial site, we’d be happy to discuss your project.

Commercial Exterior Cleaning

Exterior and site cleaning for commercial, industrial and hospitality premises — one-off deep cleans and scheduled maintenance.

The service

What we do


First impressions are made in the car park, not the reception. Dirty cladding, stained forecourts, green paving and mossy roofs quietly tell customers a business doesn’t look after things. The GroundFather restores commercial exteriors with professional pressure washing and soft washing where appropriate — and keeps them that way on scheduled maintenance visits.

Access is part of the service: tracked lifts and reach equipment bring full-height cladding, gutters and awkward elevations within reach without scaffolding.

Who it’s for

  • Industrial units, warehouses and business parks
  • Hotels, holiday parks and hospitality sites
  • Commercial property managers and facilities management companies
  • Retail forecourts, schools and landlords

What’s included

  • Commercial & industrial pressure washing
  • Yard, car-park & forecourt cleaning
  • Warehouse & industrial-unit exterior cleaning
  • Building exterior washing
  • Cladding cleaning
  • Patio, paving, driveway & path cleaning
  • Loading-bay & bin-store cleaning
  • Graffiti removal where appropriate
  • Post-construction exterior clean-ups
  • Builders’ clean-up of external areas
  • Gutter clearance
  • Roof moss removal where suitable
  • Soft washing where appropriate
  • Commercial grounds tidy-ups
  • Scheduled exterior maintenance
  • Holiday-park, hotel & hospitality-site cleaning
The details

How the work is delivered


Equipment

Commercial pressure-washing plant, surface cleaners for large flat areas, and soft-washing methods where appropriate to the surface.

Access

Tracked spider lifts and reach equipment handle high cladding, gutters and elevations safely — access is quoted as part of the package.

Scheduling

One-off deep cleans, pre-season holiday-park packages or planned maintenance rounds — cleaning scheduled around your operating hours.

Water & runoff

Work is planned to manage water and runoff sensibly on each site.

Recent work

On site


Commercial Exterior Cleaning — project photoCommercial Exterior Cleaning — project photoCommercial Exterior Cleaning — project photoCommercial Exterior Cleaning — project photoCommercial Exterior Cleaning — project photoCommercial Exterior Cleaning — project photo

More photos being added — see the project gallery.

FAQ

Common questions


Do you only do commercial work?
Commercial and hospitality sites are the focus, but substantial domestic exterior cleans — driveways, patios, paths and gutters — are welcome, especially alongside other work.
Can you clean at height?
Yes — lift and reach equipment brings full-height cladding and gutters within reach without scaffolding, where the site suits it.
Will pressure washing damage surfaces?
Not when the method matches the surface — that’s why we use soft washing where appropriate rather than blasting everything at maximum pressure.
Do you offer regular contracts?
Yes — scheduled exterior maintenance keeps sites presentable year-round and is usually cheaper than periodic rescue cleans.

Related services

Free quotes · No obligation

Let’s Build Something Proper.

Whether you’re preparing land for construction, transforming a property or clearing a commercial site, we’d be happy to discuss your project.

Agricultural & Estate Work

Reliable machine work and land-management support for farms, estates and rural properties.

The service

What we do


Farms and estates run on access, drainage and usable ground — and all three take a hammering in a Devon winter. The GroundFather provides dependable machine work for rural clients: tracks repaired and rebuilt, gateways that stop being bogs, ditches flowing, land cleared and yards that carry weight.

It’s practical work, done by someone who turns up when agreed, works around stock and farm operations, and leaves the place tidy.

Who it’s for

  • Farmers with tracks, gateways, ditches and yards to sort
  • Estate owners and managers with ongoing land maintenance
  • Equestrian properties needing access, drainage and hardstanding
  • Rural homeowners and smallholders with land-scale jobs

What’s included

  • Farm track repairs
  • Field access & gateway preparation
  • Ditch clearance
  • Field & land drainage
  • Land & scrub clearance
  • Hedge-line & paddock clearance
  • Material movement
  • Yard preparation & hardstanding
  • Excavation & ground levelling
  • Estate access improvements
  • Woodland-edge management
  • Storm clearance
  • Machine & operator hire
  • Aggregate spreading
  • Agricultural site preparation
The details

How the work is delivered


Machines used

Excavators, dumpers and attachments suited to rural work — with an experienced operator who’s worked around farms, not just building sites.

Working around the farm

Jobs are planned around stock, cropping and farm traffic, and gates get shut behind us.

Waste & spoil

Arisings regraded, reused or removed as agreed — often the material can be used to your advantage elsewhere on the holding.

Materials

Stone and aggregate sourced, delivered and spread as part of the job.

Recent work

On site


Agricultural and Estate Work — project photoAgricultural and Estate Work — project photoAgricultural and Estate Work — project photo

More photos being added — see the project gallery.

FAQ

Common questions


Can you fix a gateway that turns to mud every winter?
Yes — dig out, drain, stone and compact. Done properly once, it stops being an annual problem.
Do you do storm clearance?
Yes — fallen trees, blocked access and storm damage cleared quickly so the farm keeps moving.
Will you take on small rural jobs?
Yes — a day’s machine work on a ditch or track is welcome, and rural day-rate work is a core part of the business.
Can you help with bigger estate projects?
Yes — access improvements, clearance programmes and multi-stage work across a holding, planned and delivered as one package.

Related services

Free quotes · No obligation

Let’s Build Something Proper.

Whether you’re preparing land for construction, transforming a property or clearing a commercial site, we’d be happy to discuss your project.

Commercial & Development Work

A flexible subcontract and project-support service for developers, builders, commercial clients and property managers.

The service

What we do


Commercial clients don’t need sales patter — they need a contractor who prices clearly, turns up on programme, works safely and communicates like a professional. That’s the offer: The GroundFather as your groundwork, clearance, machine-work and exterior-services arm across Devon and Bristol.

One-off packages or ongoing arrangements, single-stage or multi-stage: pre-construction clearance, excavation, drainage, access, aggregate installation, landscaping and external cleaning — coordinated by one point of contact who takes responsibility for the lot.

Who it’s for

  • Developers and housebuilders needing plot and site support
  • Main contractors needing a reliable machine-work and groundworks sub
  • Hotels, holiday parks and facilities managers with year-round site needs
  • Landlords, property managers and industrial estates

What’s included

  • Developer groundwork & contractor support
  • Commercial site preparation
  • Pre-construction clearance
  • Access preparation
  • Drainage, excavation & trenching
  • Spoil movement & aggregate installation
  • Commercial landscaping
  • External cleaning & grounds clearance
  • Reactive site work
  • Machine & operator hire
  • Multi-stage site packages
  • Scheduled maintenance
  • Hotel & holiday-park work
  • Facilities-management support
  • Landlord & property-management work
  • Industrial-site & housing-development support
The details

How the work is delivered


How we work with you

Fixed-price packages or day-rate support, single visits or scheduled rounds — whichever suits your programme and budget controls.

On site

RAMS-style planning, tidy working and clear communication with your site team. One point of contact throughout.

Multi-stage capability

Clearance, dig, drainage, access and finishing can be sequenced under one contractor — fewer interfaces, fewer delays.

Coverage

Devon and Bristol, including multi-site arrangements for clients with properties across both.

Recent work

On site


Commercial and Development Work — project photoCommercial and Development Work — project photoCommercial and Development Work — project photo

More photos being added — see the project gallery.

FAQ

Common questions


Can you support an ongoing programme of work?
Yes — ongoing contracts and scheduled rounds are welcome alongside one-off projects, and repeat commercial clients get priority scheduling.
Do you provide documentation?
Quotes, scope and method are put in writing, and site paperwork is provided as your project requires.
Can you react quickly?
Reactive site work is part of the offer — blocked access, storm damage, urgent clearance and short-notice machine work.
Who do we deal with?
Jacob — directly. One contact who quotes it, plans it and takes responsibility for delivery.

Related services

Free quotes · No obligation

Let’s Build Something Proper.

Whether you’re preparing land for construction, transforming a property or clearing a commercial site, we’d be happy to discuss your project.

Project Gallery

Before, during and after — machine-led work across Devon and Bristol. More projects are added regularly.

Featured comparison

Overgrown land — before & after


The same ground cleared and mulched after machine clearance
Overgrown scrub and saplings before machine clearance
BeforeAfter

Cleared, mulched, ready to use

Scrub, brambles and self-set saplings taken back to clean, usable ground in a single machine visit. Drag the slider to compare.

Site & Ground Clearance
Bideford
Featured comparison

Garden transformation — day & night


Completed garden after dark with integrated lighting
Completed garden transformation in daylight
DaylightAfter dark

Levels, drainage, structure, finish

Raised planters, porcelain patio, fresh lawn and integrated lighting — the full sequence from excavation to a garden that performs day and night. Drag the slider to compare.

Landscaping
Totnes
All projects
Newly surfaced car park with fresh bay markings
Car Parks

Car park rebuild & resurfacing

Dug out to formation, drainage corrected, rebuilt in compacted layers and marked out from scratch.

Newton Abbot
Solar car port canopy with an EV charging point
Car Parks

Solar car port & EV bays

Canopy foundations, charger bases and ducting set during the dig, ready for the array to go over the top.

Cullompton
Kerb laying and concrete haunching during car park construction
Car Parks

Kerbing, drainage & edge details

Kerb runs set on concrete with gullies and channels tied in — the edge restraint that stops tarmac creeping.

Barnstaple
Aerial view of a new car park with kerbed planting island
Car Parks

New staff car park & access road

Full build from green field: levels, drainage, kerbed islands, surfacing, bays and the road in to them.

Honiton
Foundation excavation and footings
Groundworks

Foundation excavation & footings

Reduced-level dig, footings excavated square and to depth, ready for concrete and build-up.

Exeter
Concrete base preparation and pour
Groundworks

Concrete base preparation & pour

Excavation, sub-base, shuttering and a power-floated slab — one contractor, start to finish.

Ashburton
Bulk excavation with two machines
Machine Work

Bulk excavation — two-machine dig

Coordinated excavators on a reduced-level dig with continuous spoil movement off the face.

Ivybridge
Woodland access track
Tracks & Access

Woodland access track

Vegetation cleared, ground graded and a compacted stone track built up for year-round access.

Moretonhampstead
Sectional dismantling of a large tree
Tree Work

Sectional dismantling

Controlled, rigged dismantling of a large stem in a confined space — lowered piece by piece.

Tiverton
Industrial cladding clean
Exterior Cleaning

Industrial cladding clean

Full-height cladding wash from a tracked spider lift — access equipment included in the package.

Plymouth
Complete garden transformation
Landscaping

Complete garden transformation

Levels, drainage, porcelain patio, raised planters, lawn and integrated lighting.

Dartmouth
Paddock topping and bank mowing
Agricultural

Paddock topping & bank mowing

Compact tractor and remote tracked mower keep paddocks, banks and awkward ground under control.

Okehampton

Locations shown are example towns across the coverage area — swap each one for the real town as the job is added.

Free quotes · No obligation

Let’s Build Something Proper.

Whether you’re preparing land for construction, transforming a property or clearing a commercial site, we’d be happy to discuss your project.

Areas We Cover

Based in Bovey Tracey on the edge of Dartmoor — covering all of Devon, plus Bristol, Bath and the surrounding area.

Devon

All of Devon


From our base in Bovey Tracey we’re quickly across South Devon — Newton Abbot, Torquay, Paignton, Totnes, Exeter and the Teign valley — and we regularly work throughout the county, from Plymouth and the South Hams to Tiverton, Okehampton and North Devon. Rural and difficult-access sites are a speciality.

Bovey TraceyNewton AbbotExeterPlymouthTorquayPaigntonTeignmouthDawlishTotnesAshburtonTivertonBarnstapleBrixhamKingsbridgeOkehampton
Bristol & Bath

Bristol, Bath & surrounds


We also serve Bristol, Bath and the surrounding towns — ideal for developers, commercial clients and property managers who want one contractor working across both regions.

BristolBathPortisheadClevedonKeynsham

Not listed? Ask anyway — we regularly travel for the right projects, and quotes are free.

Free quotes · No obligation

Let’s Build Something Proper.

Whether you’re preparing land for construction, transforming a property or clearing a commercial site, we’d be happy to discuss your project.

Built For Bigger Jobs.

The premium identity for our established groundwork and machine services.

The GroundFather

One contractor. Complete site transformation.


The GroundFather is the premium new identity for our established groundwork and machine services, run by Jacob and based in Bovey Tracey, Devon. We specialise in projects where machinery, planning and experience make the difference — excavation, drainage, clearance, tracks, landscaping and commercial exterior work across Devon and Bristol.

The approach is deliberately simple. One point of contact. Honest advice before a machine is booked. Clear written quotes. Agreed dates that hold. Respect for your property while the work happens, and a proper clean-up when it’s done.

Most of our work involves several stages — clear it, dig it, drain it, stone it, finish it. Handling those stages under one contractor is exactly what The GroundFather is built for: fewer trades to coordinate, fewer gaps for things to go wrong in, and one person taking responsibility for the result.

We’re not positioned as the cheapest option, and that’s intentional. We’re positioned as the contractor you call when the job needs to be done properly, once.

Get a Free Quote
Machine-built stone access track through woodland
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Talk the job through with Jacob.

Photos and a rough description are enough to get honest first advice — no obligation, no hard sell.

Talk to Jacob

Call, WhatsApp or send a message — photos of the job get the fastest, most useful answers.

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