Business Peak District speaks to Gary Moorhouse, Commercial Director of Thompson Trees, who explains how the sense of pride and responsibility brought about by working in the Peak District also comes with many challenges.
About the Business
Founded in 2009 and proudly based in Wirksworth, Thompsons Group has grown into a leading UK provider of arboricultural, ecological, and environmental services. The business is made up of three core divisions — Thompson Tree Services, Thompson Consultancy, and Thompson Environment — allowing us to deliver a full turnkey solution to clients in construction, infrastructure, planning, and facilities management.
We work with principal contractors, developers, local authorities, and architects across the country, offering everything from tree surveys and ecology reports to full site clearance, fencing, and landscaping. Our USP is the integrated nature of our offering — combining technical consultancy with on-the-ground delivery using in-house teams, modern equipment, and robust project management systems. This ensures joined-up thinking, reduced risk, and exceptional service for our clients.
Key Achievements
In the past year, we’ve expanded both our consultancy and contracting operations significantly. We’ve grown our ecology and arboricultural consultancy department, invested in specialist machinery such as a 30m Jekko V-MAX crane, and secured new national framework agreements and large infrastructure contracts.
Being located in the Peak District has helped shape our approach. We understand the sensitivities of working in protected landscapes, and our teams are highly experienced in delivering environmentally responsible work in National Parks, SSSIs and other ecologically significant areas.
Our central UK location also provides easy access to surrounding regions, making us a practical and trusted partner for major projects across the Midlands and beyond.
What is it like to do business in the Peak District?
Doing business in the Peak District brings a sense of pride and responsibility. The area’s natural beauty and significant areas with protected status influence how we think, plan and operate. There is a strong sense of community and collaboration, and access to a skilled workforce that values the environment.
However, there are challenges too. Planning and regulatory constraints in such a sensitive area require deep technical understanding and careful navigation, something we’ve built into our team. Transport links and infrastructure can also be more limited compared to urban centres, so operational planning has to be sharp.
Looking ahead, the biggest threat to businesses like ours is the growing burden of compliance, skills shortages in the environmental and arboricultural sectors, and uncertainty around environmental policy and funding. We need continued support and flexibility from local and national stakeholders to meet these challenges head-on.
How does Business Peak District support your ambitions?
Networking groups such as Business Peak District can play a vital role in connecting organisations like ours that are rooted in the local economy but operate nationally. It creates a platform to share knowledge, showcase success, and advocate for the needs of businesses in rural areas.
The Future
Over the next two years, our key focus is to expand our consultancy services particularly tree and ecology surveys to support planning and development. We will continually invest in technology and talent to improve operational efficiency. We aim to grow our Thompson Environment division to support more green infrastructure and habitat creation projects.
Our arboricultural services through Thompson Tree Services division will always be the core of our business and we will continue to work with and expand upon our brilliant client base that we have here.
To help us achieve this, we welcome support from BPD and other stakeholders in:
- Championing the need for vocational skills development in arboriculture, ecology and wider environment based roles.
- Supporting environmentally responsible development in rural areas.
- Connecting us with local planning, infrastructure and development initiatives.
- Encouraging innovation in environmental service delivery.
With the right support, we’re confident that we can continue to grow sustainably and contribute meaningfully to both the Peak District economy and the wider UK environment.
This case study was also featured on page 37 of Business Network Magazine (June 2025 edition). Read the full issue here.