HORTICULTURAL firm Keith Banyard has been purchased by its former general manager, Paul Edwards, and renamed Banyards Ltd.
The expanding firm, which is based near Ringwood, had its best ever year in 2002 with a £3 million turnover and now has 95 staff. It was started 30 years ago as tree surgeons by Keith Banyard and now has separate divisions for grounds maintenance, tree surgery, interior plants and landscaping.
Clients are primarily councils, including Bournemouth, Salisbury and Purbeck and blue chip companies such as IBM, Wessex Water and BP, although the firm still handles tree surgery and landscaping for homeowners.
Mr Edwards joined the firm 12 years ago to handle occasional landscape work and was offered a permanent position to run the landscape division.
He said: "Keith decided to sell the business to concentrate on other interests and I was keen to keep ownership within the present staff."
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