Greenhouses at Bramshall, Staffordshire, England

Tall Coldframe

OUR TEAM

OUR HISTORY

Woodpecker Joinery was founded in 1994 by Christopher Waltho, a dedicated and talented craftsman.

From a farming background, an early memory was spending many hours helping his father lovingly craft a wooden greenhouse. His natural and creative flare for design became apparent during Chris’ school days as did his love and interest in working with wood. Chris went on to study woodwork at NVQ level and gained a City and Guilds certificate. Along the way many things added to career development; from serving an apprenticeship at the age of 17 with a local joinery company manufacturing doors, conservatories and windows, and in the engineering field acquiring knowledge of design. A lifelong dream had always been to one day start his own business.

After being made redundant from the engineering firm, Chris applied for a Government grant. The application was successful and he became a sole trader based at his mother’s smallholding in Bramshall, Staffordshire. He continued in what he knew best - manufacturing windows, doors and conservatories. During the next three years a reputation for good quality products grew, as did the customer base. In 1997, after being approached by an aluminium greenhouse supplier to provide a bespoke cedar greenhouse, the first Woodpecker greenhouse was produced. Inspired by his creation, market research followed and it became apparent there was a keen British interest in gardening but few companies specializing in Bespoke cedar greenhouses.

Chris began to develop a website and engineer a range of cedar wood greenhouses. Orders flowed in and eventually it became too much work for one person. Realizing the need for help he approached his brother Louis, fiancée Louise, cousin Joe and Tom, a family friend. Long hours, hard work and dedication were called for - together we were a strong and determined team. The popularity of our products exceeded expectations; we were full of optimism and looking forward to the future. That was until tragically on Christmas Day 2004 at the age of 20, Joe passed away in a car accident. He is sadly missed and fondly remembered.

During summer months we had extra hands on board from University students Bobby, Ross and James, who would help out both in the workshop and installing our products. In October 2005 Joe and, in 2006, Craig joined the team. All of the aforementioned would prove significant in Woodpecker‘s future. Thankfully our success over the next four years continued. After careful consideration a decision was made in order for Woodpecker Joinery to develop and move forward: we would need to move to larger premises.

In 2008, with nine employees, we moved to an industrial unit in Hixon, Staffordshire on which a lease was taken. Having additional space improved manufacturing efficiency and productivity. Demand for our products continued to expand and in 2009 we were approached by the BBC to produce a greenhouse for the Gardener’s World programme. Our greenhouse was featured in the series hosted by Toby Buckland. We have exported our products to Ireland, France, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Falkland Islands and even as far as Australia! We import all of our PCFC certificated cedar direct from Canada. Over a period of three years our business continued to blossom and we came to occupy three units on the Industrial Estate, outgrowing even these. Time to move again…

In December 2012, with 30 employees, we moved back to Chris’ roots, purchasing our own premises in Bramshall. Our business has expanded and we sell cedar wood UK wide, having more orders than ever before and the luxury of being in our own premises. We have renovated the office space and workshops. Tom is Head Joiner, Joe Works Foreman, Louis Head of Painting Department, Bobby our Manager, Ross Imports and Exports Manager, Craig Head Site Foreman and James Head of the Technical Department. We continue in the development of young people and training within the workplace.

With special thanks to Mary (Chris’s mum) without your patience, time and help none of this would have been possible.

The Woodpecker Team

Our Company Director, affectionately known as Woody, established Woodpecker Joinery in January 1994. A truly dedicated craftsman, he has designed and developed every aspect of our cedar greenhouses to ensure a fantastic gardenening experience for all our customers. A very well travelled Woodpecker, he knows every nook and cranny of the UK, as he's probably installed a greenhouse there!

His interests include cricket and football- he's been a Rams (Derby County) fan all his life, much to the disgruntlement of our team, the majority of whom are Stoke City fans. Somehow, they still manage to work in harmony!

Always smiling and friendly, Louise ensures that everyone is motivated and happy and works hard to help all our clients with any problem- big or small. Louise's main loves are her four Old English sheep dogs, who certainly keep her occupied! She also loves to travel, with Australia being her 'spiritual home'. Louise is always game for a good party with friends and is currently using her love of interior design to redecorate her new home.

Bobby works full time here in Bramshall as our General Manager now that he has completed his degree in Business Management at Lancaster University. He ensures that everything runs smoothly; liaising with suppliers, customers and our workers and is always around to boost morale and make sure that we work to the highest standard we can. Bobby is a rugby enthusiast who plays for Stoke on Trent RUFC. A proper lad, he works hard on the rugby pitch and plays hard on Woodpecker nights out!

Tom, our Works Manager has been at Woodpecker now for over seven years. Having completed his apprenticeship he has become a competent and well respected Joiner and has crafted many, many timber greenhouses for installation all over the world. He gets on well with everyone here at Woodpecker and works diligently to provide beautiful bespoke products for all of our customers. Tom is a keen music and film fan and owns an impressive CD and DVD collection, which he uses to relax after a hard day's work. He is also learning to kickbox, so that he can keep the boys in check!

Craig is our Site Foreman and travels all over the country, erecting bespoke greenhouses, as well as managing all of the teams we send out on installations each day. He enjoys all types of sport and can usually be found playing 5-a-side football or golf at the weekend. He is a life-long Port Vale supporter, much to the chagrin of our Stoke supporters! Craig is a real team member and makes all of us Woodpeckers laugh with his cheeky sense of humour. He is also known as the working man's Orlando Bloom (you will see why when you meet him!)

Joe, our Foreman, is possibly the most organised Joiner we have ever seen! He knows exactly what's going on all the time and makes sure that the others do too. Having finished his apprenticeship, Joe is a key part of the Woodpecker greenhouse and coldframe production team and a very practical, skilled person. Joe leads our Stoke supporters and can often be found at a football match, egging The Potters on.

Louis, Chris's older brother, has been at Woodpecker since the beginning and now works here full time as Head of our painting division, as well as keeping on top of our stock orders and ensuring that everything in the yard is in good working order. Louis regularly goes out to install greenhouses and deliver our accessories, as well as working on finishing greenhouses to a high standard at our workshops in Bramshall. Louis has a young family and is a keen cyclist, having biked all round the UK for various charities.

Ross has recently completed his degree in Music Technology and now works for us full time in the office, as our Import/ Export Manager and IT guru. As well as looking after our expanding timber imports, he also oversees our worldwide greenhouse exports to Europe and Australia. Ross is a dad to Oscar and baby Alice. He is also a skilled musician, having built his own guitar.

James is Tom's younger brother and has recently completed his degree in Industrial Design at Loughborough University. Having worked at Woodpecker for the last 6 years during School and University holidays, he knows our greenhouses and products inside out, and is now our Design Manager. He is also regularly to be found organising football and cricket sessions for the lads and enjoys a spot of golf at the weekend.

Harry is our design intern and has been with us for a year learning about our greenhouses and working with our customers on their bespoke designs. Originally from Milton Keynes, Harry is studying Product Design at Nottingham Trent University and we are teaching him to enjoy the countryside instead of concrete! He is another keen football fan and supports Luton, adding another team to the Woodpecker mix.

Nathan is our new design intern from Loughborough University. We are currently getting to know him and so far have found out that he is a Tottenham supporter (unusual in these parts, but we'll forgive him!) and enjoys cycling. We haven't scared him off yet, so watch this space...

Becky is Louise's right hand girl and works in the office during University holidays. Always polite and friendly, her bubbly nature makes her a pleasure to work with! Becky has just completed her degree in Chemistry at Oxford University, but remains a loyal Woodpecker. As well as Chemistry, Becky's interests include drama, music and cooking.

Alan is a family man who works on finishing our greenhouses. He is always willing to work long hours and weekends and gets on well with the whole team.

John is one of our trained joiners based at our workshops in Bramshall. He is a car enthusiast and a supporter of Aston Villa.

Luke is in charge of preparing all of the timber for our greenhouses and is a brilliant multi-tasker. He'll help with an job that needs doing and is a key team member. His cheeky sense of humour keeps everyone's spirits up in the workshop.

Tom H is another of our greenhouse joiners. He is renowned for his good voice and his flowing locks (he could be a member of Spandau Ballet or A-ha) and is also a fitness fanatic and keen cricketer.

Martin, a joiner by trade, has been with us for two years and gets on well with everyone in our team. He's a quiet lad, but we hope to bring him out of his shell.

Rod is a wise Woodpecker who stains all of our cedar greenhouses before they leave the yard. He is liked and respected by everyone here.

Rob works part time when not at college and gets on well with the whole team. He also makes the best cup of tea at Woodpecker.

Callum is Ross's brother and makes all of our cedar and tanalised greenhouse staging. Outside of work, he enjoys playing in a band and talking for England!

Adam L is an apprentice joiner and works both in our workshops and out on site. He hates his "French car...a Fiat Punto."

Ryan is based in our greenhouse workshop and has worked his way up in the time that he has been here. He enjoys a spot of brie with his port after work.

Jon (Big Dave) is 6ft 7" and is a member of the greenhouse fitting team. He's a Leeds fan and enjoys playing cricket and football.

Alex has worked at Woodpecker for 18 months on site fitting our greenhouses. He has been nicknamed "the Sloth" due to his ability to sleep absolutely anywhere.

Matt works on a part-time basis helping with greenhouse staging and timber cross-cut machine. He has just finished his degree in Sports Journalism at Staffs University.

Eddie is Bobby's younger brother who has just completed his degree in History at Sheffield Hallam. He spends his holidays entertaining us at Woodpecker with his rubbish jokes and interesting stories.

Adam S spent his gap year with us and works during holidays when not studying in Liverpool. He has gained a reputation as the Woodpecker party animal. A very shy and docile creature by day, but after a few sherberts his true colours come out!

Tom J is another of our joiners who works on finishing our greenhouses to a high standard. He is a quiet Woodpecker who gets on with things.

Ollie is one of our site joiners who travels the length and breadth of the country installing our greenhouses. From a farming background, Ollie is another of our car enthusiasts.

Andy is another member of our fitting team. He is a trained joiner and a keen hockey player. We think of him as Joe's twin!

Steve is the final member of our fitting team. He is a family man who enjoys a game of darts after work.

Kai is one of our two apprentice bench joiner who started attending college in September 2012. He is learning the craft of greenhouse joinery quickly and we expect him to be a very talented joiner upon completing his course. He is a very polite Woodpecker, who spends alot of time studying and working along side our head greenhouse joiners.

Ashton is our second apprentice bench joiner who started in 2012. He is currently gaining experinace with Callum in our greenhouse staging department and showing a very good attention to detail and ability to work on his own iniative.