07972 849 861

About

My name is Phillip Woodgate and I am the owner and founder of Woodgates trees. I started climbing trees when I was as young as I can remember. My brothers and I used to climb the huge Oak trees we were blessed enough to have in our garden as we were growing up. We also used to love building tree houses and rope swings high in the trees.

In 2003 I went to Merrist Wood College and studied Arboriculture, to learn the family trade, where I enjoyed learning more about trees and achieved a National Certificate (merit). I left college and went on to become a respected tree surgeon in the Thames Valley and Greater London area.

I now live in Plymouth and set up Woodgates trees in 2015 in order to put my love of tree climbing to good use. At Woodgates trees we are ready to put our skills and knowledge at your service. We believe in retaining trees wherever and whenever possible. Trees make any area more pleasant to be in and grand mature trees are amazing and irreplaceable. It is also good to remember that without trees we would not have the oxygen in the air we need to survive. We owe it to ourselves and to our children, to manage trees responsibly which is where we hope to make a difference by providing a good advice to all of our customers. We also take pride in providing a professional service and we take the time to care for our customers.

Meet The Team

Phillip Woodgate

Managing Director

Phillip Woodgate is the owner and founder of Woodgates trees. He founded Woodgates trees in 2015 so that he could provide his customers with an honest and reliable tree surgery company. He went to Merrist Wood College in 2003 and studied Arboriculture where he achieved a National Certificate (merit). In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his family, rock climbing and mountain biking.

Qualifications

  • National Certificate in Arboriculture (merit)
  • City and Guilds NPTC chainsaw maintenance and cross cutting
  • City and Guilds NPTC fell small trees
  • City and Guilds NPTC climb trees and perform aerial rescue
  • City and Guilds NPTC chainsaw use in a tree

Simon Reckless

Customer Services Manager and Supervising Groundsman

Simon has been working with Woodgates Trees since the company was founded in 2015. He always shows veracious dedication to the company upholding our core values of family and faith. Simon and Phil have been friends for years and are now both happily married with children, and even share the same in-laws! In his spare time, Simon loves to spend time with his family, particularly in taking his young daughter out into nature.

Qualifications

  • Theology degree- Spurgeon’s Theological College
  • City and Guilds NPTC chainsaw maintenance and cross cutting
  • City and Guilds NPTC using a brushwood chipper

 

 

Kevin Smith

Groundsman

Kevin Smith has been a trusted employee of Woodgates trees since 2016. He can often be seen delivering leaflets for the company and contacting customers. He is also a committed groundsman for the team. In his spare time he loves spending time with his family, going to the cinema and walking in the countryside.

Qualifications

  • Social Policy and Administraion degree- University of Plymouth
  • NVQ 3 in Care
  • Diploma Theology- University of St Mark and St John

 

 

Becky Reckless

Administrator

Becky is married to Simon and is Phil’s sister-in-law, making this a true family business. Although Becky has supported Phil in an ad hoc fashion since the start of the business, Becky officially joined the team in February 2020 after teaching in the Early Years sector for 8 years. Since starting their family, Becky now balances her time between overseeing the admin side of the business and looking after their young daughter, and of course keeping Simon and Phil under control!

Qualifications

  • BEd. (Hons) Early Years – Plymouth Marjon University
  • Basic Accounting Diploma
  • Tax Accounting Certificate

David Moreton

Groundsman

David began working with the team in late 2019 on an ad hoc basis, but soon showed his passion for preserving the great outdoors becoming a full-time member of the team in the summer of 2020. David’s hard work and sense of humour make him a great addition to our growing team.

Qualifications

  • BSc (Hons) in Marine Biology and Costal Ecology – Plymouth University
  • LANTRA & NPTC Chainsaw Maintenance and Crosscutting

Examples of our work

Happy Customers

Firstly, may I say a Big “Thank You” to you and your team for a job well done. Not only for the main job of doing the trees, but for clearing up the debris afterwards. I went down to start the cleanup process myself, and was literally ‘Stunned’ at what I saw. You would not have know I had ever had any tree works completed in the garden! Not only that, but you had also cleared the steps for me down to the beach, so again, thanks!

Roger Pugh

It’s unusual for me to supply recommendation for service providers but I was so impressed by the way you and Simon dealt with the large and unruly ash tree in the front garden here that I’m determined to make an exception in your case.

Not only did you provide an accurate estimate, which you kept to, and turn up at the time and day you said you would, but you carried out the work efficiently and cheerfully with great skill and seemingly boundless stamina. I am more than happy to recommend Woodgate’s Trees services. However, I have to warn prospective customers that they will need a good supply of coffee and an efficient kettle!

Charlie Taylor

Phillip and Simon turned up when they said they would and they did what they said they would do. Very pleased.

Mrs Bulger
Plymouth