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From an attic office in Surrey to a leading UK invasive plant specialist
Environet is celebrating its 30th anniversary this month, marking three decades of helping homeowners, businesses and developers tackle invasive plants across England and Wales.
Founded in 1996 by environmental scientist Nic Seal, the company began as a one-man operation working from an attic office in Woking. At a time when few people had heard of Japanese knotweed, Nic recognised the threat the invasive plant posed to property and development sites and saw an opportunity to specialise in its treatment.
One of his earliest successes involved eliminating knotweed from a development site in Wales, saving a national developer more than £500,000. Despite this, many people were sceptical that a business focused on invasive plants could succeed.
Everything changed in 2004 when Nic placed a Google Ad promoting his knotweed treatment services. The response was immediate, with enquiries flooding in and the business growing rapidly from there.
Today, Environet has solved more than 8,500 invasive plant problems and is one of the UK’s largest dedicated invasive plant specialists. The company, now owned by its 22 employees through an Employee Ownership Trust, operates from its headquarters in Send, near Woking, and serves customers throughout England and Wales.
Reflecting on the milestone, Nic said:
“We’ve come a long way since the 1990s when hardly anyone had heard of Japanese knotweed. It’s been incredible to see Environet help homeowners and businesses across the country tackle invasive plants with genuine expertise”.
Emily Grant, Director of Operations added:
“It’s been quite a journey from a kitchen table start-up to a national company, while staying true to our Surrey roots. We can’t wait to see what the next 30 years brings.”
As Environet celebrates 30 years in business, the company remains committed to helping customers protect their properties from invasive plants and looks forward to the next chapter of its story.
