A family run business since 1998, Ladbrooke Soil Blockers is lead by three sisters - Ali, Roo and Vicky. Working closely with their dedicated and friendly team, the sisters work together to design, build and package each and every one of their handmade gardening tools.
Having each left home in the pursuit of career paths and to raise families, the three sisters were brought back together by the passing of a dear family friend, Donald Oakley. Don had watched the girls grow up over the years, and looked upon them as his own family - so much so that he left an inheritance to them in his will.
With their inheritance from Don, the sisters started looking for a way to work together. This is where Mike Ladbrooke comes in - the inventor of the Soil Blocker. Mike's daughter was a friend of the family, and mentioned that her father was hoping to retire soon and was looking to sell his gardening tool company.
With the help of their father, an avid gardener and owner of a local press-working company, and the constant support of Mike Ladbrooke, the sisters set about installing the various hand presses and machinery that they would need, in the old stables of their childhood home. Many a summer’s morning was spent with Mike in the newly fitted Ladbrooke workshop, setting up the tools and discussing the various manufacturing processes. These mornings would usually spill over into the afternoon, with many lunches shared with Mike and the family.
The sisters would continue to work from the old stables for several years, completing each process on their trusty hand presses. The same presses are still in use today, although a few of the processes are now completed using power press at the family’s press-work company.
Through the years, the sisters have further developed the design of the Soil Blocker and expanded their range, to create the tools that we all know and love today.
