The Story
A Young Man With A Potty Passion
Welcome! My name is Thomas, though many call me Tom Pots.
Tom's Yard exists to bring you quality terracotta pots, backed up by the most passionate service one can deliver. I'm a big believer in doing business the proper way; So if you ever need me, you can contact me directly on 07557 902675.
I started Tom's Yard at 23, totally new to Horticulture, and in that time quite a lot has changed. I never thought I'd see my pots on television, nor in some of the gardens I've gone on to visit... and if you said I'd one day be in the Young Horticulturalist of the Year Awards, I'd probably laugh!
Over the past few years I've been fortunate to supply pots into spaces of all shapes & sizes. The gardens of private buyers range from city balconies through to private estates... and on a commercial front I've supplied pots to various production companies, boutique hotels and even into Harrods.
Tom's Yard started when I began importing terracotta pots from Crete into an overgrown compound. The early days, I must admit, were very challenging... I was broke, had moved back to living with my Mother and there was the overriding pandemic that really didn't help things.
Fast forward and in 2023 the business stepped up. Firstly, I expanded the range by importing a new collection of premium terracotta from Italy. Then I made the jump and moved into Tom's Yard 2.0. This brand new compound was larger, easier to access and proved far more suitable to meet the needs of the growing business.
Then at the start of 2025 the business expanded again. The new range of vases from Vietnam stood up to anything I had seen produced in the more romanticised European potteries. The actual pottery, based a few hours from Ho Chi Minh, reminded me of the micro potteries I had explored in Morocco. 'Proper provincial pottery' I call it... I fell in love.
Outside Work
I'm happy to say that I'm an Industry Coordinator for the YPHA - Young People in Horticulture Association. The body has members from across Britain and is a fantastic group for celebrating young people working in Horticulture. If you know of anyone in the industry under 37, do encourage them to sign up.
Through my close proximity to a local garden, The Laskett Gardens, Tom's Yard is a Perennial Partner. Perennial is the UK’s only charity dedicated to those who work in horticulture, and their families, when times get tough. The Gardeners’ Benevolent Institution (now named Perennial) was founded in 1839 and still exists today in the aim to carry out it's mission to support all of those who work in Horticulture.
A Bit About Me
From a young age I've been raised in Herefordshire and it's a county I passionately love. The landscape and the people make it such a marvellous place to be. I'm certainly an outdoorsy person, enjoying walks with our dogs, picking wild berries and making all sorts of concoctions in glass jars stored around our cottage.
After finishing my studies at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester, the 'RAU' (or even the RAC to some!), I headed back home to join the family home interiors business. Selling furniture, paints and flooring (as I had done for the past 10+ years), I've always enjoyed helping people. In fact, when I was younger I dreamed of becoming a butler.
After returning home I eventually spread my wings and went off to work with Europe's largest retailer of Decorative Antiques and Garden Ornaments. Running their main Tetbury showroom, I was immersed into the world of period and decorative antique furniture. It was here that I developed my knowledge as I assisted Private Clients, Interior Designers and Dealers from around the globe in their hunt for beautiful and authentic pieces.
