The Story
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, in the English Garden Magazine, 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, developers, 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 from Vietnam stood up against anything I had seen in the more romanticised Western potteries. Based a few hours from Ho Chi Minh, the rural pottery using wood-fired kilns reminded me of the micro potteries I had explored in Morocco. 'Proper provincial pottery'... I fell in love.
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 helping 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 to carry out it's mission of supporting all who work in Horticulture.
Outside Work
I'm happy to say that I'm an Industry Coordinator for the YPHA - Young People in Horticulture Association. The body is a fantastic group for celebrating young people working in Horticulture and holds hundreds of members from across Britain. If you know of anyone in the industry under 37, do encourage them to sign up - it's free!
Horticulture aside, I'm the current Chairman of Ross-On-Wye Round Table having restarted the group after its past closure. I first joined Round Table when I was 22 and it's given me the opportunity to do my bit for the local community whilst making the most of my life outside a demanding work schedule. I'm a huge advocate of Round Table and what its clubs offer for young men around the UK.
A Bit About Me
From a young age I've been raised in Herefordshire and it's a county that I've come to passionately love. The rolling landscape, quality local produce and fantastic people make it such a marvellous place to be.
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 interiors business. Selling furniture, paints and flooring from a young age, 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. Running their main high street showroom, I was immersed into a world of fine furniture & garden statutory and it was here that I developed my passion for supplying quality, authentic wares.
