About Us

A little bit about me, Maria (the owner)

To fully understand my reasons why and how it came about me becoming a business owner, I need to take you back to 2023. Well actually a much earlier time and in another country than the UK – my homeland of Estonia.

Creativity, art and design have been part of my life as long as I can remember. Whether it is in the shape of craft clubs in Tallinn in the early 90’s, flower school or a BA honours degree in leather and book binding.

And then it all stopped…as my focus became about my three beautiful children and creating a home for our busy family.

Years later, I had an opportunity to be part of an amazing team at a local pre-school to nurture and develop the little ones.

After almost 7 years in my position as an Early Years practitioner, I felt my heart was not in the job anymore, and I decided to look for another challenge.

And on a drizzly afternoon in Autumn 2023 I noticed that “something special”.  There it was “The Rustic Garden”. Little, quirky, “rustic”, a labour of love with so much potential – I had to take another look!

Then, like anything when I put my mind to it, I’m like a dog with a bone!

And we made it happen. I say “we” – my husband Andrew and the kids, who probably think I am nuts, but whom I could not have done this without.

And there we were – March 2024 we got the keys.

Now, Summer 2025, a massive year later- full of challenges, growth and big decisions, some right, some wrong. Lots of late nights, blood, sweats and tears – buckets full of all three. Everything felt like it was leading me to somewhere new, a preparation for a new chapter.

“It takes guts, luck and just the right amount of insanity”