GreenThumb Shropshire and Wolverhampton: Local Couple Cultivates Success with New Lawn Care Franchise

Swapping corporate life for the great outdoors, the ambitious couple will provide top-quality, tailored lawn care services and hard surface treatments to more than 4,200 homes and businesses across Shropshire and Wolverhampton.

Born and raised in Shropshire, Ryan and Lora always dreamed of running a business in the area they call home. Together since the age of 13, they married in 2021 and recently welcomed their first child, Theodore—making this the perfect time to nurture not just a growing family, but a thriving business too.

Ryan will oversee the daily operations of GreenThumb Shropshire and Wolverhampton, ensuring excellent customer service and driving business growth. Meanwhile, Lora will provide support behind the scenes, balancing her expertise with caring for their young son.

Taking Over a Thriving GreenThumb Business

The couple have taken over the franchise from Jacqui and Ian Balmforth, who successfully ran the GreenThumb Shropshire territory for 23 years and GreenThumb Wolverhampton for 10. The business, based in Market Drayton, operates a fleet of seven GreenThumb-branded vans and is supported by a dedicated team of seven lawn operatives and two administrative staff.

For Ryan, after more than a decade of working in large organisations, the opportunity to run his own business in an industry he loves was too good to pass up:

After more than a decade of working for large organisations, I was keen to run my own business in an industry I love and achieve the same level of success again. When Lora and I learnt that GreenThumb Shropshire and Wolverhampton were for sale, it was an easy decision to make.

Taking on an established business with a loyal customer base and strong presence in the GreenThumb network gave them the confidence to make the leap. They also feel fortunate to have inherited a committed and hardworking team.

A Natural Fit for the Ordidges at GreenThumb

GreenThumb was a perfect choice for the couple, as they already had a strong connection to the business. Lora’s father, Phil Peach, has worked as a Service Manager at GreenThumb Shropshire for 20 years, giving them valuable insight into the franchise model and the lawn care industry.

With their team in place and a well-established customer base, the Ordidges are now looking ahead to expansion. Over time, they plan to grow their reach across the region by increasing customer numbers and recruiting new talent.

“We are now committed to building a business where we can continue to grow across Shropshire and the West Midlands—and maybe one day, our son will come and work for the family business! We are really determined to carry on making an impact in the area, and our aim is to deliver an exceptional customer experience for every customer and to ensure the community is at the heart of our business” added Ryan.

Future Growth and Community Impact

Beyond growing the business, Ryan and Lora are keen to make a difference in their local community. They plan to build strong local connections and, in time, support charities and fundraising initiatives.

GreenThumb Shropshire and Wolverhampton covers a wide range of towns and villages across the region. It is part of a national network of over 220 GreenThumb territories, delivering more than 2.5 million lawn treatments every year—helping homeowners and businesses enjoy greener, healthier lawns.