• Swindon & Wiltshire Media
• Friday February 14 2025
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Wiltshire-based gardening start-up lands Dragon’s Den investment to scale up business

A Wiltshire-based start-up has secured a £75,000 investment from Dragons’ Den‘s Sara Davies to take its gardening concept to the next level.

Co-founders Henry Bartlam and garden designer, Alex Hollingsworth, appeared on the BBC TV show last night (Thursday) to pitch their vision for Dig – a gardening lifestyle brand aimed at beginner and budding gardeners.

Dig was conceived by Marlborough-based Henry in 2020 when he noticed the dramatic rise in popularity of gardening and food-growing at home during the pandemic lockdowns.

He teamed up with award-winning garden designer Alex to develop Instant Beds – customisable, ready-to-plant garden packs tailored to different garden styles.

On last night’s show, investor Sara Davies backed the idea with an investment of £75,000 in return for a 15 per cent stake in the business.

“When Alex and Henry began their pitch, I immediately saw how Dig’s offering would resonate with a lifestyle and DIY-focused consumer base who love the idea of gardening but don’t know where to start,” said Sara.

“They are passionate about sharing their joy and knowledge for gardening, and I believe there’s a whole generation of consumers out there eager to enjoy the benefits of Dig’s Instant Beds and other products.

“I’m excited to roll up my sleeves and dig in with the team to make gardening easy and accessible for everyone.”

Henry added: “We couldn’t have asked for a better partner. Sara’s retail expertise and passion for our business are exactly what we need to take Dig to the next level.”

Latest: Wiltshire gardening start-up Dig hits record turnover after Dragons’ Den appearance