More Than Gardeners
Earthly Comforts was founded on a simple belief: people value dependable help from people they know, trust and enjoy working with.
While gardening remains at the heart of what we do, our team brings together a wide range of experiences, interests and practical skills. From service industries and property support to conservation, administration, project coordination and environmental stewardship, each member of the team contributes something unique.
What unites us is a shared passion for looking after things properly.
Unlike many traditional gardening businesses, Earthly Comforts was not created by professionally trained horticulturists. Instead, it grew from a genuine love of gardens, wildlife, and nature, and from the satisfaction that comes from caring for outdoor spaces and helping people maintain the places that matter most to them.
Many of us have spent years involved in conservation, environmental projects, property care, customer service and practical problem-solving. Those experiences continue to shape the way we work today.
We believe that good gardening is about more than mowing lawns and trimming hedges. It is about stewardship, attention to detail, reliability and taking pride in every task, whether large or small.
The Estate Butler approach reflects these values. It combines practical gardening, property support and traditional service principles to create something a little different from a conventional gardening company.
Below, you can meet the people who help make Earthly Comforts what it is today.
Meet Rory Matier
Founder & Lead Estate Butler
Rory has spent much of his working life looking after things.
People, properties, businesses, collections, animals, gardens and projects.
His career has taken him through hospitality, private butler service, retail management, specialist livestock brokerage, wildlife conservation and environmental projects. While the industries varied, the underlying principles remained remarkably similar: service, organisation, attention to detail, responsibility and trust.
As a private butler, Rory learned the importance of discretion, presentation and anticipating a client’s needs.
In retail and management, he developed customer service, leadership and problem-solving skills.
As a specialist livestock broker supplying zoos, wildlife parks and private collections, he coordinated complex projects, built long-term relationships and managed logistics involving multiple parties.
Years later, volunteering at the Gazen Salts Nature Reserve in Sandwich deepened his interest in ecology, conservation and wildlife-friendly gardening.
When Earthly Comforts was established in 2022, Rory brought these experiences together to create something a little different from a traditional gardening business.
Rather than simply maintaining gardens, the aim was to provide a broader support service built around the traditional values of butlering: reliability, trust, attention to detail and taking ownership of tasks on behalf of clients.
Today, the Estate Butler approach combines gardening, property support, contractor oversight, project coordination and practical assistance, helping clients care for their homes, gardens and properties with confidence.
His philosophy is simple: look after things properly, pay attention to the details, and leave things better than you found them.
Meet Suzanne ‘Sue’ Turner
Director of Administration & Client Support
Suzanne has spent much of her working life helping people stay organised, informed and on track.
With many years of experience in administration, property management and client support, she plays a central role in the day-to-day operation of Earthly Comforts. From scheduling visits and coordinating projects to managing client communications, invoicing and business administration, Suzanne helps ensure that everything runs smoothly behind the scenes.
Alongside her role within Earthly Comforts, Suzanne has extensive experience supporting residential property portfolios, liaising with contractors, coordinating maintenance works and assisting with the countless practical tasks involved in property management.
Known for her attention to detail, reliability and calm approach, Suzanne is often the first point of contact for clients and helps ensure that enquiries, appointments and projects are handled efficiently and professionally.
While she occasionally assists with gardening, her primary passion lies in organisation, administration, and helping both clients and colleagues stay one step ahead.
Suzanne believes that good service is built upon clear communication, trust and consistency — values that remain at the heart of everything she does.
Meet Kevin Tanner
Garden Butler
Kevin is an important member of the Earthly Comforts team and works alongside Rory in delivering many of our gardening and property support services.
He assists with regular garden maintenance, seasonal work, garden clearances, and a wide variety of practical tasks that help keep our clients’ gardens neat, healthy, and well cared for throughout the year.
Kevin enjoys working outdoors and takes pride in helping transform and maintain outdoor spaces. His reliable approach, willingness to learn and positive attitude have made him a valued part of the team and a familiar face to many of our regular clients.
Like the rest of the Earthly Comforts team, Kevin shares a commitment to hard work, dependable service and treating every garden with care and respect.
He believes that even the smallest tasks can make a meaningful difference to how a garden looks and how its owners feel about it.