Highways In Helston

Highways Experts

Landscapers in Helston & Cornwall. Patios, retaining walls, garden levelling, fencing & artificial grass. Groundworks-first approach.

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RW Groundworks

What Is Highways?

Looking for landscapers near you in Cornwall? RW Groundworks brings a groundworks-first approach to landscaping — meaning your garden doesn't just look good on the surface, it's built on solid foundations that last. Based in Helston and covering all of Cornwall, Reuben Williams and the team deliver hard landscaping projects from garden transformations to full outdoor living spaces.

Most landscaping problems come down to poor ground preparation. Patios that sink, retaining walls that lean, drainage that doesn't drain. RW Groundworks solves these problems before they start because excavation, levelling, and drainage are what we do every day on construction sites. Your garden gets the same standard of preparation as a new-build development.

With a full fleet of plant — excavators, dumpers, rollers — we handle everything from a courtyard patio to a full rear garden transformation, including level changes, retaining walls, drainage, and all hard landscaping elements.

What we do

Hard Landscaping Services

RW Groundworks handles civil engineering across residential, commercial, and infrastructure projects:

Patios & Paved Areas

Natural stone, porcelain, concrete slabs, and Indian sandstone patios. RW Groundworks excavates to the correct depth, installs a compacted sub-base, and lays your chosen paving on a full mortar bed. Proper drainage falls are built in so water runs away from the house — critical in Cornwall's climate. See our patio page for full details on patio options and pricing.

Retaining Walls & Terracing

Cornwall gardens are rarely flat. Retaining walls — in block work, natural stone, railway sleepers, or gabion baskets — create usable terraced areas from sloped ground. RW Groundworks designs and builds retaining walls with proper foundations and drainage behind the wall to prevent water pressure build-up. We've built retaining structures on housing developments and handle domestic garden walls with the same engineering approach.

Garden Levelling & Earthworks

Creating level areas for lawns, patios, play areas, or outbuildings on sloped or uneven ground. Our excavators make short work of cut-and-fill operations, and our rollers compact the ground ready for whatever goes on top. Surplus material is removed from site in our tipper trucks.

Steps & Pathways

Garden steps in natural stone, block paving, or concrete. Pathways linking different areas of the garden, including accessible routes for wheelchair or pushchair access. All built with proper foundations and non-slip surfaces suitable for Cornwall's wet conditions.

Raised Beds & Planters

Constructed from railway sleepers, block work, or natural stone to create defined planting areas. Raised beds improve drainage (important on Cornwall's clay soils), reduce bending for gardening, and add structure to garden layouts.

Drainage Solutions

French drains, soakaways, channel drains, and land drains to manage water in waterlogged gardens. Many Cornwall gardens sit on clay or have high water tables — proper drainage makes the difference between a usable garden and a bog. RW Groundworks installs drainage as a standalone service or as part of a larger landscaping project.

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RW Groundworks

What Sets RW Groundworks Apart

Groundworks expertise applied to gardens. We don't just lay paving — we excavate properly, compact correctly, and install drainage that actually works. The preparation underneath your patio or retaining wall is identical to what goes under a building.

Full plant fleet. Excavators, dumpers, rollers — all owned by RW Groundworks. This means we can tackle jobs that would take a standard landscaping team weeks of hand-digging. Large level changes, bulk excavation, and heavy material movement are routine for us.

One team, everything covered. From initial excavation through drainage, retaining walls, paving, fencing, and artificial grass — RW Groundworks handles every element. No coordinating between multiple contractors.

12 years in construction. Reuben has supervised building sites and delivered groundworks on housing developments. That experience shows in how every landscaping project is planned and executed — with attention to levels, drainage, and structural integrity.

RW Groundworks

Our Landscaping Process

Site visit — Reuben visits the property, discusses your ideas, takes measurements, and assesses ground conditions, access, and drainage.

Quote and plan — You receive a detailed written quote with a clear scope of work. For larger projects, a simple layout plan showing levels and key features.

Preparation — Existing features cleared, ground excavated to the required levels, drainage installed, sub-bases compacted.

Build — Hard landscaping elements constructed — retaining walls, patios, steps, pathways, raised beds.

Finishing — Fencing, artificial grass, or preparation for planting. Site cleaned and all waste removed.

Handover — Walk-through of the finished garden. Aftercare advice for any planted areas or specialist surfaces.

TESTIMONIALS

What Our Highways Customers Say About Us

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Reuben and his team replaced our old concrete driveway with block paving. From the quote to the finished job it was about two weeks — and most of that was waiting for materials. The actual groundwork and laying took four days. They dug out the old drive, sorted the drainage that had been pooling for years, put in a proper sub-base and the finished result is spot on. Reuben was on site every day and nothing was left for us to chase up. Would recommend to anyone in the Helston area.

Mark T. Helston

Domestic Driveway

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

We've used RW Groundworks on three separate housing plots now and they deliver every time. They bring their own plant so there's no messing about waiting for hire companies — the 14-tonner and dumper turn up with the crew on day one. Reuben understands programme and that matters when you've got other trades following on behind. Foundations, drainage, road construction — all done to spec and on time. Reliable contractor, fair pricing, no surprises.

D. Collins, Collins Developments, Truro

Housing Development (Commercial)

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Had a full garden renovation done — old raised beds ripped out, retaining wall rebuilt, new patio laid with Indian sandstone and artificial grass for the kids. They got the mini digger through our side gate with about two inches to spare. Reuben priced it fairly and the lads were tidy, which matters when they're working next to your house for a week. The patio has been through one Cornish winter already and hasn't moved. Really pleased with it.

Sarah & James P. Falmouth

Landscaping / Garden Project

The Process

3 Step Process For Your Highways Needs

Contact Us

Start by completing the 'Get a Free Quote' form on our website to share your Highways needs with us.

Schedule Your Estimate

Next, we'll arrange a property visit at a time that works for you to provide an in-person estimate for your Highways needs.

Get The Job Done

After you approve our estimate, we'll schedule a date to complete the job. Our team will work hard to exceed your expectations!

F.A.Q

Landscaping Frequently Asked

Questions

Here are answers to common questions about our Highways services.

How much does landscaping cost?

Hard landscaping costs depend on the scope of work, materials, and ground conditions. A patio costs roughly £80–£150 per square metre installed. Retaining walls range from £150–£400 per linear metre depending on height and material. A full rear garden transformation typically costs £5,000–£15,000. RW Groundworks provides itemised quotes so you can see the cost of each element.

How long does a landscaping project take?

A patio installation typically takes 3 to 5 days. A full garden transformation with level changes, retaining walls, paving, and fencing usually takes 2 to 4 weeks. Larger projects involving significant earthworks or multiple terraces may take longer. Reuben will give you a clear timeline at the quoting stage.

Do I need planning permission for landscaping?

Most domestic landscaping doesn't need planning permission. However, retaining walls over 1 metre high adjacent to a road or path, or over 2 metres elsewhere, may require approval. If you're in a conservation area or your property is listed, additional restrictions apply. Hard surfacing at the front of the property has drainage requirements. RW Groundworks can advise on what applies to your project.

What is the difference between hard and soft landscaping?

Hard landscaping covers all the structural, permanent elements — patios, paths, walls, steps, fencing, and drainage. Soft landscaping covers planting — lawns, borders, trees, shrubs, and hedging. RW Groundworks specialises in hard landscaping, which requires groundworks expertise. We prepare the ground for soft landscaping but recommend a specialist for planting design if needed.

How much does a landscape designer cost?

A garden design from an independent designer typically costs £500–£2,000 depending on garden size and design complexity. For many projects, a detailed design isn't necessary — Reuben can work from your ideas and produce a simple layout plan as part of the quoting process at no extra charge.

Does landscaping add value to a property?

Well-executed landscaping can add a noticeable add to a property's value. A well-built patio, proper drainage, and a structured garden layout make a property more attractive to buyers and more usable for the current owner. The key is quality of construction — poorly built landscaping detracts rather than adds value.

When is the best time of year for landscaping?

Hard landscaping can be done year-round in Cornwall, though spring and autumn are ideal — the ground is workable but not frozen or waterlogged. Summer is the busiest period and lead times are longer. Winter work is possible for most hard landscaping elements, though wet weather may slow progress on some days. The earlier you get your quote, the better your chances of securing your preferred start date.

Do you remove all the waste from landscaping?

Yes. RW Groundworks removes all excavated material, old paving, rubble, and construction waste from site. We have two tipper trucks on the fleet specifically for waste removal, so spoil doesn't sit in your garden for days. Disposal is included in your quote — no surprises.