Who do we think we are? Read all about Oliver's Army here!

Hi, I'm Oliver!

I'm the proud owner of Oliver's Army, a garden and lawn maintenance company that provides exceptional services to clients throughout the Wellington region.

My passion for design and my background in architecture inspired me to start the business in 2015, shortly after completing my degree at Victoria University of Wellington. As a Karori native, I saw a local demand and decided to take action by designing flyers and doing a letterbox drop around the neighbourhood. My expertise in basic gardening and my mum's influence helped me develop a keen green thumb and laid the foundation for Oliver's Army's success.

Over time, I have grown Oliver's Army from a one-man operation into a thriving business. Although we initially offered every service under the sun, we have since streamlined our offerings to focus on perfecting our skills in those areas.

When I'm not busy tending to my clients' gardens, I can be found at home manicuring my own garden, spending quality time with my family, or hitting the golf course to unwind. I take great pride in my work and am dedicated to providing the best possible service to my clients.

Oliver McIlroy

Oliver's Army, Founder

Meet the Managers

Operations Manager-
Bert

I was born in the UK and moved out to Nelson, NZ with my family when I was 8. I loved growing up in the sunshine and spent loads of my childhood in the outdoors including plenty of time helping my family with gardening.

This is where my interest in the gardening world kick-started and since joining Oliver's Army in 2020 I have learnt so much about horticulture and loved every second of it. My primary role here is managing our teams, responding to customer enquiries, organising jobs and anything else that crops up on a day to day basis.

Outside of work, I love sports, specifically football, spending time with my friends and enjoying all the beautiful places Wellington has to offer.

Head Gardener-
Jacob BSc Botany, Geology

I have had my green thumbs since as long as I can remember - helping my Grandad collect vegetables & hunting frogs in the pond is where my journey began.

Focusing on sciences in school, I transitioned into a Botany degree, bolstering that with completing all of the Ecology papers the University of Otago had to offer. I have close to ten years experience in the gardening industry, which has forged my plant knowledge formidably.

I have no doubt in my mind that I can overcome any challenge when it comes to gardening, or providing exemplary consultation.

Garden Maintenance Supervisor- Jordan

Born and bred in Wellington, I started my working career in Hospitality that took me over to London where I spent five years managing cafes and taking in the sights of Europe.

I returned to Wellington looking for a change and have found a passion in the garden. I’ve been working for Oliver’s Army for three years now and haven’t looked back.

I'm a big lover of anything sport related and you can find me on the Footy pitch most weekends.

Meet the Gardening Team Leaders

All of our gardening teams are lead by some exceptionally talented horticulturists.

Meet them below!

Finn

Hey, I'm Finn! My gardening journey started when I was a kid, chasing my dad around picking up cabbage tree leaves, I then started getting serious about horticulture when I was 19 and haven't looked back since.

The outdoors is my passion and personality. I am often found walking out on the trails, sending my bike down the side of a hill or gardening in my own and friends gardens.

Lets make your outdoor space complete, together!

Sharon

I’m Sharon but I usually answer to Shaz or “Hey! You in the bushes.”

I grew up in the Wellington region and, being inspired by my parents and grandparents, have always loved gardening. I love being outdoors and enjoy mountain biking and hiking.

I had previously worked as a grounds person during the time I was studying for a science degree I then worked 16 years in Research and Development chemistry.

During the pandemic and restructuring that followed I was given the opportunity to transform my life from working in an inside job to following my passion.

I get a real satisfaction seeing an outdoor space turn into a place of joy and beauty.

Meet Leo

Leo, one of our Project Managers with a keen sense of smell for treats and a great attention to detail, joined Oliver's Army in 2017 as a Project Manager. Since then, he has been a great source of daily morale support while also retrieving long-lost tennis balls and sticks from the garden. If you happen to come across Leo, don't hesitate to ask for a pat!