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We’re GR Plant, a leading provider of plant hire and contracting services across Wales and the South West. We began in 1989 carrying out land remediation in the forests of South Wales, and fast forward to 2024 we specialise in crushing and screening services across the UK.

From our machines to our staff, and the projects we’ve been a part of, here’s everything you need to know about GR Plant…

We’ve been in the dirt since 1989!

Yep, that’s 35-years since we started trading. We started out as Gareth Rees Plant Hire when our founder, Gareth Rees, was just 22. He decided to go it alone after working in the construction industry for several years. Setting out into the forests of South Wales with a single Ford H45 digger, Gareth constructed footpaths, designed mountain bike trails, and carried out land remediation work.

It’s safe to say things have changed a lot since then. We’ve grown from a single machine and operator to a well-staffed company of 20 with around 40 machines. Not everything’s changed however. Gareth Rees remains a central role of the business, overseeing all of our projects across the country and working closely with our clients to deliver the best possible service.

Our machines range from 2 to 50 tonnes

From excavators to crushers, we’ve got a machine for pretty much anything. Our smallest machine is our Takeuchi TB325R excavator at 2.5 tonnes. Its short-tail swing design makes it ideal for environments with limited space, and it can excavate at 90 degrees to its track.

Our largest machine is our Terex Finlay i140-RS impact crusher, which we use for quarrying, mining, demolition and recycling. Its pre-screen capabilities remove fine dirt and size bypass material, allowing us to create a consistent product.

We work across Wales and the South West

Whilst we might have started out in the forests of South Wales, our machines can now be found all across the UK.

Over the years, Gareth has taken the company all over the world to Japan, Korea, Spain, France, Germany, Turkey, Portugal, Ireland and Sweden!

From Olympic parks to nuclear power stations, we’ve worked in some pretty cool places

Did you know we even designed and built the first mountain bike trail in the southwest of England? Some years ago, in the early 2000’s our team designed and constructed Ridge Ride near Exeter. Throughout this project we worked with renowned designer, Dafydd Davies, aiming to maximise riders’ enjoyment of the natural environment.

Another pretty cool project was the Lee Valley Velopark we worked on within the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London. Using only mini-diggers ranging from 1.5 to 3 tonnes, we built 8km of mountain bike trails, creating the perfect alternative for riders wanting to escape inner city hassle. We worked with expert, Dafydd Davies, who designed the trail, on this project.

It’s a family affair!

Since 1989, GR Plant has had just one office employee and that’s the man himself, Gareth Rees. Over the years, our team has expanded, and now consists of 20 operators, managers, and office staff. In 2021, Gareth’s daughter, Anna, also joined the team as our Commercial Manager.

“Although I’ve helped out over the years, this is the first time I’ve become part of the team and it’s safe to say I’m loving it. Coming from a marketing background, I’m eager to put GRP on the map, keep things running smoothly, and take the business to new heights”. – Anna

Screening, crushing and metal recovery are just a few of the services we offer

To create engineered landscapes at GR Plant we offer a range of services; from creating suitable fill through crushing and screening, to topsoiling, drainage and erosion prevention using a range of machinery from skisteers to excavators.

It’s not just landscapes we engineer, but leisurescapes too. The South Wales Valleys, Glyncorrwg, Afan Argoed, Cwmcarn Forest, Haldon Forest, Grizedale and London’s Lee Valley Velopark are examples of our mountain bike trails, often built as multi-usage trails.

Working at the foot of the Brecon Beacons, we also created the Adventure Riding Experience for Triumph.