FINDLAY Clark Landscapes (Aberdeen) has been placed in liquidation after struggling to keep skilled workers from moving to better paid oil and gas jobs.

The business was hit by a mild winter causing a drop in demand for its gritting and snow clearing services.

Administrators from accountancy firm RSM Tenon said the general economic environment and cashflow difficulties partly caused by customers withholding payments also contributed to the liquidation.

All 31 staff at the firm have been made redundant and it has ceased trading.

The company provided garden design, landscaping and maintenance to a range of domestic, commercial and public sector clients in the north-east of Scotland.

It recently expanded into paving and driveway installations plus snow clearing and its most recent turnover was about £1.5 million.

Iain Fraser, director of recovery at RSM Tenon in Aberdeen, said: "The company did a lot of snow clearing and gritting, and last year's mild winter caused a significant drop in turnover of around 20%.

"Another more important factor is they found it difficult to hold on to skilled staff. This is particularly difficult in the Aberdeen area because of oil-related work which is more lucrative for employees.

"Part of their business would have been landscaping for private individuals so you would class that as discretionary spend. If you want to save on something then you won't get someone in to do your garden you will do it yourself."

Mr Fraser is marketing the brand, goodwill and assets including plant and equipment and is hopeful of finding a buyer.

He said: "The company has a strong brand, an excellent client base and a very good reputation for the quality of its work across the north-east of Scotland.

"There have already been one or two expressions of interest but it is very early days. We are still gathering information on creditors so we don't have a complete picture of that.

"We would urge any interested parties to make contact with us this week."

The landscaping business was formed in 2000 when four Findlay Clark garden centres – at Milngavie and Paisley, Aberdeen and Kinross – were sold to Dobbies in an £8.7m deal.

At the time Findlay Clark had a turnover of £7.4m, of which £1.8m was attributable to the landscaping arm. The entire business was founded by husband and wife team David and Jean Clark who launched the Milngavie site with just four staff in 1970.

Prior to the sale to Dobbies the company employed around 200 people.

According to the most recent annual return filed at Companies House for Findlay Clark Landscapes (Aberdeen), the Clark family still had a majority shareholding in that business.

Abbreviated accounts for the 12 months to March 31, 2011 show the profit and loss account declining from £69,150 to £36,588.