James Fish, Managing Director at Blue Fish Landscapes gives us an insight in to his company & thoughts for 2015 and beyond.

Great British Life: Blue Fish LandscapesBlue Fish Landscapes (Image: Archant)

Tell us about your company

BlueFish is a distinguished landscape contractor that offers a complete landscape garden service. We will build and manage the entire process from the designer’s drawings through to completion. The garden once built can then be cared and maintained by our garden maintenance team.

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When was the business founded & why?

BlueFish was founded in January 2007 with an aim to construct and maintain beautiful gardens at the high end of the market using the best landscaping practises possible.

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Great British Life: Blue Fish LandscapesBlue Fish Landscapes (Image: Archant)

How have things changed much since you started?

Our team over the last 8 years has grown considerably and we now have the infrastructure to undertake large, detailed and complex projects, which is very exciting. We have established great relationships with some brilliant garden designers and it’s great to see gardens that we built in the early stages being continually developed by our maintenance team.

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What landscaping trends are in this year?

For 2015 we are seeing a bit of a renaissance in paving with use of smaller paving and more intricate patterns. Also the use of bespoke & contemporary sculpture and statement pieces is on the rise.

Designers are continuing to work with the use of more evergreen shrubs & trees in a more considered combination giving a more impactful and sustainable interest throughout the year.

Great British Life: Blue Fish LandscapesBlue Fish Landscapes (Image: Archant)

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What interesting projects have you worked on / or are you working on now?

Our team completed an 11 month project back in April 2014 which saw the use of a lot of York natural stone walling and paving with intricate tile and brick detailing.

The biggest challenge for us was the construction of the large scale water feature which featured a grid system of foaming jets and a water blade. All of our team’s efforts paid off by being awarded the ‘Best Newcomer’ to BALI award (British Association of Landscape Industries) back in December 2014.

A current project that we have nearing completion is on a large manor house perched on top of a hill in Shamley Green, Surrey with magnificent views across the South Downs.

There has been extensive earth moving works followed by the use of reclaimed York stone cobbles, sawn Yorkstone paving, planting of some very mature trees, and the planting of 12 mature Ligustrum trees (evergreen Privet) to line the new driveway entrance.

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What is the best thing about working in Surrey?

Surrey has provided us with the best diversity of projects so far. The landscape here is stunning, so working outside and being privy to such views from where we are working just adds to the backdrop of the gardens we are able to create.

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Where do you see the business in the future?

2015 brings renewed positivity with some interesting projects and hopefully collaboration with some excellent designers. Our garden maintenance team will continue to keep standards high whilst growing that side of the business. “I want to strengthen the good relationships we already have and work towards developing BlueFish even more for the future”.

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www.bluefishlandscapes.co.uk