Radwinter Fish Farm has been established since 1995, with owner Philip Norris offering his customers a top notch service for pond construction and koi keeping. He began his career in the building trade, working mainly for his father's shopfitting company. His long-standing interest in koi soon took over and he started work on a local koi farm. It was here he built ponds for customers and helped with the fish medication side. After spending two years breeding  koi for himself, it wasn't long before he decided to set up his own business. He converted an equestrian centre into what is now a purpose-built two-acre fish farm.

Philip remains true to his intentions at day one; to import only Japanese koi and thus build a reputation for stocking only the best quality fish. He feels this sector of the market is not sufficiently catered for in the local area. There is a koi for everyone, with a good selection of varieties and prices. Hand-picked, they range from £20 to £2,000. Smaller, less expensive purchases can be made from around £5. As well as the koi, there is a good range of pond fish, including goldfish, shubunkins, orfe and rudd.

An interesting facet to his business is koi breeding, where he uses Japanese broodstock and rears the offspring indoors for the first year in heated ponds. His techniques are similar to those of  the Japanese breeders and he has found that meticulous temperature control, efficient filtration and correct nutrition ensure the maximum growth and health of the young koi. The fry are fed on newly hatched brine shrimp, moving onto flake and then onto high protein pellets. Philip emphasises that it is not worth cutting corners with their husbandry at any stage in their development, but this is more critical during their first year.

Visitors to the farm are welcome to come and view the breeding facility and come face to face with the thousands of hungry mouths, not to mention the slurping noises (you have been warned!) Also on site are two lakes, which are used to grow the young koi on for a year or two. There are plans to build two more lakes in the near future. It is important that the young koi are accustomed to the outdoor climate so they build up a resistance to the British Winter.

Philip's pond construction and maintenance service continues to be a speciality and this has proven to be a lifeline for many customers in the locality. Free quotations are offered with a full planning and design service if required. DIY customers who prefer to build their own ponds are also well catered for with free, expert advice and a full range of construction materials and equipment. A good range of aquatic plants is stocked, including some more unusual varieties for that finishing touch to a water garden. The sky really is the limit for pond design, an example being a recently completed project built as part of a house extension; with the pond being partially built inside a conservatory.

The shop has recently undergone a much needed expansion. Now with 300 square feet of dry goods sales area, Philip has vastly improved his selection of products, including pumps, filters, media and plumbing. He also stocks an excellent range of fish foods (including his own specially formulated koi pellets as used on the farm) and essentials such as water test kits and fish medications. Philip operates a mobile fish health consultancy service and will examine and treat sick fish on site in their own ponds.

Philip makes sure that his business keeps up to date with the latest trends and constantly seeks to expand his knowledge of the aquatic trade. The newly introduced OATA training programmes are a case in point and now he and his staff have completed the Advanced Diploma courses in "Water Quality and Filtration" and "Fish Health and Biology". Why not quiz them when you next visit?