LEIGH ROBINSON talks to James and Alexander Combe from Cotswold Horticulture and Arboriculture Ltd.

They have been around the world in their respective capacities as horticulture and arboriculture experts, advising on tree planting in India, landscaping a 15th century chateau in the Loire and planted up a new tropical garden for a client's hideaway in the Bahamas.

But brothers James and Alexander Combe are more proud to be celebrating their first anniversary in business together as Cotswold Horticulture and Arboriculture Ltd.

With offices in Brinkworth and Stroud, the company was set up last year when both brothers realised that they were increasingly calling upon one another to cover the growing range and volume of client projects that each faced in their own businesses.

So they took the leap and merged Cambium Tree Surgery, run by Alexander, and Architectural Landscapes, run by James, thus combining over 15 years of operational experience.

Their successful first year in business has seen them expand turnover by more than 25 per cent and increase their client base, not only in volume terms but also in the breadth of work which they have secured.

Alexander Combe believes quality of service is critical for smaller businesses keen to make their mark.

"Over the last year, working together and discussing client feedback, it has become increasingly clear that we win work across a broad customer base because of the quality of service that we provide."

On the landscape side, the business has also carved an impressive niche as specialists in the delivery of garden design.

James, who qualified at the Inchbold School of Design said: "Delivering garden designs may sound like stating the obvious, but some garden designers do struggle with the construction techniques.

"We have had the odd strange request including one client who wanted us to defy the laws of gravity by creating a water feature that would flow up hill," said Alexander.

"And we've had the odd rescue job, including helping a poor husband who planted trees for his wife as a wedding anniversary present, only to have them all dying off less than a year later.

"So we were able to help him covertly replant in the correct way to give them a more lasting landscape feature.

"We are just in the process of recreating a complete Grade II English Woodland for a client who has a 500m long valley beneath their property.

"We will be planting more then 100 semi- mature trees, ranging in height from 16 feet to 25 feet-plus, and it will be an incredible sight when it is completed."

Keeping it in the family could seem daunting to some, but after a year of working closely together, these two brothers have found a winning formula and haven't suffered with any sibling rivalry.

James said: "Because we each lead a specialist team and work in different areas, we bow to each other's expertise in client work."

4:56pm Tuesday 5th February 2008

Print

Email this