Chris Logsdon, Environmental and Fisheries Manager, has transformed the business from humble beginnings in 1991, when its sole income came from 65 members, into a profitable operation with an impressive turnover and increasing consultancy work.

Chilham specialists work throughout the UK surveying and managing lakes and rivers, controlling fish stocks and lending expertise to clients that include Blue Water, Eton College, the National Trust, Leeds Castle, Kent County Council, Medway Borough Council, Environmental Advice Centre, Liverpool University and several London borough councils.

Chris said: "Mid Kent Fisheries (MKF) is among the three largest fisheries in the country. None of our competitors offer the range of consultancy work we do and we are now diversifying into further environmental work.

"I have 'reeled in' every single one of our customers and am proud that the business is becoming very profitable. The guys working for me are magic because all of them are 100 per cent dedicated."

Keith Gambrill, Leigh Mansell and Chris Logsdon junior, all hold various certificates in chainsaw use, tree climbing and rescue, chemical spraying plus mechanical digger operations (himac and JCB) to meet the demands of a growing legion of environmental clients.

Previous work has seen the team survey the polluted River Lagan, in Belfast, where attempts to clean up the water have seen the return of salmon and trout. The fisheries have also undertaken environmental surveys on the River Usk in Wales for a road scheme crossing a breeding ground for rare Sea Lampreys.

Closer to home the team has worked on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, moving fish from ponds and lakes that crossed the path of the new railway line. They have organised fishing schemes for young people with learning difficulties in Kent. "One child couldn't relate to anything, he wouldn't smile or talk. They asked me to sit with him, I put the rod in his hand and when he caught a fish his face lit up. The transformation was incredible. It's difficult to explain the buzz it gave me," said Chris.

Consultancy contracts include work on a new world class national rowing centre at Eton College, advising on weed invasion and stocking the return rowing lane with fish.

MKF also has also secured new contracts, most recently with Blue Water. This adds to the existing environmental maintenance work with London councils on Wandsworth Common, Tooting Common and Battersea Park and with the Corporation of London, working on Hampstead Heath ponds and the Barbican..

With sales of carp, roach, bream and other coarse fish up again this year Chris is pleased with the progress.

Improvements continue, in 2003 there was a major scheme to knock two lakes into one. Both were so encroached by reeds that if the work was not carried out they would have beeen lost.

Additional lakes are being introduced and of course the British Carp record remains with Mid Kent Fisheries.

clients that included

Blue Water, Eton College, the National Trust, Leeds Castle, Kent County Council, Medway Borough Council and several London borough councils.

"The guys working for me are magic because all of them are 100 per cent dedicated."

fishing days for underprivileged children in London

"One child couldn't relate to anything, he wouldn't smile or talk.

when he caught a fish his face lit up

The transformation was incredible."

"It's not a job," said Chris, "It's a way of life."