Testimonials
Hemswell Fish Farm
Hemswell Fish Farm used to exemplify what happens when a hobby goes seriously feral. Over 12 years, Graham Dicken's interest in fish had turned into a business scattered over a 1.5-acre site. "It was all over the place," says his business partner Wayne Wilkins. "There were ponds and buildings everywhere. It got incredibly tricky to manage."
Hemswell Fish Farm in Hatfield is known nationwide as a supplier of high-quality fish and reptiles, plus the equipment needed to care for them. Its emphasis is on nurture and care, providing happy, unstressed creatures which are unlikely to become sick or die. Wayne's speciality is tropical fish, while Graham tends outdoor pools containing Koi of all sizes. Andy Jones was employed several years ago to specialise in reptiles, and now runs a dedicated facility for snakes and lizards. His skills are so recognized that Yorkshire Wildlife Trust has been known to bring him rescued animals for rehabilitation and rehoming.
Since Wayne came on board four years ago, financial assistance from Donbac has helped him and Graham rationalise, modernise and make the business manageable, and trade is growing as a result. There is now an import room, where fish take a well-earned rest between arrival and going on display. The equipment shop has been re-organised and the scattering of sheds replaced by a cluster of insulated units. There are now four people working full-time here, and two part-time. Hemswell Fish Farm is certainly in full flow nowadays.
