We're different

Meet the team

Dan

Owner & Director

I have always had a keen fascination for wildlife, in particular ponds, wetland areas and those amazing little aquatic creatures in and around them.

At 7 years old, I remember being mesmerised by the goldfish in my father’s pond, watching them circle slowly, breach for food and interact with each other. I soon learnt that frogspawn meant spring was on its way, what flowers bud first and how to care for our slice of nature.

I remember seeing my first newt! What a sight the tiny fella was, flashing through the water to gulp air before returning to the depths. I recall searching for toads and other amphibians during the summer months and learning about their life cycle.

My desire to learn more about aquatic life, especially fish, persisted throughout my teenage years until it became apparent that my career was going to be based around the aquatic environment. The caring and restoring of these natural habitats for these creatures to call home was the driver to further develop my skills and knowledge at an academic level.

From this simple pastime of a young boy playing in the mud and going on fun expeditions to find creatures of all shapes and sizes (even the leeches and larvae!) to a man who is passionate about creating and maintaining these unique pockets of nature that are so often overlooked these days.

Upon reaching University I found that our native wetland and aquatic habitats are decreasing at an alarming rate. A BSc in Aquatic Zoology and a Masters specialising in aquatic habitat management and restoration, provided me with the necessary knowledge and in depth understanding to create and maintain safe havens for a wide variety of aquatic and terrestrial species; both plants and animals!

Thus DU Waterscapes was born, inspired by nature for nature. With a keen awareness, expertise and a drive to always learn, I am keen to bring this traditional industry into the 21st century with fore-fronting designs and new technologies.

DU Waterscapes provides innovative and unique ponds & water features for the client that would relish the opportunity to have a piece of nature in their own garden.

Emily

I joined the team in 2021 and work behind the scenes to keep everything running smoothly although I have been known to lend a hand on site.

As a trained designer, I love creating spaces for everyone to enjoy, linking the inside and out, colours and textures. My skill is getting to the real heart of what you're looking for to create your perfect space.

I'll be your main point of contact throughout the process whilst Dan is the one who will pull this together and turn ideas into reality.

I love the outdoors and creating spaces for families and friends to gather and make memories. At the weekend, you will probably find me and our spaniel Splodge covered in mud on a walk somewhere around the South West with our flask of hot tea and biscuits.

Francesca

Dan and I first met during my undergrad in 2012, but it wasn't until after studying a Masters degree in Documentary Production in Bristol that I joined the DU Team to lend my creativity. My skills in videography and editing have delivered the content you see on our YouTube channel.

Whilst I often get jealous of the on-site team enjoying the sun, I do love my job as it allows me to tell the story of each feature - and the team's journey building it - in the most fun and engaging way. As a nature lover, I get great joy seeing our projects come to life (my favourite are the ecosystem ponds), and knowing that our team creates them in the most natural and sustainable way possible.

Editing can mean a long time sitting inside, so when I am not working I am usually soaking up the outdoors, or if it's raining, planning my next adventure! I love travelling or even just getting lost in nature for the day. My creativity isn't left at the desk though, I am an avid photographer and an artist at heart - one of my favourite pastimes is going on walks and sketching plants, fungus, or my favourite little characters: birds!

JD Landscapes & Willows Waterscapes

We collaborate with Jon, Callum and their teams for our bigger builds. These guys are also Certified Aquascape Contractors, talented designers and now great friends of ours. We love coming together several times a year to work together, creating something amazing.

Quality assured

DU Waterscapes is the Certified Aquascape Contractor covering the south west of England. This prestigious certification is only awarded to companies that have fulfilled and undertaken the Aquascape Inc. training and educational program. Ensuring to sustain the high standards; ponds done right, customers served right!

Check out what some of our customers have had to say below:

I am extremely pleased with the disappearing waterfall/stream Dan created in my garden. It is a work of art. His attention to detail is excellent as is shown in the quality plants he chose which really enhance the feature. He and his team worked hard taking out and disposing of the original feature.

Jasmine Stephens

Unbelievable good fortune to have had DU Waterscapes as the company I asked to relocate an old and leaking wildlife pond. Their understanding of the issues involved is encyclopedic and their work is first rate. The new pond is a thing of beauty and is already being colonised by amphibians on it's first day.

Daniel McCarthy

Dan and Rick worked really hard. They were both very polite and good fun to have around. Their hard work and attention to detail as they were building this water feature was second to none! We enjoyed watching this project come to fruition and we are soooo very pleased with it.

Richard Lindner

View all testimonials

Let's get started

Looking to get started? Fantastic, we just need a few details from you.

Please fill out the contact form below in as much detail as possible and we will get back in-touch as soon as possible.

Step 1

Send your information and images in, via our contact form.

Step 2

Telephone conversation to discuss initial requirements, design and budget.

Step 3

On site advisory visit or design consultation.

Step 4

We schedule the dates for your project.

Step 1 of 4

Name*
First Last
Email*
Phone*
Address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City ZIP / Postal Code

Do you currently have a water feature?*
- Yes
- No
Which feature are you interested in?*
If "other" please give more information below
What are the dimensions of your water feature or space? (Length x Width x Depth)*
It is very crucial these are provided at this stage in order to serve you correctly
What is your budget?*
- £810 - £2,000
- £2000 - £5,000
- £5,000- £10,000
- £10,000 - £20,000
- £20,000 - £40,000
- £50,000 - £100,000
- £100,000 +

Photo upload*
Drop files here or
Please upload photos below and describe in as much detail as possible the work required. To ensure we service you correctly, please make sure you fill in ALL the information as well as attach the required photographs. Enquiries that have provided al the necessary info including photographs will take priority.
On Desktop

Just drag the image files into the "Drag & Drop" box or select the images using the "Browse Files" link. You can upload as many images as you want.

On Mobile

Just tap the "Browse Files" link. This will open up options in your phone to either upload photos from your camera roll or files, or take new photos and upload.

File Limit

We have a 5mb file size limit per image you upload, any images over 5mb will have to be scaled down on your phone or computer. You can upload up to 10 images a time.
Please tell us in as much detail as possible about your project.*

How did you hear about us?*
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Meet the team

Dan

Emily

Francesca

JD Landscapes & Willows Waterscapes

Quality assured

Let's get started

Step 1 of 4

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