The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) is celebrating welcoming its 800th member - Wakefield-based landscape contractor Freshscaped Ltd.

This is a major milestone for the UK's largest trade association for landscapers, grounds maintenance contractors, garden designers and affiliated industry product and service suppliers.

BALI was established by a handful of industry movers and shakers in 1972, and by 1975 its membership had already grown to 230. By the end of the 2015-16 membership year this figure is expected to have increased almost four-fold.

Bob Field, BALI's recently appointed National Chairman, expressed satisfaction that the latest BALI member is a new company working in the domestic sector whose principal, Mike Goodman, joined the association to help him build his fledgling business:

"I am delighted that an increasing number of start-up companies in the domestic landscaping and garden maintenance sector are joining BALI as Associate Members in order to benefit from BALI business and technical support and the free consultancy their BALI peers are so ready to provide at regional and Landscape House meetings. I would like to personally offer Mike at Freshscaped Ltd a warm welcome and I look forward to helping him achieve Registered Contractor status over the coming two years."