IT IS an amazing story.

How Blue Forest, based at Wadhurst, came to be the dynamic and imaginative company it is today: a story which began with two boys growing up in Kenya.

Owners Andy and Simon Payne spent an adventurous childhood in East Africa exploring the wilderness, climbing trees and building rope swings.

They brought that sense of fun and adventure back to the UK where Blue Forest was launched in 2003 to help clients escape their busy urban lives and reconnect with nature through tree house living.

And now they have published a book called Tree Houses Reimagined: Luxurious Retreats for Tranquility and Play

MD Andy said: “We have a passion for creating imaginative and adventurous tree houses that bring you closer to the natural world.

“I am fortunate enough to have grown up in Kenya where I spent my childhood enjoying the beauty of the great outdoors.

“Blue Forest was born from these experiences and from a desire to make the world more adventurous.

“We have established a reputation as the world’s leading treehouse consultancy and are renowned for designing buildings that reflect the environment in which they are built.

“You might want to create an idyllic woodland retreat, build some boutique hotel accommodation or a children’s treetop play den.

“We have a highly skilled team of specialist architectural designers, interior designers and project managers, who work with our customers to turn their tree house into reality.

“The network of crafts-people, engineers, suppliers and manufactures who work with us ensure our tree house schemes are at the forefront of sustainable luxury design.

“We are passionate about the wellbeing of the environment and are keen to promote sustainable principles and ethics throughout the design and construction process.

“The majority of the timber used throughout our projects is industry certified or sourced from sustainably managed forests where there is an active strategy of replanting and habitat regeneration.”

The name Blue Forest comes from the Japanese region called Aomori, meaning Blue Forest, named after the blue appearance of the distant pine forests.

Despite the traditional stereotype tree houses are not just for children.

The pair have designed and built everything from tree house hotels to blissful family retreats, children’s dens, adventure play areas and canopy walkways.

Commercial clients include Alton Towers Resort, Center Parcs, The National Trust and the NHS.