Our feathered friends need all the help they can get and they are getting plenty from UK maker Finches Friend and its revolutionary range of easy-clean, infection-fighting wild bird feeders.
The brainchild of engineer Dick Woods and his son Andrew, Finches is a growing branch of their commercial vehicle parts design business AD&D which is forecasting a £2million turnover in 2024/25.
“Its earnings are invested in Finches which is our heart,” explains Dick, a wildlife warrior, who applied his re-invention skills to shaking up the feeders’ market after seeing his favourite greenfinches disappear from his garden.
One in eight birds now carry some form of disease and for a host of factors the UK has lost 12 percent of its wild birds since 1970, official figures show.
However as both birding and gardening become ever more popular helping wellbeing and mental health, some 60 per cent of UK households now spend £250million on bird food.
With an estimated 100 feeders present per square kilometre, good hygiene has never been more essential.
Dick explains: “We have always been driven to find solutions and our business structure – designing products, the tooling needed and our outsourcing network – made it perfectly suited to creating new feeders.
“To tackle the transmission problem, ours have removable feeder parts for easier, more effective cleaning and water drainage to protect the food and prevent clogging and the build-up of contaminated material.
“They are also ethically made from recyclable polycarbonate. It seemed to us the market was in a design rut and more about novelty looks. Contagion is uppermost in our mind.”
After creating the concepts over several years Finches launched its first product in 2021, investing £400,000 in tooling and £700,000 overall.
Produced within a 60-mile radius of the Kent-based business, Finches now offers three Cleaner Feeders and one especially for windows (from £24).
“To fight viral, bacterial and parasitic infections, our solution is to provide dry food and keep birds’ feet and faeces out of the food and water provided,” says Dick.
“Of course hygiene depends on regular, thorough cleaning, but our designs make it easier.”
Fifteen more products are in the pipeline. These range from mounts, poles and a fat ball spring to a cleaner table, ground feeding and drinking station options.
One key development, an interceptor, is being introduced. Fitted to a feeder’s base, this mesh-covered accessory catches wasted food and husks both helping to prevent transmission on the ground and discouraging rodents. A cleaner peanut feeder is also going through the patent process.
Having moved 4,000 units so far both directly online and through Amazon, Finches is now selling in the US and Europe via e-commerce sites as it pursues its ambition to become a global brand.
In the UK it would welcome teaming up with garden centres and the feeders make ideal gifts.
“Finches are very prone to infection, the most vulnerable birds are often the smallest. Our passion is to protect them,” declare Dick and Andrew.
Finches Friend – definitely one to watch and tweet about. finchesfriend.com
- Global Birdfair: Nature lovers and birdwatchers from around the world will be gathering in Rutland from July 14 to 15, where Finches Friend will be showcasing its groundbreaking products. https://globalbirdfair.org
