Food or thought...
How have the fortunes of bird food suppliers been affected by the coronavirus 2020 lockdown? finds out…
to the positive things they can do within their own space and with their own families. As many nature conservationists, groups and organisations have said for such a long time, connecting with nature is extremely beneficial to both physical and mental health, and it has been very encouraging to see that people have used their lockdown days to do just that.”
They went on to say: “The combination of time at home, plus the increasing awareness of garden wildlife through media coverage has allowed nature to sell itself to a wider audience. It is apparent that wildlife has flourished in many ways, and we have been in an excellent position to support our customers, old and new, engaging with nature when they possibly needed it most.”
As a result, the company have had what they describe as “wonderful comments” from customers expressing enjoyment at seeing and hearing a great number of birds, daily. Throughout the lockdown, the company’s product range has continued to be available, and they have been able to continue to operate within safe guidelines.
CJ’s spokesperson went on to say: “As well as bird feeding and watching, wildlife gardening has been a welcome activity, and our plants and insect houses have proved very popular during this time. Family members have shared projects to make their gardens wildlife havens, which is extremely beneficial for wildlife to have suitable connected habitats in urban areas.”
Winning new customers is obviously beneficial to both a company and, in this case, wildlife, but what is needed is for this interest to continue. To this end,
CJs say: “We have offered guidance and advice on how to make the most of their outdoor space to attract as much wildlife as possible. We hope that the increased number of people who have started caring and feeding birds and wildlife have found this a very positive experience, perhaps a new love for nature, and therefore actively continue to do so for the benefit of the next generation.”
Wildlife Trust link
Another well-known name in the industry is that of Vine House Farm, based in Lincolnshire. Another farm-based business that has been growing much of the bird food they supply for many years. The bird foods supply business, which usually employs 20 people, takes place alongside the running of an arable farm.
Many years ago, the company established a link with The Wildlife Trusts who continue to benefit from 5% of the sale price of the bird food the company sell. Lucy Taylor, daughter of Nicholas Watts MBE (who has run the farm since 1964), told us: “The two weeks before lockdown were incredibly busy and we would never have been able to maintain that if it had carried on.
“We have been trading well above normal levels. We have kept a consistent team and resisted the urge to introduce new people to ensure we keep a safe working environment in the warehouse. The team have coped very well.
“We have had most of our office staff working remotely, and they will continue to do so even though this does give us added challenges. We are still very busy, and it will be interesting to see what
impact the opening of garden centres has on our trade levels, as consumers’ confidence levels increase and or we get used to a ‘new normal’.
“Supplies have been difficult at times, and I am sure, going forward, there will be further impact on feeders etc, but we are lucky, as we have been one of the few industries that has not suffered.”
Nutrition for birds
Ivel Valley Wild Bird Food is part of a family farm business based in the Ivel Valley, Bedfordshire. The company have spent years developing what they describe as “a unique range of products to help you attract more garden birds to your garden, and have set out to make products that really work as well as having proper nutritious ingredients.”
As with Vine House Farm, a company spokesperson tells us that, “since the lockdown we have become incredibly busy, partly coinciding with spring and increased supply due to birds feeding their young.” In addition, the company have seen “an increased trend and enthusiasm for people wanting to attract and welcome garden birds and wildlife to their garden and realising the satisfaction and enjoyment that this brings particularly when people have had to become more isolated.”
James Parrish, who together with Nick is the third generation of the Parrish family to run the farm, told us, “our team have relished the challenge in these difficult times and have managed to do lots of extra hours and rallied round with social distancing and extra covid safety precautions. We have to use a training barn, so as to keep desks and people almost distance to one room per person. Customers have really appreciated that we have kept going and kept up service levels. At some points, orders were three or four times higher than normal, particularly with so many people having to isolate and appreciating a next day delivery to their door.”
James went on to tell us that despite the lockdown, the company continued with many business improvements, especially in terms of sustainability and packaging, adding: “We also still managed to have our LEAF protocol audit – which is an environmental protocol and stands for linking the environment and farming. It is a very rigorous audit, which includes a detailed plan for how we manage each field in the best way for the environment and sustainability.”
He also pointing out that: “Farm shops have typically remained open, and it is great to see these farm shops gaining new customers, and for customers to see the quality of products when they go direct. We are now progressing plans to expand to double our space in September, in terms of production and packing, ready for the autumn and winter season.”
So it would seem, from the comments of bird food suppliers we’ve been in touch with, that the commercial impact of the lockdown hasn’t been overly detrimental. The public’s increased interest in the wildlife that surrounds them, linked with a desire to connect with it, has resulted in the businesses we spoke to being very busy. Let’s hope this interest continues and inspires the next generation of ornithologists.