{"id":132653,"date":"2023-05-11T10:10:59","date_gmt":"2023-05-11T10:10:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fin2me.com\/?p=132653"},"modified":"2023-05-11T10:10:59","modified_gmt":"2023-05-11T10:10:59","slug":"finches-friends-easy-care-bird-feeder-puts-wildlife-protection-first","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fin2me.com\/business\/finches-friends-easy-care-bird-feeder-puts-wildlife-protection-first\/","title":{"rendered":"Finches Friend\u2019s easy care bird feeder puts wildlife protection first"},"content":{"rendered":"

Finches Friend a business making amazing bird feeders<\/h3>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

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With an estimated 100 feeders present per square kilometre, good hygiene has never been more essential.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

“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.”<\/p>\n

After creating the concepts over several years Finches launched its first product in 2021, investing £400,000 in tooling and £700,000 overall.<\/p>\n

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Produced within a 60-mile radius of the Kent-based business, Finches now offers three Cleaner Feeders and one especially for windows (from £24).<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

“Of course hygiene depends on regular, thorough cleaning, but our designs make it easier.”<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

In the UK it would welcome teaming up with garden centres and the feeders make ideal gifts.<\/p>\n

“Finches are very prone to infection, the most vulnerable birds are often the smallest. Our passion is to protect them,” declare Dick and Andrew.<\/p>\n

Finches Friend – definitely one to watch and tweet about. finchesfriend.com <\/p>\n