The Wildlife and Birdcare Nature Recovery Project (WBC) has partnered with the Royal Horticultural Society on a special project to produce a wooden habitat home collection for a variety of garden wildlife.
The new collection is intended for birds, insects, and wildlife and lands as part of the RHS Supporting Nature range of products developed to help nature thrive.
The range has been built ‘with sustainability in mind’ being made from FSC UK-sourced larch wood, while ingredients for its insect holes are foraged and carefully selected by hand when each product is made.
Each habitat is also chemical and glue free, meaning they can each be easily disassembled and have their parts replaced when necessary.
The RHS Supporting Nature range is now available for garden centres, pet stores, farm shops, and other retail outlets across the UK, including at RHS Retail as well as online. The range was first introduced at Spring Fair in February this year where it attracted ‘a very positive response’ and a large number of enquiries.
The WBC and its collection will also now appear at a variety of RHS shows, including RHS Malvern Spring Festival, RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival, and RHS Flower Show Tatton Park. Products will also feature within planting at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Social Impact at the WBC
A Community Interest Company, the WBC is a not-for-profit organisation that manufactures a wide range of wildlife habitats for wild birds, insects, and wildlife. It also provides work opportunities for people with learning disabilities. In fact, all its products are made with the help of young adults with autism and additional needs.
As a Department for Education recognised and licensed training provider, WBC runs a skills and learning centre in Stoke-on-Trent which teaches industry skills to young people who are in their last year of SEN college.
WBC was created by its ceo, Sammy Holman to tackle social imbalances that she had experience of herself and increase work opportunities for young SEN students by developing other ways to teach, learn, and prepare young people who are neurodiverse to become more industry skilled.
“We’re enormously proud of these handcrafted wildlife habitats and delighted to have worked on this project with the RHS, an organisation that shares our love of nature, our devotion to quality craftmanship and our concern for sustainability,” said Sammy.
“The support of the RHS is also invaluable in helping to further our work in encouraging acceptance and support of those who are autistic or diverse.”
Cathy Snow, RHS licensing manager, added: “The WBC-RHS habitat range is not only useful, beautiful and sustainable, but well-made and sturdy with a strong focus on being fit for purpose that makes it ideal for the wildlife we are trying to support and encourage into the garden.
“But there’s even more to this partnership. It enables the RHS to support WBC’s skills and learning programme, an important part of WBC’s aims to be a social enterprise supporting business for good. We’re delighted to be working with WBC.”