Bug and Bird Boxes

Aim

To create bug and bird boxes that will aid the creatures that use them and to inspire kids of all ages to learn about their natural world.

Bug and Bird Boxes

With 25% of all bees and wasps being on the endangered list due to loss of habitats, pesticides, global warming and modern day lifestyles, we need to start to help out our smallest of creatures in providing suitable nesting, hibernating and resting spots. This includes other small insects and birds too.

One way of doing this is by providing habitats in our own gardens, community spaces and educational facilities by installing/making bug hotels and bird boxes. Our aim is to provide unique bug and bird boxes that will not only provide a suitable habitat for these creatures, but also educate what creatures will use them or be found in and around our gardens and countryside.

About me

I have studied and worked in countryside conservation now for a number of years, starting my own small business up a couple of years ago working on National Nature Reserves and other designated sites throughout West Wales. My company ethos is to make as little impact as possible whilst carrying out work on such sites and to use sustainable resources wherever possible, including recycled materials. I have a massive passion for our countryside and green spaces and with the creatures that live there, and would like to share that enthusiasm with others.

What's the big idea?

My idea is to create these beautiful bug hotels and bird boxes that mimic the creatures that will use them or be found around the areas they would be sited. Encouraging others to get more involved with their natural surroundings and hopefully learning something along the way.

Currently we have four designs ready to go into production, the Ladybird, Wasp and Dragonfly Bug Hotels and the Woodpecker Bird Box. Two of which we have had prototyped and if you pardon the pun have got the bugs out of the system. The other two are all ready to go with the design issues we had with the first two products being resolved in these two.

Above is the first prototype of the Wasp Bug Hotel standing at around three foot tall. We have since made a few changes to this as it made it more structurally sound and easier to assemble (see below).

The next design was the Ladybird Bug Hotel, this has pretty much stayed the same, just the odd little tweek to make assembly easier.

The third design I wanted to try something a little different so I decided to try and incorporate a bird box into the design. The best shape at the time and the one that seemed an ideal candidate was the woodpecker, due to its nature of being seen tapping away on the side of trees.

And the final design, so far, is the Dragonfly Bug Hotel. I think these creatures are magnificent and working a lot on bogs I encounter them quite often. This is the larger of the bug hotels standing at around 1.2m from tip to tail.

Below is the size chart of the Bug and Bird Boxes, showing how 'larger than life' they are.

Why am I crowdfunding?

Outsourcing the production of these unique Bug and Bird Boxes is pretty expensive and to make it a viable product I need to be able to bring this price right down. One way of doing this, with your help, is to buy my own specialized machinery to produce these products myself, cutting out the middle man and making them a fraction of the cost it would cost me out-sourcing production.

Plus once I have the specialized machinery I can then start to design and create other unique products that will fit in this range, providing a wider choice of items for people to enjoy, whilst creating lots more habitats for our smallest of creatures.

We are crowdfunding this project so we can keep all the rights in the business, without outside investors and heavy interest loans, to keep producing and investing more time in products that will help out our natural world and creating learning tools for future generations.

Rewards

By pledging you will get a fantastic reward in the form of one of these unique Bug or/and Bird Boxes (those pledging over £35).

Once we have reached our funding goal an order will be place for the specialized machinery to start production. We estimate that this will take around 6-8 weeks for it to arrive and be set up. Once it is all ready to go we can start producing your products and ship them out as soon as they are completed, probably in 2-3 weeks from the time everything is set up. We will keep each one of you informed of the progress every step of the way.

We can also send your reward to a school or community group of your choice if you wish to donate them, obviously telling them that you have given them a great product to educate others of our natural world.

Shipping is only to the UK at this moment in time, please get in touch if you want shipping outside the UK and we may be able to help.

This project closed unsuccessfully on 5th September 2014