RANGE REVIEW: PET CARE & WILDLIFE


OTLEY PET STORE TO OPEN ITS FIRST CONCESSION AT A BRADFORD GARDEN CENTRE


STOCKING FILLERS FOR NATURE LOVERS PROTECTS WILDLIFE


Small, British eco-lifestyle brand Arcana has launched a range of affordable, collectible Wildlore Art Patches depicting species and describing their science and symbolism. Sales help protect endangered species.


Each patch is named, such as The Loved, The


Tenacious, The Hopeful and comes in a gorgeous card with the meaning written inside, making it a thoughtful, eco-friendly stocking filler. Wildlore Gallery Patches are miniature, collectible embroidered art, presented with the science, story and symbolism of each species. They cost £15 each and can be framed as art,


adhered to a notebook or sketchbook, or sewn onto fabric. They are 11.5 x 9cm and come in an A6 gatefold card and envelope.


The exquisite hand drawn and woven cotton tapestry patches are designed by British artist Ria Mishaal. Bristol-based Arcana is well loved for its luxury tapestry blankets, featuring British ecosystems.


The sales of these new Wildlore Patches in these new venues will help contribute to their efforts in education and conservation. These patches will also serve as conversational starting points for nature enthusiasts and children in all sorts of educational settings. Arcana is a small independent British business.


With sustainability close to its heart, it has chosen to produce its wares in a way that is least impactful. Visit arcanaliving.com to learn more.


SARAH RAVEN BECOMES FIRST ONLINE GARDEN RETAILER TO ACHIEVE B CORP CERTIFICATION


Sarah Raven has achieved B Corp status, becoming the first online garden retailer to earn the prestigious certification. The milestone is a result of the brand’s long-term dedication to sustainability and ethical business practices. B Corp certification is awarded to companies that meet the highest standards of social and environmental responsibility. The achievement reflects how the Sarah Raven business is built on responsible supplier partnerships, a deep respect for nature, and boasts an unwavering focus on the wellbeing of employees and customers alike. Alison Doherty, CEO of Sarah Raven, commented: “We are delighted to have been awarded


32 DIY WEEK OCTOBER 2024


The latest concession to open at a Bradford garden centre is an established family pet and animal supplies business. The Blue Barn opened its first site outside its Pool in Wharfedale headquarters at Tong Garden Centre on 26th September. The 1500 sq ft concession stocks a wide range of pet supplies and animal feed covering everything from small animals and poultry to horses. The Blue Barn concession will be managed by experienced retailer, Daisy Woodrow, who worked for Pets at Home before joining The Blue Barn. She said: “The Blue Barn at Tong will sell the UK’s leading dog and cat food brands and The Blue Barn’s own award-winning ranges of ambient and frozen dog and cat foods and natural treats. Tong Garden Centre Manager Paul Adams welcomes the new concession: “The Blue Barn is an established specialist independent pet business with staff trained to help and advise customers on a wide range of pet and animal matters from nutrition and feed to behavioural issues.”


The Blue Barn is a family owned business that was established in a large blue barn in Pool in Wharfedale in 1984. It offers daily deliveries to its customers across Yorkshire. Tong Garden Centre is a member of the


Yorkshire Garden Centres family that includes Tingley, Otley and Bingley Garden Centres and Dean’s York and Scarborough.


WHERE ARE ALL THE


BUTTERFLIES?


Leading wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation has revealed very low numbers of butterflies have been spotted so far in its annual Big Butterfly Count. On average participants are seeing just over half the number of butterflies they were spotting this time last year.


The unusually wet


and windy spring, coupled with the colder than usual temperatures so far this summer could be contributing to the lack of butterflies. While there is a chance of a later emergence of the insects if there is a prolonged sunny spell, numbers are currently the lowest recorded in the 14-year history of Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count.


Dr Dan Hoare, Director of Conservation at Butterfly Conservation, explains: “Butterflies need some warm and dry conditions to be able to fly around and mate. If the weather doesn’t allow for this there will be fewer opportunities to breed, and the lack of butterflies now is likely the knock- on effect of our very dreary spring and early summer.” However, the charity is also warning that it is not only this year’s weather that is contributing to the lack of butterflies being seen, 80% of butterflies in the UK have declined since the 1970s, with habitat loss, climate change and pesticide use the main drivers of this decline. With populations of butterflies already depleted, they are less resilient to the impact of poor weather. Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count is the largest citizen-science project of its kind and is a positive action everyone can take to help collect important scientific data which informs policy decision making and conservation effort. Last year more than 135,000 Big Butterfly Counts took place up and down the country.


WILDLIFE EXPERT EXPLAINS HOW TO PREPARE YOUR GARDEN FOR AUTUMN


Wildlife Expert Lucy Taylor from Vine House Farm explains how Brits can prepare their gardens this autumn to support wildlife.


B Corp Certification, providing positive affirmation of the business’ dedication to our people, customers, and the environment. Gaining the certification is a great achievement for the whole team but is not the end of our journey. Sustainability remains core to our mission and values, and as such, we will continue to strive for further improvements as a sustainable ethical business.”


Whilst you might want to trim longer stems off and those with dead flower heads during the autumn, leaving perennial plants in beds and pots to rot down naturally during the winter months has a great benefit to wildlife – and also helps enrich soil. The benefit to wildlife comes from the fact that the ground immediately below the rotting vegetation is at least partly protected from frost, with this allowing invertebrates such as insects to shelter or hibernate, which in turn become food for birds. We’ve long had a bit of an


obsession in the UK for clearing up fallen leaves in our gardens and then disposing of them, but attitudes are changing and it’s much better to see autumn leaves as something of a harvest. In the same way that invertebrates use the dead foliage of the perennial plants for protection and food, the same is true for leaves. Vine House Farm are suppliers of


bird feed, and have over 50 years of experience in bird care. Visit www. vinehousefarm.co.uk for more.


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