Meet the Sheppard Brothers | Rotherwick Bird Feeders

3 min read
Meet the Sheppard Brothers | Rotherwick Bird Feeders

As a small business owner, I know how hard it can be to get up and running and spread the word about your products. We don’t have the huge marketing budgets of bigger companies, and every sale we make means the world to us. That’s why I love collaborating with other independent UK businesses who share my passion for wildlife and sustainable living. When I see a small business doing great things, I love to get in touch and find out more. You can order a feeder from Rotherwick Bird Feeders here.

Meet the Sheppard Brothers

I was blown away when I first saw the beautiful ceramic bird feeders these guys make. I loved the natural glaze and knew they’d look eye-catching hanging in the garden.

I was even more surprised when I got in touch with them to interview them for my Monthly Titbits magazine to learn they were designed and handmade by a team of teenagers from Hampshire: brothers George (14), Morgan (16) and Zac (11) Sheppard. They were entrepreneurial from a young age, and when their small dog-walking business had to close during the first lockdown in March 2020, they decided to turn a difficult situation into a positive one.

Their dad, Matthew, worked in the ceramics industry, and together they came up with the idea of creating a handmade stoneware bird feeder. It turned out to be the perfect product to capture the interest of a nation discovering nature during lockdown.

How the Feeders Are Made

The boys began by creating master moulds, then used them to cast each feeder before fettling and hand-glazing them. Their natural glaze designs are inspired by the countryside around their village and the changing seasons.

Word soon spread locally, and their feeders were selling out as quickly as they could make them. As demand grew, their dad helped with casting extra feeders while the boys fettled and glazed them over the weekends. Their mum took on postage and accounts, and they built a website to manage sales more efficiently.

Each brother took on a role: George experimented with new glaze designs, Morgan handled customer enquiries and social media, and their dad photographed the feeders in action. Youngest brother Zac designed the Stoneware Globe Feeder with his dad, adding his own creative touch to the growing collection.

The Result: Beautiful, Practical and Made with Care

With Morgan now studying for his GCSEs, the boys are as busy as ever, and it’s inspiring to see how much they’ve achieved. They’ve shown determination, creativity and empathy for the wildlife around them, taking inspiration directly from the natural world.

The Stoneware Globe Feeder looks absolutely beautiful in the garden, ours hangs amongst peach roses and attracts plenty of smaller birds. It’s easy to fill, empty and clean, and makes a lovely gift, especially when paired with a bag of bird food.

Each feeder is glazed to high temperatures to withstand the British winter, and the boys have added a drainage hole to keep the seed dry. Order yours here.

Update: Rotherwick Bird Feeders

Since I wrote this piece in June 2021, the Sheppard brothers’ business has since grown - still proudly family-run, still handcrafting every piece in Hampshire, and now featured on the Be Your Own Boss TV show with Holly Tucker.

Their story continues to be a brilliant example of creativity, craftsmanship and care for nature, and all starting from a simple idea at home.

Clare Cahill

Thank you for reading!

Clare Cahill is an bird enthusiast with a passion for observing and learning. While she definitely doesn’t have a formal degree in ornithology, Clare has dedicated hours to reading birding books and exploring nature, constantly expanding her knowledge and deepening her love for wildlife.

For Clare, birdwatching brings a sense of calm and connection to the world, offering a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. She believes that the more we connect with nature, the more we can do to protect and conserve it. Through her writing, Clare hopes to inspire others to take a moment to pause, look up, and appreciate the calm and connection that comes from letting a little wildness into our everyday lives.

About A Little Bird Co.

The seasonal bird food brand

We're a little company, supporting little birds. Find out more about what sets us apart.

  • What to feed the birds in summer

    Seasonal

    Birds have different dietary needs throughout the year, from nesting to moulting and surviving colder months. To support these changes, we’ve created seasonal blends – order a Seasonal Bird Food bag, and we’ll adjust the blend to match the season, making it easy to do something great for the birds.

  • Child holding bag of seasonal A Little Bird Co. bird food.

    Sustainable

    Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. We don't farm, process, and transport cheap filler ingredients that birds simply kick to the floor. Instead, we focus on premium ingredients they love. Our packaging is compostable, and our bird feeders and nest boxes are tested for durability and longevity.

  • Songbird

    We design our food and select our range of feeders with little birds in mind. Every ingredient in our blends is chosen because small birds love it, simplifying your bird feeding routine. Our feeders provide safe access to food while helping to keep out larger, more dominant species. Look out for robins, blue tits, wrens, finches and more visiting your garden for our food.

  • Support

    With birds in your garden, you’re never alone - they’re the friends who always visit. Feeding them supports wildlife conservation while bringing joy and calm. Whether spotting a new species or simply watching their daily routines, just ten minutes a day strengthens your connection with nature and boosts your wellbeing.

When life feels busy, the birds keep it simple.

There’s something lovely about how feeding the birds becomes part of the rhythm of your day. A scoop of seed, a clean dish of water - and then a pause, just to watch who turns up. It doesn’t have to take long, but those moments can be surprisingly grounding. A little burst of mindfulness, fresh air, a chance to notice your garden as it changes throughout the seasons, and the cheerful flutter of wings - it’s good for the soul.

Join our flock of bird enthusiasts who share a passion for sustainable and thoughtful bird feeding.

Start Your Bird Food Subscription

Shop our bestsellers

From our popular seasonal bird food to the Squirrel Buster squirrel resistant bird feeder, our range is designed to help you to create a haven for little birds in your garden.