Gilleard
Specialists in the design, manufacture and erection of bird hides and other associated conservation productsTel: +44 (0)1724 798344
Our company began trading in 1949 when Joe and Fred Gilleard formed a partnership to be known as Gilleard Brothers. They traded as general building contractors as well as running a small joinery workshop. In their spare time, both were keen birdwatchers, regularly visiting the reedbeds at the confluence of the Trent, Ouse and Humber opposite the village of Blacktoft in Yorkshire. After the RSPB took over the Blacktoft Sands nature reserve the new warden Andrew Grieve began the task of transforming this vast expanse of reedbed, into a reserve, Joe and Fred became the first reserve volunteers, helping in any way they could. When Andrew Grieve decided to erect the first hide on the reserve, it was Fred and Joe he turned to. Fred prepared an estimate, Andrew accepted it, and Gilleard Bros made its first hide.
Birdfair 2003 From left to right. Andrew Grieve. Fred & Joe Gilleard
That was back in 1975, and we have made over 800 hides since then ( over 80 alone to the RSPB ) and continue to do so in ever increasing numbers although the hides we make today are of a much better quality, both in craftsmanship and design, than those we made in 1975. We constantly strive to improve them. Over the years we have had quite a few enquiries from as far afield as Spain, France, Germany and so we were very pleased in March 1998 to complete our first export order when we manufactured, delivered and erected two hides at Neerach Marsh near Zurich in Switzerland, for Birdlife Switzerland. Then in 1999 we manufactured, delivered and erected a hide at Al Wathba Lake near Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, for the Environmental Research And Wildlife Development Agency, which was funded by BP Amoco. Although we now trade as 'Gilleard Bros Ltd we are still the same small family run business started by Joe and Fred in 1949. These same dedicated & experienced employees are also the same employees that are used to construct the bird hide. We believe that it is for these reasons we are the leading manufacturer and supplier of bird hides in the UK, Europe and probably the world. We believe that our continued success is due to the quality of the products we supply and the craftsmanship we provide and we are very appreciative to the RSPB, Wildlife Trusts, Utility Companies, Local Authorities and all our previous customers who have shown us their support by using our services.
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Tel: +44 (0) 1724 798344 | Fax +44 (0) 1724 798667 | Mobile (07774) 131496 | E-mail: info(at)bird-hides.co.uk
VAT Reg No 128 9902 39 - Company Reg No. 06750116