This month Creature Candy turns 1 year old. I can hardly believe how fast this time has gone, but one thing I know for sure is that launching Creature Candy was the best decision I have ever made. I have enjoyed every second and it has been wonderful passing over our donations to the Bat Conservation Trust, Bumblebee Conservation Trust and Butterfly Conservation.
So far this year, we have raised a total of £720 for our 3 charities, and this figure does not include Christmas sales. Look our for our blog posts to find out how this money will be used by the charities. I would like to thank all our customers, friends and family for your support, as without you this would not be possible.
An Ecologist With An Idea
For those of you that don't know, Creature Candy was founded by me, Lizzie Barker. I graduated in 2010 from Aberystwyth University with a first-class degree in zoology with the aim of entering a career in wildlife conservation so I could help make a difference. I hold bat and great crested newt Natural England survey licences, and spend a lot of my time surveying and studying these animals, amongst many others.
After working for three years as a consultant ecologist I felt slightly flat and uninspired. I wanted to do more to help the charities I had been working so closely with and also find a new and inspiring way to raise awareness of British declining wildlife species.
So in late 2014, I launched Creature Candy! My aim was to create a growing range of timeless, stylish, British-made products, that raise awareness of Britain’s declining and protected wildlife species, and to inspire people to take active roles in conservation, while helping to raise funds for the charities that endeavour to conserve our wildlife. I hope you will agree that I have achieved my goal, but I feel more can be done.
Plans For 2016
With the business growing at an unexpected rate, it has encouraged me to introduce new designs into the range and support new charities as a result. Next year, we will launch a hedgehog, red squirrel and bird range, and will be supporting British Hedgehog Preservation Society, Red Squirrel Survival Trust and British Trust for Ornithology. We also have plans to support a community project to create a wildlife garden for a children's hospice, through the sale of our new candles, which will be introduced onto our website later in the year.
At a time when much of Britain’s wildlife is in dramatic decline, Creature Candy helps make a difference and will hopefully inspire others to do the same. I look forward to another exciting year and being able to hand over growing donations to our charities. Thank you all once again for your support and I wish you all a peaceful and happy Christmas.
Lizzie x