Yesterday evening, the 19th of September, Haith's was thrilled to open its doors to the Lincolnshire Budgie Society.
Before the doors opened, staff were busy preparing the canteen, ensuring that a good supply of refreshments and tea and coffee were available for their guests. As the time approached 7 O’clock, the team retreated outside the patio doors to welcome the members.
Once all attendees had arrived, they settled in and enjoyed the array of refreshments made available to them. A warm welcome was extended by Simon King, Director of Haith’s, who embarked on a nostalgic journey, narrating the illustrious history of Haith’s and the evolutionary tale of its factory process.
With the aid of archival images, Simon illuminated Haith's humble beginnings - a story of Ted Haith, a visionary who initiated the venture by cleaning seed in a bathtub, to the expansive manufacturing entity it stands as today. Members of the society reminisced on their time purchasing seed when it was sold in Park Street – they recalled the overwhelming smell of aniseed when they entered the shop and the queues which would take place outside the store during staff tea breaks.
The narrative then pivoted to Haith's present-day initiatives. Embracing the slogan 'Making Space for Nature', Simon highlighted the seven swift boxes that were added to the eaves on the Haith's building, the external ponds, and a future planting scheme of native trees and shrubs. He finished his segment by highlighting new sustainable practices adopted at Haith’s. The team have been busy implementing a bin routine with coloured, friendly faces printed on used containers, to encourage and assist all employees in sorting their rubbish correctly. He also mentioned other projects including a staff bug hotel and encouraging children and families to find a love for nature, through their recent addition to the Haith’s website: The Family & Education Section.
As the presentation ended, the group savoured more refreshments while engaging in hearty conversations with the Haith’s team about their affection for budgies and the diverse range of seeds available at Haith's. Rachael Haith, Director of Haith’s, manned the Photo Archives and talked members through the special past of Haith’s which has led to what it is today.
The latter part of the evening saw Gemma Saunders and Julianne Jessett aided by Andrea Parratt unveiling the much-anticipated new shop and the exclusive Clubman Deal tailored for the members of the Lincolnshire Budgie Society.
As the evening came to a close, members of the society spent time sharing stories of their bird-keeping before heading home.
It was a wonderful evening filled with the nostalgic past of Haith’s and heart-warming tales of members’ beloved budgies, and the Haith’s team look forward to seeing the Lincolnshire Budgie Society again soon.