Kenya to Dulverton: The African Bird Story

We are proud to be the only UK supplier of our handmade and painted wooden birds. Each bird is made out in Kenya by one man and his family.

How did Browns end up selling birds made in Kenya?

Phil's sister lived in Kenya and often found beautiful items that she would bring back as presents. While all the items were amazing, when she brought back the first wooden bird we fell in love. They were so realistically done and there was something so special and unique about them. We asked Phil's sister to put us in touch with this incredible artist and the rest is history. In 2018 Phil, Seonee and Beth went to Kenya on holiday and met him in person for the very first time.

Which birds do you do?

Our bird suppliers have never left Africa, so of course they made African birds which they saw everyday. We first started selling African varieties and they became so popular that we started to wonder if we could get English birds made. Phil's sister gave the makers an English bird book and from this book the many English birds we sell in store and online today are made.

Today we sell blue tits, wrens, puffins, lesser spotted woodpeckers, nuthatches, goldfinches, pheasants to name just a few, and of course you will still find the odd African bird in there too from a Pied Kingfisher, lilac-breasted roller or our Guinea Fowl families. 

Photo gallery 

Phil's sister at the bird stall in Kenya

Phil and Seonee with our Kenyan friend and supplier in 2018

One of the birds being made