In 2023, the Australian Birdies team saw the potential for a successful launch of their product in the South African market. In keeping with the tradition of family-owned businesses, Kyle Kneen and Gill Jones-Kneen embarked on the journey to establish Birdies Garden Products South Africa.

Today, Kyle and Gill run Birdies SA from their home in the picturesque setting of Plettenberg Bay, with an ambitious goal to serve garden enthusiasts across all corners of South Africa. Their close connection with the founding family of Birdies, including Neill, Simon, and Tim, has provided the South African team with invaluable insights into the numerous benefits and opportunities that Birdies Garden Beds can offer in the South African context.

With a deep passion for their South African roots, Birdies SA is driven by a belief that they can introduce something truly unique to the market. Their vision goes beyond just serving home gardeners; it extends to contributing to the growing trend of self-sustainability. The success of Birdies SA will not only meet the needs of gardeners but will also play a vital role in job development, creating opportunities in a country where they are needed most.

Birdies SA takes pride in bringing these exceptional garden products directly from Australia, as there is simply no comparable product available in the market. Why change what works exceptionally well?

The Birdies Original Raised Corrugated Garden Bed was first identified by Simon Bird in 2007 who as a keen Gardener observed farmers cutting their old corrugated water tanks in half to use as raised garden beds. Corrugated water tanks are very popular in Australia.

With this in mind Simon decided to have these corrugated Garden beds manufactured for his own use, which were used to grow his own veggies. They looked great and were very user friendly. It was then discussed as to whether this product might become of commercial value.

Within a few months Simon subcontracted the bending of the beds and then did final product assembly in his garage. Initially the beds were delivered to homes, whole in the back of a rickety trailer and pulled with a 1985 Toyota Landcruiser that would constantly overheat in the Queensland summer.

The initial Birdies Original bed was manufactured whole which was 3 meters x 1.5 meters in 2 heights. This proved difficult to deliver to homes as more and more orders came in. The product was then broken down into 2 halves, predrilled and supplied with nuts and bolts which allowed for the beds to be nested into each other allowing us to deliver more cost effectively as demand increased. 

Shipping around Australia was then investigated. We reduced the size of the beds to 2.2m x 1.2m this allowed for the two halves to fit into each other on a pallet and with this configuration up to 20 garden beds could be shipped on a single pallet. 

The corrugated components had punched holes and the two halves were screwed together to form the 2.2m x 1.2 meter garden bed, shipping then became more cost effective. We eventually supplied short straight sheets on these pallets to allow the customer to extend the size of their beds, this was the beginning of our Modular range.

In 2008 we displayed at 2 Garden expos in SE Queensland, and we were inundated with orders and potential sales with approx. 2000 brochures handed out in the first day of the show.

It was then decided to start our own manufacture.

It was at this time that Neill Bosch who has 40 years of manufacturing experience joined Simon Bird and Birdies own Manufacture was born.

A 160 square meter premise was rented, and machinery bought for in house manufacture, and so the journey began.

Simon and Neill continued to design innovate with the view to making the product suitable for retail and online sales.

In 2016 Tim Bosch joined the company and brought to the business new innovative product ideas, modernising production planning, CNC programing and has a wealth of knowledge in IT, web design and social media platforms, Tim became a director in 2018 and has continued to add value to the business and contribute to its continued growth.

Birdies is a family owned and operated business and has a team dedicated to the company and the Brand.

We all strive to bring value to the business with a focus on continued growth with Quality Innovative products for the home Gardener, “Made by a Gardener, for the Gardener” being our slogan.

Birdies pride themselves in designing all their own products manufacture in Australia and refrain from copying other people’s ideas.

Our products have been proven over the past 18 years and we plan to serve the gardening community with new quality products on a continued basis.

The very first prototype of the Modular Original Range in 2009.

In 2009 the All-New Birdies Original Modular Raised Garden bed prototype was manufactured.

Not only could it fit into a box suitable for a small car boot, but it was also designed to configure into various shapes and sizes all within the one kit (6 in 1, 8 in 1, and 9 in 1), was shelf friendly with cost effective shipping.

Innovation patents were successful.