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Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network

Seilich Becomes First Wildlife Friendly™ Enterprise To Be Certified In The UK And First In The World To Protect Pollinators

Artisan natural cosmetics produced from native Scottish wildflower meadows ensure habitat for pollinators 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EAST LOTHIAN, SCOTLAND: 03 FEBRUARY – 2020  Seilich, a Scottish beauty brand built around sustainability, becomes the first in the UK to attain Wildlife Friendly™ Certification from the Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network. Using the Scottish Pollinator Strategy https://www.nature.scot/pollinator-strategy-2017-2027 to guide its efforts, Seilich creates native wildflower meadows at the hub of its business from which ingredients for their products are grown and harvested.  These meadows are comprised of a native seed mix created by a local seed company (https://www.scotiaseeds.co.uk/shop/urban-pollinator-mix/).  This seed mix was developed in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh to; 1) be of benefit to pollinators 2) ensure no food scarcity gaps through the year for pollinators and 3) comprise native seeds of local provenance.  Botanist and Seilich’s founder, Dr. Sally Gouldstone explains “The botanicals we use in our products are based on native Scottish species such as yarrow, comfrey, plantain and wild carrot, all of which we grow in our meadow.  These species not only produce powerful ingredients for our cosmetic products but also provide amazing habitat for wildlife, and with over 97% of wildflower meadows in the UK being lost since the 1930’s, they form an important habitat in their own right.  For this reason we are really careful about the way we harvest, ensuring a food source for pollinators even post-harvest, and to compensate for any losses, we also we also work with community groups in the wider area to create a network of wildflower meadows through out East Lothian.” Through Seilich, Dr. Gouldstone is keen to increase awareness about so called ‘natural’ cosmetic products which often conjure images of pristine ecosystems buzzing with life but all too often have negative impacts on the natural world. “Joining forces with the Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network offered an opportunity for us to demonstrate that natural products can not only be 100% natural but actually be a force of good for nature.”

“Certifying a pollinator project has been a priority for us at Wildlife Friendly™” said Julie Stein, Executive Director and co-founder of WFEN.  “This helps to showcase the plight of beneficial insects which are threatened by pesticide use and the loss of habitat globally.  This is not only a critical threat to biodiversity around the world but to our own survival since our food systems depend on pollinators.  For many reasons we are thrilled to welcome Seilich to the Wildlife Friendly™ family of brands and as our first UK based entity.”

Seilich creates a range of handmade natural cosmetics including face mists, body sprays and room mists, as well as running botanical courses and offering a habitat creation service.  For more information see www.seilich.co.uk.

About Seilich                                                                                                                     

Seilich is a small family run company based in East Lothian, Scotland. We are passionate about producing beautiful natural products based on native Scottish plant species that we grow ourselves in our meadow. We use a traditional copper still to carefully distill our plants to produce essential oils and floral waters. It is these precious botanical extracts that form the basis of all our products.  Although we are passionate about our botanicals, the main ethos behind Seilich is to create a wildlife friendly company that is able to give back rather than take from nature.   For more information see www.seilich.co.uk or contact Sally at info@selich.co.uk.  Instagram:  @seilich_botanicals Facebook:  seilich botanicals

About Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network

WFEN and its certification programs represent grassroots farmers, ranchers, herders, artisans, indigenous peoples and conservation heroes from around the world including two World Bank Development Marketplace Award winners, a U.N. Equator Prize winner, leadership in the world’s marketplace for REDD+ Carbon Offsets, and a Time Hero for the Planet. Wildlife Friendly® products contribute to the conservation of over twelve million hectares of diverse wetlands, forests, and grasslands; protect keystone endangered species in Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin and North America, including the Snow Leopard, Elephant, Tiger, Cheetah, Red Panda, and Wolf; and benefit over 400,000 people through increased food security, income and employment. For more information visit: www.wildlifefriendly.org, Instagram: @wildlifefriendly, Twitter: @wfen

Contact

Seilich: Sally Gouldstone – info@seilich.co.uk

WFEN: Christine Lippai – christine@wildlifefriendly.org