FAQs
Everything you need to know about WildWyn, Brook & Hollow whole dried black soldier fly larvae, and Root & Rise insect frass. We supply estates, shoots, game farms, gamekeepers, farms, growers and conservation projects across the UK. Can't find your answer? Call or WhatsApp 07707 315 943, or email info@wildwyn.co.uk.
About WildWyn
Who are WildWyn?
WildWyn Ltd is a family business in Thame, Oxfordshire. It was founded by Tom Berry, who spent twelve years in Asia co-founding and building Nutrition Technologies, one of the region's largest black soldier fly producers, before coming home to put that knowledge to work in the British countryside.
What does WildWyn supply?
Two products from one insect. Brook & Hollow is 100% whole dried black soldier fly larvae, a natural insect food for birds. Root & Rise is insect frass, a natural fertiliser and soil conditioner for farms, growers and gardens.
Who do you supply?
Estates, shoots, game farms, gamekeepers, farms and regenerative growers, conservation projects and trade buyers. We supply direct, by the bag and by the pallet. We do not run an online shop.
Why insects?
Insects are the food most birds are built for, and they are the missing link in a lot of modern soil. Decades of intensive farming have taken many insects out of the countryside, and the birds that depend on them have declined alongside. WildWyn puts insects back: whole and dried for the birds, and as frass for the ground they feed over.
What is a black soldier fly?
The black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) is a harmless fly found across the world's warmer regions. The adults do not bite, sting or feed, and they are not attracted to homes or food. Its larvae are remarkably efficient at turning vegetable material into protein, fat and calcium, which is why they are one of the most widely farmed insects in the world.
Brook & Hollow: whole dried black soldier fly larvae
What exactly is Brook & Hollow?
100% whole dried black soldier fly larvae. Nothing added: no binder, no carrier, no preservative. Each larva is washed, blanched and dried at a controlled temperature to below 10% moisture, and stays whole. They are 18 to 22mm long and weigh around 50mg each.
Are these live insects? Will they hatch?
No. They are dried, so they will not move, hatch or attract flies. Birds are drawn to their size, shape and smell, and search for them as they would for insects in the wild.
What is the nutritional analysis?
Typical values are 38 to 42% protein, 28 to 32% fat, 2.5 to 3.0% calcium and around 600 kcal per 100g, with a calcium to phosphorus ratio of about 5 to 1. Lauric acid makes up 35 to 45% of the fat. Guaranteed minimums are 35% protein, 25% fat and 1.5% calcium. Every batch has its own Certificate of Analysis, and the full technical and nutritional information is in our product brochure.
How does it compare with dried mealworms?
Both are high in protein, but black soldier fly larvae carry far more calcium, typically around thirty times the level in mealworms, and in a better balance with phosphorus. Calcium matters for bone, feather and eggshell, particularly in growing and breeding birds.
What are the larvae fed on?
Pre-consumer vegetable material only. No manure, no catering waste and no animal material. The larvae are produced under GMP+ and HACCP certified systems.
How do you check quality and safety?
Every batch is tested. Salmonella is absent in 25g, Enterobacteriaceae are below 300 CFU per gram, total aflatoxins are below 20 ppb, and heavy metals and pesticide residues are within the legal limits for feed materials. Every bag carries a batch number that ties back to its Certificate of Analysis.
Which birds take it?
Ground-foraging birds take it readily, including wild-release pheasants and partridges, wildfowl and the songbirds that share the same ground: robins, blackbirds, thrushes, starlings, finches, tits and sparrows. It suits conservation projects for insect-eating birds.
How is it used on estates and shoots?
The larvae are scattered thinly along feed rides, hedges, cover crops, straw bales and field margins, alongside the usual feed. Birds work the ground to find them, which encourages natural foraging and gives them a reason to stay where the searching is worthwhile. Our full guide for shoots and estates covers where and how to use it.
How much should we use?
As a guide for encouraging foraging, keepers scatter around 10 to 15 larvae per bird per day. At that rate a full pallet of 4 million larvae covers roughly 10,000 birds for a month. Results depend on your ground, weather and management. If you have a specific nutrition or health goal in mind, talk to us first.
Why is it sold by the million larvae and not by weight?
Because insects are counted, not weighed. A bird finds individual larvae, so the number you scatter matters more than the weight. Selling by the million larvae lets you plan exactly how many birds and how many days a delivery will cover.
How is it packed?
A full pallet holds 4 million larvae: 16 bags of about 250,000 larvae, packed two bags to a box in 8 boxes. That is about 1,440 litres in all, and around 200kg. Smaller quantities are available: enquire for prices and minimum order quantities.
How long does it keep, and how should it be stored?
18 months from production, unopened. Store it dry, below 25°C, off the floor and out of direct sunlight, in a vermin-proof store. Once a bag is opened, reseal it and use it within a few weeks.
Can it be fed to chickens or other farmed poultry?
The rules on feeding processed insect protein to farmed poultry in Great Britain are changing. Brook & Hollow is sold as a food for wild birds, including wild-release game birds, and for fish. If your birds are kept for eggs or meat, please check the current guidance first.
Can hedgehogs and pond fish eat it?
Yes. Hedgehogs can have a small amount as a treat alongside proper hedgehog food and fresh water, never milk. The larvae float, so they suit koi, goldfish and other ornamental pond fish: feed a few at a time and remove anything not eaten.
Free trial bag
Can we try Brook & Hollow before ordering?
Yes. UK shoots, estates, gamekeepers and game farms can claim a free trial bag. It is free and there is no obligation. It is posted within 1 to 2 working days.
What is in the trial bag?
About 6,000 whole dried larvae, roughly 2 litres (300g). It is small on purpose: enough to put a few handfuls down on a feed ride and see what your birds make of it.
How should we test it?
Scatter a few handfuls in one spot your birds already use, such as a feed ride or the edge of a cover crop, and watch over the next few days. Tell us what you saw: your feedback shapes how we advise other shoots.
Ordering and delivery
How do we order?
Call or WhatsApp 07707 315 943, email info@wildwyn.co.uk, or send us your bird numbers. Tell us roughly how many birds, where you are and when you want delivery, and we will come back the same day.
How are prices set?
Brook & Hollow is priced by the million larvae, and the price per million falls as volumes rise. Trade prices are quoted excluding VAT. Enquire for prices and minimum order quantities.
When are prices reviewed?
Every March. Orders confirmed before the last working day in February are honoured at that season's price, so it pays to plan next season early.
How quickly can you deliver?
Trial bags are posted within 1 to 2 working days. Pallets are usually delivered within 3 to 5 working days.
What do we need for a pallet delivery?
A full pallet weighs around 200kg. Please tell us when you order whether you have a forklift or telehandler on site, or whether you need a tail-lift delivery.
Can we book a delivery later in the season?
Yes. You can confirm an order now for delivery on a later date. A deposit is taken on deliveries booked more than four weeks ahead.
Where do you deliver?
Across England, Scotland and Wales. For Northern Ireland and the islands, please ask us first.
How do we pay?
Pallet orders are invoiced on delivery, with payment terms confirmed on your quote. Smaller orders are paid in advance.
Can we speak to someone already using it?
Yes. We can put you in touch with keepers and shoot managers already using Brook & Hollow on ground of a similar size to yours. Ask when you get in touch.
Root & Rise: insect frass for soil and plants
What is insect frass?
Frass is what black soldier fly larvae leave behind: their castings, mixed with the skins they shed as they grow. Once cured, it is a natural fertiliser and soil conditioner, rich in organic matter, slow-release nutrients and chitin.
What does it do for soil?
It feeds the soil as well as the plant. Frass adds organic matter and gently released nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, and its chitin and natural microbes support the life in the soil that plants depend on. It suits regenerative systems that want to build soil health over time.
How is it used?
On farms and in growing systems it is spread or incorporated like other organic soil amendments; ask us for guidance for your crop and ground. In containers, mix one part Root & Rise with five to seven parts compost. In beds and borders, work a handful into the top few centimetres around each plant, or into the planting hole.
Will it burn roots? Does it smell?
It is gentle and slow to release, so it is very unlikely to scorch roots at the suggested rates. It has a mild, earthy smell, much like good compost. It is 100% insect frass and contains no peat.
Is it safe around people, pets and wildlife?
It is a natural material with no synthetic chemicals. As with any fertiliser, store it sealed and out of reach, and wash your hands after use.
How is Root & Rise supplied?
In bulk for farms and growers. Enquire about Root & Rise for quantities and prices.
Trade and conservation
Do you supply retailers and distributors?
Yes, by arrangement. Garden centres, country stores, farm shops and distributors can contact us about supply.
Do you supply conservation projects?
Yes. Conservation groups use whole dried larvae as a high-calcium insect food for insect-eating birds. Ask us about volumes.
Sustainability
Why are black soldier fly larvae a sustainable choice?
The larvae turn surplus vegetable material into high-quality protein, fat and calcium, and what they leave behind becomes a natural fertiliser. It is a circular system that uses material that would otherwise go to waste, and it reduces reliance on soy and fishmeal.
Do you test on animals?
No. We never test on animals.
Contact
Call or WhatsApp 07707 315 943, or email info@wildwyn.co.uk. Estates, shoots and keepers: claim your free trial bag. Farms and growers: enquire about Root & Rise.
The small print
Where this website or our materials refer to game birds, this means wild-release game birds (birds released into the wild), not farmed game birds. Brook & Hollow is a complementary food, not a complete diet. Nutritional values are typical and vary between batches; the batch Certificate of Analysis is the definitive figure. Feeding and application guidance is general and results depend on your own ground, weather and management. WildWyn Ltd, company number 16479002, registered in England and Wales. Registered office: International House, Station Yard, Thame, Oxfordshire OX9 3UH.