Winter

Put up nest boxes in sheltered locations out of direct sunlight (usually in a northeasterly direction), which birds will be able to investigate thoroughly before breeding begins in spring.

Leave out seed, grated cheese and halved apples for ground-feeding birds like wrens, robins and thrushes.

Leave ponds undisturbed, as cleaning them out now can shock and kill overwintering pond life. It’s a good idea to float a ping pong ball, or similar, on the surface to stop the pond completely icing over.

Leave compost heaps untouched till spring; they may harbour hibernating hedgehogs and other wildlife. Top up bird baths, especially if they have frozen over. Birds with clean feathers are better able to insulate themselves from the cold, so are more likely to survive winter than birds with greasy feathers.

Make a leaf pile or let leaves stay where they have fallen in borders, as they will shelter insects and small mammals over winter. However, do remove leaves from paths and lawns.

Plan ahead to next year: if you don’t have any plants in flower now, consider buying Clematis cirrhosa, mahonia and winter honeysuckle for any insects that will still be on the wing next winter.