Seed gift that’s strictly for the birds

Riverford Organic Farmers have made a donation of sunflower seed-heads to the Valley Conservation Society to use as bird-feeders in the Loose Valley Conservation Area. Sam Garnham, the Maidstone franchisee for the company, which delivers organic vegetable boxes to its customers, met Bryn Cornwell, the society’s chairman, in the valley to make the donation. Guy Watson, who owns Riverford, has grown thousands of sunflowers on his French farm in the Vendée and been giving away the sunflower seedheads to customers. Mr Garnham said: “Finches, sparrows, blue tits and great tits all love the seeds, though we’ve had a few reports of cheeky squirrels pinching the whole thing before the birds have even realised they’re there.”

For details about Riverford, visit www.riverford. co.uk/wash