There is something wonderfully comforting about the company of birds in the garden, especially through the colder winter months. Whether that’s my red-breasted friends (who seems to enjoy my company as much as I do theirs!) or a fleeting visit from a fieldfare flock. Birds provide constant joy but also work hard for us throughout the year. And we should never forget that winter can be a tough old time for our feathered friends. This is when their natural food sources can become low and shelter is harder to come by – but we can all play our part. As I have developed and maintained my garden, it has been done very much with birds and other wildlife in mind.
In just a short period of time, it has blown my mind how many different species have arrived, and I’m always looking to add features to attract more. If I’m being honest I also just like making things. It brings back wonderful memories of pottering in my Grandad’s shed.
So yes, you could pop out and buy yourself a bird table, but if you can find a little time this month, why not make one yourself?
Take your 800mm-long piece of timber and mark with a pencil at 300mm long for the base and 380mm long for the roof. Saw both the base and roof lengths, following your pencil lines.
8 Repeat at the other end, checking the screws in the roof timber are aligned with the screw going into the marked and pre-drilled spots. Part drill the screw, so it just shows on the other side of the timber.
4 Clamp the tree stake to your work bench. Mark a 30º angle 185mm from the end of the stake using your set square, then saw along this, following the angle to make the roof support pillar and support post.
7 Place your table on its side and slot your support post though the hole. Clamp the other end of the table to hold the roof in place. Fix the pre-drilled roof timber from above into the post with an 80mm screw.
2 Fix the base and roof timbers to your work bench using your clamp. Make a pencil mark 50mm from the timber’s edge, then draw a line 50mm down from the top edge. This is where the supporting post will go.
9 Once everything is aligned, screw through the side of the table base to fix it to the post. This will stop the base of your bird table moving up and down your support post.
5 Drill a pilot hole in the centre of your roof pillar using your 5mm drill bit. You can use the set saw hole to keep the post steady. In the opposite corner, drill a pilot hole 50mm in from the side and top edge.
3 Set your saw at 50mm and check your set saw is just bigger than the supporting post. Place your drill bit on the mark you made and cut a hole through the base piece of timber for your supporting post.
10 Sand down any rough edges on the posts and roof, then paint your bird table. I used linseed paint, which increases the life span of the wood. Concrete the post into the ground in your chosen location.
6 Place your base piece of timber on its side and screw in the roof support pillar from below, holding the timber tight. Make sure the top of the post is angled down toward the shorter end of the base.