Feed the birds

All garden birds need our help in winter

and if you look after them well, you can expect

plenty of visitors come the spring.

Chris says: “Put up nest boxes. By February, things like blue tits are looking around,

thinking, ‘Are there any holes for me to nest in?’

“They don’t lay their eggs until April

but by that stage they’ve figured it out. If they haven’t

found a nest box in your garden, they will

go next door.” Feeders will also help to ensure your

resident birds get the nutrients they need – but you

have to pay them some attention.

“The key thing is to keep them clean,”

Chris says. “A number of diseases are sweeping through

our finch population. They are generally transmitted

by saliva, so it’s the area underneath the

feeder you need to keep clean, and the feeder itself.

“Putting water out is equally important

because birds need to bathe and drink.”