Make a bird feeder

How long will it take?

20 minutes, plus the cooling and setting time.

What you will need

• equal quantity of shredded suet (from any supermarket) and wild bird seed mix (from a pet shop). The amount depends on the size you would like the feeder to be (100g, or 3.5oz is a good amount to start with).
• any extra of the following: fresh peanuts (hulled from monkey nuts, not toasted, roasted or salted), sunflower seeds, stale cake crumbs, cheese crumbs, seeds from dock, thistle, stinging nettle, knapweed, teasel or ragwort collected from the wilder parts of your garden.
• a small tin (washed and dried) or a coconut shell.
• saucepan
• wooden spoon

Step-by-step guide

1 Get your children to weigh out an amount of suet and put it in a saucepan. Help them to melt it over a gentle heat.

2 Next they must weigh out an equal quantity of seed, adding in any extra ingredients they wish to include.

3 When the fat is liquid, turn off the heat. Help them to remove the pan from the cooker, and then stir in the seeds and other ingredients you have chosen. The mixture should look quite sticky as this is what holds the mixture together once it has cooled. Leave it to cool slightly.

4 They can tip it into the tin or the coconut shell, or into a heatproof dish if they are going to use an onion bag. Leave to cool and set completely.

5 When it is set, they need to string up the tin or shell, or wedge it into the branch of a tree in the garden. Place it somewhere they can see from inside your house.

6 Now they can keep an eye on their bird feeder and see what comes to eat the delicious seed cake. Remind them to make another cake when the first one is getting low!

Tips and advice

• Birds will be attracted to your garden if it provides food, water and shelter. There may be enough naturally in your garden to feed them in the summer and autumn months, although there is unlikely to be in winter and spring.
• If you put out bird food, it is important to put it out all year round, possibly stopping when young birds are being fed - they can easily choke on peanuts and dried bread.
• Never put out any food in mesh bags. These may trap birds feet and may even cause broken or damaged feet and legs. Read the RSPB advice on feeding birds.
• Birds also appreciate a shallow bowl of water that they can drink and bathe in.
• Always work closely with your children when they are cooking.
• Be sure to hang the feeder in a position where the birds can eat safely without being attacked by cats!
• If your children are collecting seeds from stinging nettles, ensure they hold the leaves firmly between their finger and thumb to avoid being stung.