The winter can be cold and hard for wildlife, so here are ten simple tips to help the birds in your garden... 1. Introduce a bird table and high calorie seed mixes. This can also be used to put out kitchen scraps such as animal fats, grated cheese and soaked dried fruit.
 | | This type of feeder gives birds shelter |
2. Put out hanging feeders for black sunflower seeds, sunflower hearts, sunflower-rich mixes or unsalted peanuts. 3. Place your feeder and/or bird table near a tall shrub, fence or mature tree. This provides the birds with protection if threatened by predators. 4. Ensure a supply of fresh water every day. If it is very cold use tepid water but DO NOT use any antifreeze products. 5. Supply apples and pears for blackbirds, song thrushes and other members of the thrush family. 6. Food bars or fat hung up or rubbed into the bark of trees is a great help for treecreepers, goldcrest and many other species. 7. Put up nest boxes to provide roost sites for the smaller birds. They will then be used for breeding later in the year. 8. Plant berry-bearing plants in your garden, such as hawthorn, rowan, holly, cotoneaster and berberis. 9. Leave wild, weedy or shrubby areas in the garden that provide a natural seed source, natural cover and a supply of small insects.
 | | A blue-tit photographed by Mark Hamblin |
10. Put a garden bird guide near the window, that way you’ll know what species you are attracting. Bird welfare The ten-step-programme has been introduced by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds as part of their Feed the Birds day in October, which promotes bird welfare throughout the winter months. All that people need do to help our feathered friends throughout the colder period is to provide a feeder, or a bird table, along with regular food and water. Through helping birds we can continue to appreciate our 'beaked buddies' for years to come.
Picture credits: With thanks to RSPB images, Ernie Janes, Chris Gomersall, David Tipling, David White, Nigel Blake, Mike Lane and Mark Hamblin. | 
