If you’d like to bring more birds into your garden, here are a few tips from the team in Hildreth’s Pet Shop…
Yesterday was National Wildlife Day in the UK, a day is dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of wildlife conservation, celebrating the rich biodiversity of our amazing countryside, and also recognising the efforts of organisations and individuals who work to protect and preserve it.
We’re lucky to live on one of the most beautiful parts of Bucks, where encounters wild foxes, deer and badgers are not uncommon. We also have an abundance of different wild birds living in our woods and hedgerows – and our customers love to feed them!
We know that because we sell so many bags of wild bird food and feeders in the Hildreth’s Pet Shop. Locals tell us about all the birds they see in the garden, among them blue tits, robins, woodpeckers, jays…the list goes on!
Encouraging birds into your garden in the UK can be a rewarding way to support local wildlife and enjoy the beauty of various bird species. Here are some ways you can tempt them to visit you…
Provide a Variety of Food Sources
We stock different types of bird feeders in Hildreth’s Pet Shop, with a variety of seeds and fat balls to attract a range of birds, but planting native trees, shrubs, and flowers like hawthorn, rowan, holly, and ivy that produce berries, seeds, or nuts, can provide another, natural food source.
You can also leave out fruit like apples and pears, especially during winter. Blackbirds and thrushes, in particular, love them!
Provide Fresh Water
Installing a shallow bird bath provides your winged visitors with clean water for drinking and bathing. Change the water regularly to keep it fresh and free from algae. The sound of trickling water can attract birds, so you might want to consider a small pond or fountain?
Create Shelter and Nesting Sites
Dense, native shrubs and hedgerows provide natural shelter and nesting sites for birds, as do climbing plants like ivy or honeysuckle on walls and fences. But a birdhouse or nest box can offer a place to shelter too. There are different ones for different bird breeds suitable. Just ensure the entrance hole size matches the birds you want to attract.
Maintain a Wildlife-Friendly Garden
Allow some areas of your garden to be a bit wild, with leaf litter, dead wood, and compost heaps, which attract insects that birds feed on. Creating a wildflower meadow or area in your garden with native plants will encourage the insects, which provide food for your birds.
Feed Throughout the Year
Continue feeding birds throughout the year, especially during the winter months when food is scarce, and in the spring and summer when they are raising young. Fat balls are popular in Hildreth’s Pet Shop…and we have loads!
Minimise Disturbance
Create quiet areas in your garden if you can, where birds can feel safe from pets and noisy humans! Place bird feeders and baths away from windows to prevent collisions and if you have cats, consider using bells or keeping them indoors during peak bird activity times.
By creating a welcoming environment, you’ll not only enjoy the sights and sounds of various bird species but also contribute to local conservation efforts too.
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