How to help wildlife though the winter months

For many in the UK, feeding garden wildlife has become a regular habit with the nation spending an estimated £200 million every year caring for just the birds. But what should be on the menu?
While gardens can naturally provide an abundance of fruits, seeds and insects, offering tit-bits means nature lovers can provide a nutritional boost during stressful times as well as enjoy watching wildlife from their window.
Although it's important to remember that the food you provide is only a supplement - and there are consequences to attracting wildlife to your garden - a few snacks could make a big difference in extreme weather or help to feed demanding young.

 

Our gardens can attract a rich variety of birds and Tim Harrison, from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), advises a mixed menu to reflect different visitors' tastes.
As part of the team behind the charity's year-round Garden Birdwatch survey, Mr Harrison is very familiar with seasonal trends and says you should consider changing what you provide through the year.
"Basically, the thing you need to think about when providing different food for birds in your garden is that the reason why there are all these different species is because they all have slightly different requirements and they all have slightly different niches," explains Mr Harrison.
"They all feed in slightly different ways and by doing that it means they're not in direct competition with each other."
So certain species prefer hanging feeders while others enjoy their feasts on the floor. Likewise, different sizes of food suit different beaks, with tiny finches preferring fine seed while the thrush family favour fat worms.
There are a few things to avoid, particularly cooked oats which can dry and solidify around beaks, sugary treats which can negatively effect diets, and loose whole peanuts that can potentially choke chicks if fed whole by unwitting parents.
You should also pay some attention to where you provide food so you don't make it too easy for predators to pick off your visitors - positioning your feeding station near trees or bushes allows the animals to seek cover once they have some food.

TIP - Don't forget the water!

• Make sure there is fresh water available year-round for birds that need a bath and a beverage
• Break the ice on a frozen bird bath - a light plastic ball can help to keep the surface from freezing by moving around in the wind
• In hot weather you can also pour some water in a shady spot at dusk to encourage worms to the surface for blackbirds and badgers alike