When natural food is harder to find, a wellstocked feeder can make your garden a welcome stop.
It does not take a huge budget or complicated planning to turn your garden into a lively haven for wild birds. With the right mix of food, shelter, water and nesting space, your garden can quickly become a regular stop for a wide variety of feathered visitors.
During winter, when insects, berries, seeds and nectar may be less readily available, feeding stations can play an even more useful role. Birds still know how to find food in nature, but a garden that offers reliable food sources can help them through the colder months.
Build a garden birds want to visit
The best approach is to copy nature as far as possible. A bird-friendly garden should offer three layers: a canopy layer, a mid-level layer and a ground-level layer. Tall trees create shelter, roosting and nesting sites. Shrubs and berry-