Supplementary food can make the difference between life and death for our garden birds in winter – there are few insects and the fruit and berries soon run low. In some places woodland and hedgerows are dwindling, replaced with housing estates and non-native plants. Feeding our feathered friends can be tricky though – crowded feeders could be a potential source of infection, some commercial bird food is not of the best quality and sadly bird food is no longer tuppence a bag. I will be setting up some bird feeders this winter, but I have also been growing bird-friendly plants. Choose the right things to grow and you’ll be able to provide naturally available food. It’s not just seeds and berries either. In the summer there will be nectar to attract protein-packed insects for the birds to feed their young. The right plants will also create shelter, nesting materials, and a healthy ecosystem filled with other beneficial creatures – all helping to create a more balanced environment in the garden. And a garden that’s planted with birds in mind doesn’t just benefit the creatures out there – it also involves us in nature. Gardening for – and with – the birds is an immersive activity that will bring beauty, bounty and biodiversity.

Designing a Bird-Friendly Garden

Diversity and Layering

If you can, try to create multiple layers in your garden to mimic a natural habitat. This means a mix of shrubs and trees to offer different food sources and perches. Taller shrubs and small trees like Rowan, Birch, Amelanchier and Crabapple will give shelter, nest sites, insects and fruit. Mid-height and smaller shrubs offer dense hiding places as well as a food source. Species roses have lovely hips, Buddleias and Hebes will bring late nectar and useful bushes like Pyracantha and Cotoneaster horizontalis have nectar and fruit.
Lastly ground cover plants and lower growing perennials will help the ground feeders and insectivores. Geraniums, Alchemilla mollis, Asters and Periwinkle suppress weeds and many will grow in dry shade too. Planting in variety – and allowing a few messy, native plants around the edges of the garden accommodates different bird species and provides protection from predators.

Timings for Flowers and Fruit

Our native plants will naturally be providing the right food at the right time for birds, as they have slowly evolved their life-cycles to fit in with one another and the pattern of the seasons. Is native best? Possibly, but this is a complicated issue, as many birds are migratory. The best thing to do is to look for a range of plants that will provide a long supply of nectar and fruit. Spring flowering plants – early bulbs like snowdrops and narcissi, then primroses and aquilegias provide food for migrating and home birds alike, while autumn and winter natives like holly, ivy and dogwood offer essential nutrients during the colder months.
It can be hard to remember seasonality when planning a planting scheme, but spreading the offerings across the months will pay off – not just for the birds, but to extend the season of interest for us too. In the Northern hemisphere nectar starts in early spring and tails off in the summer, but there are plenty of late flowering plants available that will produce nectar right through the autumn if it stays warm. Fruits, berries and seeds are produced from late spring until the winter, depending on the species.

Insect Friendly Plants

Many birds – and actually most of them during breeding season, rely on insects for protein. Native plants are essential here, as they support native insects, which in turn feed native birds. Trees can support whole ecosystems – a single oak tree can host around 2,000 species. Not many of us have gardens big enough for a large tree, but even a small one will be providing food and shelter for many creatures. Hawthorn is one of the best natives, as it will have nectar-rich blossom in spring, a dense canopy for cover and masses of attractive red berries in the autumn and winter.
Avoid using pesticides, as they can harm birds directly or kill the insects that many birds rely on for food. Instead, let your garden develop a natural balance. Native plants may be stronger and more pest-resistant and will naturally house the healthy insect populations birds need.

Provide a Source of Water

In addition to food, birds need water for drinking and bathing. A small pond, bird bath, or even a shallow dish of water (that you can clean out regularly without trouble) will be a welcome addition to your bird-friendly garden. The water needs to be shallow, or have a shallow end with easy access in and out, because other wildlife will use it too and they can easily drown in deep water.
Birds have to preen their feathers to keep themselves warm, remove parasites and generally stay healthy. Unfortunately they will bathe in their drinking water and – like some children I have known – drink their bath water, so it’s important to keep the water clean. Site the water source near trees or shrubs so birds have a quick escape if a predator appears.

Seed Bearers

Birds like finches, sparrow and bluetits rely on seeds through much of the year. Prolific seed-producers are found in several families of plants – the Asteraceae, or Compositae family is home to sunflowers, echinaceas, daisies and many thousands more. The great thing about them is that the centre of the flower is really a collection of tiny flowers, each of which will, once pollinated, go on to produce a mass of easily accessible seeds.
Grasses are also brilliantly seedy and are useful for producing nesting material too. Native grasses are best, but ornamentals and cultivars are great too and these look fantastic in prairie plantings and garden borders alike, bringing light, movement and shimmering effects through the autumn and winter. Miscanthus, Mollinia and Stipa are just three of the many lovely grasses that will grace the garden and feed the birds.

Maintaining Your Bird-Friendly Garden

Managing a bird-friendly garden is as simple as gently leaving the garden to its own devices. Allow the grass to grow long in places – you can cut paths around or through a tiny meadow so that it doesn’t look as if you’ve forgotten to mow the lawn. The good news is that, depending on the species, wildlife needs areas of both short and long grass.
Let dead flower heads die gracefully and then remain through the winter to provide seeds for the birds and shelter for insects. Leaf litter and fallen branches will create habitats for insects, which in turn feed ground-foraging birds.
Delay pruning if you can until after the winter to keep food and shelter available for as long as possible. Once early spring arrives, however, make sure that any heavy cutting back is done before they start eyeing up potential nesting sites.

Creating a garden to feed birds is a fascinating and rewarding activity. With thoughtful plant choices and minimal maintenance, it can become a sanctuary where our feathered friends find food, shelter, and a place to raise their young – a vital link in the ecological chain. In return, you get to enjoy the vibrant sights and sounds of their busy lives – and with any luck they will help with pest control too.

Jo’s new gardening course is booking now 07923 969634 jo@hornbrookmanor.co.uk