Using natural materials, decide how long you want your garland to be and cut a length of twine or string to size.Thread a strong needle with your twine and then tie a knot in the twine at the opposite end to the needle.
Push the needle through each piece of food to thread it on to the twine. Make sure to check that all the food is suitable for wild garden birds.You can use dried fruit, plain popcorn, chunks of apple and pear, fresh or dried berries.When the garland is full, remove the needle and secure the end with a knot. Hang your garland in an outdoor space and wait to spot how many birds come to feed. Different species of birds like different treats, so you could research what your visitors like to eat by experimenting with different foods and monitoring what gets eaten.
Once the birds have enjoyed their tasty treats, put any leftovers in the compost bin.Also remove any fruit that starts to look mouldy to prevent it causing harm to wildlife.
Other ways to help wildlife this winter
Keep water topped up
As well as using bird baths, provide a shallow dish or container of water at ground level to benefit other garden wildlife that needs to drink. Check it daily especially in icy conditions to ensure a supply of clean, unfrozen water is always available.
Make a bug hotel
If you have a new garden with few mature plants and hiding places for insects, make a bug hotel and put up in a sheltered position. Overwintering ladybirds and lacewings will find this useful.
Build a beetle bank
Do this by adding a mound of soil, particularly in flat gardens, providing shelter for lots of invertebrates.Alternatively, create a beetle bucket by filling a bucket with rotting wood and leaves for beetles and other insects.This is perfect for small gardens.
Other gifts
Leave healthy herbaceous and hollow-stemmed plants unpruned until early spring, which can provide homes for overwintering insects, and cut up prunings into even lengths to makes piles of twigs for hedgehogs and amphibians.
Follow simple instructions from the RSPB to build your own bird box, to give birds a safe place to nest and roost and get the kids to paint it if they want to personalise it, but only with non-toxic water-based paints.
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