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helping garden birds

10 nature-led ways to feed birds

Want to give wild birds a natural boost this winter? Kate Bradbury explains how to attract a wide diversity of birds to forage within your garden and why this is so beneficial

Kate Bradbury is a garden writer specialising in wildlife gardening. She is the author of six books on wildlife gardening and is the Wildlife Editor of BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine.
Sunflower heads provide a nutritious feast for seed-eating birds such as greenfinches

Let’s improve our garden habitats to provide more food as nature intended

Thrushes can help keep snails in check as they know how to smash their shells

For years we’ve been encouraged to feed garden birds, both for their benefit and our enjoyment. I’ve written countless articles on the most calorific food to help birds through winter and get them into good shape for breeding. When research revealed the benefits of feeding all year round, I was there too, explaining that offering adult birds food in summer would help more chicks survive.

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BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine
January 2025
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