Hanging Metal Fat Ball Feeders (Set of Four)
Solar Fountain for Your Bird Bath
Shepherd Hook Feeder PoleAdvice & the journal
Everything we know about feeding British garden birds, written by people who actually do it. New posts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
45 posts published
Sunflower Hearts vs Sunflower Seeds: Which Is Better?
Hearts cost more per kilo and still work out cheaper. Here is the arithmetic, and the one case where whole seeds win.
5 min read Squirrel & Pest-ProofingSquirrel Guards vs Baffles vs Cages: Which Actually Works
They are not three versions of the same thing. Each solves a different half of the problem, and only one of them works alone.
5 min read Bird Baths & WaterHow to Keep a Bird Bath Clean and Algae-Free
Five minutes a week, no chemicals, and two siting decisions that halve the work. Also: the products to keep well away from it.
5 min read Bird Baths & WaterSolar Bird Bath Fountain Not Working? 8 Checks to Fix It
Shade, a dirty panel, low water or a clogged filter cause almost every solar fountain failure. Eight checks, in the order that finds the fault fastest.
8 min read Attracting UK Garden BirdsHow to Attract Blue Tits and Great Tits
These two are the easiest birds to attract and the ones most likely to stay. Sunflower hearts, something to cling to, and a box facing north-east.
5 min read Buyer's GuidesBest Bird Feeders for Small Birds (and How to Keep the Big Ones Out)
The trick is not a special feeder, it is a four-centimetre gap. Here is what to buy so small birds get the food and starlings do not.
5 min read DIY & Garden WildlifeWhere to Position a Bird Feeder (The Two-Metre Rule)
Most feeder problems are position problems. Height, cover, windows and the two-metre rule that quietly solves squirrels, cats and empty feeders at once.
5 min read Seasonal FeedingAutumn: Getting the Garden Ready for Winter Birds
September is when the work happens. Do these six things now and the hard weather looks after itself.
5 min read Which Feeder for Which FoodPeanut Feeders: What to Know Before You Hang One
Peanuts are one of the best winter foods and one of the easiest to get dangerously wrong. Mesh size, aflatoxin, and the nesting-season rule.
4 min read Bird Food & FeedingWhat to Feed Garden Birds: A Straight Answer
If you only buy one thing, buy sunflower hearts. Here is the honest ranking of everything else, and the short list that does real harm.
4 min read Squirrel & Pest-ProofingHow to Squirrel-Proof Any Bird Feeder (Without Buying a New One)
You almost certainly do not need a new feeder. Five changes, in the order they actually work, using the one you already own.
5 min read Bird Baths & WaterWhere to Place a Bird Bath (and Where Not To)
A bird bath in the wrong place is not just unused, it is dangerous. Here is the siting that gets it used within days, and the two spots to avoid entirely.
5 min readStart here
The eight in-depth guides
Long-form pillars that sit behind everything in the journal.