How to build a bird box
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With natural nesting sites in decline, adding a nestbox to your garden can make all the difference to your local birds.
Cleaning bird feeders and bird baths
Clean feeders and feeding sites regularly using warm soapy water or 5%. Make sure to rinse any disinfectant off thoroughly and always allow feeders to air-dry completely before adding food.
Brushes and equipment used to clean feeders, tables and baths shouldn’t be used for other purposes. Rubber gloves should be worn and hands washed afterwards.
Cleaning nestboxes
After the end of each breeding season, all nestboxes should be taken down, old nesting materials removed, and the box should be scalded with boiling water to kill any parasites. Do not use insecticides or flea-powders – boiling water is adequate. Annual cleaning should only be carried out at the end of the breeding season, from late September to February.
Under the terms of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, if unhatched eggs are found in the box, they can only legally be removed from October to January inclusive, and they must be destroyed – it is illegal to keep them.
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More ways you can help birds
How to make a gravel garden for wildlife
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Surfaced spaces needn't exclude wildlife! Gravel can often be the most wildlife-friendly solution for a particular area.
How to make a woodland edge garden for wildlife
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Few of us can contemplate having a wood in our back gardens, but just a few metres is enough to establish this mini-habitat!
How to make a shrub garden for wildlife
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Woody shrubs and climbers provide food for wildlife, including berries, fruits, seeds, nuts leaves and nectar-rich flowers. So why not plant a shrub garden and see who comes to visit?
How to do companion planting
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Grow plants that help each other! Maximise your garden for you and for wildlife using this planting technique.
How to make a coastal garden
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Coastal gardening can be a challenge, but with the right plants in the right place, your garden and its wildlife visitors can thrive.