Robins will love your garden if you follow 6.5ft rule
The Woodland Trust revealed ways to bring robins, the UK's favourite bird, into your garden.
Brits trying to bring more birds into their gardens could have more luck if they follow one simple rule. The Woodland Trust has shared a few tips to make your garden more hospitable for robins.
Robins and other birds are more likely to spend time in your garden if they feel safe from predators like cats. The Woodland Trust said that ideally, bird feeders should be positioned around two metres (6.5ft) away from dense vegetation. This will reduce the chance of a surprise attack by cats, and will mean birds can still easily retreat to cover if needed. Another way to draw them in is with food. A cold snap or a late frost might delay insect activity, leaving hungry chicks waiting in the nest. That’s where a helping hand from the garden can really count. By offering mealworms on a clean bird table or hanging feeder, you’re helping ensure local robin populations thrive.
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Mealworms are a great source of natural, nutritious food for birds, packed with healthy fat, protein and fibre that help strengthen and promote growth.
You can also add mealworms to dried bird food, such as seed mixes, to create a more varied and attractive offering around your feeder.
However, there’s an important word of caution for those offering this treat. Experts warn against allowing mealworms to spill onto the ground, especially at night.
This is because hedgehogs, nocturnal foragers often found in UK gardens, may stumble upon and eat the mealworms. Unfortunately, what’s nutritious for birds can be harmful to these prickly visitors.
Two fruit varieties, obtainable for as little as 50p each, will prove suitable for birds seeking to feed their young this autumn. Apples and pears, chopped up on the grass or positioned on a garden table, will appeal to birds.
For those planning to feed wildlife using a bird feeder, the society has issued a clear warning about hygiene to ensure that food is not contaminated and wildlife is not made ill.
The RSPB added: "Bird feeder hygiene is very important. Brush off debris every time you put out fresh food and scrub feeders with mild disinfectant solution weekly."
