Gardeners urged to put leaves on the grass this week for very important reason
Now that spring has arrived, it's more likely you'll be spending more time outside - and doing this task can be hugely beneficial for your garden.
Spring has sprung here in the UK at long last. And with the clocks going forward this Sunday, March 30, longer and sunnier days are on the horizon.
The better weather means spending more time outside in the garden, which anyone with a green thumb will no doubt be excited about. And there's one task that all gardeners are being urged to do as things start to heat up here in the UK. Placing leaves or other garden scraps like twigs in your garden might make it look messy, but there's a very important reason why everyone should do this.
For birds, nesting season is already well underway. And according to wildlife expert and head of production Richard Green from Kennedy Wild Bird Food & Pet Supplies, you can give them a much-needed helping hand by simply putting leaves and twigs in your outdoor space.
Not only will this help them to build their nests, but they're also more likely to return if you leave things out for them - so it's ideal if you want to encourage more wildlife into your garden this year.
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Richard said: "Leaving parts of your garden a little messy during nesting season, like keeping leaves, twigs, and other natural materials on the ground, helps birds find what they need to build safe and sturdy nests."
While you might not think twice about leaving out other common scraps, like pet fur or human hair, the expert has warned that this might not be the best idea.
He urged: "These materials can be harmful as pet fur may contain flea or tick treatments that can be toxic to wild birds, while human hair and yarn scraps pose a choking risk."
It might be tempting to give your garden hedges a trim to give the birds something to put in their nests. However, Richard has warned that it may be too late in the season to do this.
He said: "Once the weather warms up, nests may already be hidden in the branches, and trimming at that point could disturb the birds or harm their eggs and chicks."
