Herald - Issue 418

Page 48 • The HERALD • 27th January 2022 v SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES v SPADEWORK Family Landscaping & Fencing Team ] Decking & Natural Sandstone Paving ] Patios ] Driveways ] Block Paving ] Turfing ] All Types of Domestic & Commercial Fencing ] Security Fencing Supplied & Fitted Tel: (023) 8089 4909 Mobile: 07703 566814 u F ree E stimates u F ully I nsured Qualified, knowledgeable and friendly husband and wife team with over 15 years experience specialising in one off garden tidy ups. Fully insured. * Garden out of control and need bringing back to a maintainable level? * Require a seasonal cut back for jobs too big for you or your equipment? * Just finished house renovations and the garden needs some TLC? * Recently moved into or are preparing to sell your property? * Have a forthcoming special event planned in your garden? Whatever the reason please use the contact details below to book in your tailored quote. Tel: 07501 118817 Email: bgsgroundcare@gmail.com The Tidy Garden Company Hampshire Fred Hurst 023 8084 2191 or 07761 467217 • Grass Cutting • Garden Clearance • Hedge Cutting • Fallen Trees Cleared • Mini Digger Hire with Operator • Property Clearance • Small Demolition • Tractor Flail Cutting FULLY INSURED v FREE QUOTATIONS | DOWN THE GARDEN PATH | Garden birds can bene t from feeding all year round but don’t forget to provide water for drinking and bathing as well. Approximately 30 species of bird are regular garden visitors, although more than 140 bird species have been recorded in British gardens. Choosing feeders and providing water • Use wire mesh feeders for peanuts and seed feeders for other seed • Specially designed feeders are required for the small niger seed, which is a favoured food of gold nches • Food placed on wire mesh held just o the ground will entice ground-feeding birds such as robins and dunnocks • Place fat blocks in wire cages. Plastic nets around fat balls must be removed as birds, such as woodpeckers, can get caught up in the mesh. Create your own fat blocks by melting suet into moulds such as coconut shells or into holes drilled into logs • To help limit the spread of infections and diseases keep feeders clean, re ll little and o en (1-2 days’ worth of food) and, if possible, change their position in the garden • Insect cakes for tits • Berry cakes for nches • Finely chopped animal fat and grated cheese are welcomed by small birds, such as wrens • Sparrows, nches and nuthatches enjoy prising the seeds out of sun ower heads. Also, leave seed heads on herbaceous plants overwinter • Niger seed is liked by gold nches • Peanut cakes for starlings • Fruit is favoured by thrushes and blackbirds. Scatter over-ripe apples, raisins and song-bird mixes on the ground for them. Consider planting berrying shrubs and trees, including favourites such as Malus, Sorbus, Cotoneaster and Pyracantha • Mealworms are a favoured food of many garden birds Find out more about feeding garden birds from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and RSPB Nesting sites and bird boxes Each bird species has di erent requirements for nesting sites. Many birds nest in dense vegetation including shrubs, hedgerows and trees. Holes in trees provide a natural nest site for several species. Bird boxes can provide additional nest sites in gardens and are o en used. Advice on bird boxes can be found from the BTO and RSPB. Problems It is di cult to exclude bigger visitors such as magpies, pigeons and squirrels from a traditional bird table. Feeders give more control over what you attract and most designs can be tted with squirrel guards or have the feeder enclosed by an outer cage that keeps out larger animals. ese structures can also a ect which birds visit. Bird boxes can also be a ected by predators, metal entrance surrounds can be used to exclude these animals. Nest boxes can be cleaned out once a year in autumn. Sometimes bird boxes are used by tree bumblebees. Dead and diseased birds in gardens Like all animals birds su er from debilitating diseases and can become injured. Occasionally a dead bird may be found in a garden. ese can be reported to the Garden Wildlife Health (GWH) project. e project aims to monitor and assess diseases in British wildlife. Keep feeders clean, re ll little and o en and change position of feeders o en to help reduce the risk of disease spread. Get involved ere are several projects where you can record your garden bird visitors: Big Garden Bird Watch - RSPB: www.rspb.org.uk/get- involved/activities/birdwatch/ Garden Bird Watch - BTO: www.bto.org/our-science/ projects/gbw Garden Bird Feeding Survey - BTO: www.bto.org/our- science/projects/gbfs BIRDS IN YOUR GARDEN Advice from RHS to avoid fouling the ground underneath. Water is essential for bathing and drinking throughout the year. Provide water in a shallow container, preferably with sloping sides and no more than 5cm (2in) deep. During frosty weather, remove the ice so birds can continue to have access to water. Preferred foods Use di erent foods and recipes to entice a range of birds. Although fat is important, particularly in winter also provide a grain mix or nuts to maintain a balanced diet. No-mess seed mixes are more expensive but the inclusion of de-husked sun ower hearts means there is less waste and debris under the feeder. Inferior mixes are o en padded out with lentils and wheat. Many birds have ‘favourite’ foods, so choosing certain types can e ect what you see feeding in the garden. ese are just some of the preferences: All Aspects of Garden Work Undertaken • Driveways • Paving • Artificial Grass • Turfing • Decking • Fencing • Hedge Cutting • Landscaping Hythe Garden Contractors Family company established 1977 For a free quotation please call 023 8084 3556 or 023 8084 0378