The RSPB hail the robin as Britain’s favourite bird for good reason – and there’s one simple way to ensure they visit your garden regularlyPhoebe Jobling Property Writer and Almha Murphy Audience Writer
12:40, 07 Aug 2025
(Image: Jacques Julien via Getty Images)
Robins might become regular guests in your garden with just one straightforward purchase. Should you wish to entice Britain’s cherished birds into your outdoor space, there’s a particular product they adore, wildlife specialists reveal.
The RSPB celebrates the robin as Britain’s most beloved bird with good cause. Their delightful looks and keen, inquisitive gaze not only represent fortune and prosperity but also hold profound emotional significance, frequently regarded as spiritual emissaries from departed family members.
However, robins can be rather particular regarding their garden preferences. Should they appear to make only brief appearances in your garden, it could be worth examining your bird box – since its design and dimensions might explain their short visits. It comes as gardeners are told Pigeons will ‘never’ return if you grow one simple plant they hate.
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Specialists have suggested that attracting these intelligent little creatures requires investing in an open-fronted bird box. In contrast to conventional bird boxes, open-fronted designs lack the limiting entrance aperture, providing robins with straightforward access and clear sightlines, the Mirror reports, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Discussing robin preferences, James Ewens from Green Feathers explained to Ideal Homes: “Robins won’t go near the classic bird boxes with the tiny round holes, they are great for smaller birds like blue tits.
“What you need is an open-fronted bird box, with a wide entrance, and a clear view.” He noted that robins favour keeping a close watch on their surroundings, which is why they “tend to nest lower to the ground.”
Moreover, he recommended that a bird box made from natural wood would be ideal, as it mimics the log piles or tree cavities they might choose in the wild. However, having the right bird box is only half the battle. It’s equally important to place it in a location that robins find appealing.
Robins have a preference for nesting in boxes facing north-east, so positioning is crucial. They’re also quite private and territorial, so it’s best to tuck the box away within vegetation and in a more hidden part of the garden.
The height at which the bird box is placed is also key – it should be at least 1.5 metres off the ground to provide protection from predators such as cats, foxes, and rodents. To make the birds feel at home, it’s recommended to insulate the box well, using materials like wood shavings, grass, or hay.
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