Gardening experts say high-energy suet feeders can help attract robins during the colder winter months and that acts such as leaf litter can help promote activity
Christopher Sharp Trendswatch Reporter
04:12, 02 Dec 2025
Gardening experts have recommended the best tips for attracting robins (stock)(Image: helen Reid via Getty Images)
A gardener has revealed that birds will be drawn to your garden this month if you suspend particular items from trees. The winter period proves challenging for wildlife as they shelter for the season and struggle to cope when temperatures drop sharply.
Nevertheless, there are steps homeowners can take to help local wildlife visiting their outdoor spaces. In a video on the GrowVeg YouTube channel, host Benedict outlined several methods to attract more birds, such as robins, to one’s garden.
Amongst his recommendations was the idea of hanging a coconut from a tree branch and filling it with suet.
Benedict said: “During the colder months our birds really need our help and they especially like high fatty foods, really energy foods to keep them warm. Something like these suet fat balls with these seeds in is a really great option.
“Do choose the ones without nets though because they could get their feet caught in those and these can go in feeders, on the ground or on bird tables. I’ve also got this little coconut half here filled with suet and that’s really pretty to watch the birds from the window. If you can also provide fresh ice free water for them to bathe in and drink from too.”
Gardening experts have recommended several ways to attrack robins (stock)(Image: Getty)
Suet balls are nutrient-dense bird food comprising rendered animal fat (suet), grains and occasionally additional ingredients including mealworms or berries. The RSPB offers 50 suet balls for £11, which works out to 22p per ball.
According to the charity Songbird Survival, robins can lose up to 10% of their body weight in a single cold winter night. They also advise people to provide high-energy food to help birds stay warm when natural food sources are scarce.
Benedict isn’t the only one offering advice on how gardeners can support their birds this winter.
Peter Ivanov, a gardening expert at Fantastic Gardens, suggested that using leaves could also attract them. Referred to as ‘leaf litter’ by British lifestyle magazine and website Woman and Home, creating a compost heap with it could draw in robins.
A robin on a tree trunk(Image: Getty)
Peter explained how it could work: “Leave leaf litter. Robins forage in leaf litter for worms and insects, so avoid clearing every corner of the garden.
“Start a compost heap. A compost pile provides warmth and attracts invertebrates, which is a natural robin food source. Stop using pesticides. Chemicals reduce insect numbers. If you avoid them, you’ll encourage more of the natural prey robins rely on.”
In addition to creating leaf litter, some experts have suggested watering the lawn to bring worms to the surface for robins to feed on.
Peter also outlined additional foods that robins enjoy eating, which people could put out to entice them. He said: “Besides that, they’ll also eat soft foods, such as suet, sunflower hearts, raisins soaked to soften and fruit such as chopped apples or pears. Keep in mind that robins are natural ground feeders.
“Robins have a variety of foods they love, with mealworms being a particular favourite, and they enjoy these both live and dried.”
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