Alan Titchmarsh, who took to his YouTube channel to offer some practical tips, shared four simple ways to make your garden bird-friendly, such as adding “berried plants”
Alan Titchmarsh has shared four simple ways to make your garden bird-friendly
(Image: UK Press via Getty Images)
Alan Titchmarsh has shared four simple ways to make your garden bird-friendly, including a method for making a homemade bird bath and adding various “berried plants”. In a recent video for his April-launched YouTube channel, Gardening With Alan Titchmarsh, the Ground Force icon opened the clip by suggesting people invest in a “solidly-built” nest box to offer shelter to birds such as blue tits and wrens.
In terms of placement, Alan noted two things that are “worth bearing in mind” with your nest box, the first of which is ensuring that it’s not accessible to cats and above head height.
Secondly, he recommends placing your nest box in a sheltered spot away from the prevailing winds. Alan (who recently issued an apology) was then seen hanging his own slate-roofed nest box near the eaves of his garden shed.
His next method was to put up bird feeders, something Alan says can really “make a difference” to your birds’ livelihood in the colder autumn and winter months due to the falling supplies of natural food.
Alan, who pointed out that blue tits and robins particularly enjoy fat or lard balls, also discussed the merits of the traditional bird table, but noted that grey squirrels have a tendency to help themselves.
The Ground Force icon suggested that people invest in a “solidly-built” nest box
(Image: Getty Images)
His tactic for addressing this with his own table (which had four sides and a roof) was to use four pieces of “sturdy wire mesh”, one of which was removable, to block their entry.
For his third tip, Alan explained how we can plant bird-friendly plants, ones that they will find “useful”, especially when it comes to food, highlighting the benefits of “berried plants”.
He proceeded to recommend beautyberry (callicarpa), which is enjoyed by robins and sparrows. Alan says you should place the shrub at the back of your border.
Next up was firethorn (pyracantha), a shrub that, at this time of year, features red, orange or yellow berries. He followed this up by also suggesting Cotoneaster horizontalis (which is good for smaller birds).
Alan highlighted the benefits of “berried plants”
(Image: Getty Images)
Alan then moved on to roses, specifically ones that generate hips, which are enjoyed particularly by blackbirds. He also highlighted hawthorn berries, which serve as “wonderful attractants” for birds.
In addition, he mentioned two plants that can be used as a means of shelter for birds. For this task, Alan recommended thorny shrubs such as barberry (Berberis) and holly, which has thorny leaves that can help protect them from predators.
He then noted how trees can operate as nesting sites and “feeding stations”, drawing the viewers’ attention to such varieties as cherry trees and Golden Hornet crabapple.
Alan’s final tip was to add a bird bath to your garden, ensuring you change the water regularly, as, in addition to drinking the water, birds will also bathe in it.
He suggested making your own using a plant pot and a saucer, simply attaching the latter to the top of the pot using silicon and adding a few pebbles to allow the smaller birds to perch.
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