Your complete guide to creating a thriving, bird-friendly garden

A bird-friendly garden feeds all year round. Plant berry bushes like hawthorn and rowan, leave a wild corner for insects, and add a shallow water dish for drinking and bathing — moving water, even a simple dripper, is irresistible to birds.

Feeders done right

Choose feeders to suit your visitors: nyjer seed for finches, peanuts for tits, sunflower hearts for almost everyone, and fat balls in winter. Clean feeders fortnightly with veterinary disinfectant to keep birds healthy, and move them occasionally so droppings don't build up below.

Shelter and safety

• Skip pesticides — insects are baby-bird food.
• Put up nest boxes facing north-east, out of prevailing wind and midday sun.
• Fit cats with collar bells and keep feeders 2 m from dense cover where cats lurk.
• Leave seed heads standing through winter instead of cutting back.

Soon your garden will hum with wings. Find seed, feeders and nest boxes in our bird collection.