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When to feed

With the depletion of natural food sources due to housing and industrial development, the consistent provision of nutritious food all year round is increasingly vital for garden wildlife to thrive. Adjust the type of food you offer to suit the season – mealworms are ideal for new baby birds and should be made available during the spring breeding season, and high energy foods such as peanuts and suet treats are best served in winter.

Feeding tips

Always maintain a continuous supply of fresh food, as birds will come to depend on the food you put out.
Consider different foods and feeding methods. Some birds can hang from feeders while others may prefer table or ground feeding.
Only put out as much food as will be consumed in one or two days.
Fresh, clean water should always be available.
Feeding stations should ideally be located near cover. If there is a risk from cats or other predators, a greater distance or height should be allowed.
Food should be stores in a cool, dry place.

Hygiene

When feeding wild birds it is important to maintain a hygienic environment:

Ensure feeding stations are regularly cleaned with warm water and ideally a safe disinfectant.
Remove any old or wet food as soon as possible to avoid the build up of bacteria, moulds or toxins.
Help further reduce the risk of bacterial build up by having several feeding areas and relocating them regularly.
Wear gloves and wash your hands thoroughly after handling products.

	Black Sunflower Seed • Very high in oil content • Provide lots of energy and a great nutritional source • Ideal for chaffinches, greenfinches, sparrows and tits.
	Peanuts • One of the most common foods to feed wild birds • It is a basic food but attracts many species of wild birds, especially tits and sparrows • Peanuts should be put into a feeder because birds can choke on whole peanuts
	Nyjer Seed • Also known as Niger and Thistle Seed, it is an oil and energy-rich seed • A favourite with finches • Nyjer seed flows like sand, and it is recommended to use a specific nyjer seed feeder and tray to prevent excessive seed loss
	Sunflower Hearts • One of the highest sources of energy wild birds • There is no mess as the husk is already removed • Particularly attractive to finches, tits, blackbirds and house sparrows •A fantastic bird attractor
	Wild Bird Food • A multi-purpose food, designed to be a good economical entry level volume line • Suitable for ground, table and hanging feeders • A good all rounder or beginners product
	High Energy Husk Free • Popular with enthusiasts and keen gardens, as offers no germination of seeds • Can be fed all year round, but particularly suitable for the colder and breeding months • Suitable for ground, table and hanging feeders • Great for winter feeding
	Robin & Songbird Food • Interesting, nutritious and palatable to all songbirds. Chopped to attract smaller birds. • Suitable for ground, table and free flowing hanging feeders • Ideal for robins, thrush and blackbirds
	Fruit & Berry Ground Food • Contains a variety of fruits and berries • Suitable for ground and table feeding • Particularly attractive to robins, chaffinches, and house sparrows