Birds, hedgehogs and insects could all use a Christmas treat of their own – from feeding wildlife in winter with bird feeders to setting up hedgehog homes to help with hibernation.
You may have done all your Christmas shopping for friends and relatives, but what about the winter wildlife visitors to your garden? As the nights draw in and the temperature falls, giving British garden wildlife a helping hand is a great idea.
Birds, hedgehogs and insects could do with a little extra help this winter – so splash out on a gift which will see your garden wildlife through the winter and beyond. Wise Living has rounded up 10 great ideas for feeding wildlife in winter and keeping them secure and safe.
Read Wise Living’s guide for 5 hibernation tips for garden wildlife this winter to keep wildlife safe and well during the cold weather.
Feeding wildlife in winter ideas
Here are 10 ideas for British garden wildlife
Bird Food Christmas Wreath, £16.95
From The Bird Bakery comes this wildlife-welcoming Christmas wreath. Handmade from scrumptious seeds and nuts and decorated with festive pine cones and frosted faux greenery, each wreath comes beautifully packaged in classic white bakery gift boxes, securely nestled in wood curls and finished with a satin leaf ribbon. Birds can feast on the mixture of sunflower hearts, peanuts, safflower, white and red millet, kibbled maize, peanut granules, oats and wheat.
Buy from notonthehighstreet.com
Ceramic Bird Feeder for feeding wildlife in winter – Robin, £12.99
Brighten up your robin’s life with this colourful ceramic bird feeder, to hang on your outdoor Christmas tree or on shrub branches. You can fill it with seeds, suet pellets, mealworms or even high-energy sprinkles, and it should give the birds some festive cheer while you’re tucking into your turkey.
Buy from shopping.rspb.org.uk
Bee-r Barrel Bee Habitat, £29.99
While your bees will have already bedded down for winter, you can still invest in their future with this quirky bee-r barrel. Hang it in the garden and it should fill up with baby bees during the summer months, with new adult bees emerging the following spring. It’s a good way of attracting solitary bees, which are great pollinators, to the garden.
Buy from suttons.co.uk
Suet Snowman, £3.99
This suet snowman is packed with goodness to keep feathered friends happy this winter – and it looks pretty too! While we’re opening the chocolates, the birds will be feasting on this high-calorie nutritious mix of peanut flour and animal fat. A perfect stocking-filler.
Buy from CJ Wildlife (birdfood.co.uk)
Relaxdays Fired Insect Hotel, £23.99
Insects are a vital element in the garden, and you can help them survive winter with this insect hotel, a safe haven in the great outdoors. Hang it anywhere that’s sunny and protected from rain. It’ll encourage natural pest control and hopefully better pollination of your plants in the years to come. Children will also be fascinated by seeing the little creatures as they nest and brood.
Buy from amazon.co.uk
Urban Bird Feeder Box, £26.99
Ideal for urban gardens or anyone who likes more contemporary style, this bird feeder has a durable outer shell made with 70% clay and 30% recycled plastics and comes with a 10-year guarantee. The large entrance hole allows small birds to climb right inside and tuck in, while larger birds can use the clip-on perch it comes with.
Buy from crocus.co.uk
Wildlife World Comprehensive Hedgehog Care Pack, £29.99
Your resident hedgehogs should now be hibernating, but this care pack will treat them to food and shelter in the coming year. It features a hedgehog habitat made of rattan brushwood, designed to be predator-proof, as well as a tray of food and a handy hedgehog field guide so you can learn more.
Buy from squiresgardencentres.co.uk
Posh Shed Company Bird Box, £21 each
Many birds will use nestboxes on a cold winter’s night. Although even the smallest birds will fluff up their feathers and hide in dense evergreen trees or hedgerows where they can, it’s wise to offer them some form of proper shelter – and these from The Posh Shed Company are super stylish. They’re suitable for house sparrows, great tits, the nut hatch and lesser spotted woodpeckers, and available in six pastel shades.
Buy from theposhshedcompany.co.uk
Wooden Squirrel Feeder, £16.99
Yes, squirrels can be a nuisance, digging up bulbs and feasting on the food you’ve left out for the birds – but instead of working against them, work with them. Giving them their own dedicated feeder, with easy access to grub, will distract them from raiding bird feeders and is a great way to ensure you’re feeding wildlife in winter.
Buy from CJ Wildlife (birdfood.co.uk)
Greenkey Large Bat Box, £12.99
They may have a bit of a spooky image but bats actually eat many nuisance bugs, such as mosquitoes and midges (the most common UK bat, the Common Pipistrelle, can eat up to 2000 mosquitoes a night!). So welcome them into your garden with this bat box, which offers an easy-access ladder and 20mm entrance slit, the optimum size for bats to crawl into. Hang it on a wall or on a tree trunk, hopefully out of the reach of predators and close to vegetation, where they’ll find insects to eat.
Buy from amazon.co.uk
Learn how to boost wildlife and reduce pollution by planting a hedge.
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