I live in a terraced house and have a small back and front garden which are pretty well planted and I do all I can to attract wildlife. I have a few bird feeders in a cherry tree at my front window and several in my back garden in a plum tree. i have loved watching the siskins, goldfinches,chaffinches, great tits and blue tits which have been increasing in numbers over the past couple of years. Unfortunately my next door neighbour is not a bird lover and told me that thry were writing to the local council to complain about the pigeons, mainly wood pigeons which are attracted by the seeds dropped from the feeders. At the end of our road there are fields and farmland which may explin the number of wood pigeons. I think they have not had much luck complaing about the pigeons and have now informed me that they have complained as there are now mice and I should shortly receive a letter from the council. I have yet to see a mouse but since we live near farmland field mice cannot be unexpected surely? Any advice folk.before the council letter arrives. My home is owner occupied so at least they cant evict me!
Hi Morag sorry to hear about your problem.
One thing i can think of is to fit small trays to your hanging feeders to cut down on the amount of seeds that get spilt onto the floor ..the others may have better ideas
Regards Alan
My photos are on Flickr and Website
As always , it's best to get proper legal advice but as it's your own property it's difficult to see what the council can do. Feeding birds isn't illegal or against planning regulations as keeping livestock might possibly be.
My gallery here
Like everyone else I have theories and opinions on lots of things I know b*gger all about.
Sorry to hear you have such neighbours, Morag. Best to wait and see if the council does in fact write to you, then you can plan a response.
"The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom" - Wlliam Blake
Yes good advice from Claire and in the meantime good idea to do as Alan says and put trays under the feeders to catch spillage and keep it away from rodents on the ground.
Thanks for your advice. Will let you know how i get on.
Can you fix a tray under feeders to collect dropped feed,field mice are part of the natural environment and genrally only enter houses in the cold weather,your neighbours appear to be unsympathetic to the natural world. Ignore them and keep feeding the birds.