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Garden birds need you this Winter

Last modified: 15 October 2009

Robin bathing in pool
Robin bathing in pool - Niall Benvie

Don’t hide inside, just because summer has passed and the colder months are here - the RSPB is urging everyone across Wales to get outside and get active this month to help garden wildlife all through the winter.

 The RSPB’s Feed The Birds Day this year falls on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October and is a gentle reminder that garden wildlife needs our help during the colder months of the year.

 The wildlife charity will be hosting several events at different locations all over Wales over the weekend and half term, to get everyone involved in the annual celebration.

 In harsh winters, birds like blackbirds, song thrushes, and even exotic waxwings – seasonal visitors from Scandinavia – come closer to our gardens in a search for food. As well as keeping feeders and bird tables topped up with calorie-rich foods such as nyger seed , autumn is a great time to put in plants that are good for wildlife.

 Late autumn is ideal for planting a berry bearing shrub or a fruit tree. Once mature, rowan, holly and apple trees will be a great source of food for birds such as blackbirds, and thrushes, while robins and starlings will feast on the insects that thrive on them.

 And if you plan ahead now and introduce insect-attracting plants such as honeysuckle and ivy, you will be helping the birds come springtime.

 As part of this year’s Feed the Birds Day, the RSPB is offering five wildlife gardening
top tips:

-          plant native plants such as hawthorn, ivy and honeysuckle that will provide berries in the winter for adult birds, and insects for young birds in spring

-          make a log pile – it will be the ideal place for insects, fungi, mosses and lichens

-          provide an insect home – insects will spend the winter in these

-          install nesting boxes for birds such as sparrows, winter hibernation places for hedgehogs, and roosting boxes for bats

-          create a water feature such as a pond or bog garden as much wildlife relies on a regular supply of freshwater

 Dana Thomas from RSPB Cymru said: “We think that everyone will easily be able to find something they can do to help birds regardless of the outdoor space they have. It doesn’t matter if it’s a large or a small garden, community garden, balcony or allotment, there are options for everyone.”

 To find Feed The Birds Day events in your area please visit www.rspb.org.uk/events or see below a list of events taking place across Wales:

 South east Wales

Newport Wetlands Environmental Education and Visitor Centre is hosting an event on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October from 11am until 4pm. Visitors will be able to join in the fun and make bird cake and feeders, and find out more about creating homes for wildlife. Cost: free / Age group: adults, children and families.

 Caerphilly Garden Centre on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October from 10am until close will be encouraging people to help feed birds through winter months. RSPB staff will also be available to give advice on feeding birds throughout winter, with activities on how to put together your own winter bird feeder. Cost: free / Age group:  families and individuals of any age.

 Roath Park, Cardiff on Sunday 25 October from 10am until 3.30pm. Visitors will be able to join in the fun and look through telescopes at the local wildlife on the lake, you can also find out more about creating homes for wildlife.  Cost: free / Age group: adults, children and families

 St Fagans National History Museum, Cardiff on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October from 10am until 4pm. There will be an event running alongside St Fagans’ “Apple Day” - located in House of the Future at St Fagans. Visitors will be able to make apple bird feeders and promote feeding birds with related games and competitions for kids. Cost: free / Age group: all ages.

 St Fagans National History Museum, Cardiff on Thursday 29 October from 10am until 4pm. Children will be able to have a go at making Apple bird feeders to attract feathered friends into the garden and find out more about feeding garden birds. Cost: free / Age group:  families and children.

 Lamby Way Lake, Rhymney, Cardiff on Saturday 24 October from 11am until 4pm. Visitors will be able to join in the fun and make apple bird feeders which you will be able to take home and put in your garden. You can also find out more about creating homes for wildlife. Cost: free / Age group: adults, children and families.

 Blooms Garden Centre, Newport Road, Cardiff on Sunday 25 October from 10am until 4pm. This will be a fundraising event for RSPB in support of Blooms Garden Centre Wild Bird Care event. Cost: none / Age group: any.

 Bryngarw Country Park near Bridgend on Tuesday 27 October from 10am until 6pm. Visitors are asked to come along and join in the family fun day, with face painting and various activities taking place. The RSPB will be carrying out children’s activities and giving out information on feeding garden birds during the winter months. Cost: £1.50 per child / Age group:  families.

 North Wales

RSPB Conwy nature reserve on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October from 10am until 4pm there will be bird cake making and bird feeder making activities for children at various times. For adults visiting the reserve a wildlife advisor will be on site to offer advice and top tips on how to attract  birds and other animals into your garden. On Saturday at 11am there will be a guided walk to bring you closer to nature, and Sunday at 3pm there will be a guided walk to see the fabulous aerial displays of the starlings coming back to roost at the reserve. A tombola and performance from the ‘Ghost Buskers’ on the Sunday will also be entertaining visitors to the site . Cost: Free for all activities / Age group: all and standard reserve entry charges apply, free entry to RSPB members as usual!

 Llechwedd Slate Caverns on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October from 10am until 4pm, there will be fun for the family while learning the importance of looking after birds during the harsh winter months.  Get hands on and make some feeders to take home! Cost: RSPB event free, however, there is a charge to the cavern tours / Age group:  all.

 Gwledd Conwy Feast on Saturday 24 and Sunday 24 October where there will be an RSPB wildlife garden on display showing what you can do to attract wildlife into your garden. Holders of a Feast wristband will get free entry to RSPB Conwy reserve that weekend.

 Eagles Meadow Shopping Centre, Wrexham on Saturday 24 October from 9am until 4pm. Come and visit the RSPB at their marquee where you can have some fun with our McDunnocks Menu and where we’ll explain why you should feed your garden birds over winter. Cost: free / Age group: all.

 Mid Wales

RSPB Ynys-hir on Saturday 24 October from 9am until 5pm, there will be fun for the family with children able to learn how to make bird feeders and ‘cooking for birds’. Cost: free / Age group: all.

 Forestry Commission Wales’ Bwlch Nant-yr-Arian Visitor Centre near Ponterwyd on Saturday 24 October from 11am until 2pm, there will be a ‘What’s on your feeder’ event where visitors will be able to learn what type of birds use feeders and what they like to eat, where is the best place to site your feeder and how to deter squirrels from using them. Cost: free (car park fee applies) / Age: family.

 RSPB Lake Vyrnwy on Saturday 24 October there will be a presentation offering visitors hints and tips on feeding birds. Cost: Adult: £3.50 (Members £1.50), Children: £1.50 (Wildlife Explorers £1.00) / Age group: all.

 South west Wales

Wyevale Garden Centre, Swansea on Sunday 24 and Saturday 25 October from 11am until 3pm. There will be a talk about feeding garden birds during the winter months on these days and on Sunday 25 October there will also be children’s activities offered. Cost: none / Age group:  any.

 Oriel y Parc, St Davids, Pembrokeshire on Saturday 24 October from 10am until 4.30pm. The RSPB will be holding various family activities and giving out information on feeding garden birds during the winter months. Cost: Free / Age group: families.

 Brymill Park, Swansea on Thursday 29 October from 1pm until 2pm. The RSPB will offer children’s activities such as bird feeder making. Cost: free / Age group:  any

 

What can I do?

If you want to help the birds twice over by knowing you’re feeding top quality foods and using products overseen by our experts, RSPB Bird Care is for you.

Give your garden birds the best