Read on for five things you can do in your garden or local greenspace to help nature.
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We’re now in the last month of autumn, when the days are getting shorter and the nights are getting colder. All the birds that choose to winter here have arrived, while all our spring and summer visitors have left for warmer climes.
Now’s the time to look out for the ‘winter thrushes’, Redwings and Fieldfares, foraging in parks, gardens and wider countryside. Or head to water to look for ducks as reservoirs, marshes and other wetlands get busier thanks to an influx of migrant birds, swelling the ranks of species such as Teal, Shoveler and Wigeon. It’s also busy on our estuaries and around our coast, with wading birds such as Knot and Redshank making the most of the food found within our muddy shoreline.
There’s much fun to be had closer to home too, and the change in weather can bring more birds to parks and gardens in search of food.
Here’s our five top things to do this month to help birds and other wildlife.
During November, you can feed your birds a full range of bird foods, including seeds and peanuts. The risk from the disease trichomonosis is lower during the colder months. There are fewer insects on the wing, and berries and fruits begin to dwindle. So now is a good time to bring back the full range of bird food options.
We recommend that you clean and move feeders weekly, change water daily, and don’t use bird tables or other flat-surfaced feeders. Take a look at our advice on how to keep your feeders clean.
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Leaf-mould is full of nutrients that is great for gardens. Make a leaf-mould cage and the leaves can create a warm and cosy winter home for Hedgehogs and Toads too.
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Trees do so much for birds and other wildlife, offering food, shelter and nesting sites. November is a great time as the soil is still relatively warm and the autumn rains mean you need to water less. In this guide, we suggest different sized trees for different sized gardens, and share some of the best for birds and other wildlife.
In this short film RSPB wildlife gardening expert Adrian Thomas explains why decomposing plant matter including logs, leaves and twigs serve as vital resources for garden wildlife.
Head to our birds and wildlife hub, where you’ll find plenty more friendly advice about how to help and what to see each month.
