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Garden tits and fat balls. No, I'm not about to start writing top shelf, plain brown envelope stuff, just about birds and bird feeders. I had the most horrible experience a couple of days ago, with a great tit and a fat ball. It had me in tears, so

This weekend is the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch, the world's largest bird survey. In last year's Birdwatch, over 400,000 people sat for an hour and noted which species visited their gardens; six million birds were counted. The Big Garden Birdwatch

I thought my garden was already quite a haven for mammals, birds and insects, but there is always more you can do for them. With this in mind I've just registered to take part in the RSPB Homes for Wildlife scheme. After answering a few brief

and particularly lovely feathered critters we try to provide a habitat for. I've heard the argument that it's not that sparrowhawk numbers are on the increase, but that they're simply following their food, so as the smaller birds become more numerous in gardens

. But why else would the birds want to be in my garden unless I shared my produce with them?I understand the meaning of the word sharing, but I don't think it features in bird vocabulary. It certainly didn't for the collared dove that sat motionless in my

the feathered visitors to my garden. These had to be birds actually landing in my garden and not just flying over. And no cheating! Although I saw long-tailed tits in my garden last week, but not during my hour, I could NOT record them. Neither did the song

With the fruit swelling on your strawberries it's time to protect them and cover the soil around the plants with a mulch. This will prevent the crop getting splashed with mud when it rains. And don't forget to net the plants against birds and keep

Sunflowers are often described as a great starter seed, perfect for kids - quick, reliable and HUGE results. Maybe that proves I've never really become a fully fledged grown up. I adore them, and despite the fact both my kids love gardening

where there is no risk of flooding, the extent of the damage to my house and garden is incredible. My current pride and joy (as it is every March) is the display of daffodils on the drive leading up to my house. The rain and wind have flattened my daffs

and hedges so we have a large population of birds. Blue tits are very beneficial for the gardener as they feed their young on caterpillars.Talking of which, it is very easy to unwittingly overwinter caterpillars in glasshouses and polytunnels. Only the other