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Our gardens our becoming increasingly important places for wild animals and especially birds. By providing a regular supply of food and water, we can help birds survive the challenging winter months, when they can struggle to survive.One way you can

using a pruning saw. For large branches, leave 1cm - 2cm where it joins the main stem, so that the tree or shrub can heal the wound.More pruning advicePruning shrub roses, with advice from Monty DonChris Beardshaw gives tips on pruning viburnum plants

SaucepanSpoonString or twineOld yoghurt potsAny of the following: wild bird seed, currantssultanas, oats, bread and cake crumbs, grated cheese and peanuts.November - March20 minutesThe best ratio for this recipe is one part fat to two parts dry mixture. Mix all your dry

in spring.1m x 150cm woodBalloonDrill or screwdriverNewspaperPaintbrushSawScrewsWater-based paintWaterproof PVA glueall year rounda couple of hoursPlace a round balloon in a vase, pointing downwards. Mix eight parts glue with one part water and stick strips

The boot scraper is a handy tool to keep by the back door as the weather gets worse and gardens get muddier. It only takes a couple of hours to make and costs next to nothing.ChiselHammerSawLarge logThick slate tileWood glueall year roundtwo hours

be stained in any colour and won't rot.5cm x 5cm pressure-treated timber in these lengths: 9 x 100cm, 7 x 60cm, 23 x 40cm, 1 x 45cm3.45m length of 15cm x 1cm gravel boardSaw, drill, 3mm wood drill bitScrewdriver, try square, pencil, tape measure75 x 7.5cm

. Tayberries and loganberries need 2.5-3m between each plant. After planting, cut them back to a bud 25cm above the ground. With tayberries and loganberries, cut them to the same height, but wait until after harvesting to do so.Find out moreCatch up with Sarah

wheelbarrow so you can quickly work your way through a pile of compost directly from the heap.8m of 25mm x 50mm treated timberWood stainWire mesh sheet with 1cm holes12mm x 40mm wood screwsTape measureSawSandpaperPliersScrewdriverall year round2 hours

it to stand for a week, to allow the chlorine to evaporate.When filled, trim liner and underlay together leaving 10-15cm of overlap. Fold over the corners ready to fix on the planks.Lay lengths of decking over the four edges of the pond, parallel to the sides

mould. Small thin leaves such as birch break down fairly quickly, while large leathery ones such as chestnut benefit from being shredded first. Evergreen leaves and conifer needles take far longer to rot and should not be included in great quantities