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of your resident birds - from egg laying, hatching and feeding to the fledglings finally leaving the nest.Untreated wood, ideally 15-25mm thick40mm screws x 20Felt nails x 8Strip of rubber, roofing felt or leatherWood nails x 2Tape measurePencil or marker

Knowing that birds are using your nest box to raise a family is great, but imagine if you could watch them doing it. Miniature surveillance cameras are now available which allow you to do just that. The cameras are affordable and come in kit form

measured 20cm x 15cm). Centre the hole at the top of the board and secure the nest to the box with two layers of papier-mâchéstrips, inside and out. Allow to dry.Cut a second length of wood to make the roof, ensuring it extends over the nest. Attach

. This worked a treat. I caught around 10 bees and placed them all in a jam jar. Then I lifted the nest into the box, emptied the jam jar on to the nest and let the bees settle. An hour later I took them home with me.Since then, the buff-tailed bees (Bombus

in particular diving in and out of soil beneath my feet as I fork over flowerbeds.January is the time I like to put up the bird nest boxes, or clean out old ones that were used last spring. I've already noticed a few blue tits around, exploring existing nesting

Clean and sharpen knives and secateurs, and spray metal tools with oilPut up nesting boxes for birds in suitable trees or on buildingsMove shrubs growing in the wrong placeService petrol lawn mowersSearch through seed, bulb and nursery catalogues

pleasing than a plank of wood). The holes need to be at least 10 and preferably 20cm deep, with a diameter of 4-8mm. Mind you, if you live in Leicestershire, drill holes 15mm across and you might get the massive carpenter bee, Xylocopa violacea.

in a tree or building away from predators, strong sunlight and wind. A north-east facing spot is best.1.5m x 15cm x 1.25cm piece of untreated, sawn timber20cm x 2.5cm nails, 3cm x 2.5cm self-tapping screwsDrill and 25mm, 28mm or 32mm wood drill bit (see

wooden box filled with stems of sunflower, teasel and bamboo to make a solitary bee hotel.But that's no guarantee - wildlife can choose the most unpredictable places to live. This summer I visited some buff-tailed bumblebees nesting in a concrete path

Follow Chris Beardshaw's advice on helping garden birds in spring. He explains the different feeding requirements of young and adult birds, how birds can help with pest control and offers tips on positioning nesting boxes.springMore on garden birds