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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 help is by combining pine cone...

PostWindow feederBird seedall year round20 minutesSet up a bird table close to the house, then screw the window feeder to a separate pole in the ground so birds get used to feeding from it.Each week move the pole and feeder a little closer to the house. Keep

at the front. Top up with compost and water well.To make the two bee hotels, drill several deep, 5-8mm wide holes into a 15-20cm long log, and fill an offcut of drainpipe with lengths of bamboo. Place among the plants.AdamChoose an open, sunny, sheltered site

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

Feeding the birdsFeeding birds used to be a winter activity, from Christmas until the first spring flowers appeared. But birds need our help in the summer months just as much as during the winter.Because birds breed in the spring and early summer, by July and August there are mil...

with the Bumblebee Conservation TrustFor a factsheet on flowers for attracting wildlife to your garden, see Garden Organic

Nectar BarAt Berryfields, we have made what we called the Nectar Bar alongside our big pond. Butterflies are among the more beautiful visitors we hope to attract, but all nectar-drinking creatures are welcome here.Any garden created for wildlife

for wildlifeLearn how to identify bumblebees in your gardenGrowing wildlife-friendly plantsPlants for bees

and stand it on the patio instead.I remember the Big Freeze of 1963 very well - enjoying deep snow as a young boy - and do recall finding dead pigeons in our garden that must have frozen to death! Quite how any birds survive outside during such cold weather

I can see strange things from the patio decking today: five grey herons, a swathe of spotted redshanks, curlews by the dozen, three little egrets (with their yellow rubber-glove feed), four or five cattle egrets, a couple of grebe-like things way