Birds of a feather...

At the weekend, the RSPB visited St Bridget Nurseries. As well as answering lots of questions the RSPB team gave tips on how to plant a garden for birds. Birds require food, cover and nesting sites to survive. Careful choice of plants and provision of other features such as ponds, will help you create a haven for wildlife in your garden. Native trees and shrubs are preferable, since most of them provide insects in the breeding season as well as seeds in winter. Birch (Betula pendula), for example, supports good quantities of caterpillars, which attract birds plus the seeds attract redpolls. Crab apples (Malus sylvestris) are all good sources of food while European Larch (Larix decidua) is a deciduous conifer with seasonally abundant insects that attract finches. In autumn and winter the cones can also attract siskins and crossbills. The RSPB have a large selection of comprehensive leaflets about wildlife gardening and St Bridget's have also written a leaflet in conjunction with Devon Wildlife Trust. In addition, St Bridget Nurseries have just released their Autumn 2006 Open Ground list of Native Trees - trees ideal for a wildlife garden.