PLEASE FEED THE BIRDS!

For anyone reading this who doesn't normally feed birds

In these freezing conditions birds are desperate for food and water. Any kitchen scraps will be quickly consumed. Robins love dried fruit, especially raisons and sultanas. Blackbirds and Thrushes love apples with a passion. Brown bread, left over potatoes, oat flakes, cheese, suet, pastry, cheese, fruit cake. I know we can't afford to throw good food away, but if you are going to throw out eg dried fruit that's a bit out of date, this would be gratefully received by several species of birds. When you have finished eating your apple throw the core outside for the blackbirds. Put an old enamel tin plate or similar outside and re-fill daily for drinking, bathing. Then if you really start to enjoy watching the birds in your garden, take it more seriously and buy some bags of birds seed from Wilkinsons or similar, peanuts, fat balls, meal worms etc, bird table and feeders etc. Massive entertainment for you and your children too! More advice on feeding birds from the RSPB HERE

Also found this on the net:
"You can make your own bird cake by pouring melted fat (Dripping, suet or lard) onto a mixture of ingredients such as birdseed, chopped nuts, dried fruit (soak first ideally), porridge/ oatmeal, hard cheese scraps and leftover cake. Use about one-third fat to two-thirds mixture. Stir well in a bowl and allow it to set in a container of your choice. A strung empty coconut shell, plastic cup, or an  old pine cone makes an ideal bird cake 'feeder'. Alternatively, you can turn it out onto the birdtable when solid. "