In winter, birds may have difficulty finding food in the wild such as berries, insects, seeds, worms and fruit, so an extra meal from either your kitchen or some commercially available bird food will help keep them going. October is a good time to start putting food out for birds.  Feed them until the end of April, when they should usually be able to find plenty of food for themselves.

Birds also benefit from our help at other times of the year when food is scarce or difficult to find. For example, seeds are still scarce in early spring so keep putting food out for chaffinches, greenfinches and other seed-eaters during May.  In long dry summers the ground hardens.  Blackbirds, thrushes and robins will have difficulty catching worms, so put suitable food out for them until the earth is softer.

Treats you can put out for birds include:

• peanuts in shells threaded together on string
• unsalted peanuts in feeders (peanuts can be naturally contaminated with an invisible toxin so make sure you buy nuts that are of guaranteed quality)
• wild bird seed (widely available in shops and garden centres)
• net-free suet or fat balls (available in shops and garden centres) - netting can trap and kill wildlife so always ensure it is removed before use
• crumbled or grated cheese
• pastry, stale cake, biscuits and breadcrumbs (moisten the bread if it’s very dry)
• cooked rice, potato and pasta
• uncooked and unsalted bacon rind
• raisins and other dried fruit (soaked in water first) *
• bruised fruit such as apples and pears.

Fresh coconut in the shell is a great favourite with tits. Drill two holes in one end and drain off the milk. Saw the coconut in half and hang it outside. Never put out desiccated coconut, as it swells up inside a bird's stomach.

* Beware: Grapes, sultanas, raisins and some artificial sweeteners can be extremely toxic to dogs. These foodstuffs should be placed on a raised bird table and never scattered on the ground.

Don’t put food out late in the day, as it might attract rats and mice overnight.  Try not to put food too close to bushes and trees, as cats may lie in wait ready to pounce on birds when they are feeding.

Remember to remove surplus food from the surrounding area daily and to clean your bird table and feeders thoroughly every week with a mild disinfectant, (rinsing carefully afterwards with fresh water). This will avoid the spread of disease. 

Birds also need plenty of water to drink and to bathe in. Change the water and clean the bowl daily using a mild disinfectant, but make sure you rinse the bowl thoroughly afterwards. Also remember to keep the water free of ice during very cold weather.

Read further information about feeding garden birds.