Many gardeners want to encourage birds into their gardens, as they can act as a natural predator to insect pests, and provide a great deal of visual interest. However, how you garden can affect the number of birds that visit.

Trees

Planting native plants can help attract birds, but forest trees such as oaks and beech will be too large for most gardens. If choosing new trees, think about smaller native forms such as mountain ash (Sorbus aucuparia), silver birch (Betula pendula), hawthorn (Crataegus), and holly (Ilex). Ornamental trees such as cherries (Prunus) and crab apples (Malus) also act as a good source of food for birds.

Smaller forms of willow and other ornamental shrubs also provide food for birds, examples include: Berberis darwinii, Buddleja, Cotoneaster cornubia, C. horizontalis, species roses such as Rosa glauca, and Pyracantha Orange Glow.

Hedgerows

If you have the space, planting a native hedgerow, which can be left untrimmed, will give birds a really good habitat to nest and feed in. Plants include: wild privet (Ligustrum vulgare), dog rose (Rosa canina), Guelder rose and hawthorn.

If your garden needs a formal clipped hedge, beech, holly and hornbeam all make good examples and can provide a home for birds. However, they cannot offer the source of food and nectar that an unclipped hedge can.

Climbers

Covering walls and fences with climbing plants and shrubs can turn them into a living boundary, providing cover and nesting sites that are unavailable on unplanted vertical surfaces. Ivy is particularly valuable as it flowers in autumn; however, you may not want to plant vigorous forms against house walls, as it may damage mortar.

Borders

Use plenty of natives plants in your borders and flowerbeds, such as foxgloves, teasels, red campion and meadow cranesbill. Plant ornamental herbaceous plants, including ones that have a good seedhead, and plan for season long attraction: aubritea, sunflowers, scabious, wallflowers, Michaelmas daises, sedums.

In autumn, don't be too fastidious in tidying up your borders. Leaving seedheads on plants can look attractive in frost, and provides a source of food throughout winter for birds. Cut back in late February, when the new season's shoots are emerging from the base of plants. Garden debris can also be used by birds for nesting.

Chemical Use

Reducing the amount of chemicals you use in your garden will have a beneficial effect on birds, as well as other forms of wildlife.

Nesting Boxes

Provide nesting boxes in a range of sizes for different birds. If you have no suitable trees, use the walls of your home, but avoid south facing hot spots.

Water

Water will attract birds; they will enjoy splashing about in the shallows of a pond or birdbath. Even a shallow dish of water on your patio or edge of the lawn will do the job.

Food

In winter, provide other forms of food. Use bird tables, or squirrel-proof feeders loaded with a seed mixture, peanuts and fat balls.