Our top tips to attract birds and other wildlife to your garden

We’re sharing our advice on how to attract wildlife into your garden, so you can enjoy a range of native wildlife from the comfort of your own home.

There is nothing more relaxing than listening to the songs of birds and the sound of wildlife, so we've put together some hints and tips to help you attract some feathered friends of your own into your garden. 

Install a bird bath 

Particularly within drier areas away from rivers, lakes and the coast, bird baths are incredibly effective in attracting different species in to your garden, as drinkable water is an essential resource that birds must stock up on in order to survive. These baths also provide a good place for birds to socialise, use water to groom themselves and cool down, while installing multiple bird baths will maximise the variety of species attracted due to different preferences across varying bird groups.  

Create a bird house

 Available to purchase from many retailers or fun to develop as a DIY project, bird houses create a great place for multiple birds to nestle, shelter from the cold, and take on vital sustenance. Create a de-facto bird feeder within the bird house, with layers of insulation both inside and house to allow different species to keep warm, ensuring there is sufficient ventilation throughout.  

Make your garden bird-friendly 

There are many ways you can make your garden accessible to birds, with both physical or natural elements attracting a variety of species. Perches, chimes and stands will help, while feeders with a variety of foods will see birds naturally gravitate towards your patch, while flowers, seeds and nectar-producing plants will tempt them in.  

Keep your garden clean and tidy 

Ensure your garden is kept in tiptop condition to make sure as many different species come to visit you as possible. Birds will naturally avoid flying into the path of any detritus, and will be put off from visiting any bird features that have not been cleaned or maintained.  

Cultivate a calm environment  

Peace and quiet is one quality that birds will look for when heading for sanctuary on the ground, to cutting out any potential disturbances is key to maximising the amount that visit your patch.  

During birdwatching hours, ensure that the noise conditions are perfect, for example if you live by a main road it is best to avoid rush hour, while loud music and other outside interference is inadvisable.