To provide natural food for the birds, plant honeysuckle, ivy and hawthorn in your garden or hedgerow. The adult birds will enjoy the berries whilst the plants also attract insects that will provide food for the young chicks too.
I have noticed Clients are choosing more and more shrubs with decorative orange and yellow berries (instead of red) as the birds don’t take them. This means that the berries can be enjoyed well into the Winter months. Ironically, however, it is because the birds don’t like these berries that they leave them alone which means they are more likely to go hungry. By all means keep your beautiful berries but don’t forget to give the birds an alternative too.
Taken from Lynne Allbutt's Green Scene column in the Western Mail (Media Wales) 3rd October 09
