Birds are the most visible garden wildlife visitors and among the most rewarding to feed. The UK has over 60 species that regularly visit gardens — from the familiar robin and blue tit to the increasingly rare house sparrow and starling. What you put out can significantly influence which species visit.

Best food for garden birds

A high-quality wild bird seed mix is the foundation of good garden bird feeding. Look for mixes that contain sunflower hearts (one of the most universally popular seeds), black sunflower seeds, millet, and nyjer seed. These provide the fats, proteins, and carbohydrates birds need to maintain their energy levels, particularly in cold weather when foraging is difficult.

Peanuts are excellent for tits, nuthatches, and woodpeckers but should always be offered in a wire mesh feeder rather than loose — whole peanuts can be a choking hazard for fledglings. Suet balls and fat cakes are a brilliant high-energy option in winter and are loved by long-tailed tits, wrens, and goldcrests.

Where and how to feed

Position bird feeders at least 2 metres from windows to reduce collision risk, and keep them away from dense cover where cats can lurk. Clean your feeders with hot soapy water every two weeks — dirty feeders spread diseases like trichomonosis and salmonella, which can devastate local bird populations.

Provide both a hanging feeder (for smaller birds) and a ground feeding tray or bird table for species like blackbirds, dunnocks, and song thrushes that prefer to eat at lower levels. Fresh water in a shallow dish or bird bath is just as important as food, year round.

The UK hedgehog population has declined by over a third since 2000. Once a common sight in gardens across Britain, hedgehogs now face serious pressures from habitat loss, road deaths, and a shortage of invertebrates — their natural diet of beetles, earthworms, and caterpillars. Leaving out supplementary food can make a real difference, particularly for hedgehogs preparing to hibernate or for mothers nursing young.

What to feed hedgehogs

Specialist hedgehog food is by far the best option — it's formulated specifically to meet their nutritional needs and won't cause the digestive upsets that many other foods can. Good hedgehog food typically contains meat protein, cereals, vitamins, and minerals in the right proportions for this species.

If you don't have specialist hedgehog food to hand, meat-based wet cat or dog food is the next best option. Avoid fish-flavoured varieties as hedgehogs don't naturally eat fish and these can be too rich. Always put out a shallow dish of fresh water alongside any food — hedgehogs need to drink regularly, especially in dry summers.

When and where to put out hedgehog food

Hedgehogs are nocturnal, so put food out at dusk — typically around sunset. Leave it in a sheltered spot close to hedges, fences, or undergrowth where hedgehogs feel safe. A simple hedgehog feeding station (a low box with a small entrance hole) can deter cats and foxes from stealing the food.

Hedgehogs hibernate from roughly November to March, so feeding is most critical from April through October. However, in mild winters some hedgehogs remain active — if you see one out in winter, leaving food out could genuinely save its life.

Squirrels are endlessly entertaining garden visitors — acrobatic, persistent, and full of personality. Whether you're watching a grey squirrel make its way along a fence or lucky enough to have red squirrels nearby, providing the right supplementary food can bring them right to your garden.

What squirrels eat naturally

In the wild, squirrels are primarily nut and seed eaters, but they are actually omnivores with a varied diet that includes fungi, insects, bark, and berries. They are famous for caching — burying food in autumn to retrieve over winter — and their spatial memory for these locations is extraordinary, though they don't always find everything they've buried (which, rather wonderfully, makes them accidental tree planters).

Best food to put out for squirrels

Specialist squirrel feed is the safest and most nutritionally appropriate choice. A good squirrel mix will typically include hazelnuts, walnuts, sweet chestnuts, sunflower seeds, and dried corn — all foods squirrels encounter naturally and handle well. Whole nuts in their shells are especially beneficial as they provide mental stimulation and help keep teeth in good condition.

Feeding squirrels without encouraging them into bird feeders

One of the most common complaints from garden wildlife enthusiasts is squirrels raiding bird feeders. The most effective solution is to provide dedicated squirrel feeding stations positioned away from your bird feeders — typically on the opposite side of the garden. A well-stocked squirrel feeder will keep them occupied and less inclined to investigate your hanging bird seed.

Feeding ducks at a local pond is one of the most cherished childhood experiences in Britain — but the tradition of throwing bread to waterfowl has caused serious harm to duck populations and pond ecosystems for decades. Thankfully, the alternatives are just as easy to bring along and far more beneficial to the birds.

Why bread is harmful to ducks

Bread fills ducks up without providing any meaningful nutrition. A duck that fills its stomach with bread won't forage for the insects, aquatic plants, and seeds it actually needs. In growing ducklings, a diet heavy in bread can cause a deformity called "angel wing" — where the wing develops abnormally, leaving the bird permanently flightless. Uneaten bread also rots in water, fuelling algal blooms and depleting oxygen levels, harming fish and invertebrates.

What to feed ducks instead

Specialist duck and waterfowl pellets are the gold standard — they float, they're nutritionally complete, and ducks love them. Whole oats and cracked corn are also excellent choices. If you're heading to the park, a small bag of duck pellets is easy to keep in a coat pocket and will make far more difference than a loaf of bread ever could.

Tips for responsible pond feeding

Only put out as much food as the ducks will eat in a few minutes — leftover food rots and harms water quality. Spread food over a wide area so that less dominant birds can access it. Visit at quieter times if possible, and enjoy watching them forage naturally — ducks are far more interesting when they're doing what ducks do.