David Attenborough has urged gardeners to take one simple step to attract robins, blue tits, and other birds to their outdoor spaces this summer. The wildlife expert, known for his passion for nature, shared tips to help diversify gardens and support biodiversity.
Why Birds Might Avoid Your Garden
One key reason birds may stay away is household pets, particularly cats. Cats in Britain are estimated to catch and kill 55 million birds each year. To protect birds, Attenborough suggests positioning bird feeders higher up, out of reach of prowling pets. An even simpler solution, he notes, is adding a bell to a cat's collar, which reduces hunting success by a third.
Attracting Specific Species
To entice robins and blue tits, gardeners should provide high-energy foods like mealworms and fat balls, along with fresh water. Blue tits are especially fond of hanging feeders, and both species prefer feeding boxes with small, accessible entry holes.
Let Your Grass Grow
Attenborough also recommends letting lawns grow freely. While many embrace 'No Mow May', he suggests extending this period to support wildlife. In his series 'Secret Gardens', a vole was shown dodging a robotic lawnmower, highlighting the need to protect garden creatures. A garden at a thousand-year-old Oxfordshire mill house, where grass is left wild, has become a sanctuary for otters, kingfishers, and mallards.
The Importance of Gardens
Attenborough notes that British gardens cover a greater area than all national nature reserves combined, and 80% of people have access to some outdoor space. With small efforts, these spaces can welcome far more wildlife this summer.
