As summer arrives, many UK homeowners are eager to see a variety of birds in their gardens. To achieve this, they may need to make their outdoor spaces more wildlife-friendly. Bird lovers often use bird boxes, feeders, or baths, which are effective, but a new approach might be necessary.
Alan Titchmarsh's Top Tips for a Bird-Friendly Garden
Gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh recently shared a video on his YouTube channel titled 'How to Transform Your Garden Into a Paradise for Birds!' In it, he recommends up to seven plants that welcome birds this time of year, with one standing out.
He explained: "Another way to encourage birds to come to your garden is to plant things they will find useful, particularly in terms of food."
Titchmarsh suggests planting beautyberry, or callicarpa, a berry-bearing plant loved by sparrows and robins. Planted at the back of a border, it remains in the background initially but blooms in autumn, adding beauty to your garden.
Other Recommended Plants
He also recommends firethorn and cotoneaster horizontalis, which birds love for their easily accessible fruits. He emphasizes that their purpose is to feed wildlife, so gardeners should appreciate when the bushes are busy.
He noted: "Don't be cross with birds for nicking your berries, that's half the reason why we plant them really."
For similar food opportunities, Titchmarsh suggests crab apple trees like the Golden Hornet variety. They provide both a food source and an attractive display for your space, even in modest-sized gardens. Birds are particularly drawn to soft fruit that has been growing for some time.
RHS Recommendations
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) echoes this sentiment, stating that shrubs and climbers create an "ideal home" for birds. They consider pyracanthas top of the list for nesting purposes, though other fruit plants like elderberries are also useful.
The RHS website reads: "Elderberries are often used as sites for nests and will attract many birds with their huge crops of berries. However, if you live in a rural area and have a veg patch, think twice before planting, as they can attract wood pigeons, which can be a bit of a garden pest."
