As summer arrives, many UK homeowners are eager to attract a variety of birds to their gardens, but to achieve this, they may need to transform their outdoor space into a more wildlife-friendly environment.
Why Planting Matters for Birds
Bird enthusiasts typically encourage visits by putting up bird boxes, feeders or investing in elaborate bird baths. While these are genuinely effective methods, it could be time to try a fresh approach. Gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh recently shared his top planting tips in a video on his YouTube channel, outlining how to create a bird-friendly garden this year. The video, titled 'How to Transform Your Garden Into a Paradise for Birds!', highlights up to seven plants that will attract birds at this time of year, with one standing out in particular.
He shared: "Another way to encourage birds to come to your garden is to plant things they will find useful, particularly in terms of food."
Top Plants Recommended by Titchmarsh
With this in mind, gardeners should look at planting a beautyberry, or callicarpa, a berry-producing plant that tends to be a firm favourite with sparrows and robins. Positioned at the rear of a border, it will blend quietly into the background for a while, before bursting into bloom come autumn and becoming a stunning feature in your garden.
Other plants the expert recommends include firethorn and cotoneaster horizontalis, which serve as excellent examples of varieties that birds adore for their readily available fruits. He emphasises that their primary purpose is to provide sustenance for wildlife, so when the bushes start to buzz with activity, gardeners ought to feel pleased.
He noted: "Don't be cross with birds for nicking your berries, that's half the reason why we plant them really."
Additional Fruit-Bearing Options
To offer similar food opportunities, Titchmarsh highlighted options such as crab apple trees, including the Golden Hornet crabapple variety, which deliver both nourishment and a striking visual display for your outdoor space. This variety of tree usually produces a vibrant show of yellow fruit and can comfortably fit into a reasonably-sized garden without dominating the entire area. It's important to note that birds are especially attracted to fruit that has softened after growing on the tree for a while.
The RHS shares this view about supplying birds with fruit-bearing plants, suggesting that an "ideal home" for them involves introducing shrubs and climbers to your garden. They highlight that for this purpose, pyracanthas rank near the top of the list for nesting spots.
Considerations for Rural Gardens
Though other fruit-bearing plants prove equally beneficial, such as elderberries. The 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."
