BBC Countryfile has advised gardeners to resist clearing away all fallen leaves this autumn, as leaving them in place can benefit robins. The programme's website explains that fallen leaves create shelter for insects, spiders and woodlice, forming a natural food ecosystem for birds.
Why leaves matter to robins
Robins are a familiar sight in British gardens through the colder months, known for their red breast and song, which can sometimes be heard after dark. Although they may look sweet, robins are fiercely territorial and will quickly drive off intruders.
According to the Countryfile website: "Robins also want to forage for their own food. If you can resist cleaning away all of the dead leaves in your garden, they will make the perfect shelter for insects, spiders and woodlice. This creates a natural food ecosystem for birds."
Choosing the right food
Robins can be picky about what they eat. Because their beaks are small, they often find the larger seeds in typical bird-food mixes hard to manage and may ignore them altogether. Andy from Turf Express recommends planting spindle instead.
He explained: "By planting some spindle you are providing robins with natural food sources from both the berries and the insects and invertebrates that are attracted to spindle."
Suet cakes — fat balls mixed with grains and fruit — as well as mealworms can also attract robins, which need plenty of high-energy food at this time of year to cope with the cold.
Keeping pests away from feeders
Maria Kincaid, in-house ornithologist for smart bird feeder FeatherSnap, has shared advice on keeping squirrels away from bird feeders. She told the Express: "Deterring pests is always a struggle when it comes to feeding our garden birds."
She added: "Besides using baffles and regularly cleaning spent shells and spilled seed from underneath your feeder, which should be done regularly, your coffee habit may help! Try spreading a layer of used coffee grounds on the area around the base of your feeder."
"Squirrels and other pests don't like the strong smell of coffee, so it may deter them further away from your feeder, and as a bonus as the coffee grounds break down they'll add beneficial nutrients and organic matter back into your garden soil."
