Alan Titchmarsh has shared four simple methods to make gardens more bird-friendly, including a homemade bird bath and planting berried shrubs. In a recent video on his YouTube channel, Gardening With Alan Titchmarsh, the horticulturist recommended a solidly built nest box placed above head height and away from prevailing winds. He also suggested bird feeders with fat balls for blue tits and robins, and advised using wire mesh to deter squirrels from bird tables.
For planting, Titchmarsh highlighted beautyberry (callicarpa) as a top shrub, enjoyed by robins and sparrows, and recommended placing it at the back of borders. Other berried plants include firethorn (pyracantha) with red, orange, or yellow berries, and Cotoneaster horizontalis for smaller birds. He also mentioned roses with hips for blackbirds and hawthorn berries as 'wonderful attractants'.
For shelter, Titchmarsh suggested thorny shrubs like barberry (Berberis) and holly to protect birds from predators. Trees such as cherry and Golden Hornet crabapple can serve as nesting sites and feeding stations. Finally, he advised adding a bird bath, making one from a plant pot and saucer with pebbles for perching, and changing the water regularly.
