BBC Countryfile has advised gardeners to resist clearing away fallen leaves, explaining that doing so can provide the "perfect shelter" for insects and create a natural food ecosystem for robins during the colder months.
With Halloween approaching and the onset of winter, many people begin winding down gardening tasks. However, British wildlife remains active, with species such as foxes, squirrels, badgers and various birdlife visiting gardens throughout the season.
The red-breasted robin, a non-migratory species, is often drawn to gardens in search of food when temperatures fall and insect numbers decline.
Why Dead Leaves Matter for Robins
BBC Countryfile states on its 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."
Robins can be particular about seed, as their small beaks struggle with the larger seeds found in regular mixes. Andy from Turf Express suggested an alternative: "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."
Additional Ways to Attract Robins
Another method is placing suet cakes, made from fat balls mixed with grains and fruit, and mealworms in the garden. Robins require a high number of calories at this time of year to protect themselves against the cold.
Maria Kincaid, in-house ornithologist for smart bird feeder FeatherSnap, offered tips to keep squirrels away from feeders. She told the Express: "Deterring pests is always a struggle when it comes to feeding our garden birds.
"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."
