How to Help Garden Wildlife During Winter

Winter can be challenging for garden wildlife as natural food, water and shelter become harder to find. Small changes can make your garden much more welcoming.

Feed garden birds

Provide energy-rich foods such as sunflower hearts, quality seed mixes, peanuts and suet products.

Use suitable feeders and clean them regularly to reduce the risk of disease. Offer smaller amounts frequently so food does not become damp or mouldy.

Provide fresh water

Keep birdbaths and shallow dishes filled with clean water. Check them during freezing weather and gently remove any ice.

Never use salt or antifreeze to prevent water from freezing.

Create safe shelter

Log piles, leaf piles, dense hedges and undisturbed borders offer shelter for insects, amphibians and small mammals.

Avoid tidying every corner of the garden. Leaving hollow stems and seedheads in place can provide both winter shelter and food.

Help hedgehogs

Create access between neighbouring gardens where it is safe to do so, and provide a quiet hedgehog house or sheltered leaf pile.

Fresh water and specialist hedgehog food can be especially useful during mild periods when hedgehogs wake and begin searching for food. Never give them milk or bread.

Check before disturbing habitats

Take care when moving log piles, turning compost or clearing leaves, as wildlife may be sheltering inside.

By providing food, water and undisturbed spaces, you can help local wildlife survive until spring returns.