Change your gardening routine to help wildlife

From: Phil Hanson, Beechmount Close, Baildon, Shipley, West Yorkshire.

THE late spring has caused me to rethink how I view my garden and the impact that it has on the wild birds that frequent it.

Like many others, I have bird feeders crammed full of the usual seed stuffs that people like me are encouraged to put out by those with a vested interest, including the highly profitable RSPB. Alas, these are hardly the kinds of foods most if not all birds require at this time. I, unlike the RSPB, disagree with putting out pots of meal worms etc, all of which once again fills the pockets of these vested interests.

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Instead I made a small but highly effective (results and cost wise) change to my gardening regime.

I simply let the grass grow, yes, to eight or nine inches, and the results were amazing. We witnessed a massive increase in birds hunting insects, bullfinches, greenfinches and goldfinches treading down dandelion heads to relish the yet to be dispersed seed heads, and insects galore. So, if we really want to make a difference, I suggest leaving parts of our garden alone, forget the so-called birding experts, many of whom are merely box ticking redundant trainspotting types!

Nature will provide... if we let it. When you do decide to mow, just take a shallow cut at first, it makes it easier on you.