According to research carried out by the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA) half of the UK population have an interest in engaging with British wildlife which is great news for the local garden bird population who need our help now more than ever.

Usually our gardens provide an abundance of fruits, seeds and insects for birds, however we’re now in a period known as the Feeding Gap (Spring/late Spring) when natural food supplies are depleted following the winter.  It is also a hectic time for the bird population who are busy feeding to satisfy the demands of their young. Supplementing their feed at this time can be particularly beneficial.

Feeding garden wildlife has become an increasingly popular pastime, with the nation spending an estimated £200 million every year and it’s easy to understand why.

According to Mike Toms of the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO): “Feeding the local birds is accessible to everyone even for the urban dweller with a small outside space. The benefits are great. It can give a sense of companionship; it can teach young families about wildlife and caring for their environment, all of this whilst supporting the British wildlife population.”

If you need to pass on some wild bird feeding advice to your customers here's some top tips from the experts:

• Provide a varied menu. Different birds eat different feeds. Birds with larger bills such as the green finch and the house sparrow can handle larger seeds, whilst birds with finer bills, for example the Robin, prefer small seeds.

•  Give some thought to your feeding stations. Certain species prefer hanging feeders (e.g. Blue Tit and the Great Spotted Woodpecker), whilst others like to feed off the ground (e.g. Robins and Dunnocks).

• There are a few things to avoid, particularly cooked oats which can dry and solidify around beaks, sugary treats which can negatively affect diets and loose whole peanuts that can potentially choke chicks if fed whole by unwitting parents.  Salty foods such as salted peanuts, bacon and crisps.

•  Make sure there is fresh water available all year round. As a watch out, never give milk to birds, their gut isn’t designed to digest milk and it can cause serious stomach upsets.

Gardening for wild life can create an inviting and safe place for birds providing a source of natural foods through lawns, shrubs and flower beds. By supplementing their natural feed supplies at the right times of year you will encourage them to keep coming back.

For more information on feeding wild birds including, feeding tips, what not to feed and hygiene, visit: www.pfma.org.uk