The clocks have changed, the temperatures are falling and the days are short. Winter is on the approach and the colder weather, particularly if we have some severe cold snaps, means the wildlife in your garden now starts a fight to survive the most challenging months of the year. They need any help you can give them and many of the things that will help are easy to do and will cost you nothing.

Provide important cover for birds and insects

At this time of year as flowers die back it is tempting to give the garden a good tidy by clearing away the dead or dying plants. By holding off though you can provide important cover for birds and insects over the winter. Foliage in the garden border provides a habitat for insects where they can pass the cold months. Hollow-stemmed plants, for example, are especially good for insects to crawl into. Larger bushes or hedges provide shelter for birds, so resist trimming hedges too.

If you have deciduous trees in your garden then it is worth creating a pile of leaves in a corner that should be left undisturbed. This will provide somewhere to hibernate for a range of creatures. Equally, a woodpile or a pile of bricks serve the same purpose. Toads and most frogs will pass winter out of water and such an area makes an ideal spot.

If you have a pond, try to keep a small part ice-free to allow wildlife to come and go, and to also provide drinking water. Do not smash the ice as this sends shockwaves through the water. Instead, stand a pan of hot water on the ice to gently melt a small area. It is also important to clear the pond of fallen leaves at this time of year.

Our garden birds need much help over the winter months. The cold means food is scarce and they use up much energy just keeping warm. A wren can lose up to 10% of its body weight on a cold night. Wrens keep warm by roosting communally, often in empty nest boxes, so leave any nest boxes up.

Feeding garden birds is also incredibly beneficial and you can buy food such as seed mixes and peanuts online, in garden centres and in supermarkets. It might be worth considering buying in bulk if you get a lot of birds coming to your garden, as this can work out cheaper.

Help our garden wildlife battle the winter months

Fatty foods such as fat balls or bird cakes are particularly beneficial in the cold. You can even make your own by mixing lard with seeds or dried mealworms. Just remember to regularly wash and disinfect your bird feeders, as this prevents the spread of diseases. It is important to provide water for birds too. Pop a small ball on the surface during very cold weather to prevent it completely freezing over.

Taking a few of the above steps can really help our garden wildlife battle through the winter months. This means they are then ready to breed when spring arrives and this keeps population numbers healthy. Spring... now there’s a nice thought!

Note: It’s Bonfire Night this month. Don’t forget to check bonfires for hedgehogs!