THERE’S something quite relaxing about watching birds in your garden. While I can’t call myself an expert and am not the best at recognising the different varieties, it’s always nice to hear and see them around you, and at least be able to spot the odd robin or blackbird.

There are lots of little things you can do to attract more birds to your garden, workplace or school and national bird charity the RSPB is hoping to get more people actively feeding our feathered friends as part of Feed The Birds day tomorrow.

The idea is that people will find out how simple and effective it can be to put out food for the birds and will then continue to put out tasty treats for them throughout the winter.

Garth Lowe, RSPB team leader for Worcestershire, visited a group of youngsters at Pitmaston Primary School in St John’s, Worcester, to see how they were preparing for the day.

Already the school has an impressive environmental garden area, which over the last two-and-ahalf years has been transformed with bird feeders and nests, a hide, log pile, hedgehog house, home for mini-beasts, bog garden and lots of plants to attract insects and wildlife.

The children visit the area daily as part of their learning and are already learning the names of the different birds that visit, and also find out how to look after nature.

Mr Lowe said the most important time in the year to feed birds was over autumn and winter, and when they have their young – and if you want to do a bit of birdwatching yourself, the best times are in the mornings and evenings.

“It’s important to feed your birds as the number of natural foods such as fruit and insects drops during autumn, and they are reliant on us providing food to get them through winter,” said Mr Lowe.

“If you want to spot them, get up for their breakfast or see them just before the sun goes down when they are having their dinner. If they have somewhere they know to go, like your garden, bird table or even a bird feeder that you stick on your window if you live in a flat, to them it’s like a fast-food restaurant and it does keep them going.”

Melanie Marshall, science coordinator at the school, said: “We do encourage the children to learn about wildlife and take part in activities such as Feed The Birds Day, as well as the Big Schools Birdwatch, as well as getting them involved in Spring and Autumnwatch.

This is a great way for them to learn and we are lucky to have this, as the children learn a lot better being able to see things with their own eyes, rather than just be told about things.”

The RSPB says people don’t have to buy food for birds – they can use kitchen scraps, which are high in nutritional value, to feed them.

Louise Pedersen from the RSPB’s West Midlands office said: “These are much better for the birds than cheap seed mixes which have little energy content. Birds won’t eat any old rubbish so you’ll find lots of waste underneath feeders and tables. However, leftovers from last night’s dinner will be gratefully received.”

The top five kitchen scraps include uncooked porridge oats, cake crumbs, potatoes which are baked, roasted and even mashed, grated cheese and soft or over-ripe fruits.

But not all kitchen scraps are good for birds and you should avoid putting out bread, salted foods such as bacon or peanuts, polyunsaturated fats or vegetable oils, milk and desiccated coconut.

You can also provide shelter for birds if you plant a mixture of nectar and seed-rich flowering plants to attract lots of insects and provide seed for birds to feed on.

An information pack is available to everyone registering for the project with hints and tips on how to make your home, workplace or school a haven for wildlife. To find out more about the project or for events in Worcestershire, visit rspb.org.uk/hfw.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN SPEEDY BIRD CAKE

YOU WILL NEED:

Good-quality bird seed, raisins, peanuts, grated cheese, suet or lard, yoghurt pots, string, mixing bowl and scissors.

METHOD

1. Make a small hole in the bottom of the yoghurt pot. Thread string through the hole and tie a knot on the inside. Leave enough string so that you can tie it to a tree or your bird table.

2. Allow the lard to warm up to room temperature, but don’t melt it. Then cut it up into small pieces and put it in the mixing bowl.

3. Add the other ingredients to the bowl and mix them together with your fingers. Keep adding the seed/raisin/cheese mixture and squidging it until the fat holds it all together.

4. Fill your yoghurt pots with bird cake mixture and put them in the fridge to set for an hour or so.

5. Hang your speedy bird cakes from trees or your bird table.

Watch for greenfinches, tits and possibly even great spotted woodpeckers to tuck in.

Please note this is not suitable for people with nut allergies – and bird seed, including peanuts bought for