Bird Feeders in the Forest Garden

The first working party of the year in the Forest Garden enjoyed sunshine and blue skies. This time, the main task was to make bird feeders by repurposing some old, cut Christmas trees that were on their way to become mulch. The method is straightforward - easy to try at home, though you may have to wait a year before a suitable tree comes your way.

Materials - a cut Christmas tree (i.e. one without roots); apples and fat balls; string; loppers or secateurs.

Cut the tree to a suitable height - two or three feet is useful.

Remove most of the side branches, leaving just a few spread out at different heights.

Even up the remaining side branches to roughly the same lengths.

Bash or scrape off excess needles.

Hang the tree from a branch.

Tie fat balls and cored apples on the side branches.

Birds enjoy a feast.