New Year - New Leaf

Well the new year is fast approaching and our thoughts are turning to our New Year's resolutions. We like to try and consider nature in all that we do as we know even our smallest actions have an effect on the world around us. So we thought we'd share a few of our ideas and maybe you could add some of your own?

1. Start a vegetable patch (or window box) and learn how to grow your own food.
2. Create a wildlife corner in your garden at home.
3. Try to use the car less. Walking or cycling is fun and better for you and the planet.
4. Make a compost heap.
5. Feed the birds.
6. Buy at least one of your weekly essentials from a local producer.
7. Spend more time outdoors.

Finally - whether it's flowers, trees, the sea, mountains, birds, animals, clouds or stars that inspire you, why not share that passion with another person? Help your friends to see what a magical world we live in.

Wishing you all a wonderful New Year.

A Little Midwinter Magic

The pixies are celebrating the Winter Solstice and feel warm in the knowledge that the days will now be getting longer again. But there is still lots of fun to be had while winter is still here. One thing we like to do is to make some food for Santa's reindeer to help them guide his sleigh to our homes.

All you need is some uncooked porridge oats and some sugar to make it sparkle. You can also add some coloured sugar crystals (like those used in cake decorating) if you have them, but it isn't essential. Sugar is much nicer than glitter and won't harm the wild birds or any other little creatures that find the food.

Mix the ingredients together and put them in a little bag. You can attach a pretty tag or a ribbon to finish it off if you would like to. Then, before you go to bed on Christmas Eve, go quietly into the garden, sprinkle the reindeer food on the ground and make a wish.

Don't worry if the reindeer don't eat all the food. The birds will enjoy what is left.

Feathered Friends

If you have been making any of the bird-feeders suggested in our last blog, you are ready for the exciting part. That is, of course, watching to see which birds come to visit. Winter is a great time to see them, as while the trees are bare, the birds are easier to spot. Here are a couple of photos of some of the birds that come to our garden.

 

Long-tailed Tits

Greater Spotted Woodpecker

There is something magical about seeing the different birds who come to the feeding post and, when it's too cold or wet for us to go outside, watching them always makes us happy.

Tweet Treats

Winter can be a hard time for our feathered friends so we've been making some bird-friendly festive trimmings to decorate our gardens. These are fun to make and so pretty we thought you might like to make some too.

Pine Cone Bird Feeders

Collect some pine cones and allow them to dry so that they open up. Attach some garden twine to one end to hang them from. Mix together a little suet and some bird seed and push the mixture into the gaps on the pine cone. If you don't have any suet and bird seed you can use peanut butter instead.

Pop-Corn Garlands

You will need plain (un-salted and un-sweetened) popcorn for this project. You might also like to use some dried fruits or berries. Simply take a needle and cotton and thread through each piece of popcorn or fruit in turn until you have a nice long garland. Tie the thread at the end to stop any popcorn falling off.

Bird Breakfast Hearts

First of all you need to form a piece of wire into a heart shape. Floristry wire is ideal but if you don't have this you can use coat-hanger wire instead. When you have your shape ready simply thread on some breakfast cereal hoops. Then twist the ends of the wire together to finish off. When you have got the hang of this you may want to try making other shapes. We like to make star shaped feeders too. 

Mince Pies

This is a nice way to re-use empty mince pie cases.

Simply mix together some lard and bird seed like you did for the pine cone bird feeders. You can also add a few dried fruits, bits of cheese and bread crumbs if you want to. Fill the cases and stand them on your bird table. Leave the birds to enjoy their festive treat.

Remember!

You will need to put your feeders out of the reach of cats and make sure the birds have plenty of fresh water. Don't be tempted to trim your feeders with tinsel or glitter as these can harm small birds and animals. Your feeders will look pretty just as they are.