Sheena Patterson of Oxford Garden Design is all of a twitter about the garden birdwatch

Yes, of course Oxford Garden Design can be found on Twitter but this week’s column is not about social media.

Instead I felt inspired by the Big Garden Birdwatch which took place last weekend. In case you don’t already know, the Big Garden Birdwatch (BGBW) is an event arranged by the RSPB during which people sit for an hour in their garden or in a park and note the birds that they see.

The results are then sent in and are used to monitor the populations and behaviours of our feathered friends. It is a method of data collection known as ‘Citizen Science’ and is a useful way of gathering a large amount of information as well as getting people involved in important issues.

Encouraging birds into the garden and feeding them is a wonderful way of helping them get through the winter, especially in areas where their natural habitats have been eaten away through building and expansion. As a garden designer I can bring together all sorts of different plants and creative structures to create a wonderful wildlife-friendly garden, but it is easy and cheap to make a start on your own. A feeder and a bird box won’t take up much room and will give you tremendous satisfaction in knowing that you are helping – even if in a small way. Bird baths are a great idea and can be an attractive feature in the garden. There is something especially lovely about seeing a robin taking a bath – they are really happy bathers!

Coconut husks filled with seed and fat are a biodegradable, inexpensive and attractive way to feed the birds. Hanging down from a tree with rough twine, they look great and for the birds they are little pockets of delicious goodness!

Peanuts are not a great idea for the birds as when the weather is bad and other food sources are scarce, birds will inevitably attempt to feed them to their young which can cause them to choke. To overcome this, break the peanuts into small pieces and use a meshed birdfeeder to control the size of the pieces the birds can take.

So far, this winter has been mild and there ample natural resources for the birds to feed on. This is great news for the birds as they can feast on wild berries and seeds as well as grubs, worms and insect larvae. When the birds need the food you will notice it! When conditions are harsh you might feel like you are topping up your bird feeders much more often. Be generous – it feels good!

A big factor in the recent decline of our native bird population is pest control in agriculture. All of those lawn pests such as Chafer Grubs and Leatherjackets that we eradicate are just what our birds love and we can help tip the scales back in their favour by putting out tasty mealworms for them. Okay, not tasty to us but the birds will love you for it.

Find out more at rspb.org.uk/birdwatch And as for Twitter – please tweet me @gardendesigns