Gardman is advising retailers to stock up on bird food as studies show that more birds than usual are turning up in gardens this autumn.
The supplier's partner, the British Trust for Ornithology, has just reported that the number of woodland birds visiting gardens at the moment is 15% higher than in recent years, as a result of the scarcity of natural foods in the countryside.

The levels of bird populations in gardens during October were similar to what is expected at the end of November as birds turn to bird feeders and berry-producing shrubs in the garden.

"This early seasonal rise in bird numbers in gardens, with the likelihood of colder weather conditions when birds look for higher calorie foods, is an opportunity for retailers to ensure that they are well stocked up on bird food and bird feeders," says Ann Guest, Gardman's wild bird care category manager.

"Different bird species require different foods, whether seeds, suet blocks, nuts or berries, so it's as well to stock a wide range of foods and the relevant bird feeders so that bird lovers are able to purchase whatever they need to help garden birds survive the winter."