Sales of bird care products at the group’s four centres in Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire are up 22 per cent on 2009 and a whopping 45 per cent over the last two years.
David Bamford, centre manager at Golden Acres at Landford, said: “Feeding birds has always been a winter activity but is becoming popular throughout the year, with around half as much product sold in the summer as during the winter.
“The RSPB now encourages the all-year-round feeding of wild birds on its website and a lot of people are enjoying seeing them regularly in their gardens.”
The RSPB says although winter feeding benefits birds most, food shortages can occur at any time of the year. By feeding the birds all-year-round, you'll give them a better chance to survive the periods shortage.
With autumn and winter coming up, David recommends putting out food and water on a regular basis. “In severe weather, feeding in the morning and in the early afternoon really helps them.”
Bird food sales are also becoming increasingly specialist, with food easily available to attract specific types of bird into a garden, such as tits, starlings, sparrows, greenfinches, robins, wrens, thrushes, goldfinches, blackcaps and collared doves.
www.golden-acres-nursery.co.uk
