Alan Titchmarsh shares four simple methods to make your garden bird-friendly

Alan Titchmarsh has revealed four simple methods to transform your garden into a haven for birds, including instructions for creating a homemade bird bath and incorporating various "berried plants". In a recent video for his YouTube channel, Gardening With Alan Titchmarsh, which launched in April, the Ground Force legend began the clip by recommending people purchase a "solidly-built" nest box to provide shelter for birds such as blue tits and wrens.

Regarding positioning, Alan highlighted two factors "worth bearing in mind" when installing your nest box, the first being to ensure it's out of reach of cats and positioned above head height. Secondly, he advises situating your nest box in a protected location away from the prevailing winds. Alan was then shown installing his own slate-roofed nest box close to the eaves of his garden shed.

His next suggestion was to install bird feeders, something Alan maintains can genuinely "make a difference" to your birds' livelihood during the colder autumn and winter months when natural food sources become scarce.

Alan, who observed that blue tits and robins are particularly fond of fat or lard balls, also explored the benefits of the traditional bird table, though acknowledged that grey squirrels have a habit of helping themselves.

His solution for tackling this issue with his own table (which featured four sides and a roof) was to employ four sections of "sturdy wire mesh", one of which could be removed, to prevent their access.

For his third tip, Alan explained how gardeners can plant bird-friendly plants, ones that feathered visitors will find "useful", particularly when it comes to food, highlighting the benefits of "berried plants".

He proceeded to recommend beautyberry (callicarpa), which is enjoyed by robins and sparrows. Alan says you should place the shrub at the back of your border.

Next up was firethorn (pyracantha), a shrub that, at this time of year, features red, orange or yellow berries. He followed this up by also suggesting Cotoneaster horizontalis (which is good for smaller birds).

Alan then moved on to roses, specifically ones that generate hips, which are enjoyed particularly by blackbirds. He also highlighted hawthorn berries, which serve as "wonderful attractants" for birds.

In addition, he mentioned two plants that can be used as a means of shelter for birds. For this task, Alan recommended thorny shrubs such as barberry (Berberis) and holly, which has thorny leaves that can help protect them from predators.

He then noted how trees can operate as nesting sites and "feeding stations", drawing the viewers' attention to such varieties as cherry trees and Golden Hornet crabapple.

Alan's final tip was to add a bird bath to your garden, ensuring you change the water regularly, as, in addition to drinking the water, birds will also bathe in it.

He proposed creating your own using a plant pot and a saucer, simply affixing the latter to the top of the pot with silicon and adding a few pebbles for the smaller birds to perch on.