Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle
Jane Perrone

It's time to hang out your bird boxes

Juneberry
Juneberry: a tough cookie that suits most garden settings. Photograph: Michael Meijer/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Plant this Take advantage of the current tree planting season to add juneberry (Amelanchier lamarckii) to your plot. A tough cookie that suits most garden settings, it offers spring blossom, edible berries loved by birds, and attractive foliage that turns orange-red in autumn. Will reach a height of 5m in a decade.

Hang this If you were given a bird box for Christmas, now is the time to hang it, as birds will start scouting for sites as early as next month. Site away from feeders and other boxes, and out of reach of predators. Existing boxes can be cleaned now: remove old nests, use boiling water to kill parasites and dry thoroughly.

Plan this Thousands of private gardens across the country open their gate to the public every week of the year and raise money for charity as part of the National Gardens Scheme. To find a garden near you, go to ngs.org.uk.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.