Gardeners' urgent action needed now to protect birds in their garden

Winter may be upon us, but that doesn't mean your garden should be neglected. Rosie Fyles, the head gardener at Chiswick House, and Benjamin Pope, another head gardener, share their insights in Garden Illustrated on what needs to be done in the garden during the colder months.

While it may seem like there's not much happening in the garden during winter, it's actually a great time to tidy up, clean, and prepare for the upcoming gardening season. They've even provided a list of useful tasks to complete before the harsh winter weather sets in, along with some recommended equipment.

Contrary to popular belief, the garden isn't 'put to bed for winter' after November. In fact, many assume that winter is a quiet period for gardeners, but as professionals will tell you, the quietest time is actually August, not December.

Even when Christmas rolls around, gardeners are still busy needing a well-deserved rest. A largely frost-free winter is the perfect time to get jobs done to ensure the following spring is the best yet. It's optimism and hopefulness that keeps us going.

From planting bulbs to re-edging lawns, shaping topiary to mulching, winter can be a bit hectic. Don't forget about the wildlife in your garden either - they need as much help as possible during the winter months.

Keep bird feeders topped up with seeds and nuts to keep our feathered friends happy. Other top tips include clearing away debris, putting out bird feed, tidying pots, sharpening tools, and cutting back untidy branches.

Earlier, we reported how one green-fingered TikTok user has shared an ingenious yet simple fix. Ish, known by his handle @gardening.with.ish on the social platform, recently posted a video where he reveals the nuisance he found trying to "burrow" into his bulb pot, which he considers a big no-no. Keen to protect his plantings from being disrupted or devoured, Ish demonstrates a remarkably straightforward method that not only safeguards the bulbs but also breathes new life into his pots with a splash of colour. In the clip, Ish explains: "What I'm going to quickly do is pop in some of these primroses, and I got this whole tray, which is quite a substantial amount, on sale for about £3.

"These will probably only last about a couple of months, and that's all I'll need from this. All I'm going to do is plant these primroses right in here and they won't develop much of a rootbase at all. In fact, they'll stay nice and content in there and, because they're winter hardy, it means that I'll get some colour as well which is fantastic.

"What I'm going to quickly do is pop in some of these primroses, and I got this whole tray, which is quite a substantial amount, on sale for about £3. These will probably only last about a couple of months, and that's all I'll need from this.

"All I'm going to do is plant these primroses right in here and they won't develop much of a rootbase at all. In fact, they'll stay nice and content in there and, because they're winter hardy, it means that I'll get some colour as well which is fantastic.

"And, what it'll do is, it'll also create a bit of a barrier for any kind of squirrels or any kind of insects or even mice from trying to burrow in and eat our bulbs. As easy as that, they're not getting in any more."