Attracting birds

 I'm designing a new (small) garden from scratch. 6m x 4m. I am very keen to
attract birds. I'm in the middle of London and the only thing currently on
the site is a mature sycamore.
I've read a bit, so I'm planning an ilex hedge (both sexes), climbing
honeysuckle, species rose (Rosa moyesii 'Geranium'), ivy, maybe a berberis.
Plus bird boxes, bird bath, feeders.

I just wondered what in your experience was your most succesful plant and/or
strategy for attracting birds? Specific cultivars especially welcome.

thanks

will

 

keen to

currently on

If there is a mature sycamore in a 6m x 4 m garden, the rest of the
planting will surely have to be limited to shade-loving plants, unless
it is right in a N, NW or NE corner of the space.  Where is the house
in relation to this?


climbing

berberis.

plant and/or

welcome.

If you really want to attract birds, there is nothing to beat a nut
container or two, slung from the sycamore and kept replenished right
through the year.

Franz

 .anderson@tiscali.co.uk> writes

The sycamore is going to limit your growing opportunities, blocking
light and making the soil under it dry, though all the things you
mention are OK for shade.

I find my R rugosa has more bird life than R moyesii - whether that's
the bigger hips or that it's nearer the feeders, I don't know.

You have fruit, but no obvious seeds. Lavender's good, but you'll be too
shady. Also things like teasel, thistles, grasses ..  or you could just
try a nyjer feeder.

The other big food source is insects
 and other creepy crawlies. Don't be too tidy - don't clear rotting
vegetation, be happy about piles of logs, heaps of stones and so on (and
obviously, don't use pesticides) - remember, birds are just one part of
a food chain.

And investigate the Garden Bird Watch at www.bto.org
--
Kay
       "Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"
                                        

 

When you say 'middle of London', how built up is it? If there are any parks
near you, try sitting there for half an hour so you can find out what birds
are in your area. Then you can plan the planting to attract them. I've gone
for native hedging around most of my garden. with more ornamental shrubs
interspersed - hawthorn, blackthorn, holly. But the one which gets most
attention is the leycesteria (pheasant berry) which the blackbird loves.

--
Martin & Anna Sykes
martins.garden@sykesm.xglobalnetx.co.uk ( Remove x's  when replying )
<http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~sykesm>

 Small birds are wary of predators so plants that give them cover are as
attractive to them as those that provide food.  I have introduced Hebe's to
my garden and they are always full of birds, it may help that I grow Verbena
through them and they love the long stems.

I also have three feeders, one for peanuts, one for seed and one that I made
for feeding meal worms to robins - but the sparrows like them as well!

As others have said your big tree is going to limit what you can grow and
the aspect (direction the garden points) will also dictate your success as
most plants need access to direct sun at some time of day.

Keith