Make your outside space a mini haven for birds... this is the time of year when they need your help most. And in return you'll have a wonderful wildlife show right outside your back window. Grab a bird book and get spotting!

• Our birds need to get through the winter so they can breed in the spring. So... if you don't already feed your garden birds now is a great time to start. Small birds need to eat a quarter of their body weight every day just to survive. Even as early as February birds are starting to pair up and start nest building.
• Remember not all birds like eating the same things: finches go for seeds such as niger and sunflower; bluetits are crazy about nuts; thrushes like fruit and woodpeckers love fatty, suet-based stuff; blackbirds and thrushes like windfall apples. By providing a range of food you'll attract a whole host of different birds.
• Order food in bulk by mail order for easy delivery.
• Scrub hanging feeders every couple of weeks and keep tables clean to help keep birds healthy.
• The cheapest and best nut feeder is an old net orange bag. The birds love the bright colour.
• Steer clear of bargain birdfeed with a high concentration of wheat. It's fine for pigeons and chickens, but won't attract smaller birds.
• Put feeders out in the open but with cover not far away.
• Provide water nearby; it's as important as food, especially on freezing days. You can install a luxury heated bird bath, or stop ice forming by floating a ball in the water.
• This weekend make a bird 'cake'. Kids, especially, love 'baking' for garden wildlife. Use warmed suet mixed with seeds, fruits and nuts, and leave to set. Scoop into a halved coconut and hang on a branch, or pack into large holes drilled in logs - a favourite for woodpeckers.
• Birds love fat, but don’t be tempted to feed birds with the fat from your Sunday roast. The meat juices can quickly go off and be a health risk for birds. Instead, cut the solid, uncooked fat from a pork joint, or similar cut of meat, and attach firmly to a branch or hook for birds to peck.