We left behind 6 months of the wettest weather ever and last week the ground was baked dry after all the amazing recent sunshine we have had. One extreme to the other!

Some of our wheat on the heavier clay drowned and died, but there isn't much we can do about that now; just nurture the surviving crops in the best way we can. Those who follow my news will know what a torrid time Richard was having with cabbage stem flea beetle attack on our oil seed rape. I can now show you the effect that a cabbage stem flea beetle infestation has on a rape crop!

Our rape field after an attack

I moved into my rented house last May, and of course I set about feeding the birds in my new garden straight away. I established some of the familiar faces of the garden bird world within a few months, but it was only at the beginning of this year that I started to see Starlings.  

Kitchen scraps make an excellent addition to your usual choice of bird food. By putting out the right scraps, you are helping to reduce landfill waste, as well as providing the birds with additional essential fats and carbohydrates which are especially important in the Winter and during nesting season.

We're very excited to introduce you to our brand new seed mix - Big Seed Gold! If you were a fan of our popular Big Seed Mix, then we're sure you'll love this 'less mess' version too.

It's a wholesome, nutritious seed mix that's full of nutty goodness. We've stripped back all the small and messy seeds like millet, rape and linseed to create a mix that produces less waste and mess in your garden. 

Spring is almost here, which means that birds up and down the country will be preparing for the arrival of their youngsters by building cosy nests up in the trees.

Birds only spend a short amount of time building their nests, but still manage to build them in a design that's completely unique to their breed.

If you spend some time amongst nature during March and April, you'll be able to see nests cropping up all over the place!

Peanuts still remain one of the most popular food choices for many garden birds, particularly in times when highly calorific food is needed. Peanuts offer a really good balance of oil and protein, both of which are necessary for energy and good health.

Just how calorific peanuts are, can be evidenced by the fact that they very rarely appear in any human dieting regimens and if they do – you are only allowed a small handful at a time!

We're sure that all of you keen bird watchers are already aware that the Big Garden Birdwatch starts in just a few weeks time (25th-27th January). 

Spending an hour in the garden and contributing to the Big Garden Birdwatch helps the RSPB monitor trends in the bird population, something that's very close to our hearts.

So, if you want to find out more about the world's biggest wildlife survey & how you can take part, just keep reading.