Keep food and water stocked up

Although hedgerows are now filled with blackberries and other fruits, keep food and water sources topped up as garden birds will be back to your feeders in abundance as soon as the temperature drops. Make sure to clean any vessels and tables regularly.

Don’t tidy up

Avoid the urge to cut back and tidy too much in autumn, as decaying plants and leaves create a cosy layer for garden mammals and insects to snuggle down in when winter hits. Hollowed stems and seedheads also provide a safe insect hidey-hole from frosts, and a vital source of wintertime food.

Dispose properly of pumpkins and squashes

Tempting though it is to leave Halloween pumpkins out for wildlife, pumpkins take a long time to break down and as they rot, they damage delicate ecosystems, attract rats and can be fatal to animals like hedgehogs and birds if eaten.

Clean up your nest boxes

Nesting season may be over but birds can benefit from nest boxes all year round. Autumn is the ideal time to put up a new one or clean out any you already have – chicks have safely fledged and boxes will instead offer valuable shelter.

Plant trees 

Autumn is a great time to plant trees, as they are dormant and less likely to suffer damage. Native species like holly, hawthorn and rowan are all suited to small spaces and provide vital food and shelter for birds, insects and small mammals through the colder months.