Wildlife, Birds & Pet Care
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Everything You Need to Support Garden Wildlife
Are you caring for garden wildlife and trying to establish a wildlife-friendly garden at your place? A few key things will help garden wildlife to thrive: growing wildlife-friendly plants, supplying a water source and shelter, considering having a wildflower area. Find out more.
Within the Garden Centre, we have everything you need to nurture the wildlife. In our wild bird care department, you will find bird feeders, birdhouses and bird tables, bird care accessories, quality bird foods and treats, including mealworms, suet nuggets and fatballs recommended for summer feeding. We also offer hedgehog food and houses, bug and ladybird houses, and bat boxes.
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Feeding Advice for Garden Birds
Supporting garden birds is one of the best ways to encourage wildlife into your outdoor space. By making a few simple changes to how and when we feed birds, we can help keep them healthy throughout the year.
Adjusting your feeding habits through the seasons can help reduce the risk of disease while still supporting birds when they need it most.
By combining seasonal feeding with good hygiene practices, you can make a real difference to the health of visiting birds.
Why this matters
Some garden bird species have experienced significant population declines in recent years due to disease. One of the main concerns is trichomonosis, a contagious illness that can spread easily when birds gather in large numbers at feeding stations.
Species such as Greenfinches have been particularly affected, with noticeable declines in garden sightings over the past few decades. This highlights the importance of maintaining clean, well-managed feeding areas.
How you can help
By feeding birds responsibly and maintaining good hygiene around feeders, you can help reduce the risk of disease spreading in your garden. Small changes such as adjusting food types seasonally, cleaning feeders regularly, and avoiding overfeeding all contribute to a healthier environment for wildlife.
Feed Garden Birds Seasonally and Safely
Supporting garden birds is a wonderful way to encourage wildlife into your outdoor space. By making a few simple adjustments throughout the year, you can help birds stay healthy while reducing the risk of disease spreading at feeding stations.
Feed Seasonally
During the warmer months, birds have access to a greater variety of natural foods, including insects, berries and seeds found in the wild. From May to October, consider reducing the amount of seeds and peanuts offered in feeders and instead provide smaller quantities of protein-rich foods such as mealworms, fatballs and suet nuggets.
From November through April, when natural food sources become scarcer, a wider range of bird foods can be offered, including seeds, peanuts and other seasonal bird feed products.
Feed Safely
Keeping feeding areas clean is just as important as providing food. Regular maintenance helps create a healthier environment for visiting birds and other wildlife.
- Clean bird feeders and bird baths at least once a week using hot soapy water and a suitable wildlife-safe disinfectant.
- Remove any leftover food, husks and droppings from beneath feeders.
- Move feeders to a different location around the garden every week to prevent debris and contamination building up in one area.
- Position feeders away from areas where birds regularly roost, such as directly beneath trees and dense shrubs.
- Avoid overfilling feeders and only provide enough food to be eaten within a day or two.
- Choose feeders that help keep food dry and protected from rain and moisture.
- Refresh water in bird baths daily to ensure a clean and reliable source of drinking water.
Encourage Natural Feeding
One of the best ways to support garden birds is to create an environment where they can find food naturally. Planting wildlife-friendly species such as sunflowers, teasels and ivy can provide valuable sources of food, shelter and nesting opportunities throughout the year.
At Vanstone Park Garden Centre, we stock a range of bird care essentials, including mealworms, suet nuggets, fatballs, feeders, nest boxes and wildlife-friendly gardening products to help you create a thriving habitat for garden birds.
How to Choose a Nest Box
Create a new home for the birds in your garden.
We encourage households to put up nest boxes in time for breeding birds which will be looking for a safe place to lay their eggs. This is because natural nest sites for birds, such as holes in trees or old buildings are disappearing quickly.
All you need to do is buy a nest box and put it up in your garden. Read our tips below for the perfect place to site a nest box in your garden
Harmless Household Pest & Animal Control
Products are harmless to all species of animals as they use innovative ultrasonic technology.
Each unit is fitted with a PIR (Passive Infra-Red) sensor, which is activated by movement and body heat. This triggers a 5 second ultrasonic burst, and the sound frequency emitted is tailored to the species of pest the unit has been designed to deter.
The Cat, Fox, Mice or Pine Marten will not be harmed by this noise, but it will find it unpleasant and ultimately leave the area in order to avoid it.
CATWatch has been tested and approved by the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds), meaning that you can buy it with the peace of mind that it’s proven not to affect birds in any way. Meanwhile, PESTController is proven to be an effective alternative to poisons and traps: demonstrating the animal friendly nature of our products.
CATWatch
CATWatch, the Ultrasonic cat deterrent, is the only cat deterrent, scientifically tested and approved by The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
PESTFree+
PESTFree+ is two great deterrents in one unit; it releases ultrasonic sound bursts, which results in the pests retreating from the protected area, but it also features two LED lights which simulate a predator’s eyes.
PESTController
PESTController ultrasonic mouse detterent protects your property from mice, for use indoors or under cover.
CATFree
CATFree is an innovative and humane way to banish cats from your property.
Concept Research produce the highest quality ultrasonic pest deterrents on the market. We are proud to say that our products are the only ultrasonic deterrents designed and manufactured in Great Britain, where we’ve been operating for over 25 years.
We specialise in high tech, ultrasonic pest deterrents that rid your property and gardens of Cats, Foxes, Mice and Pine Martens. Our products are inaudible to humans, and harmless to all species.
Ponds
Attract Wildlife and Relax by the Pond
A pond is a perfect way to attract wildlife to your garden. Frogs, toads, newts, hedgehogs and birds will visit the pond all year round. Isn’t that an enjoyable opportunity to watch the wildlife staying at home? Additionally, the pond provides a relaxing spot to sit on a sunny afternoon.
Everything You Need for a Thriving Pond
Within the Garden Centre we sell pumps, water features, ornaments, and pond construction materials. We are a premier stockist of Hozelock Cyprio pond pumps and accessories. Besides, you will find a large range of Tetra food and treatments for your pond needs. Pond plants are available from April onwards, depending on the weather conditions.
Caring and Considerate Grooming Service
Pets
At Vanstone Park, we love to pamper our pets and have a range of toys & accessories for cats and dogs. We are a dog-friendly garden centre, so why not bring your dogs along with you so that they can browse for themselves!
Simply Dogs is located within the beautiful grounds of Vanstone Park. Dog Groomer Tarnia completed her training with Jolli King in Lincoln and established Simply Dogs in 2001. Bring your dog in for a one-to-one pamper session in Tarnia’s Purpose-Built Grooming Kabin. Phone: 07973163141
