Gardeners urged to take action if they spot robins this winter, say experts
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As winter weather settles in across the UK, the coming weeks promise even colder temperatures, which will likely make life even harder for local wildlife. For smaller birds, such as robins, the struggle to find enough food will become more critical as the ground hardens from freezing overnight temperatures.
![[The RHS recommends placing fat blocks in wire cages around your garden to support local bird species, including robins (stock image)]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/27/16/93089319-14186537-The_RHS_recommends_placing_fat_blocks_in_wire_cages_around_your_-a-1_1735315239008.jpg)
Though the festive robin may appear to thrive in cold conditions, this plucky, red-breasted species faces a number of challenges during the harshest period of winter. Despite their association with the holiday season, robins are year-round residents of our gardens.
However, their small size and territorial nature mean that securing enough food can become a difficult task when natural resources decrease, according to The Woodland Trust. The freezing temperatures also make it harder for robins and other birds to access the insects, worms, and seeds that typically make up their diet.
Experts at the Royal Horticultural Society stress the importance of providing the birds with high-fat foods, which help to keep them warm and sustain the energy they need to survive in colder conditions. On their website, they explain: 'Garden birds, in particular, benefit from feeding year-round, but winter is a time to provide foodstuffs with a high-fat content to help keep them warm.
For smaller birds, such as robins, the struggle to find enough food will become more critical as the ground hardens from freezing overnight temperatures (stock images). 'Feed regularly so that birds will not waste vital energy visiting your garden when there is no food.'.
