Feed birds properly with Haith's

More than half of UK households feed birds. That’s around 12 to 13 million gardens across the country.

And beyond feeding, around 25 million gardens provide some kind of space for nature.

Taken together, they cover a greater area than all of our national nature reserves combined.

From above, it would look like a vast green network woven through towns, cities, and countryside.

But that’s not how it exists in reality.

It exists as millions of individual spaces, connected not by fences or borders, but by something more powerful:

People who care.

To us, a garden has boundaries.

To a bird, it is part of a journey.

These spaces act as stepping stones across the country, linking habitats together and creating informal wildlife corridors through landscapes that are otherwise fragmented.

In a world where natural habitats are shrinking and food sources are less predictable, these connections matter more than ever.

They help birds move, feed, rest, and survive.

So the question isn’t whether we should stop feeding birds.

It’s this:

What happens if these stepping stones disappear?

Birds don't just lose a feeding spot. They lose part of their journey.

Don't let your garden fall silent this spring.

If enough gardens go quiet, that network starts to break.

Where do birds go when reliable food sources are removed?

In many cases, there isn’t a simple answer.

But removing reliable food sources doesn’t make that challenge easier.

Global research shows wildlife populations have declined significantly over the past 50 years, largely due to habitat loss and environmental pressure.

Gardens are no longer just places we enjoy nature.

They have become part of nature itself.

Feeding birds isn’t about replacing nature.

It’s about supporting it, in the spaces where people and wildlife now meet.

And when it’s done properly, it becomes part of a much bigger system:

A nationwide network of small, cared-for environments that help wildlife navigate a changing world.

One clear example is the Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Once rarely seen in many gardens, it’s now a regular visitor - supported in part by reliable, high-energy food available at feeders, particularly peanuts and sunflower hearts.

It’s a reminder that feeding, when done properly, can support survival and reproduction.

There’s also a human side to this.

Access to birds and everyday wildlife plays an important role in people’s health and wellbeing - offering connection, calm, and a closer relationship with the natural world.

This is what makes it unique.

It’s not centrally managed.
It’s not owned by one organisation.
It’s not protected by designation.

It's ours.

It's looked after by millions of people every day, often without realising the role they play.

Many of us rediscovered that connection during lockdown - noticing birdsong, watching our gardens come alive.

Let's not lose that connection.

That’s not a small thing. It’s one of the most powerful forces for nature we have.

It's powered by people like you.

Feeding birds isn’t something to stop.

It’s something to do properly.

✔ Keep food fresh and dry

✔ Feed little and often

✔ Avoid build-up and waste

✔ Clean feeders and water regularly

Most risks linked to bird feeding come down to hygiene and build-up, not the act of feeding itself.

Small changes, across millions of gardens, make a big difference.

You’re already part of it. Keep feeding birds properly.

👉 Learn how to feed birds properly

Done properly, feeding birds doesn't interfere with nature. It supports it.