Ireland's birds need your help!

Ireland's birds need your help! With recent surveys showing populations of even quite common garden birds dropping worryingly low, now is the perfect opportunity to do your bit to keep the feathered friends who visit your garden happy and healthy.

You'll find all you need in our garden centre here in Co. Limerick, including squirrel-proof feeders, nuts, seeds and fat balls. A bird bath from our extensive range provides them with fresh water – doubly important in winter.

At this time of year birds need as much energy as they can get, so go for high-energy blends of sunflower hearts and nyjer seed – particularly beloved of goldfinches, which have seen a population explosion in Ireland in recent years. You'll also find specialist blends on our shelves, as well as mealworms which provide much-needed protein. A mix of hanging feeders, suet balls and bird tables cater for all types of birds visiting your garden.

Keep water from freezing by adding a small pingpong ball to the bird bath: it'll scud around the surface in the slightest breeze and keep the water ice-free. And keep things clean: dirty feeders and stale water spread disease quickly between the birds using them. Give everything a regular scrub and change water daily.