Make your garden a safe haven for robins this winter with these expert tips

Although Europe isn't facing the biting cold snaps of previous Christmases, us humans aren't the only ones who feel it when the temperatures drop.

patterns. Though hardy, they are not invincible.

bird species has more than doubled in the last 25 years. Robins - the country’s national bird - are particularly vulnerable as they stay loyal to their gardens whatever the weather.

feeding in gardens, many robins die of cold and starvation.

in the summer to an unseasonably warm autumn and winter. This causes confusion and throws the natural cycles of certain species out of sync.

survive the volatile weather?

. Here are his tips on how to support our feathery friends during the colder months.

How to prepare your garden for birds this winter

visiting your garden can make a big difference to survival rates.

, fatty foods like suet pellets, meaty kitchen scraps, mild cheese, cake and biscuit crumbs, dried fruit and crushed peanuts.

or perch, and you may soon find them gaining enough confidence to feed from your hand.

with a range of different seeds.

isn’t too pristine or tidy can also help. Wild undergrowth encourages the proliferation of insects and helps robins to find food. Dead leaves, log piles and twigs also help insects to thrive.

tables make a big difference to the survival rate of robins in urban and suburban areas. Be sure to replenish them regularly to avoid the water freezing.

How to help birds stay warm in your backyard

. They often use nest boxes as winter shelters.

.

. Holly’s dense foliage and sharp prickles provide a protective shelter for winter birds such as finches, dunnocks, goldcrests, robins and thrushes, according to Surrey Wildlife Trust. The berries also provide an essential food source for many birds.

like blackbirds, thrushes, blackcaps and starlings and redwings - so hold off on winter pruning until all the fruit is gone.