Two Garden Foods Could Keep Robins Returning This Winter, Says Expert

Robins turn up in British gardens all year, but winter is when they are hardest to miss. The reason, according to gardening expert James Ewens of Green Feathers, is simple: the insects they depend on become scarce in the cold, and the birds come looking for help elsewhere.

Ewens, who calls the robin a favourite of his, says many people assume attracting one is impossible. His view is that it comes down to covering the basics: food, drink, nesting opportunities, shelter and the plants and shrubs the birds like best. The advice was reported by the Express and picked up by Devon Live.

On food, he says mealworms and earthworms are a good place to begin, and that robins offered them will keep coming back. Suet balls, he says, are a firm favourite. Their high fat and energy content makes them appealing, and he calls them essential for supporting the birds' physiology through harsh winter months. He also recommends apples, pears and dried fruit, which supply fibre and vitamins A, E and C. In his account these support digestion, healthy feathers and eyes, and immunity.

Water matters just as much. Robins need it to drink and to bathe, so he suggests keeping a shallow bird bath topped up all winter, or putting a small dish near shrubbery. Placement is part of the advice: robins prioritise safety, he says, and water beside shrubs shelters them from predators. Bathing keeps feathers clean and free of parasites. It also makes them more pliable, which he says helps the birds take off more efficiently and escape predators.

Planting is the third strand. Dense shrubs, hedges and climbing plants give protection from severe weather and from larger predatory birds. Ewens singles out the serviceberry tree, also known as juneberry, shadbush and snowy mespilus, as a top choice for robins and other songbirds. It flowers in mid-spring, drawing pollinators and, in turn, birds. Its fruit ripens from late spring through summer, giving robins a steady supply of soft, energy-rich berries that suit feeding their young.

Bird boxes get their own caution. People often put them wherever looks best, but robins are particular. Ewens recommends a sheltered, quiet spot, ideally with natural cover such as shrubs or hedges. He advises facing the box between north and east, which keeps it out of strong winds and midday heat, since cool, dry, protected boxes appeal most to robins. He suggests an open-fronted design, mounted roughly one to two metres up: not too close to the ground, not too high in the trees.

One caveat is worth keeping in mind. All of this comes from a single gardening expert at a retailer. It is practical household guidance rather than independently verified ecological research, so treat it as a sensible starting point for anyone wanting to see more robins at the window this winter.