We received this email from a long-standing customer this week, and honestly, it stopped us in our tracks - see below
Thank you for sharing your response to the RSPB’s blanket statement on bird feeding. It was genuinely refreshing to see a reputable organisation acknowledge the nuance involved, seasonal changes, environmental context, and responsible feeding practices all matter, and it’s important that this is recognised.
As a long-standing supporter and member of the RSPB, I found their statement disappointing. It felt overly simplistic and lacked the balanced guidance needed for something as complex as wildlife care. Rather than recognising that most people who feed birds are thoughtful and willing to adapt their approach, it came across as a one-size-fits-all message designed more for headlines than for meaningful guidance.
I don’t use social media, so I can’t speak for wider public reaction, but what I do see repeated is a very blunt message: “stop feeding birds,” without the context needed to understand when and how feeding can be appropriate.
For me, feeding birds isn’t just a hobby, it’s a responsibility I’ve taken on over several years. I live in a densely built residential area with very little natural habitat. Over the past five years, I’ve done everything I can to support wildlife in a small terraced garden, while many surrounding spaces have been replaced with artificial grass and plastic planting.
My routine reflects that commitment. I’m up at 6am each day to put out feeders across the garden and tree, clean the area, check the pond, and provide mealworms and fat balls before work. After work, I am again, cleaning, checking, and refilling where needed. Every evening, I take feeders down, clean and dry them, and once a week I carry out a deep clean using F10 disinfectant.
This effort supports a thriving group of birds of over 40 sparrows, 30 starlings, a resident magpie family, visiting jackdaws, the occasional robin, and even a sparrowhawk drawn by the activity. These birds return year after year, raising their young here and teaching them to feed. In an area with limited natural resources, this has become a reliable habitat.
Because of this, the RSPB’s message has left me feeling isolated and unfairly judged for something I approach with care, consistency, and a strong sense of responsibility. I will continue to feed the birds, but I believe the conversation needs to be more balanced, supporting responsible practices rather than discouraging them outright.
Thank you for the post, it has finally brought some sanity into this statement that comes across that everyone is stupid and what the RSPB says goes rather than a more open statement recognising the complexities and nuances around bird feeding along with specific environments.
I fully appreciate this and thank you!
Best wishes JJ
JJ — thank you for taking the time to write, and what you’re actually doing.
Up early.
Cleaning feeders.
Watching what’s working.
Adjusting as you go.
Let’s Say This First
We respect the RSPB.
They have done a huge amount for birds in the UK, and we all benefit from that work. And to be fair to them — they haven’t said “stop feeding birds”. Their guidance is more specific:
pause feeding seed between May and the end of September.
We understand where that comes from.
But…
we don’t fully agree that a blanket seasonal pause works for every garden, everywhere.
Gardens Are Now Habitat (And That’s Not All Bad News)
JJ’s garden isn’t unusual anymore.
But this isn’t just a story of decline.
Yes, in some places we are seeing:
-
more paving
-
more artificial grass
-
fewer insects
-
less natural food
…but at the very same time, something else is happening.
People are stepping up.
Quietly. Thoughtfully. Brilliantly.
We see it every day.
People are:
-
planting native hedges
-
digging ponds (even tiny ones)
-
leaving areas a bit wild
-
allowing nettles for caterpillars
-
sowing wildflowers
-
thinking about soil again
And when you combine that with responsible feeding…
gardens become living ecosystems.
Not perfect.
Not untouched.
But real, functioning habitats.
Feeding + Habitat = The Real Answer
This is the bit that matters.
It’s not:
“feed” or “don’t feed”
It’s:
feed responsibly, and build habitat alongside it
Because:
-
live mealworms support growing chicks
-
suet provides valuable energy when needed
-
seed can help where natural food is limited
And habitat underpins all of it:
-
insects
-
shelter
-
nesting space
That’s what keeps birds returning year after year — just like JJ is seeing.
“You Just Want to Sell Birdseed”
Let’s deal with this one properly.
Yes — we sell birdseed - and we are growing it and mixing it and bagging it on farm - and yes it helps our farm in terms of pennies and sustainability - and indeed our local birds.
But we also spend a huge amount of time saying:
-
don’t overfeed
-
keep feeders clean
-
spread them out
-
adapt feeding with the seasons
-
build habitat alongside it
And in summer especially, we often guide people towards:
-
live mealworms
-
suet used sensibly
—not just endless seed.
If You Want to Follow the Guidance to the Letter
That’s absolutely your choice.
And it should be respected.
If you are pausing seed over the summer months, then the focus shifts to:
-
Live mealworms (for protein, especially during breeding season)
-
Suets (used appropriately, particularly in cooler spells or early mornings)
If helpful, here are the options we use and recommend:
-
Live mealworms → https://www.wigglywigglers.co.uk/collections/mealworms
-
Mealworm feeders → https://www.wigglywigglers.co.uk/products/window-feeder
-
Suet products → https://www.wigglywigglers.co.uk/collections/fats-suets
-
Suet feeders → https://www.wigglywigglers.co.uk/products/get-set-go-feeder-for-fat-balls
No pressure — just practical options if that’s the route you choose.
A Fair Question (1st May)
Now here’s something worth gently asking.
Today is the 1st of May.
And we are already seeing adverts promoting RSPB bird seed for sale.
So it’s reasonable to ask:
If the advice is to pause feeding seed through the summer…
why is bird seed still being actively advertised?
Because for people trying to do the right thing, surely that’s a mixed message?
The Bigger Picture
The UK bird feeding market is worth hundreds of millions of pounds a year. But more importantly:
It represents millions of people engaging with wildlife.
And in many areas:
that feeding has become part of the ecosystem.
You can’t ignore that when giving national advice.
If you’re trying to do the right thing — and most people are — this is how we look at it.
Not rules.
Just sensible, practical steps.
-
Put out small amounts of food — enough for the day, not to sit around
-
Keep feeders clean and dry (a quick regular clean is better than leaving them)
-
Move feeders now and again so nothing builds up underneath
-
Avoid flat feeding surfaces — hanging feeders are better
-
Spread things out a bit — don’t create one crowded feeding spot
-
In warmer months, think about mixing it up — a bit less seed, a bit more live food or suet used sensibly
-
Keep an eye on what’s actually visiting your garden — not every garden even has finches
And if something doesn’t look right:
-
take feeders down for a short break
-
give everything a proper clean
-
then start again
That’s it.
No drama.
No guilt.
Just paying attention and adjusting as you go.
And Finally
If you’re someone like JJ:
Doing your best for wildlife
You are not doing it wrong.
You are doing it thoughtfully.
We’ll keep doing what we’ve always done.
Helping people:
-
feed birds properly
-
choose the right food (whether that’s seed, suet or live mealworms)
-
and build better habitats alongside it
With a bit of common sense.
And a bit of humour.
Because nature is nuanced.
And that’s something worth respecting.
From our farm to your footprint
Heather & the Wiggly Wigglers team
