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1:00 AM 21st December 2024
nature

How Your Christmas Leftovers Can Support Local Wildlife

Image by Detlef Müller from Pixabay
Image by Detlef Müller from Pixabay
Christmas is just around the corner, and many of us will be decking the halls and filling our cupboards with festive snacks.

But if you find yourself with leftovers, before you throw them away, experts advise considering taking the eco-friendly approach.

Many holiday treats and decorations can provide valuable support to local wildlife during the harsh winter months.

Maria Kincaid, the head ornithologist at FeatherSnap, shared some creative tips to make use of your Christmas remnants.

Mince pies and fruitcake ingredients

If you plan on making your own mince pies or fruitcake from scratch this Christmas, these contain dried fruits like currents, raisins, and sultanas, which birds love.

However, according to Maria, it’s important to exercise caution.

Image by Christiane from Pixabay
Image by Christiane from Pixabay
It’s a great idea to leave the fruits from these festive treats out for birds. However, make sure that you only do this with the ingredients and not shop-bought or already-made pies and cakes, as these could contain sugar, alcohol, and other harmful ingredients.

Scatter these ingredients to offer a tasty treat to robins, blackbirds, and thrushes.

Alternatively, if any of your hand-made decorations that contain real fruits, such as holly berries, you can leave these out too.

Christmas trees

If you opted for a real Christmas tree, you can repurpose these to benefit local birds and other species.

Once you’ve taken off the ornaments, lay your tree in your garden to create a shelter for birds, insects, and hedgehogs.

Alternatively, cut off the branches and pile them as they offer small mammals, amphibians and birds warmth, protection, and a place to forage.

If you are unable to keep your tree in your garden, look online for local recycling programs, or place it in your green wheelie bin for a disposal that gives back to the environment.

Leftover nuts

Nuts are a classic festive treat, and many of us will be snacking on them throughout their festive activities.

If you find yourself too stuffed to get through them, they serve as an excellent food source for birds and squirrels.

Disperse nuts across your garden or place them in a birdfeeder. Species such as blue tits, woodpeckers, and nuthatches can’t get enough of them.

Always be careful to check that they are the unsalted and unflavoured variety, as salt can be toxic to birds, especially in large quantities.

Image by Sarah Clark from Pixabay
Image by Sarah Clark from Pixabay
Pine cones

If you used natural pine cones for your Christmas decorations, they can double as bird feeders with a simple tweak.

Spread suet or unsalted peanut over the pine cones and pat them with bird seed. Hang them from string on trees in your garden, and you’ve got an eco-friendly, DIY bird feeder.

This not only is a great way to attract more birds to your garden, but also is a fun activity for you and your family this Chrismtas.

Wreaths made of natural materials

If your Christmas wreath was crafted from natural elements like holly, natural twine, ivy, or mistletoe, it can be useful to wildlife far beyond the festive season.

Hang it outdoors in its natural state, and it can serve as both shelter and a food source for birds and insects.

As it disintegrates, it will also provide enrichment to the soil, contributing to a healthy garden ecosystem.