Gardeners are being urged to put their old Christmas tree in their garden (Image: Getty)
Christmas is over and the tree has long been hauled down – but if you still have your old Christmas tree, you should consider putting it in your garden instead of driving it to the tip.
With and ice chaos closing roads and making travel nigh on impossible, many still won’t have managed to get their Christmas tree collected or take it to the dump, meaning the tatty tree is slowly dying inside a garage.
But a expert is urging people to consider leaving their tree outside this winter for a very important reason.
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Birds spend a lot of winter hunting for shelter and places to keep themselves warm.
Because much of the colder months are spent hunting for food as well as shelter, gardeners are being urged to help two birds with one stone by using a Christmas tree to give birds vital protection near feeders.
Songbird Survival.co.uk says: “Like us, birds look for shelter to keep warm. Making a windbreak can be an effective way of keeping an area of your garden clear from drifting snow and bitter winds, allowing the birds access to feeders during the winter. If you can provide an area of shelter need your feeding station, this is even better as they can expend as little energy as possible to reach it.
“An old , or a pile of branches and other foliage can be placed on the ground to provide shelter.
“Adding a sheet of plywood to serve as a wall will drastically reduce the wind. Behind the contraption, on the sheltered side you can clear the snow from the ground and either scatter seed or use ground feeders.”
It doesn’t have to be a dead tree though – you could plant something fresh like holly, laurels and Pyracantha.
They added: “Evergreens are also a good source of shelter and will offer them some comfort in the cold weather. Some ornamental conifers also offer good cover, as do privets, laurels, and Pyracantha.
“Holly and ivy provide great cover and can be a saviour for many small birds.”