Children really do treasure doing things with a parent, and it’s exactly this kind of thing that helps to form those precious childhood memories. It’s that quality focussed time you spend together that feels so special. Children remember experiences far more fondly than they remember any big expensive gifts. Your time, however short, is what they love.
Maybe you could make a few of these each time the seasons turn. I love everything about these. Gathering what we need together, making them, hanging them up in the bushes outside, and watching out for any feathered visitors.
These Pine Cone Bird Feeders are simple, fun and support for our little feathered friends. The kids absolutely LOVE making these pine cone bird feeders, and they make a wonderful family tradition of something we do together. We first made them at a fabulous nature workshop while on holiday at the fabulously family friendly Glynn Barton Cottages in Cornwall.. They were so easy to make and it’s always particularly satisfying to know we’re helping the birds around us. The look really lovely too and if you choose a natural twine, rather than a high viz yellow, then they’re more discreet too.
There’s no time like the present: the RSPB recommends we feed birds all year round, though it’s more important in the colder months when food is scarce. Having food available during dawn and dusk is the most important time for them and offering them a combination of mixed bird seed, combined with a high calorie fat is the business. Please don’t wait until the thick of winter to make a bird feeder, ‘every little helps’ as Tesco says….
What You Need:
- Good quality bird seed from supermarkets and garden centres.
- Lard or suet (melted). Don’t use butter or margarine as it all ‘goes wrong’ once it’s been melted and when it sets again it can smear on to the bird’s feathers and be problematic. Lard and suet aren’t good feeding grounds for bacteria at all so they’re perfect for the job.
- Pine cones (available all year round depending on the species, though more abundant in the autumn).
What You Do:
- Tie a length of twine to the top of the pine cone. It’s easier to make a circle first and then tighten it around the top of the pine cone.
- Melt the lard or suet.
- Mix in the bird seed until you have a lovely gloopy seedy mix.
- Stuff as much of the mix as you can into all the nooks and crannies of the pine cones. Don’t worry if it turns out all fatty and seedy – the birds will love you for it.
- Hang it in a tree or on a shrub…!
If you would like more info on the best (and worst) way to feed our birds,
or how to make your own bird mix, then please see this link here RSPB.
You may also like to see other posts on Crafts & Activites including:
Homemade Paper
Melted Bead Suncatchers
Can You Solve This Riddle??
For Kids Who Hate Maths
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Download your FREE Guides To Common Christmas Conundrums
“The best Christmas idea ever.” – Charlie Condou (Actor)
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“These were the best things I have ever (and I mean ever) ordered!!
I’ve never seen the magic or happiness last so long x”
– Jolene (August 2017)
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Magical moments for you and your child to share
Take your children on a magical journey with these unique, hand-drawn letters from two of the most magical places on earth … the North Pole and Fairyland.
Hide them among the bills and junk mail, lay them on the table first thing in the morning, stashed among the toys, or snuggled up in their bed. You choose where your children find the letters, to create a magical family tradition the kids will love!
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Download your FREE Guides To Common Christmas Conundrums
“The best Christmas idea ever.” – Charlie Condou (Actor)
***
“These were the best things I have ever (and I mean ever) ordered!!
I’ve never seen the magic or happiness last so long x”
– Jolene (August 2017)
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If your child believes in Father Christmas and you want to keep the magic for as long as possible, There are DIFFERENT and NEW! Christmas Letters each year! You can preorder these for Christmas 2018 for dispatch from September.
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Fairy & Tooth Fairy Letters
Fairy letters from a world of dragons (who set fire to your lunch by mistake), Mystery Gardens (with changing adventures inside), Magical Potion Fairies, Secret Underground Passageways, Magical Tree Bark, Time Travel … and more.
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Dummy Fairy Letters are available too!
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Emily x
This is brilliant!! I want to do one of these for my garden. We have some little birds who have made a nest in our back garden and I don’t want them to struggle for food in winter. What a creative idea! Thank you so much for linking this to #whatevertheweather x
Oh please do make one or some. That would be such a lovely thing to do and the birds will so appreciate it! Can you post a pic on our Facebook page if you do??
I have never thought of this! Such a good idea!
Lx
http://workingmumy.blogspot.com
#WhateverTheWeather
I hadn’t either – aren’t they great?!
That looks almost good enough to eat myself! #bigfatlinky
It takes all sorts 😉
I love these! We will be making lots of them this year too, poor birds had nothing to eat in our garden last year. Hopefully get most of it in the cones for the birds to eat and not our boys eating it instead!
Thanks for linking up to #Whatevertheweather 🙂 x
It’s bound to go everywhere but then the boys can sit and watch the birds eating it all and feel VERY proud of themselves!
A is dying to get a bird feeder but I know she will be even more delighted if she can make one. This looks fab – will bookmark and let her make on a rainy day (which seems like everdyay at the moment 😉 Thanks for sharing.
I’ve never seen so much rain!! That’s so lovely and good for her for wanting to help our lovely birds. These feeders look so lovely too 🙂