Cutting back hedges and bushes too early this year could starve birds of late autumn berries.The mild weather has meant birds are feasting on insects later this year. They have not had to turn to autumn fruits yet, so many hedgerows are still bursting with berries.These sources of food are what birds rely on to set them up for winter.
We always suggest waiting until later in the winter, but this year it's even more important than recent years.
Cutting hedges back now would deprive birds of a vital natural food source, especially as berries become more edible and a more important food source after the first frosts when they become softer.
The RSPB is appealing to gardeners, farmers and councils not to cut hedges until later in the winter or very early spring when all the berries and fruit have been eaten.
They are also suggesting cutting hedges on rotation as cutting some hedgerow species every year will prevent the plants from producing large amounts of berries.
Many bird species will benefit from this including residents like bullfinches and song thrushes and winter migrants such as redwings and fieldfares.
Richard James, RSPB Wildlife Adviser, says, "The autumn berry and fruit crop is an important food source for many birds. If cutting can be put off until later in the year it can help provide our birds with an additional food supply.
"Usually, once any late nesters have flown the nest we would say it was a good time to start tidying hedgerows and trimming bushes and shrubs. They can get straggly and when they are stripped bare of berries they are of less use to birds.
"But this year, the weather only started to get really chilly in the last few days, and there are still plenty of berries on many hedges, in gardens and across the countryside.
"We'd urge anyone thinking of a tidy up to wait just a few more weeks until the natural food has been eaten."
Gardener June Butlin says, "It's devastating when you see hedgerows full of berries being chopped down as that could provide hundreds of meals for hungry birds.
"I'm all for making my garden and surrounding area look tidy but just waiting a few more weeks is no big deal and would be so helpful to wildlife."
