WHEN we first had a new format for the Oxford Mail I found it quite difficult to get along with (old habits die hard) but now I am more comfortable with it.

However, this morning (August 16) I was surprised to read that Chris Packham was advising us to use peanuts to feed the birds in the garden.

I have fed my garden birds for many years and have several books on the subject. I never put peanuts out till mid to late September.

This year in particular, first broods were late, as the weather was so bad, so my blue tits didn’t have a successful brood until late May. They have since had another lot, so the new babies are still quite young.

Although the parents like the peanuts still, they do try to feed the babies with them too and sadly this sometimes results in babies being choked with the large and hard chunks of peanut.

I tend to put out bread and cake crumbs and am rewarded by some lovely feeding sessions.

I thought Chris would have known better than to tell us to use nuts already, but September will be here all too soon and you can put them out then and all through the winter.

MARY STIFF
Corunna Crescent
Cowley
Oxford