04/10/2026
A lovely reminder from Burnawn Bird Food that even humble ivy can provide an autumn and winter feast for wildlife!
๐๐๐ฟ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ป ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ โ ๐ข๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฟ
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ญ: Mature ivy is a valuable natural food source. Its autumn flowers feed late-flying insects, while the berries that follow are rich in fat and eaten by blackbirds, thrushes, blackcaps and woodpigeons. Woodland Trust
๐๐จ๐งโ๐ญ ๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ๐จ ๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐๐ค ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฒ!
Its little autumn flowers provide a late feast for insects, while the berries that follow offer a nutritious natural meal for birds during the colder months.
Sometimes letting the garden grow a little wild is one of the best ways to help!
๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐ง๐จ๐ฐ: Ivy is one of the few UK plants flowering in early October, when many other nectar-rich flowers are fading. Leaving it untrimmed now also allows its berries to develop for winter.
๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐๐ญ: The berries generally ripen later, so the flowers arenโt an immediate meal for birds. Mature ivy growing in sunlight is most likely to flower and fruit. If it needs controlled, wait until the berries have been eaten where practicalโand always check carefully for active nests before cutting.
