Build Your Very Own Bird Feeder

Toby and Roo are back with another brilliant way to get little hands busy and young minds exploring the natural world! This time, they’ve been getting crafty with bird seed and showing us how to make a homemade bird feeder for the garden.

It’s simple, inexpensive and lots of fun to make — but the real magic begins once you hang it outside and wait for your feathered visitors to arrive. So, gather your little explorers, raid the kitchen cupboards and get ready for a spot of bird-feeding fun!

A crafty way to get closer to nature

We love activities that encourage children to get outside and discover the wildlife on their doorstep. If your little ones already enjoy hunting for bugs, making bug hotels, collecting leaves or stopping to watch squirrels and birds, then making your own bird feeder is a lovely next step. Toby and Roo are big fans of getting children involved with nature. They’ve made bug hotels and regularly enjoy feeding animals when they visit places such as Center Parcs, so when they spotted this clever bird-feeder idea on Pinterest, they were smitten. And we can see why!

Bird feeders are surprisingly cheap and wonderfully easy to make, and once you've made one, the fun doesn't stop there. They make thoughtful little homemade gifts, too. Why not make one for a grandparent, godparent or nature-loving friend? We love the idea of giving someone a handmade bird feeder for a new home — especially if they have a garden where your creation can welcome lots of visiting birds. Even better, children can enjoy watching their gift being put to good use.

What you'll need

You don't need a huge list of ingredients or fancy equipment. Just gather:

• 1–1½ cups of bird seed – you'll find this in most garden centres and many supermarkets.
• ½ cup of lard
• Twine, rope or wire for hanging your feeder.
• A mould or silicone/cookie cutter – stars, hearts and other fun shapes work beautifully.

A little tip: although bright, colourful ribbon might look tempting, it's best to choose something more natural for your bird feeder. Simple twine, rope or suitable wire is ideal.

How to make your bird feeder

1. Melt the lard

Start by melting the lard gently in a saucepan. Once it's melted, carefully transfer it to a bowl and allow it to cool slightly. This is a good point for grown-ups to take over any hot-pan jobs, while children can get busy choosing their mould and preparing the bird seed.

2. Add the bird seed

Add around ¾ cup of bird seed to the cooled lard and mix it really well. You want the seeds to be thoroughly coated, but you don't want a bowl full of excess liquid. If the mixture seems too runny, add a little more bird seed until you have a thick, well-coated mixture. This is the messy, hands-on bit — so don't worry if things get a little sticky!

3. Fill your mould

Spoon the seed mixture into your chosen mould, filling it about halfway. Press it down firmly so that the seeds are packed tightly together. This will help your feeder hold its shape once it has set. Now comes the clever bit.

4. Add the hanger

Take your twine, rope or wire and place it into the mould, making sure that it is securely surrounded by the bird seed. Try to position the hanger right down into the shape rather than simply laying it across the top. This gives the finished feeder extra strength and means it is less likely to crumble or fall apart once it's hanging outside. That's particularly important if you have cats or other predators nearby. A secure feeder can help keep visiting birds safely out of harm's way.

5. Fill the rest of the mould

Spoon the remaining seed mixture over the top of your hanger until the mould is completely full. Press everything down firmly again. The more compact the mixture, the sturdier your finished bird feeder should be.

6. Chill your feeder

Pop the mould into the freezer for a few minutes to help the feeder firm up. Once it's solid enough, carefully remove it from the mould. Take your time with this bit — nobody wants their beautiful bird-feeder star to crumble before it has even made it outside! Once unmoulded, keep your feeder in the fridge until you're ready to hang it outdoors.

Time to meet the neighbours!

And now for the best bit! Hang your homemade bird feeder in the garden and wait for your visitors. Choose somewhere where your children can easily see it from a window, then grab a pair of binoculars if you have them and settle down for some serious bird spotting. Who will be the first to arrive? A cheeky robin? A curious blue tit? A blackbird hopping around underneath? Perhaps a wood pigeon will discover your feeder and decide that the whole thing belongs to them! Encourage your children to watch quietly and see how many different birds they can spot. They could keep a little garden bird diary, drawing pictures of the birds they see or ticking them off a homemade checklist. You could even give each bird a name and invent stories about where they have been and what adventures they've had.

Make it a gift

Homemade bird feeders also make wonderfully thoughtful presents. Children could make one for grandparents, godparents, friends or anyone with a garden. Tie it up with a little handwritten note explaining that it's been made especially for their garden visitors. It's a lovely way to give a gift that keeps on giving — and it might even encourage someone else to spend a little more time noticing the wildlife around them.

Little explorers, big nature adventures

We love crafts that don't simply end when the glue dries or the paint is put away. This little project gives children something to look forward to long after the making is finished. They'll have a reason to peer out of the window, sit quietly in the garden and start noticing the wonderful wildlife that lives all around them. Because sometimes the best nature adventures are right outside the back door.

So get crafty, get outdoors and get ready to meet your new feathered friends!