Gardeners told to sprinkle chilli powder in gardens this month

GARDENERS ARE BEING URGED TO HELP BIRDS THIS MONTH BY PUTTING OUT BIRD FOOD - AND A LITTLE-KNOWN TIP CAN HELP TO STOP SQUIRRELS AND FOXES PINCHING THE FOOD TOO 10:12, 03 Jun 2025 Gardeners

across the UK are being encouraged to sprinkle chilli powder in their gardens this June, and it's all for a very good cause. It may seem strange, but chilli powder is an excellent

deterrent to stop food left out for birds from being nicked by other animals, particularly as summer kicks off and our feathered friends still struggle to find grub. Bird populations in the

UK continue to face significant challenges in finding food, with availability dwindling. A staggering 60 per cent decline in insect numbers over the past 20 years - due to habitat loss and

climate change - is believed to be having a ripple effect up the food chain. READ MORE: Luxury hotel offering Elemis spa treatment with a free £101 beauty gift Birds have far less to eat,

putting them at risk of starvation, especially during spring when they need to nest and feed their young. That's why gardeners are being urged to lend a hand and leave out bird food.

Bird feed company Peckish emphasises the importance of ensuring birds have access to food in June, a 'frantic' time for birds to feed both themselves and their offspring. The firm

explains: "We are still in the busiest part of the breeding season during June, and while birds won't be feeding their chicks from bird feeders, they may use them to feed

themselves during this frantic time. "Blue tit and great tit chicks will be the most obvious young birds at this time of year, with their noisy begging from tree tops. Article continues

below "You may also see dunnocks, robins and blackbirds nesting again, as they will often attempt a second brood. For this they will need plenty of invertebrates for their chicks,

leaving lawn unmown and hedges unclipped will help with this by making sure the insects have a place to live." However, one major issue with leaving bird food out is that other

creatures - such as grey squirrels - will try to nick it, reports the Express. This is where the chilli powder comes into play. If you have a birdbath or bird table, or something which you

leave bird food on for the birds (and if you don't have one, consider getting one), then you can leave a mix of chopped peanuts, seeds, mealworms and slices of fruit like apples out for

birds to munch on. Bruised apples and pears are really appealing to birds, and household scraps like pastry, cooked rice and breadcrumbs can be used too - although you should avoid using

too much of these, according to the RSPB. But sprinkle all of it with a dusting of chilli powder or chilli flakes, and the birds will have the food all to themselves. "That's

because birds aren't at all affected by the spicy taste of chilli, whereas squirrels and foxes can't stand it. That way, all of the food is left for the peckish birds. The RSPB

advises: "When buying bird food, try to get a good mix of peanuts, seeds and live food like mealworms and waxworms. "Fruit, especially bruised apples and pears, will be popular

with thrushes and blackbirds. Household scraps like pastry, cooked rice and breadcrumbs should only be offered in small amounts occasionally. "Strong chilli powder or pepper sauce (like

tabasco) can be shaken onto bird food. Article continues below "Birds aren't bothered by the chilli, but most squirrels can't put up with the burning sensation and will leave

the food alone."