Food

All wildlife need food to survive. Each species has its own nutritional requirements, which often changes with each passing season as well as with each stage of its life cycle. Your garden can provide a variety of food sources including fruits and berries, grains and seeds, nuts and acorns, as well as browse plants (e.g. twigs, shrubs) and forage plants (e.g. grasses and legumes). Additionally, the insects and other invertebrates drawn to your garden by your flowers and trees, in turn, provide sustenance for other wildlife like birds.

As much as possible, use native plant species for your garden or at the very least, use non-invasive species. BirdWatch Ireland's bird plants list is a good starting point if you want to attract birds to your garden. ENFO's butterfly plants list is useful if you want to attract these nectar-loving insects. Keep in mind that each species has its own particular requirements and some might not be present in your area. BirdWatch Ireland has a list of Ireland's Top-20 Garden Birds which provides details on their distribution and diet in addition a variety of useful information. Likewise, Butterfly Ireland provides information on butterflies in Ireland.

Crab Apple trees (Malus Sylvestris) provide food for Ireland's garden birds like the Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)

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