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Sir Roger Moore’s daughter<br />
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SEPT 26-<br />
OCT 9, 2017<br />
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Graham Norton:<br />
‘Mum keeps me<br />
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19 seasonal craft<br />
& cookery projects<br />
AUTUMN<br />
HARVEST<br />
✶ Bake a damson cobbler<br />
✶ Sew a hot water bottle cover<br />
✶ Low-cal mushroom recipes<br />
Win Luxury hotel breaks & more
Inside<br />
utumn!<br />
a Let’s celebrate<br />
this fortnight...<br />
COVER PIC: PEROU/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK<br />
Real life<br />
9 Animal Magic<br />
12 ‘Warming hearts this winter’<br />
16 Try something new: ballet<br />
18 Hats off to Marie!<br />
20 James Herriot documentary<br />
23 ‘I didn’t know I had a heart<br />
condition’<br />
28 ‘My hair-loss story’<br />
35 Bringing hope to victims of<br />
domestic abuse<br />
Star chat<br />
10 COVER Dawn French<br />
14 COVER Graham Norton<br />
24 COVER Roger Moore: ‘Dad’s<br />
kindness helped me so much’<br />
31 Joanne Froggatt’s new role<br />
146 Life Lessons with Suzi Quatro<br />
Your best life now!<br />
40 COVER New styles for autumn<br />
45 Get your glow on!<br />
46 Eye candy<br />
48 COVER Build your defences<br />
53 Health clues in your loo<br />
55 Happy feet<br />
Good to know<br />
66 Yours Retirement Services<br />
68 Winter wildlife tips<br />
71 Find your lost pet<br />
73 Your questions answered<br />
75 Watching the pennies<br />
Nostalgia<br />
60 The fun of chats on the phone!<br />
63 ‘My days a pin-up girl!’<br />
Leisure time<br />
87 COVER Mushroom recipes<br />
93 COVER Delicious damsons<br />
95 COVER Seasonal makes<br />
99 Knit a tea cosy<br />
101 Trees to plant for autumn colour<br />
103 A long weekend in Warwick<br />
104 Ten reasons to visit Hong Kong<br />
107 The Dark Skies Festival<br />
Your favourites<br />
57 Meeting Place<br />
65 Roy Hudd<br />
81 Friends of Yours<br />
109 Carers in touch<br />
118 COVER Your free<br />
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121 COVER Puzzles to test you<br />
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137 Short story<br />
145 Horoscopes<br />
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71<br />
40<br />
New-season<br />
styles to suit you<br />
Welcome…<br />
I love this time of year! The beautiful colours of nature,<br />
wearing snuggly jumpers and boots, cosy nights in and<br />
a return to comforting, hearty food.<br />
Our Inspiring You section this issue celebrates<br />
the very best autumn has to offer. Turn to p87 for<br />
delicious meals to make with mushrooms, seasonal<br />
craft projects and a fruity damson cobbler recipe to<br />
try. Plus, our fashion editor has scoured the high street<br />
for the new season’s styles that look great but won’t<br />
cost you a fortune (p40).<br />
The downside of autumn though (apart from the<br />
shorter days) is the prevalence of colds and flu. And,<br />
if you feel like you get every bug going these<br />
days, it’s not your imagination... your immune<br />
system does get less efficient as you get older so<br />
it’s essential to do everything you can to<br />
build your defences now. Turn to p48<br />
for the expert advice that will help<br />
keep you well all winter.<br />
See you next issue<br />
104<br />
Reasons<br />
to visit<br />
Hong Kong<br />
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68<br />
Feed the birds<br />
this winter<br />
Autumnal cookery<br />
and home ideas<br />
The<br />
eyes<br />
have it!<br />
Visit our website<br />
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Suzi<br />
Quatro
eauty picks<br />
Perk up your peepers in seconds with these age-defying buys,<br />
says Beauty Editor Michelle Nightingale<br />
Eye-opening tricks<br />
Wide-awake eyes are easy to cheat. Start with a light eyeshadow such as Bourjois’s<br />
Colorband Eyeshadow & Liner in Beige Minimaliste (£5.99), once set it lasts all day.<br />
Curling your lashes will also help and Laura<br />
Mercier’s eyelash curler (£11) is easy to grip,<br />
so you’re less likely to pinch the skin. A more<br />
flattering shade than black, brown eyeliner will<br />
softly define eyes. Maybelline’s Master Smoky<br />
(£5.99), gives long-lasting wear and has a builtin<br />
sponge to smudge the line for a natural look.<br />
Super<br />
serum<br />
The delicate under-eye<br />
area loses moisture<br />
far more quickly<br />
than any other part<br />
of your face. Olay<br />
Eyes Firming Eye<br />
Serum (£24.99/15ml),<br />
hydrates and firms,<br />
tackling fine lines<br />
and wrinkles.<br />
LUSCIOUS LASHES<br />
Mascara is a must for defined eyes and we think Gosh’s<br />
My Favourite Mascara (£9.99) is one of the best. It gives<br />
buildable coverage and made our lashes look thicker and<br />
longer without flaking. Wunder Extensions Lash Extension<br />
Stain Mascara (£19.95) promises three days of smudgeproof<br />
and waterproof wear. You’ll need an oil-based<br />
eye make-up remover to take it off.<br />
DON’T FORGET…<br />
…to keep your brows neatly groomed as this instantly helps<br />
frame and lift your face. Get yours professionally shaped at least<br />
twice a year and pluck sparingly in between to keep them tidy.<br />
Tweezers with sharp, slanted tips such as the Boots Precision<br />
Grip Slanted Tweezers (£3.80) give the best results. Fill gappy<br />
brows with a brow pencil using short strokes.<br />
Revlon’s Brow Fantasy (£7.99), comes with a<br />
sheer, tinted gel to keep stray hairs in place.<br />
Eye candy<br />
Stockists: Boots 0845 070 8090; Bourjois available nationwide; Gosh available from Superdrug 0345 671 0709; Laura Mercier available from<br />
John Lewis 0345 604 9049; Maybelline available from Superdrug; Olay, Revlon and Wunder available from Boots<br />
46<br />
YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥<br />
Inspiring<br />
YOU<br />
craft<br />
+ +<br />
easy crafting tasty recipes genius ideas<br />
Autumnal floral display<br />
An easy-to-make stunning centrepiece<br />
Time: 20 mins Skill level: Beginner<br />
Materials:<br />
Large pumpkin<br />
Fresh-cut flowers,<br />
leaves and<br />
berries<br />
A large scoop for<br />
the pumpkin<br />
Bring the beauty of<br />
autumn into your home<br />
with these creative ideas<br />
Seasonal Makes<br />
1. Cut a large circle off the top of your<br />
pumpkin and scoop out the flesh and seeds.<br />
This can be put aside and used for cooking.<br />
2. Fill the hollowed pumpkin with water.<br />
3. Place fresh flowers in your pumpkin vase.<br />
4. Display somewhere cool and it will last for<br />
up to two weeks.<br />
Cut small holes in the<br />
tops of apples to<br />
make a natural<br />
tealight holder<br />
fun to make<br />
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥<br />
Autumn leaf<br />
biscuits<br />
Serves: 8 Prep:15 mins Cook 12 mins<br />
1. Mix 300g (10½oz) plain flour, a pinch of<br />
salt and 100g (4oz) sugar. Make a well in the<br />
centre, break one egg into it and gently whisk.<br />
Chop 200g (7oz) of cold butter into small<br />
pieces and scatter around the edge.<br />
2. Combine everything with a knife and mix<br />
well or knead using a mixer.<br />
3. Form the dough into a ball and wrap in<br />
clingfilm for an hour or overnight in the fridge.<br />
4. Roll out on a floured surface. Either use a<br />
leaf cutter or cut into leaves using a sharp<br />
knife. Use a fork to make the vein detail<br />
inside your leaf.<br />
5. Bake for 10-12 mins in a preheated oven at<br />
200°C/ 400°F/Gas Mark 6.<br />
Use natural foliage<br />
to make a pretty<br />
table setting<br />
Snuggly fox<br />
Make a cuddly hot-water bottle cover using an old jumper and felt<br />
Time: 40 mins Skill level: Intermediate<br />
Materials:<br />
Old knitted jumper<br />
Rubber hot-water bottle<br />
Pieces of felt in rusty orange, black<br />
and white<br />
YOU COULD DESIGN<br />
A CAT OR DOG INSTEAD!<br />
Polyester toy stuffing<br />
Embroidery thread in black<br />
Fabric glue<br />
Velcro strip<br />
1. Turn your jumper inside out and draw the outline of the<br />
hot-water bottle on it. Repeat so you have two pieces.<br />
2. Sew the pieces together at the top and up two sides. Hem the<br />
bottom seams and sew or glue the Velcro onto both bottom edges.<br />
3. Using the picture as a guide, cut out 2 pieces for the fox’s face and<br />
one for the tail using the rusty orange felt. Take the white felt and cut<br />
out two triangles for the ears and three teardrop shapes (two for the<br />
eyes and one for the tail). Cut out a small circle of black for the nose.<br />
5. Position the fox tail on the knitted hot-water bottle cover,<br />
and sew using the free arm of the sewing machine but leave an<br />
opening for filling. Stuff the tail and, using the fabric glue, stick the<br />
white tip on the end of the tail. Sew the opening closed.<br />
6. To make the head, put the two orange face pieces together and<br />
sew, leaving a small gap for filling. Turn right side out, fill then sew<br />
the opening closed. Using the black thread, sew eyelashes on the<br />
two teardrop pieces. Using fabric glue, attach the white ears, eye<br />
pieces and the black circle nose to the face.<br />
7. Once dry, hand sew the fox’s head onto the bottle cover in the<br />
position shown.<br />
8. Insert hot water bottle from the bottom.<br />
Pretty pumpkin lanterns<br />
Pumpkin carving isn’t just<br />
for Hallowe’en!<br />
These stylish lanterns will<br />
fill your home with a warm<br />
and cosy glow. Make a series of<br />
holes using a drill, or simply<br />
cut out a heart shape from the<br />
front of your pumpkin and pop<br />
a small candle inside.<br />
94<br />
YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT<br />
YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT<br />
95
star chat<br />
PICS: ALAMY STOCK PHOTO, WENN, BBC, FAMEFLYNET<br />
By Vicki Power<br />
On stage, Graham Norton<br />
is waspish and witty as<br />
he holds court on The<br />
Graham Norton Show.<br />
His quick-fire asides<br />
and irreverent responses mean that<br />
former comedian Graham often<br />
outshines the parade of A-list guests<br />
gracing his sofa.<br />
But that’s just one side of him. The<br />
Graham I’ve met many times is still<br />
naturally very funny, but also much<br />
kinder and warmer than the man on<br />
stage. Off screen, there are no shiny<br />
suits, but a measured, thoughtful<br />
man. It’s a side of him we glimpsed in<br />
his first novel, Holding – a warm Irish<br />
yarn that came out last year to much<br />
acclaim – and in the compassionate<br />
responses he writes to readers’ letters<br />
as agony uncle for The Telegraph<br />
newspaper.<br />
Graham (54) is full of natural<br />
empathy and when I ask him where<br />
it comes from, he puzzles over the<br />
answer, stroking his salt-and-pepper<br />
beard. “I suppose I find it easy to put<br />
myself in other people’s shoes and<br />
imagine what that’s like,” he says.<br />
“What’s useful when you’re<br />
‘What’s useful when<br />
you’re advising people is<br />
not to see their part, but<br />
to see what’s driving the<br />
other person’<br />
advising people is not to see their<br />
part, but to see what’s driving the<br />
other person,” he continues. “You<br />
know when you’re like, ‘My motherin-law’s<br />
been very unreasonable,’ it’s<br />
handy to get into the mother-in-law’s<br />
head. She didn’t just wake up and<br />
decide to do this. But I don’t know if<br />
that’s empathy or trying to get inside<br />
someone else’s head.”<br />
Graham has never had therapy<br />
himself, but says he enjoys<br />
counselling others. “Some people in<br />
my group of friends do ask me what<br />
they should do. I think I have always<br />
liked giving advice, asked for or not,”<br />
Kindness<br />
of the chat<br />
show king<br />
Self-deprecating and humble,<br />
Graham Norton chats to Yours<br />
about being an agony uncle, family<br />
bonds and what he loves most<br />
he quips, adding that he adheres to<br />
strict self-imposed guidelines when<br />
it comes to advice-giving. “When it’s<br />
for romantic problems, you just listen<br />
then reinforce what the person already<br />
knows. Don’t shed light on anything,<br />
because otherwise you get blamed.<br />
And if they break up and get back<br />
together again, you can’t unsay what’s<br />
been said!”<br />
Graham has always displayed a<br />
caring nature towards his mother,<br />
Rhoda, particularly since the death of<br />
his father, Billy Walker, in 2000, from<br />
Parkinson’s Disease. He says the only<br />
good thing to have emerged from his<br />
father’s death is that it brought him<br />
closer to Rhoda and older sister, Paula.<br />
Graham with mum<br />
Rhoda, who is ‘very<br />
proud’ of her son<br />
Graham says he inherited his sharp<br />
sense of humour from his mum. “My<br />
mother’s instinct is, like mine, to be<br />
judgemental and dive in with a hard<br />
line,” he says with a chuckle. “But if<br />
you talk things over with her, she’s<br />
insightful and can see through things.”<br />
Graham is often a bit hesitant<br />
to discuss family members, eager<br />
to protect them from the spotlight<br />
that shines on him. We chat about<br />
his mum’s appearance in the short<br />
film shown at this year’s National<br />
Television Awards just before he was<br />
given the Special Recognition prize.<br />
It was full of celebrities singing his<br />
praises, but Rhoda stole the film when<br />
she admitted she was proud of her son,<br />
quipping, “But I’m not the type to go<br />
around telling anybody that. So don’t<br />
tell anybody.”<br />
“That’s true!” he laughs about his<br />
mother not being one to over-praise.<br />
“But it would be weird to, because I feel<br />
children can get too much affirmation<br />
from their parents – otherwise, it’s a<br />
tough blow to get to eight or nine and<br />
realise you’re not the best at everything<br />
and you’re not a princess.”<br />
He is quick to add that his<br />
childhood, spent moving around<br />
Ireland due to his father’s job with<br />
Guinness, was happy. “I’m not making<br />
out like she was a cruel mother. There<br />
were lots of cuddles and kisses and<br />
stuff, but at the same time there was<br />
quite a low level of flannel.” Graham<br />
says he was closer to his mum than his<br />
dad, but felt well-supported by both:<br />
“As far as I know, I had a very happy<br />
upbringing and I loved my parents and<br />
they loved me, but obviously it’s the<br />
only family I’ve been in.”<br />
Graham hasn’t found the love of his<br />
life, but has had long-term boyfriends<br />
over the years. He lives in Wapping<br />
with the dogs he dotes on – Bailey, a<br />
labradoodle, and rescue dog Madge, a<br />
terrier cross. What makes him happiest<br />
is, ‘Walking the dogs on the beach on a<br />
windy, wet day.’<br />
It’s ironic to hear Graham talking<br />
about the ‘tough blow’ of discovering<br />
as a kid that you’re not the best at<br />
everything, because he’s proven<br />
himself annoyingly adept at many<br />
pursuits. Not content to rule Britain’s<br />
chat show world, Graham also lends<br />
his comedic talents to presenting<br />
the Eurovision Song Contest and<br />
The BAFTA TV awards as well as<br />
presenting a Saturday morning show<br />
for Radio 2. He’s also acted on stage<br />
and on TV, most notably in Father<br />
Ted, and is currently hard at work on<br />
his second novel after his first became<br />
a bestseller and won a Popular Fiction<br />
Prize in Ireland.<br />
‘“I still feel surprised when I look<br />
at that book on a shelf and go, ‘Wow I<br />
managed to do that’,” admits Graham.<br />
“To get those words in an order that<br />
makes sense and have people read it –<br />
I am shocked by that.”<br />
It’s the same feeling he occasionally<br />
gets on his chat show. He admits he<br />
sometimes has to pinch himself when<br />
seeing the Hollywood elite lined up<br />
on his sofa.<br />
“Some nights I’m introducing<br />
guests on the show and I look around<br />
and go, ‘Wow, this is my show and<br />
these people are on it. It’s incredible’.”<br />
Or maybe not so incredible when<br />
you’re as naturally talented and, yes,<br />
as kind as Graham Norton is.<br />
n The Graham Norton Show is on BBC1<br />
on Friday evenings<br />
Who let the dogs out...<br />
Graham is the proud<br />
owner of two pooches<br />
14 YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT<br />
YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT 15
Update your wardrobe in time for the cooler weather with these<br />
affordable fashion finds, says Fashion Editor Michelle Nightingale<br />
Autumn<br />
STYLE EDIT<br />
N<br />
one of us<br />
want to<br />
spend a<br />
fortune<br />
every time<br />
the season changes, so to<br />
save you time and money,<br />
we’ve pulled together<br />
our favourite autumn<br />
essentials that are figureflattering,<br />
stylish and<br />
pocket-friendly too. Many<br />
of these can be picked up<br />
at your local supermarket<br />
and aside from some<br />
investment boots,<br />
everything on these<br />
pages is £50 or under!<br />
Add a belt to help<br />
slim your waist<br />
Lesley wears:<br />
Coat, £45, s-l, Wallis<br />
| top, £6, 8-20,<br />
Matalan | jeans, £35,<br />
8-20, M&S | necklace,<br />
£14, Next<br />
FASHION EDITOR<br />
THE<br />
MUST-HAVE COATS<br />
Pretty and practical, these gorgeous coats<br />
prove that you can stay warm and cosy<br />
without spending a fortune. We love the<br />
pretty colours – a welcome change<br />
from black and grey.<br />
❤<br />
LO VES<br />
Gill wears:<br />
Pink coat, £50,<br />
8-20, Peacocks<br />
| grey knit, £35,<br />
s-l, Wallis | jeans,<br />
£35, 8-22, M&S<br />
| shoes, £28,<br />
3-8, Next<br />
THE<br />
CARDIGAN COAT<br />
This longer-length cover-up makes a<br />
great alternative to a traditional coat.<br />
Single-breasted styles<br />
can flatter a larger<br />
tummy or a bigger bust<br />
VALUE<br />
BUY!<br />
If you’re petite<br />
go for a belted style, and look for<br />
coats that finish mid-thigh, so they<br />
don’t swamp your frame.<br />
Lesley wears:<br />
Check coat,<br />
£39, 6-22 F&F<br />
at Tesco<br />
| lilac knit, £16,<br />
6-22, F&F at<br />
Tesco | shoes,<br />
£14, 3-8,<br />
George at Asda<br />
Lesley wears:<br />
Shirt, £16, 8-20,<br />
Matalan | chinos,<br />
£19.50, 6-22, M&S<br />
THE<br />
CASUAL SHIRT<br />
Casual and comfy, check shirts are a must-have this<br />
autumn. Perfect for layering under a knit, choose a<br />
pretty, fitted style to keep your look feminine.<br />
Gill wears:<br />
Knit, £35,<br />
8-20, Wallis<br />
| necklace,<br />
£12, Next<br />
WARDROBE<br />
ESSENTIAL<br />
Avoid adding<br />
bulky tops<br />
under your knit<br />
THE<br />
PRETTY KNIT<br />
A lightweight knit is a must in<br />
our changeable weather.<br />
THE<br />
STATEMENT<br />
BLOUSE<br />
A bold print blouse is a<br />
great way to look smart<br />
and stand out, but<br />
with minimal<br />
effort.<br />
This would look just<br />
as good tucked into<br />
a slim pencil skirt<br />
fashion special<br />
Gill wears: Blouse, £39.50, 6-22,<br />
Autograph at M&S | trousers, £22,<br />
10-22, JD Williams | necklace, £8, Next<br />
STYLE<br />
STAPLE<br />
Lesley wears:<br />
Dress, £29 10-26,<br />
JD Williams | bag,<br />
£36, Simply Be<br />
THE<br />
SMART<br />
DRESS<br />
Choose a dress<br />
that’s as easy to<br />
wear as it is stylish.<br />
This one features<br />
a flattering ruched<br />
tummy panel and<br />
sleeves, to help<br />
you disguise your<br />
least favourite bits.<br />
40 YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT<br />
YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT 41
Go wild<br />
for the birds<br />
this winter<br />
CREATE THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT<br />
n Find a safe place to<br />
feed them<br />
Where you set up a feeding<br />
area for birds is very<br />
important. Keep it away<br />
from ground shrubs and<br />
bushes, so cats cannot<br />
lie in wait, but not out in<br />
the open, as they need<br />
somewhere to hide from<br />
any birds of prey.<br />
n Provide a bird bath<br />
“Ensure fresh drinking water is always available to birds,”<br />
says Hilary Wood, Head Gardener at Blenheim Palace<br />
(www.blenheimpalace.com). “During a deep freeze or heavy<br />
frost a lot of water sources may be frozen, making it hard for<br />
birds to find a drink.” A shallow dish of water not ony provides a<br />
drink but also enables them to keep their feathers clean, which<br />
means they are kept properly insulated when it’s cold.<br />
As the colder months<br />
approach, your garden<br />
hospitality will be<br />
appreciated more than<br />
ever. Birds are already<br />
scouting out places to<br />
feed when food is scarce<br />
later in winter, so turn<br />
your plot into a refuge for<br />
them now and enjoy their<br />
company all winter long<br />
By Gabrielle Albert<br />
n Keep your<br />
garden untidy<br />
Keeping your garden less<br />
manicured provides more<br />
shelter spots for birds and<br />
more homes for insects<br />
– which in turn become<br />
meals for your hungry<br />
feathered friends.<br />
Empty<br />
the bird bath<br />
of water at night<br />
and top it up<br />
with fresh in the<br />
morning to avoid<br />
it freezing over<br />
n Put up a nest box<br />
It’s never too late to<br />
put up a nest box. Even<br />
after the breeding<br />
season ends, birds will<br />
still use these to shelter<br />
themselves from the<br />
elements. “Make sure<br />
they are placed facing<br />
away from harsh<br />
northerly winds and<br />
are near a source of<br />
potential ‘insulating’<br />
materials,” says Hilary.<br />
“You could help<br />
encourage this by<br />
leaving brush piles<br />
around the garden or<br />
old leaves and twigs.”<br />
Which seeds are best?<br />
‘‘You’ll find a wide range of<br />
different bird seed mixes in<br />
the shops all year round,’’ says<br />
Gemma Butlin of the RSPB<br />
(www.rspb.org.uk). ‘’But some<br />
combinations are better than<br />
others for feeding during<br />
the colder months.” Here are<br />
some of the best ones to look<br />
out for – either feed them on<br />
their own or look out for them<br />
within seed mixes...<br />
n Millet<br />
This small seed attracts house<br />
sparrows, dunnocks, finches,<br />
reed buntings and collared<br />
doves.<br />
n Black sunflower seeds<br />
“These seeds are an excellent<br />
year-round food,” says<br />
Gemma. “The oil content is<br />
higher in black than striped<br />
ones, so will provide birds<br />
with more energy in the<br />
winter. Tits and greenfinches<br />
will really enjoy these.”<br />
n Nyjer seeds<br />
These are small, black<br />
seeds which need a special<br />
type of seed feeder and<br />
are particularly enjoyed<br />
by goldfinches and siskins<br />
(pictured below).<br />
GET PLANTING<br />
“Planting evergreen trees and<br />
plants in your garden will add<br />
protective areas for wild birds to<br />
shelter in throughout the winter,”<br />
says Hilary. “Try to include plants<br />
which might produce fruit in the<br />
colder months, such as hawthorn berries for birds to eat.”<br />
Energy-boosting<br />
foods<br />
While seeds are a<br />
necessary part of<br />
a bird’s diet, there<br />
are a few other<br />
inexpensive options<br />
which can really give<br />
them a much-needed<br />
boost of energy during a<br />
cold snap. These easy-tofind<br />
suggestions will have<br />
your garden visitors forever<br />
grateful...<br />
n Mealworms<br />
“This beetle larvae is a natural<br />
food and can be used to<br />
feed birds throughout the<br />
year,” says Gemma. “They are<br />
particularly relished by robins<br />
and blue tits and may attract<br />
other insect-eating birds such<br />
as pied wagtails.”<br />
n Cat and dog food<br />
“Meaty tinned cat and<br />
dog food is an acceptable<br />
substitute for earthworms<br />
when birds can’t reach them<br />
as the ground is frozen<br />
or covered in snow,” says<br />
Gemma. Blackbirds certainly<br />
won’t refuse this. Meat can<br />
attract magpies, gulls and<br />
cats so keep a close eye on it.<br />
n Bird cake and food bars<br />
“Fat balls and fat-based food<br />
bars are an excellent winter<br />
food for birds,” says Gemma.<br />
“Remember to remove the<br />
netting before putting them<br />
out because the soft mesh<br />
can trap and injure birds.”<br />
Don’t<br />
be a fairweather<br />
feeder!<br />
Birds will associate<br />
your garden with<br />
food and need it so<br />
much more in<br />
winter<br />
n Peanuts<br />
“These are rich in fat<br />
and very popular with<br />
tits, greenfinches,<br />
housesparrows, siskins,<br />
nuthatches and great<br />
spotted woodpeckers,”<br />
says Gemma. “Crushed<br />
or grated peanuts attract<br />
robins, dunnocks and even<br />
wrens. However, some<br />
can be high in a natural<br />
toxin so buy them from a<br />
reputable retailer to ensure<br />
they are safe!”<br />
Keep bird feeders,<br />
tables and bird<br />
baths scrupuously<br />
clean as poor<br />
hygiene can<br />
spread diseases<br />
and harm birds<br />
n Bird feeder<br />
cleaning brush<br />
£1.50 from Wilko<br />
GOOD to KNOW<br />
Kitchen leftovers<br />
“Your unwanted leftover food<br />
can be great for birds and<br />
provide them with the energy<br />
they need to feed their<br />
young, build their nests and<br />
generally get ready for the<br />
colder months ahead,” says<br />
Gemma. Try adding some of<br />
these to your bird table.<br />
n Plain cooked rice<br />
n Uncooked<br />
porridge oats<br />
n Breakfast<br />
cereal<br />
n Apples and<br />
pears<br />
n Unsalted bacon<br />
n Plain potatoes (cooked,<br />
cold and cut open)<br />
Foods to avoid<br />
Birds may get pretty<br />
desperate in the winter<br />
months, but that doesn’t<br />
mean we should feed them<br />
just anything. Although you<br />
might mean well, giving<br />
them the wrong foods can<br />
sometimes do them more<br />
harm than good. Steer clear<br />
of dry biscuits which lack<br />
nutrition and can choke some<br />
varieties. Bread is also bad<br />
news because it fills up their<br />
tummies but doesn’t provide<br />
many nutrients. Never put<br />
out milk because birds can’t<br />
digest it, and avoid salty foods<br />
because salt can be toxic in<br />
high quantities.<br />
68 YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT<br />
YOURS n EVERY FORTNIGHT 69<br />
PICS: ALAMY STOCK PHOTO, SHUTTERSTOCK