The Nuttery ORGD03 Original Seed Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder, Ocean Green

Product Information

The best solution in this case is to use a caged bird feeder. These stop squirrels from being able to access your bird food , while still allowing small birds -- like tits and Robins --to access it. Many excellent choices within hazels, filberts, cobnuts, including white filbert and ‘Webb’s Prize Cob’

Also known as white walnut. Hardiest of the walnut family. Partially self-fertile and can be pollinated by walnuts and especially heartnuts Beatrix was also a sheep breeder and conservationist, buying up large swathes of countryside on the proviso that the National Trust would buy half of it from her when the funds became available. Here was someone using their earned wealth for the greater good. She was into conservation long before the cause became trendy. Talking of the National Trust, it’s portfolio includes at least a dozen properties connected with writers, a bit of a who’s who of English Lit; one of them, of course, is Beatrix. The last of Beatrix’s little books, designed so that even the smallest of children could hold them, ‘The Tale of Little Pig Robinson’, was published in 1930. When Beatrix died three days before Christmas in 1943 aged 77 she left 4,000 acres of land and 14 farms to the National Trust. Located in the centre of the beautiful Cotswold village of Notgrove is a popular cafe for cycling groups of all sizes, serving up delicious home cooked breakfasts, lunches, daily specials, cakes and coffee. Historic examples show that there were a selection of ways to include nut trees within a garden or walled garden. The nuttery could be a part of the orchard, often with the nut trees grown to one side rather than scattered throughout. Or there might be an avenue of nut trees, possibly sweet chestnut or walnut, leading to the orchard. Hazel was also grown as a tunnel, keeping the nuts within easy reach for harvesting, and hopefully with less depravation by squirrels.These days it is more rare for humans to distribute the seeds that way. But we do propagate and grow fruit trees as we enjoy eating the fruit, so it is still a positive result for the plant. Castanea sativa, sweet chestnuts, are the nuts referred to in the song “Roasting chestnuts on an open fire”. Conkers, on the other hand, are from the Horse chestnut, Aesculus hippocastanum, and are not for eating. Strictly speaking, the nut trees need to form a cohesive group to be classed as nuttery. As we’ve seen in examples above, this still gives scope. But, as we are discussing a garden situation, there’s no reason why we can’t be even more flexible. For example, you may not have space to plant three walnut trees together but you do have room by spreading them out. Add in a sweet chestnut to give you a shady seating area, a couple of almond trees near your olive and a row of hazel as boundary for the kitchen garden and I think we could safely say you have a decent sized nuttery in your garden. Hazels are not self-pollinating, so you’ll need a compatible pollination partner for a nut harvest.

Window display at the House of the Tailor of Gloucester based on Beatrix Potter’s story. Photo: Rudi Winter/geograph.org.uk

Notgrove Holidays – your perfect base for exploring the Cotswolds

Opting for a specially-made squirrel proof seed , peanut or suet bird feeder can help to resolve this issue. These are built using cages, to stop squirrels from being able to get to feeder ports. If using a ground feeding station to feed birds, you can also use a removable cage that is placed over the feeder. if you have room, grow one of the larger nut trees as a specimen tree – and of course it will provide shade, food for wildlife as well as a harvest for you A simple definition would be to call it an orchard where nuts are grown instead of, or as well as, fruit trees. In the UK hazel can be found growing in hedgerows; woodland and field edges; on scrubby upland and as an understorey plant where there is oak, ash or birch woodland. Which gives us a good idea that Corylus avellana is happy in a range of soils and situations. Tolerant of pH 5 – 8, but its less keen on heavy clay, so improve the drainage if that’s what you have.

It can be difficult to stop squirrels from getting into your bird feeding station or feeder. They are very agile creatures and can easily climb feeder poles . However, there is often confusion between different species and cultivars, not least due to the cross fertilization between them. The length of the involucre, which is the husk or bract surrounding the nut is one way for the layperson to tell the difference. Corylus avellana has a short involucre, whereas Corylus maxima has an involucre that extends well beyond the nut. This long involucre is also called a beard, hence the name “full beard” or filbert. They make an even bigger tree than the walnut and are not reliably self-fertile so a pollinating partner is generally needed. However, if you only have room for one tree, Marigoule is the most reliable partially self-fertile variety. Most sweet chestnut trees sold are the species or an ornamental cultivar, the latter being no good for nut production. If you envisage grazing or mowing between trees, nitrogen-fixing clovers — notably the long-lasting red and white clover — are excellent; they enrich the soil and attract beneficial insects. In a forest-garden approach, the planting is based on a natural woodland and tiered from trees through shrubs and herbaceous layers to ground cover; in an ornamental garden situation, the opportunity for planting species that thrive in semi-shade is considerable. Nuts offer us something different. We rarely eat the outer shell, although we may use it for other things. What we’re after – just like squirrels – is the vitamin and protein rich seed inside: ie the nut. Producing these rich seeds is an energy expensive business for the tree, and the gain is less sure than with fruit. Some animals, squirrels for example, are good propagators as they bury many nuts but don’t eat them all. But as with fruit trees, humans do propagate and grow nut trees, although not to the same extent in a garden context.Secondly, it can cause damage to the feeder itself; squirrels often break feeders, including hanging bird feeders, when trying to access the food.

Finally, squirrels can frighten birds -- especially smaller birds . If you are putting out food so that you can spot smaller, rarer UK garden birds , this can cause an issue. College Court, right next to ancient St Michael’s Gatewas adopted by Beatrix Potter for her story The Tailor of Gloucester and is now a small shop and museum. Photo: Colin Smith/geograph.org.uk Almonds are pretty much self-fertile so you could have just one. And, like hazel, they will grow in a large container for some years. They like a fairly neutral pH and a well-drained nutritious soil. Meet the friendly farm animals, donkeys, goats, alpaca and our two high land cows. Enjoy stunning walks around the estate, hire bikes, the tennis court or treat yourself to a spoiling massage. With dedicated games rooms for all to enjoy, children’s play area’s and a host of extra activities to choose from, Notgrove Holidays is ideal for those who love the countryside and want to enjoy the great outdoors.However, for humans animals and birds, the real difference is in the eating. With fruit we consume a sweet, juicy treat which is the fleshy outer casing. In terms of energy this is economical for the plant to produce and the likelihood is that the animals and birds will distribute the seeds for the tree. (Generally in a nutritious coating 😉) Soil fertility greatly affects the health and productivity of nuts. Even unfussy hazels and bladdernuts produce more abundantly in fertile, loamy soils. A neutral soil pH between six to seven is favoured by most; testing kits are available. It’s worth the minimal expense, as encouragement towards this happy medium is easy to undertake — add lime to reduce acidity and compost to dilute alkalinity. “Squirrel traps are all but essential if you have planted more than a couple of trees”