Members of the Garden Centre Association (GCA) saw bird food sales soar during January (2015) according to its Barometer of Trade (BoT) results. Sales of wild bird food and associated products increased 16% during the month compared with 2014 and the association puts it down, simply, to garden birds needing more food in the colder January than the same month last year.

Will Armitage, Chairman of the GCA, explained: “Throughout the winter months it’s important for people to keep bird feeders topped up. “Birds require high energy, high fat foods during the cold winter weather to maintain their fat reserves so they can survive frosty nights and our survey results show that people are certainly willing to help out their feathered friends by providing food for them.

Healthy garden birds also help keep pest numbers down in the summer months, so it’s important to look after them.” Sales of seeds and bulbs also did well in January at 12.5% up.

The Ambassador garden brand from Stax Trade Centres launched a high quality wild bird care range towards the end of lasts year following an increase in customer demand. The range includes bird feeder and bird food designed to bring a variety of wild bird life to the garden and is available in all 5 branches.