Attract and keep robins in your garden with this one affordable item

Wales Online

30-04-2025

Attract and keep robins in your garden with this one affordable item
Robins are one of Britain's best-loved birds, but they can be picky about where they choose to nest. If they're only making fleeting visits to your garden, there could be one simple reason why
Making sure you have the right kind of bird box is essential to enticing robins to your garden
(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto )
The little robin redbreast is a bird that brings immense joy to many - and if you want to entice them to your garden regularly, there's one essential item to add to your shopping list. Luckily, it's easy to find.
According to the RSPB, robins hold the title of Britain's favourite bird, and it's not difficult to understand why. With their diminutive stature and intelligent gaze, they're often associated with good fortune and prosperity. There's even an age-old myth they carry the spirits of deceased loved ones, making their presence a poignant and heart-warming symbol for many.
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Robins can however be quite particular about where they choose to settle in your garden. If you've noticed they only make brief appearances, the issue might lie with your bird box.
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If your bird box is the wrong shape or size, they may opt to perch elsewhere. To encourage these charming birds to stay, gardening experts recommend investing in an open-fronted bird box, reports the Mirror.
Unlike traditional bird boxes, open-fronted ones have an entirely exposed front, eliminating the need for birds to poke their beaks through a small hole to access food.
James Ewens, a gardening expert at Green Feathers, shared with Ideal Homes: "Robins won't go near the classic bird boxes with the tiny round holes, they are great for smaller birds like blue tits.
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"What you need is an open-fronted bird box, with a wide entrance, and a clear view." Love dreamy Welsh homes? Sign up to our newsletter here .
He explained that robins have a preference for maintaining a watchful eye over their vicinity, leading them to "tend to nest lower to the ground."
Additionally, he advocated that an ideal bird box should be crafted from natural timber, which mirrors the robin's habitat choices in the wild, such as log heaps or cavities in trees.
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Having the correct type of bird box is only part of the equation. Equally important is its strategic placement to attract returning robins.
Robins favour north-east facing boxes, so positioning is key. Being solitary and territorial birds, it's essential to ensure the box is nestled within greenery and located in a more secluded part of your garden.
The bird box must also be at least 1.5 metres from the ground – to safeguard against natural predators including cats, foxes, and rodents.
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To make the box particularly inviting, it's best to ensure it is amply insulated.
Materials such as wood shavings, grass, or even hay can create a cosy environment for the birds.