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Virtually all of us enjoy watching the birds that come to our gardens, and indeed around half of all UK households put out food to attract them. But with around a third of households also growing at least some fruit and vegetables in their gardens, there can be a conflict with birds eating some of the produce intended for our own dining tables. In addition and of greater concern to us, is that some protection methods such as plastic netting are very dangerous to songbirds because they can easily become entangled in it.

With these problems in mind and from first-hand experience from some of our team here at Vine House Farm, we’ve considered what steps can be taken to ensure garden birds can be safely kept off the produce being grown.

The first point to understand is that different species of songbirds will not eat either leafy or root vegetables, but may inadvertently dig up newly-sown seeds or very young plants as they look for food like worms in the soil. This would very much apply to ground feeding species like Blackbird and Robin. However, a garden bird which will eat vegetables and notably different types of brassica (e.g. cabbage, broccoli, kale etc.) is the Wood pigeon, and in fact they’re the only species of garden bird which can solely survive on green plant material. So protecting vegetable beds and in particular for brassicas is always a good idea.

What NOT to use for protecting vegetable plants from birds 

Although the type of plastic or nylon mesh shown here is widely available and sold on the basis of protecting plants, it is very problematic to birds. The issue occurs when birds land on the frame supporting the mesh or attempt to get through it at ground level, and then become entangled in the mesh and often by their feet and bill.

If the bird isn’t then quickly released – and it’s unlikely it will be because few of us can regularly check for such a problem in the garden or allotment – then it will die, and perhaps as a result of a predator such as a cat that it can’t get away from. 

What type of mesh to use for protecting vegetable plants from birds

By far the best option is what is generally called ‘Veggiemesh’ which is a very fine netting which birds cannot get entangled in. The other major advantage of this type of netting is that it prevents even tiny insects like carrot root fly and aphids from getting to crops, so therefore gives far better overall protection to vegetables.

Protecting soft fruit 

Although songbirds won’t eat vegetables, a few species will most certainly eat soft fruit like raspberries, strawberries and blueberries – with Blackbirds being the main offender! Veggiemesh can easily be used for strawberries, but for fruit such as raspberries where the plant grows vertically, the most practical long-term solution is a fruit cage. Fruit cages can be tall enough to walk into and therefore suitable for tall fruit plants like loganberry, however, the cage and netting can also present a serious risk to birds – and in two ways:

Firstly, small birds such as Wrens and Robins can easily get trapped inside fruit cages if there are any gaps in the netting or entrance door frame etc. So it’s absolutely essential to ensure the frame and netting is installed and then maintained with no gaps anywhere. 

Secondly, in the same way that the plastic netting shown in the photo for protecting veg is a hazard to birds, the same can be true when it is used for fruit cages. This problem can be minimised by ensuring the mesh is pulled very tight and with no loose areas in corners or at ground level, but a much better solution is to use a higher quality and semi-rigid mesh – either steel or plastic – as birds can’t get entangled in this. 

A garden in harmony with nature 

Whatever steps you take to protect the vegetables and fruit in your garden, at Vine House Farm we strongly believe that the ultimate aim has to be one which achieves harmony with the birds and other wildlife that we can attract. As part of this broader aim, creating habitat just for birds which includes fruit trees and shrubs with berries, has to be the way to go. So grow for the benefit of wildlife as much as growing for the benefit of ourselves.