AFTER all the recent sunshine and warm balmy evenings, we've been thrown right into the deepest troughs of depressive weather conditions.

Cold winds, lashing rain, mean and moody clouds, thunderstorms and even hail. Add to this the first tinges of yellow in the horse chestnut leaves, the orange glow burning through the Acer leaves and the bright, glossy red berries dripping from the Rowans. Yes, summer is slowly burning its way out towards the embers of autumn.

For many gardeners, myself included, this can bring on the beginnings of a dark panic. We have toiled endlessly throughout the last winter and spring in order to produce sensational summer displays. These displays are almost over. It's either a case of hibernation or starting the hard work all over again ready for next year.

This year however I have been distracted from the usual slide into horticultural resignation by the appearance of happy little messengers of cheer in the garden. It's all right, I haven't quite lost the plot yet, I'm not talking about fairies or elves or anything sectionable. The birds have started returning to the garden.

They have finished their family duties and are making ready to survive the onslaught of winter. They are making regular visits to the bird table and feeders that I installed earlier in the year. I have a very simple table under a large conifer tree (a Christmas tree that was planted out about fifteen years ago) not far from the back door.

Twice a week I throw on a couple of handfuls of 'soft bill' mix to encourage the thrushes and blackbirds. For those with a tougher beak like the chaffinch, greenfinch and sparrow, I add a mix with thicker grains and seeds.

The long tailed tits have just started making enquiring visits so I shall be putting out a few scoops of suet on the table too. There is a peanut feeder hanging from one side to attract the small tits (blue, coal and great) and a fat feeder on the other side for the starlings and robins. I have recently added to this a specialised thistle feeder for the goldfinches.

As an extra bonus for winter I have been making my own log feeders. I had to do some serious pruning to my apple trees earlier in the year. With some of the thicker pieces I cut them into foot long lengths, drilled inch deep holes into them and hung them in the trees. I made a paste of lard and seed and smeared it into the holes.

Over the weeks I have got to know many of the birds on an individual basis.

There is the young blue tit that I rescued from the cat when it made its first flight. It is now beginning to grow its adult plumage, but remains the cheekiest of the lot on the table. The robin we have nicknamed 'Flash' thanks to a white stripe on one of its wings.

I have never in the past been accused of being a 'twitcher', but am now in serious danger of taking an active interest in birds. My best excuse is that they are very good at keeping the slugs and aphids at bay in the borders, and they provide addictive entertainment during the autumn and winter season.

Tune into Radio Cleveland on 95FM every Sunday morning between 11am and midday to her more gardening talk, tips and advice from Brigid.

Published: 31/08/2002