GARDEN specialists have revealed that homeowners who decide against tidying up their gardens and choose not to trim their hedges could be helping wild birds raise their young fledglings.

Outdoors experts from GardenBuildingsDirect.co.uk have revealed seven ways that UK homeowners can help birds both before and during the breeding season – without having to go beyond the comfort of their own garden.

Advice includes choosing plants which provide suitable fruits early in the season while advising against leaving out additional snacks for feathered friends near nesting sites.

A spokesperson for GardenBuildingsDirect.co.uk said: "Helping egg laying birds as the worst of the winter weather wears off isn’t as simple as just throwing a few kitchen leftovers on the garden and forgetting about them. It’s especially important in urban areas to make sure that they have all of the materials they need to make their nests and to help them remain undisturbed until chicks reach maturity.

"Hanging a feeder from a tree at the bottom of the garden may seem like a good idea, but it often isn’t. Sweeping the lawn could also be detrimental to fledglings’ chances."

With that in mind, here are GardenBuildingsDirect.co.uk top seven tips to help breeding birds:

1. Complete vegetation works by the end of winter

Once the weather begins to improve, it's important to avoid cutting or clearing hedges, trees and dense vegetation.

Doing so could easily disturb a nest, so try to complete any major pruning before spring truly arrives.

2. Do not clear up fallen twigs and leaves

To help birds make the best nest possible for raising their fledglings, gardeners should consciously leave a mess on their lawn and around their gardens borders.

This could help birds form vital building materials.

3. Choose plants that fruit in winter and spring

A selection of plants that produce fruit helps to make a garden truly bird friendly.

They are a fresh and natural food source for birds during the breeding season.

Blackberries that appear on Ivy, Hawthorns, Cotoneaster, Guelder Rose and other Rose Hips are favourable.

4. Place feeders carefully until chicks reach maturity

Bird feeders may seem like a simple solution to help birds, but they can actually be counterproductive while birds are laying eggs in nests.

Placing an artificial food source outside your home could reduce vulnerable fledglings’ chances of survival, as it might attract predators such as grey squirrels.

Place winter and spring feeders on or by the house, as far away as possible from any shrubbery, trees and other potential nesting sites that could be disturbed.

5. Leave out helpful materials

Short pieces of fibre, string and yarn – no longer than a couple of inches - left in an accessible and appropriate area of the garden can help birds build nests for their eggs.

Clippings of human or pet hair can also help insulate fledglings’ homes, whilst oven-dried and crumbled eggshells can help female birds restore lost calcium.

6. Provide a consistent, clean water source

Humans can lend a helping hand by leaving a bowl in the garden, always in the same place and refreshed on a daily basis.

During hot weather spells, top up the water more often and when cold, smash any ice that forms.

7. Avoid returning to discovered nests

Lingering if you find a nest or returning to the site could attract predators as humans leave a strong scent trail that can be picked up by foxes and other potentially harmful wild animals.

It is also recommended that homeowners should discourage cats from climbing trees and keeping dogs on the lead if they have an affinity for rummaging in the bushes.