Bird lovers are being invited to a Brent Knoll garden centre to find out more about feeding their feathered friends.

Sanders GardenWorld is hosting a Wild Bird Care Week from October 19 to 25 to tie in with the national Royal Society for the Protection of Birds' (RSPB's) Feed the Birds Day to be held over the weekend of October 24 and 25.

During the week there will be free fun activities for children including a competition sponsored by Gardman, the UK's largest supplier of wild bird care products. There will also be an opportunity to find out how people can turn their garden into a haven for wild birds by planting native plants such as hawthorn, ivy and honeysuckle which provide food and shelter throughout the year.

The RSPB is a UK charity that works to secure a healthy environment for birds and other wildlife and relies on memberships and donations to fund its work.

Feed the Birds Day Manager at the RSPB, Richard Bashford, said: "Birds require lots of high energy foods during the cold winter weather, and particularly to help them survive the bitter cold nights.

"Feed The Birds Day reminds us about all the things we can do to help birds through the colder months of the year. Last winter was one of the harshest we've had for many years, and many birds had reason to be grateful for reliable supplies of good quality bird food."

Free information leaflets will be available during the week, giving advice about feeding birds in the garden and providing shelter for them using nest boxes.

There will also be displays of plants, bird baths, tables, feeders and wild bird food.

To find out more, call 01278 761111 or visit www. sandersgardenworld.co.uk.