UK Pet Food Responds to Updated Guidance on Garden Bird Feeding

Following the recent update to garden bird-feeding guidance, UK Pet Food has set out its position, emphasising the importance of clear, evidence-based, and practical advice for the public.

Michael Bellingham, CEO of UK Pet Food, said:

“Feeding garden birds is something millions of people value, so it’s important that any changes made to long-standing advice are clear, evidence-based and practical to follow.

Everyone shares the same goal of improving bird health and welfare, and it’s important that people continue to enjoy feeding garden birds in a responsible way. However, this is a significant change to long-established advice, and risks confusing the millions of people who regularly feed birds.”

According to a recent survey from UK Pet Food, over half of UK households with outdoor space feed birds, and many do so year-round. Feeding birds supports wildlife during key periods such as the breeding season, and with 70% of people saying they enjoy seeing birds in their outdoor spaces, it also plays an important role in supporting mental well-being and connection to nature.

Michael continues:

“The science in this area is still evolving, and some of the research underpinning these changes has not yet been fully published or scrutinised. It’s important that any guidance of this scale is based on clear, robust evidence and is practical for the public to follow.

UK Pet Food has always advised that well-managed bird feeding can reduce risks. Simple steps such as keeping feeders clean, spacing feeding areas and providing the right foods in appropriate quantities can help support bird health while maintaining the benefits of feeding. Birds have high energy demands throughout the year, particularly during breeding and moulting, and supplementary feeding can play an important role when done correctly.”

UK Pet Food provides free, evidence-based guidance, including Best Practice Guidelines from the Garden Bird Health Initiative, covering feeder hygiene, seasonal feeding considerations and species-specific diets at www.ukpetfood.org.