Bird Houses and Insect Boxes

Bird boxes and bee and insect houses for the garden: driftwood boxes made by hand in Indonesia, woven seagrass bird boxes designed in Bali, and a bird house carved from a natural tree trunk with an owl face. Autumn and winter are the best times to put one up, ready for birds looking for nest sites from late winter.

Where to put them

• Bird boxes: 2 to 4 metres up a tree or wall, facing between north and east, with a clear flight path, away from feeders and out of reach of cats.
• Bee and insect houses: in full sun, facing south or south-east, at least 1 metre off the ground, near flowers.
• Seagrass boxes: somewhere sheltered, such as a porch or under the eaves, out of driving rain.
• Fix them firmly so they cannot swing in the wind; birds and bees both prefer a box that keeps still.

Nothing guarantees which birds or insects will move in, or when: some boxes are used the first spring, others take a season or two. Buying for a gardener? See gifts for plant lovers.

UK delivery is £4.99, free on orders over £40, and orders are dispatched in 1 to 2 working days.