Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Should we really stop feeding birds - or is that the wrong question entirely?
In this video, Joel Ashton calmly unpacks the growing claims that bird feeding spreads disease, favours aggressive species like blue tits, and harms rarer birds - and explains what actually helps wildlife in our gardens.
Joel draws on decades of hands-on experience creating wildlife gardens and reserves to explore:
- Bird feeding myths and disease fears
- Blue tits, great tits and competition at feeders
- Why willow tits are declining (and why gardens aren’t the cause)
- How guilt and “doing the right thing” can lead to bad decisions
- The difference between feeding birds and feeding ecosystems
This isn’t about telling people to feed more or less, it’s about feeding thoughtfully, alongside habitat creation and understanding how wildlife really works.
If you care about birds, gardens, and doing things properly, this video is for you.
About Wild Your Garden
Wild Your Garden helps people create gardens that support wildlife properly, through habitat, planting, and responsible seasonal feeding.
If you enjoy these videos and want to follow my work, please consider subscribing - it really helps me keep sharing practical, wildlife-first advice.
Wild Your Garden
Create a sanctuary for nature - wildflowers, pond liners, habitats and more:
wildyourgarden.com
Wild Your Garden (Book)
My guide to helping wildlife in your own garden, with step-by-step habitat advice:
wildyourgarden.com/product/wild-your-garden-book
Hazelwood Landscapes
If you would like an onsite consultation or works (garden landscaping, ponds, meadows and a vast array of habitats) carried out please contact me here:
hazelwoodlandscapes.com
Consultations, talks & media enquiries
joelashton.com
Socials
Twitter / X: @_joelashton
twitter.com/_joelashton
Instagram: @_joelashton
TikTok: @_joelashton
If you have thoughts, questions, or ideas for future videos, feel free to leave a comment - I do read them.
Thanks again for watching,
Joel Ashton
#FeedingBirds #GardenBirds #ShouldIFeedBirds #GardenBirdsUK #Birds #BirdFeedingMyths #BirdFeeder #WildlifeGarden #JoelAshton #WildYourGarden #BirdFood #Nature #GardeningForBirds #WildlifeGardening #BlueTits #WinterBirdFeeding #WillowTit #MarshTit #BirdFeeders #WinterBirdFeeding #HabitatGardening
Should we really stop feeding birds - or is that the wrong question entirely?
In this video, Joel Ashton calmly unpacks the growing claims that bird feeding spreads disease, favours aggressive species like blue tits, and harms rarer birds - and explains what actually helps wildlife in our gardens.
Joel draws on decades of hands-on experience creating wildlife gardens and reserves to explore:
- Bird feeding myths and disease fears
- Blue tits, great tits and competition at feeders
- Why willow tits are declining (and why gardens aren’t the cause)
- How guilt and “doing the right thing” can lead to bad decisions
- The difference between feeding birds and feeding ecosystems
This isn’t about telling people to feed more or less, it’s about feeding thoughtfully, alongside habitat creation and understanding how wildlife really works.
If you care about birds, gardens, and doing things properly, this video is for you.
About Wild Your Garden
Wild Your Garden helps people create gardens that support wildlife properly, through habitat, planting, and responsible seasonal feeding.
If you enjoy these videos and want to follow my work, please consider subscribing - it really helps me keep sharing practical, wildlife-first advice.
Wild Your Garden
Create a sanctuary for nature - wildflowers, pond liners, habitats and more:
wildyourgarden.com
Wild Your Garden (Book)
My guide to helping wildlife in your own garden, with step-by-step habitat advice:
wildyourgarden.com/product/wild-your-garden-book
Hazelwood Landscapes
If you would like an onsite consultation or works (garden landscaping, ponds, meadows and a vast array of habitats) carried out please contact me here:
hazelwoodlandscapes.com
Consultations, talks & media enquiries
joelashton.com
Socials
Twitter / X: @_joelashton
twitter.com/_joelashton
Instagram: @_joelashton
TikTok: @_joelashton
If you have thoughts, questions, or ideas for future videos, feel free to leave a comment - I do read them.
Thanks again for watching,
Joel Ashton
#FeedingBirds #GardenBirds #ShouldIFeedBirds #GardenBirdsUK #Birds #BirdFeedingMyths #BirdFeeder #WildlifeGarden #JoelAshton #WildYourGarden #BirdFood #Nature #GardeningForBirds #WildlifeGardening #BlueTits #WinterBirdFeeding #WillowTit #MarshTit #BirdFeeders #WinterBirdFeeding #HabitatGardening
