A week of family fun starts at RSPB Weymouth Wetlands nature reserve this Sunday with the annual Feed the Birds Day.

It aims to highlight what people can do for birds and other garden wildlife to help them survive the winter.

It’s also a chance for families to get together to make their own bird feeders and to find out more about the kind of food to put out and the types of birds they might attract to their gardens.

Then, every day during half-term, the reserve at Radipole Lake is open to all budding nature detectives to come along and try their hand at bird bingo or to take out a wildlife explorer backpack, with their own binoculars, bird ID chart and bug jar.

Feed the Birds Day is a hands-on event, with local RSPB staff and volunteers there to help families muck in with suet logs, seed bottles and fat cakes, and to give information and advice, feeding tips and recipe ideas.

The logs will be supplied from the Radipole Lake reserve but bring along your own small to medium plastic drinks bottles to recycle into other types of feeders. “The emphasis on the day is on having fun,” said Weymouth Wetlands information officer Luke Phillips.

“There’s also a serious side to it as many of our smaller birds struggle to survive if the weather is very bad.

“Last winter was one of the harshest we’ve had for many years, forcing many more birds into our gardens. Feeding them is very important because it helps them through difficult times when natural food is in short supply.

“It’s also a very rewarding activity,” added Luke, “being able to watch the birds at close quarters from the comfort of your own home.”

As an added incentive to help our feathered friends, the RSPB shop inside the Radipole Lake visitor centre in the Swannery car park will be offering 20 per cent off all 12.75kg bags of bird food, including table mix, peanuts and sunflower seeds, from tomorrow to Tuesday, November 2.

The Weymouth Wetlands Feed the Birds Day is from 10am to 2pm.

The RSPB reserve at Arne is also celebrating it on Saturday, October 23, from 10am to 3pm.

The events are free and there’s no need to book but call the RSPB at Radipole Lake on 01305 778313 or at Arne on 01929 553360 if you’re interested in coming along and finding out how you can make an important difference to your very local wildlife.

Top tips for helping your garden birds this winter: * Put out different types of food to attract a variety of birds.

* Place the food at different levels – in hanging feeders, on bird tables or on the ground – again, to attract a variety of birds.

* Remember to provide clean, fresh water as well as food * Keep feeders, bird baths and the feeding area as clean as possible to prevent the spread of disease.

* If you have them, keep your binoculars close to hand.