To make these festive treats you will need:

• 1 cup of wild bird seed (we recommend Vine House Farm, who kindly give 4% of sales to The Wildlife Trusts)
• 1 sachet of gelatine
• 120ml of boiling water (or the amount stated in your gelatine instructions)
• Measuring jug
• Mixing bowl
• Festive shaped cutters
• Butter, fat or oil for greasing
• Baking tray lined with a reusable baking sheet
• Spoon and fork
• String cut into lengths long enough to make a loop

How to make your decorations:

1. Grease your cutters and place on a lined baking tray
2. Measure one cup of bird seed into a mixing bowl
3. Boil the kettle and measure out 120ml of boiling water into a measuring jug
4. Dissolve the gelatine into the boiling water, whisking briskly with a fork
5. Pour the gelatine into the bird seed and mix well with a spoon (be careful of the hot water!)
6. Spoon the mixture into the cutters and press down until half full
7. Add a string loop and continue to add the mixture, pressing down firmly until the cutter is full
8. Repeat until all cutters are filled
9. Leave to set in a cool place overnight
10. Remove bird cake from cutter and hang in your garden
11. Download the spotter sheet below and see if you can identify any visitors who come for a festive feast!

Top tips:

Have more cutters than you think you will need prepared as the mixture starts to set quickly.
This amount made four shapes of medium sized cutters but it will depend on the size of your cutters.
Any leftover mixture could be sprinkled on your lawn for birds to forage or on a bird table.
If you don’t have bird seed try: crushed up cereals, raisins, oats, chopped nuts, breadcrumbs or a mixture!