Wildlife

Wild Redwing Winter Welfare

Redwings are winter visitors from Scandinavia and Iceland, vulnerable to severe weather and food scarcity during cold UK winters.

Key Facts

Redwings arrive in October from Scandinavia in flocks of thousands
They feed on berries, particularly hawthorn, and earthworms and invertebrates
Hard winters with snow cover remove earthworm access, causing mortality
Garden berry planting and open lawn areas support redwing welfare in winter
Redwings often feed alongside fieldfares in winter berry flocks

Welfare Considerations

Redwing welfare in hard winters depends on accessible food - both berries for immediate energy and earthworms for protein. Snow cover removes earthworm access causing starvation mortality. Berry-bearing shrubs in gardens and parks provide critical winter food resources that directly support individual redwing welfare.

What You Can Do

Plant berry-bearing native shrubs including hawthorn and holly for winter thrushes
Leave fallen fruit on the ground as winter food for redwings and fieldfares
Support open lawn management maintaining access to earthworms in winter