How can I attract a wide variety of birds to my garden?

It is possible to create a garden environment to attract a wide variety of birds. The addition of certain features and maximising certain areas that are already accessible to birds will support the arrival of a broad range of birds. Some suggestions for attracting birds are;

• Have some long-grassed areas to encourage the growth of grasshopper and beetle habitats
• A compost heap will provide vegetation, worms and grubs
• Fruit trees
• Hedges for nuts and berries
• Mown areas for Blackbirds and Thrushes to forage for worms
• Plants and shrubs for insect and spider habitats
• Ponds for a range of insects and water to drink
• A feeding station with a variety of feeders
• Terrace area or a tray for ground feeding birds