The Nuttery ORGD03 Original Seed Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder, Ocean Green

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Window display at the House of the Tailor of Gloucester based on Beatrix Potter’s story. Photo: Rudi Winter/geograph.org.uk

The difference between fruits and nuts is sometimes a bit blurred, and its not untrue to say that they are similar. They both have an outer casing containing a seed or seeds. Also one short nuttery tunnel, with 3 hazel on each side, although this wasn’t installed specifically for nuts for human consumption as it was part of a wildlife orientated design. These days it is more rare for humans to distribute the seeds that way. But we do propagate and grow fruit trees as we enjoy eating the fruit, so it is still a positive result for the plant. Broadview’ and ‘Franquette’ are reliable, early yielding, delicious cultivars. ‘Rita’ is smaller than mostMost walnuts can take up to 10 years to produce, but try these cultivars for a crop at a younger age –

If you envisage grazing or mowing between trees, nitrogen-fixing clovers — notably the long-lasting red and white clover — are excellent; they enrich the soil and attract beneficial insects. In a forest-garden approach, the planting is based on a natural woodland and tiered from trees through shrubs and herbaceous layers to ground cover; in an ornamental garden situation, the opportunity for planting species that thrive in semi-shade is considerable. The best solution in this case is to use a caged bird feeder. These stop squirrels from being able to access your bird food , while still allowing small birds -- like tits and Robins --to access it. Almonds are pretty much self-fertile so you could have just one. And, like hazel, they will grow in a large container for some years. They like a fairly neutral pH and a well-drained nutritious soil.Although the most tender of these four nut trees, Almond, Prunus dulcis, should still provide you with a crop even in an ‘average’ summer. Give them a sunny sheltered spot and frost protection. Their pretty pale pink blossom flowers on bare stems, and a late frost can be highly detrimental! Encourage insect pollinators with plenty of winter and early spring flowering shrubs. Opting for a specially-made squirrel proof seed , peanut or suet bird feeder can help to resolve this issue. These are built using cages, to stop squirrels from being able to get to feeder ports. If using a ground feeding station to feed birds, you can also use a removable cage that is placed over the feeder.

In the UK hazel can be found growing in hedgerows; woodland and field edges; on scrubby upland and as an understorey plant where there is oak, ash or birch woodland. Which gives us a good idea that Corylus avellana is happy in a range of soils and situations. Tolerant of pH 5 – 8, but its less keen on heavy clay, so improve the drainage if that’s what you have. You will generally need more than one walnut tree to ensure pollination, although some grafted trees should produce within 3 – 4 years. If close to water, try varieties such as ‘Broadview’ that are resistant to leaf blotch and walnut blight Strictly speaking, the nut trees need to form a cohesive group to be classed as nuttery. As we’ve seen in examples above, this still gives scope. But, as we are discussing a garden situation, there’s no reason why we can’t be even more flexible. For example, you may not have space to plant three walnut trees together but you do have room by spreading them out. Add in a sweet chestnut to give you a shady seating area, a couple of almond trees near your olive and a row of hazel as boundary for the kitchen garden and I think we could safely say you have a decent sized nuttery in your garden. Many excellent choices within hazels, filberts, cobnuts, including white filbert and ‘Webb’s Prize Cob’

Do I need to stop squirrels from eating my bird food?

College Court, right next to ancient St Michael’s Gatewas adopted by Beatrix Potter for her story The Tailor of Gloucester and is now a small shop and museum. Photo: Colin Smith/geograph.org.uk Another tree that likes warm climates, sweet chestnuts were possibly introduced to Britain by the Romans. There are 17 or so Hazel species growing across Europe, parts of North Africa, Western Asia and North America. The British native hazel is Corylus avellana, usually called the cob. But Corylus maxima, native to southern Europe, is also easily found for sale, and is generally referred to as the filbert.