Urgent warning to anyone with robins and blue tits in their gardens

Birds need access to fresh water not only to drink, but to fluff up their feathers to provide well-needed insulation throughout the cold months.

Gardeners have been urged to fight the frost and ensure birds have fresh food and water outside for them. As the mercury drops, especially overnight, bird baths and feeders can freeze over, making it impossible for wildlife to use. That's why Gardeners World is asking anyone with these items in their outside space to keep a close eye on them.

To combat the icy layers that form in the dead of night, bird feeders need to also be cleaned regularly and filled with fat-rich foods, the experts at GW say. These include peanuts, suet products and sunflower hearts. "The short days and cold nights mean that every calorie counts for garden birds – they use huge amounts of energy just staying warm at night," it says.

Experts at Love Gardens also say fruit is a great food to leave out. Plums, apples and pears are not only nutritious but also high in water content and energy-rich with simple sugars. Sliced in half, they can be left on bird tables and will undoubtedly be enjoyed by robins, blackbirds, thrushes and waxwings.

Fat balls, a mix of high-fat food moulded into a ball, and placed into a net, can also be beneficial in winter. They equip birds with protein and carbs. "If buying from a store, ensure the nylon mesh casing is removed as it can trap and injure birds," Love Gardens says.

"For a simple home-made version, melted suet or lard can be poured on to a mixture of seeds, nuts, dried fruit, oatmeal and cheese. The mixture should contain two-thirds of ingredients to one-third of fat. Stir them together thoroughly, then pour the mixture into a container and allow it to set."

For anyone wanting to set up a bird bath, Gardeners World recommends a terracotta pot and saucer. This allows birds to fly in, grab a drink or fluff up their feathers which is actually a key ritual needed to insulate themselves against the dropping temperatures. Clean birds are also reportedly more "streamlined" and can get away from predators more quickly.

How to make a bird-bath

• Turn a large terracotta pot upside down and squirt some waterproof glue around the rim
• Add a shallow terracotta dish to the top - pressing down on the glue already applied
• Add some larger pebbles around the edge so birds have somewhere to perch and drink (Gardeners World says this is also great for bees who can have water without drowning).