ALL my life I have believed that in the winter we should feed the birds.

Now with the scare of rats we are urged NOT to feed the birds.

What is happening to the bird population?

Do they find enough berries or insects, or are more birds dying of starvation?

I know that many folk do feed the birds possibly there are no rats in their area or they aren't bothered provided those animals don't come in the house.

For many years we didn't have a problem but when the rats were entering our house we had to get rid of them.

Neighbours were rightly concerned that I had been throwing out bread as well as providing bird nuts.

I then stopped feeding the birds which saddened me, as I loved to watch them.

Do berries last the winter? Which berries are ok for birds to eat?

Brenda Knopf

Southampton