Make sure that all your bird boxes have had their old nesting removed, which can contain parasites. Bird boxes are still important at this time of year as they provide roosts during the winter months. The birds will be more likely to nest in them as they will be familiar to the site.

Don’t stop clearing those leaves off your lawns and plants. If they remain on the lawn the leaves will stop light and air circulating to the grass beneath. However don’t burn or bin the fallen leaves, as they can be composted or a separate heap could be used to make leaf mould.

Try to keep off lawns during wet weather, if you need to do so to get to your borders put down some planks to walk on. This is also useful if we are having ground frosts.