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Gardeners are being encouraged to leave one particular type of food out for robins this autumn and winter in an effort to support these beloved British birds during the chillier autumn conditions.

Whilst robins need help throughout the year because they don't fly south for winter like other species, feeding robins is just as vital in winter as it is summer, according to garden food specialists.

Although in the summer you must avoid fat balls, suet and other high-calorie items because they melt in warmer weather, there's no such concern when the temperatures fall.

Birds require more calories going into winter to maintain energy reserves and survive the harsher conditions.

Garden specialists at Ark Wildlife are encouraging gardeners to assist these quintessential British birds through the colder period, reports the Express and the Mirror.

It states: "These beautiful birds do not migrate south for the colder months, leaving them at the mercy of the icy British winter - and with safe, warm habitats in increasingly short supply on our shores, it's more important than ever to do what you can to protect robins.

"So how can you look after robins in your garden? Putting up suitable robin nest boxes is a good start, and having plenty of shrubs for them to shelter in makes a big difference too. Thankfully, after the loss of over 100,000 miles of hedgerows between the 1950s and the 1990s, laws are now in place to preserve existing, and create new hedgerows benefitting not only robins but an abundance of other wildlife."

The specialists recommend that gardeners provide suet pellets, fat balls, fruits and berries during the winter months. Mealworms and calcium worms should also be offered.

It adds: "But feeding robins is also one of the best things you can do - supplementing their diet to add to what they can forage from the ground themselves and ensuring they get the nutrients they need.

"They are omnivores so will eat a wide range of food, giving you plenty of options when it comes to feeding them. Robins can lose up to 10% of their body weight just staying warm on a single winter's night, so making sure its fat reserves are sufficiently topped up really can save a robin's life."

The wildlife experts advise gardeners to offer suet pellets, fat balls, fruits and berries throughout the winter period. Mealworms and calcium worms should equally be supplied.

They state: "Heading toward winter, robins tend to eat as many insects - especially beetles and earthworms - as they can, in order to store up nutrients for the cold weather. Once the soil becomes more solid, earthworms stay underground and most insects are in hibernation. There are many ways you can help them to supplement this diet."