Geoff's "Nuts Bar" Squirrel Feeder

The little pub for your garden squirrels, built by Cumbrian joiner Geoff Hartley to a design by his wife Ann, who has cared for squirrels for decades.

Mild, wet winters keep squirrels active for longer and spoil the nuts they buried in autumn, so by around the third week of January their larder is often empty. The Nuts Bar gives them a dry, safe spot to eat through the lean weeks, and from late summer it helps them stock up for later.

Built on the Sit-Down Principle

"A squirrel that feels safe sits down to eat. A nervous one grabs and runs." Every part of the Nuts Bar is there so squirrels can reach the food safely and easily, and sit down to eat it, right outside your window.

Why it's different

• Overhanging roof keeps the tray dry, so food doesn't go mouldy
• Four wooden "bar stools" at just the right height to reach straight into the tray. Squirrels sit in a row like regulars at the bar
• Solid back board: mounted flat to a fence or tree, so nothing can approach from behind
• No wire or mesh for claws or teeth to catch on, and a smooth tray that wipes clean in a minute
• Deep front tray holds several handfuls, so one morning top-up lasts
• Ventilation slots under the food chamber let air circulate, so damp dries out instead of pooling under the nuts
• Corn cob spike for an entertaining occasional treat
• Stainless steel water bowl: frost-proof and easy to rinse
• Flame-treated wood with a smoky grain and "Nuts Bar" engraving

Specifications

Where to put it

• 1.5–2 m off the ground, close to trees or hedges for cover
• Within view of a kitchen or living-room window, so you can watch the regulars
• Away from spots where cats can lie in wait

What to feed

• Best: hazelnuts in shells, walnuts, sunflower seeds, pine nuts
• Treats: corn cob, apple or carrot slices
• Avoid: salted or roasted nuts, bread, bulk peanuts