How to make a stylish bird feeder for your garden

You will need

• downloadable template

• pine plank (12mm x 144mm x 1.8m)

• carbon paper

• pen

• ruler

• masking tape

• g-clamps

• jigsaw

• cold glue

• sandpaper

• two 3 x 20mm chipboard screws

• one 3 x 15mm chipboard screw

• Woodoc Water-Borne DECK Matt Clear or Woodoc Water-Borne MARINE

• Woodoc Colours in Full Moon and Opal

• 2 mixing containers and sticks

• paintbrushes

• worm drive clamp (44/77mm)

• glass bottle

• bird feed

• flat screwdriver

• drill with 1mm and 6mm wood drill bit

Here's how...

1 Download and print the template here --> template 

2 Position the template on the timber and trace it with the carbon paper, using a ruler and pen.

3 Clamp the timber to your work surface and cut the shapes out with a jigsaw.

4 Glue the frame shapes to the solid shapes with cold glue. Clamp it with the g-clamps until it bonds properly.

5 Sand the edges smooth.

6 Glue the base of the feeder to the back at a 90° angle and secure it in place with screws. Drill pilot holes before you insert the screws.

7 Decant about 75ml of Woodoc Water-Borne DECK Matt Clear into the containers. Add a bit of the Woodoc Colours to each and mix well.

8 Paint the inside area with the white mixture and the edges with the opal mixture. Let it dry and apply a second coat.

9 Seal the entire feeder with 3 coats of Woodoc Water-Borne DECK Matt Clear, letting each coat dry before applying the next.

10 Measure the centre point at the back of the feeder. Drill a pilot hole and attach the worm drive clamp. Fill the bottle with bird feed. Position the bottle in place in the clamp; be sure to leave about 1–2cm between the opening of the bottle and the base of the feeder, so the food can exit the bottle. Close the clamp and tighten it with a flat screwdriver.

11 Drill a hole at the top of the feeder so you can hang it up.