How is best to protect red holly berries from birds?

The only way to keep the blackbirds off is to net the holly. But then that will spoil the look of it.

And the birds need the berries to survive the winter...

Perhaps I ought to be seeking a certain type of netting which has the least amount of visual intrusiveness, yet will be able to keep our feathered friends off. I only need a tiny bit. ... All the birds in my garden get masses of feeding from me 12 months per year.

Plant Ilex aquifolium 'Bacciflava' with yellow berries. They tend to leave yellow alone. The red berries can go to the birds.

I'm going to get knitting then. I'll see what kind of 'netting' I can put together myself. I'm not sure quite how yet, but my great mind and immense and awesome intellectual powers are codgitating (how spelt??) on it. I am also considering wrapping the plant in black cotton. Am I nuts? Or a genius? It could be an experiment: Expanding new frontiers in berry protection for the benefit of humankind. No chance of planting any yellow-berried Ilex Fractal. My garden really is only a very tiny afair. Just a patio with raised bed and a few metres of border. Nothing more. I'm not like you big, proper gardeners. I call the concept 'miniature gardening'. I am too disabled to cope with anything more.

By the way, I have some most wonderful news to share with you all. Recently I was notified by my Council that I'd received an award in the 'Your Gardens' Bracknell In Bloom Competition. They awarded me a certificate and plaque for the Best Newcomer. This morning I received another notification that I have now also been awarded "Gold Award ... For Achieving Horticultural Excellence In The Community Garden". I am totally gobsmacked and quite beside myself. It has not only made my day today, it has also made my whole year too. Lily2 suggested I write a blog on it to share with other GOY members, which I shall. Or she and/or I shall,- I must get back to her. (I've never done a blog before).

Well done! Many congratulations, Jonathan. :-)))))

Of course write a blog!!

Yes Jonathan write a blog please on how it all started and Congratulations...
Your Berries, ive been thinking ;) what about a scarecrow lol.. or maybe something stuck into the head of the holly that moves or windchimes above it if theres a wall there :)

Hey that is really great news Jonathan. Well done.

I have some jolly good pumpkins. I will see if I can turn one into a decapitated head and impale it on a stick it next to my holly bush. Scare the little fellas off! Am I going too far? ... Did you say a scarecrow? A whole scarecrow just for one plant?! It is an important plant admittedly. Ah, wait a minute ... maybe I could make it some big dangling 'ear-rings' with some silvery plastic CD's? Anti-blackbird bling! Thank you for that. I'm getting nearer.

Jonathan enjoy the berries and accept that the birds will eat them... unless you cover in something like fleece they will just eat anyway... Oh and give thanks that they do. The birds didn't eat our berries the year before last - result no berries since then...

have i got you thinking Jonathan lol.. dogs are good for chasing the birds away, well mine is :)

Congratulations !!!

Thank you Pipsqueak. ... Woof! Woof! Youngdaisydee. If only my cat were there all the time.

Congratulations on the award, Jonathan. Please write a blog on the garden.

Congratulations Jonathan ,well done. you deserve it.

Indeed you do Jonathan - blog please

Yes Congratulations from me too Jonathan. I have admired your garden before and I admire all the work you must put into it, BUT I cannot agree with your view of birds. Most people, I thought, encourage birds to their gardens. They are our friends and do a marvellous job eating millions of bugs and spreading
seeds, so more trees.
I know you say you feed them but they love berries which are probably better for them than the stuff we dish up for them.
Looking forward to your blog.