Brambles reviews: garden wildlife food
We don't run a separate reviews round-up for Brambles as a brand — this page is the honest version: what the range actually is, what's in each product, and who it suits. Worth saying up front, because it catches people out: Brambles is a garden wildlife feed brand, not a dog or cat food brand. It makes food for hedgehogs and for swans and ducks, and that's the whole range we stock.
What Brambles actually makes
Brambles sits in the garden wildlife aisle rather than the pet food aisle. The range we carry is hedgehog food in three forms — crunchy, meaty and semi-moist — plus a floating food for swans and ducks that's meant to go straight in a pond or on a riverbank rather than a bowl.
None of it is formulated for a dog, cat or caged pet, so it isn't a substitute for anything on those shelves. If you searched for Brambles expecting a dog or cat brand, the honest answer is that it isn't one — but if you're feeding hedgehogs that visit your garden, or the local ducks and swans, it's exactly the kind of product this range is built for.
The hedgehog food, and how the three differ
The crunchy hedgehog food is a dry, biscuit-style mix — easy to store in a shed or garage and less likely to attract flies overnight than a wet food left out. The meaty version is closer to a wet cat food in texture, which most hedgehogs take to readily, and the semi-moist sits between the two — softer than the crunchy biscuit but not as sloppy as the meaty tin.
Whichever one you choose, put it out at dusk in a shallow dish away from cats and foxes if you can manage it, and take up anything uneaten the next morning rather than leaving it to go off. A saucer of fresh water alongside the food matters more than the food itself — hedgehogs need it, and it's often the thing gardens are missing.
The swan and duck food
The floating swan and duck food is designed to sit on the surface of water rather than sink and rot on a pond bed, which is the main problem with feeding bread — it either bloats the birds on something with no real nutritional value or fouls the water it's thrown into.
It's a genuinely better option than bread for casual feeding of wild waterfowl, in small amounts and not as their whole diet. Wild ducks and swans get most of what they need from the water and bank they live on; a floating feed is a supplement for a garden pond or a riverside visit, not a replacement for that.
From this brand
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Adjustable Tortoise Harness and Lead
An adjustable harness and lead set sized for tortoises and turtles, for safe garden adventures.
£7.99
Four Flags Quick Ferret Muzzle — Grooming & Handling Aid
A temporary, reliable muzzle designed specifically for ferrets — useful for grooming, medicating, and routine handling.
£14.99
Hamster Exercise Ball
A clear rolling exercise ball that lets your hamster roam and stay active safely around the home, with ventilation slots and a secure lid. Supplied in a random colour.
£7.99
Rabbit No-Rinse Dry-Cleaning Foam
A no-rinse foam that gently cleans and freshens your rabbit's coat between full washes, no water needed.
£7.99
PawHut 12-Panel Small Animal Playpen for Guinea Pigs, 105cm, White
Twelve 45 x 35cm panels and multi-angle connectors that build a 105 x 105cm open pen at 45cm high, for evening floor time with guinea pigs or hedgehogs.
£35.99
Poultry Nappy Harness for Chickens, Ducks & Geese
A washable fabric nappy harness for house poultry, catching droppings to keep your home clean.
From£7.99
Peckish Complete Seed
A husk-free garden bird seed mix with Peckish's own added vitamin pellet
From£3.00
Hanging Cage Hammock for Small Pets
A soft sherpa-lined cage hammock that gives small pets a warm, lofted spot to curl up.
From£8.99
Selective Timothy Hay
UK-grown Timothy hay for rabbits and other small animals, for unlimited daily feeding
£9.99
Small Pet Carrier Shoulder Bag with Bubble Window
A ventilated travel carrier bag for hamsters, guinea pigs and other small pets, with a clear bubble window and breathable mesh panels. The adjustable shoulder strap makes outings and vet trips easy.
£13.99
Peckish Winter Warmer Extra Energy Seed Mix
A 1KG winter seed mix with 9 ingredients and 20% oil for extra energy
£3.99
Selective Naturals Woodland Loops
Dandelion and rosehip flavoured loop treats for rabbits, guinea pigs, degus and chinchillas
£3.99
Common questions
- Does Giddy Pets stock Brambles dog or cat food?
- No. Brambles doesn't make dog or cat food — the range we stock is hedgehog food and floating swan and duck food, all aimed at garden wildlife rather than pets kept indoors. If you're after food for a dog or cat, look at our regular dog and cat ranges instead.
- Is Brambles hedgehog food safe to put out every night?
- Yes, most gardens that get regular hedgehog visitors put food out nightly through the warmer months. Put out a small, fresh amount rather than a large pile, and clear away anything left the next morning so it doesn't sit and attract flies or other animals.
- Why is floating food better than bread for ducks and swans?
- Bread has little nutritional value for waterfowl and, given in any quantity, can encourage them to fill up on it instead of their natural diet, while uneaten bread sinks and rots in the water. A floating feed like Brambles is designed for waterfowl and stays on the surface rather than fouling the pond.
- Should I feed hedgehogs milk with their food?
- No — cow's milk upsets a hedgehog's stomach and should be left out of it entirely. Put out fresh water alongside the food instead; it's what hedgehogs actually need and is often more useful to them than the food itself.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.