Fat balls matter most to garden birds exactly when the weather is working against them — cold months and the nesting and breeding season both push up how much energy a bird needs to find in a day, which is when a dedicated feeder earns its keep over scattering food on the ground.

Supa's Metal Lantern Feeder is built to hold fat balls specifically, with a roof that twists off the body for filling and cleaning. Supa give its approximate capacity as four standard 85 gram fat balls, and the lantern shape is designed to look decorative in a garden as well as function as a feeder.

• Metal lantern-style construction
• Holds approximately four standard 85g fat balls
• Roof twists off for easy filling and cleaning
• Designed to double as a garden ornament

On keeping it clean. Supa's own advice is to clean the feeder regularly with warm water and mild detergent or a disinfectant solution, rinse it thoroughly and let it air dry, and to remove any uneaten or mouldy food — a feeder left dirty can do more harm to visiting birds than not feeding at all.

Who it's for: anyone feeding garden birds through the colder months or breeding season who wants a feeder built specifically around fat balls rather than seed, in a design that looks the part in the garden too.