Over the years, we have done everything possible to encourage small birds into our garden with suitable plants for cover and nesting and we have been rewarded with ever increasing numbers.

This year, for the first time we have had a problem with blackbirds digging up patio planters. They started doing it when the planters were fairly bare but have continued to do it now that they are fully planted, causing smaller plants to be uprooted. It is blackbirds - we have watched them doing it!

We have tried proprietary sprays that are supposed to discourage birds with no effect. We have tried some physical barriers (mesh/spikes) but they tend not to be too attractive in planters.

Any suggestions welcome. We do not want to clear birds from our garden, we just want to prevent them disturbing plants and causing mess (the earth gets scattered everywhere out of the planters). Anyone know anything that works and is available in the UK?