There's a national housing shortage - for our garden birds, according to a wildlife charity.

As our gardens, parks and woodland are neater than ever, birds are deprived of natural holes to find a home and their populations are down as a result, according to organisers of National Nestbox Week.

Running all through this half term week, the good news is everyone can do their bit to help, by putting up a nestbox.

Alongside common visitors, such as blue tits, house sparrows, robins and starlings, a box could also boost your chance of attracting rarer species into your garden, as well as giving you something to enjoy while staying at home.

The week, which runs until Sunday, February 21, has information on how to make one and when, where and how to put one up to help garden birds.

There are also tips online on what makes a good nestbox and information on why they are so important and a 30-second nestbox survey to take, which includes the chance to win £100 worth of vouchers.

Visit nestboxweek.com to find out more.

For more gardens news across Kent click here

The RSPB's tips on what to feed garden birds in winter