Twitching officially got cool – who’d have thought it?! I’m totally in love with these stylish, unusual Metalbird garden artworks by New Zealand designer Phil Walters. They’ve not been written about anywhere else in the UK so consider this a marvellous Muddy exclusive! Joining our winter stalwart robin, there’s also a red kite (a common sight, soaring through the skies around Bucks and Oxon of course), blue tit, wren, barn owl, blackbird and kingfisher.

British-born Phil started as a bird-loving Banksy type in NZ, anonymously plonking his steel birdies in public spaces all over the North Island. But what began as a guerrilla art project soon became an artisan business. Now he’s turned his attention and design skills to indigenous British birds – and we can buy his work in the UK for the first time.

You can stick them in your fence, roof, or tree (yes, without hurting it!) or wherever you please, they’re excellently priced (from £39) and they age beautifully. And you’ll still be shopping locally – they’re very much a British product, made in Birmingham and boxed and shipped from Wiltshire.

I often find garden art prohibitively expensive or grand (looming marble statue, anyone?) so I love how democratic and accessible these designs are. Not to mention just a little bit different.

Want more good news? We have five to give away as Reader Treats – be quick, they’re only perching with us for one week!

Metalbird