Never thought i would find myself agreeing with Germaine Greer but her Saturday Daily Telegraph article criticising the rip off mark up on bird feed led by the RSPB was most interesting. Apparently,on the international market a metric tonne of hulled sunflower seeds go up to $1800 which is around £1.10 a kilo.Yet packaged up as bird feed we can pay up to around £7 a kilo.She makes similar criticism of the peanut price at RSPB shops.
I bought 2 large bags of no mess from Vine Farm at the Bird Fair and the" very nutritious" feed is in part so finely ground it does not flow down the feeder in our northern damp ,mixing with 50% sunflower did not help much.They swopped one unopened bag with their premium brand which was slightly better.
Tried one of the new easy clean RSPB feeders(at rip off price)-they say price is the same as other quality makers so that's,all right then!). It is easy to clean but the seed still sticks and laughingly apparently Vine Farm, which also sell them, has raised the issue to RSPB .
One feeder i can recommend is Natures Feast metal cylinder, cheese grater looking, niger feeder but you need the bottom tray which is annoyingly an extra.The tray enables the larger finches including bullfinch to feed ,also had dunnock and treecreeper feeding when snow was on ground.

I have used Haiths and Harrisons seems ok but is part of large corporate: Petfoods.
When i pass by i find the petfood shop in Albert Street very good value for sunflower,niger and those square fat blocks.

Aldi - 50 for £5.99.

Home Bargains - suet pellets 1kg for £1.