Got a metal stand with 3 hook things on it a water bowl and a net dish (for seeds?)

Whats the best grub for birds now then?

Fat balls, nuts, seeds ? and hows the best way to get them to be regular visitors?

Just give them all the items you have listed on a regular basis.
Also buy a gun to get rid of the grey squirrels.

best way to get them to be regular visitors

After a day or two the birds will find you 🙂 plus the pidgeons, doves and squirrels in our case. Oh! and so will the cats 👿

Peanuts, fat-balls, and sunflower seed kernels. Lots of leftovers can be put out as well; cereal packet dregs, stale cake, stale bread (soaked in fat/gravy).

Try to avoid the packs of "Bird Seed", and whole sunflowers, as they just get spread around and start growing all over your garden.

If you want the birds to come back regularly, make sure there's always something there for them, and try to be consistent with what time you put it out.

Put one of these about halfway up:

– very effective at keeping the squirrels off.
Best to site the whole lot in the middle of the lawn (or open area) if possible – some birds will hunt around for dropped seed under the feeders and you need to give 'em a chance to spot cats.

We've also put out a tray under a mesh cage:
http://www.birdfood.co.uk/product_details.php?area_id=2&group_id=16&nav_id=35&prd_id=1038
– the small mesh version keeps out all but the smallest squirrels and starlings and lets smaller ground-feeding birds in. (I think bluetits tends to prefer suspended seed feeders tho')

We've never had much luck with peanuts – tho' curiously our neighbours do.

We didn't used to have trouble with (urban) pigeons – ie rock doves – till the council put some more netting under a local bridge, then we were inundated with te bloody things – they'd happily sit on the roof all day waiting to see some food appear. Whereas most of the other bigger birds will land, pick up what they want then fly off. Only thing that seems to discourage pigeons – or prevent 'em hogging it – is put food out late night, for early morning, and when approaching dusk, 'cos they seem to be lazy buggers.

We've alway got a couple of collar doves nesting nearby – they're quite entertaining, they get to the point that if there's no food out they'll start wandering round the patio as it to remind us. (And I'm sure we've had several different pairs in the last 4 years).

One thing with the whole seed (tho' I agree it's more of a pain getting it in the lawn) – it does tend to be a fair bit cheaper than the kernels.

Buy a Cat

Put your stand near a tree, birds like a quick exit and shelter.
Do not put bread out, there is no nutritional value in it.
Place the nuts or seeds in those long plastic feeders and the birds will come, the best ones have lids to keep feeders and birds dry. These can hook into your stand
Scraps like bits of cheese, cake left over bacon rind, meat is all good.

Important to take the fat balls out of the string holders as birds feet can get tangled up in them. Either hang them from a hook or put into a container. Making your own is fun with the children too.

If you scatter nuts I always crush them up first, so it's harder for squirrels to eat and young birds don't choke.

Get a cat 🙂