Hi Linz, Flattered you might ask me for advice

I have never known my birds go after herbs. You might see them possibly on some plants, but they are usually after pesky aphids and white flies. I would either buy a starter pack from say RSPB or Ark website. But deffo invest in a seed feeder, fat ball feeder (never put out in those horrible little nets which trap birds knobbly claws and kills them) and a peanut feeder, fine mesh and squirrel proof for the latter. Make sure they take apart for cleaning, base usually comes off. Hygiene is important. A cheap tip for winter if you have a tree branch is rub a pack of lard or suet onto branch and press seed into it. Only put a bit of food in feeders and ditch any which has been kicking around for a while. Never put white bread out, too many additives inc salt and goes hard and can kill them.
A bird bath, green resin ones are nice and cheap. Avoid ones with plastic birds on the side as it tends to put them off. Keep water clean. NEVER use household bleach or cleaners as it will kill them. Water is as important to birds as food, even in winter snow. Snow is wrong temperature for their bodies and is fatal. Some lovely bird tables around. Can be pricey but will last for years if given a coat of environmentally friendly preservative before the winter. Again if it is ornate and has a roof make sure you can clean the base, some have removable trays. Some birds are ground or table feeders and cannot use hanging feeders. They will get some bits which fall (CAT ALERT !!)

These include robins, blackbirds & pied wagtails in my garden. I bought a brill covered, wire meshed feeder table which hangs or sits on flat surface and protects little birds. I will try to remember where on internet it came from. Niger seed feeds are made specially for the job and will attract goldfinches. I have about 8 who visit regularly.
If cats are a problem, you need to take steps to limit damage. I have got it mostly sussed after mucho experimenties

Ask if you or anyone needs a few tips on how to stop our furry friends killing feathered friends. and something to remember, I am as committed to my birds as I am to my dog or my plants. I would not dream of going away and leaving them to fend for themselves. If you start feeding, you need to continue. I pay a friends daughter to come in and top up feeders and change water. They grow to rely on your feeders and in winter use valuable energy getting to them. Please those of you with a creative edge, do not use mirrors or reflective surfaces such as polished stainless steel in gardens. Birds fly into them and die or fight with their reflection and become exhausted and easy prey.
The young starlings are in the bath now, lovely to watch and essential for their feathers. Starlings are on the red alert list as numbers have dropped. Noisy but sociable things. Don't be disheartened if it takes a while for them to find Linz Diner. They will. It may be quiet around now as they go through a moult after breeding and all but vanish for a time. Let me know how you get on chips xx
