Gardeners are being urged to leave a tray of water out (Image: Alex Evans)
Gardeners are being urged to put a tray of water in their gardens this weekend in a bid to help out the world in the coming heatwave conditions. Several parts of the UK can expect scorching hot weather starting on Friday and gradually increasing through the weekend until peaks of a truly sweltering 33C on Monday.
Hot, dry conditions with little rain can make life more difficult for vital pollinators like bees as well as birds, hedgehogs, frogs, and all sorts of other wildlife that rely on a source of fresh drinking water in the sunnier months.
Bumblebees are covered in a furry coat, which helps protect them in the UK’s usually moderate climate. But as hot summers get ever hotter here, bumblebee populations could be put under even more pressure, the WWF says.
Bumblebees are under threat (Image: Getty)
And birds need a supply of fresh drinking water in order to keep cool and keep their strength up and avoid dehydration in the summer months.
That’s why gardeners are being asked to leave a tray of water in their gardens this weekend in a bid to help bumblebees and birds, as well as other wildlife, endure the drought weather conditions.
Chief Adviser for Wildlife at WWF, Paul De Ornellas, explains: “Bumblebees are crucial for pollinating crops, fruits and plants, and they always make me smile when I see them. “They’re vital for maintaining a healthy environment and for our food production.
“Unfortunately, like many insects, bumblebees are in decline due to habitat loss linked to land use change, pesticides, and pollution, all made worse by climate change.
“As temperatures rise, bumblebees are moving north to look for more suitable environments, but sadly some species could find themselves with nowhere left to go.
“Bumblebees also have a furry coat and much prefer cooler climates as they can easily overheat and become unable to fly or forage. They also struggle in times of extreme heat as the flowers providing them with nectar and pollen may start wilting and drying.”
He advised that gardeners should, as well as planting flowers in shaded areas, place a tray of water in the garden to help bumblebees cool off.
He added: “Flowering plants in shady areas will be a welcome relief for bumblebees. If you see a sleepy bumblebee on the pavement or a windowsill in the hot sun, they can be carefully transported to a flower in a shady area if safe to do so.
“Provide a shallow tray of water, with pebbles, branches or bark above the water level for bees to rest on as they drink.”
The Wildlife Trusts explains: “Water is essential for wildlife to thrive, but it isn’t just for drinking. Amphibians like newts, frogs and toads use water as shelter and breeding grounds. Butterflies get valuable minerals and salts from slightly muddy water, and birds use water to bathe and remove parasites.
“During hot summer weather, it is important to have plenty of water for animals and birds to drink and bathe in.”
The Met Office says in its forecast: “Temperatures are expected to climb steadily, with southern parts of England approaching 30°C by Friday, depending on cloud cover, and becoming very warm more widely through the weekend. Some areas in the south and southeast of England are likely to see heatwave criteria met by Saturday and more widely on Sunday, with the potential for temperatures to reach the low 30s in the warmest locations.
“Headline maximum temperatures for the period are: 32°C on Friday in East Anglia, 28°C on Saturday as the warmest air temporarily shifts away from the UK, 32°C in the south and southeast of England on Sunday and the potential for 33°C in the same areas on Monday as warm conditions build again from the south.”
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