BBC Springwatch presenter Chris Packham has shared his expert advice for gardeners on how to protect wildlife during the UK heatwave, with birds, bees and hedgehogs at risk of dehydration
The outdoors expert shares four quick changes for your garden(Image: Jeff Spicer, Getty Images)
The weather throughout the UK remains gripped by a heatwave, making it essential we care not only for ourselves but also for the wildlife around us.
With temperatures across the UK climbing above 30 degrees, we must monitor visitors to our gardens carefully. Creatures such as birds, bees, hedgehogs and others face the threat of dehydration and potentially death if they cannot find shelter or water during this sweltering weather.
Environmentalist and BBC Springwatch presenter Chris Packham has previously issued warnings about creatures struggling to adapt, offering his expert guidance to gardeners.
He told The Big Issue: “You and I can change our habits to cope with heatwaves. But it doesn’t work like that for wildlife. They haven’t got houses to go into and fans to put on and air conditioning. The impact will be quite significant.”
Those particularly vulnerable include invertebrates like butterflies and bees, as plants deplete their nectar supplies far more rapidly than normal in the heat.
Wildlife can become extremely weak and dehydrated in the heat(Image: Surrey Live / Darren Pepe)
There are four essential steps you can take to support them and improve their survival prospects during the heatwave.
Provide water
Dehydration poses a serious threat to wildlife during extreme summer temperatures, and one straightforward solution is to leave out fresh water for them. Using a shallow bowl with a few pebbles at the bottom, allowing insects to perch while they drink, proves an excellent approach.
Packham also highlights that makeshift ponds are another effective approach to ensuring small mammals and birds have greater access to water. He says: “If you have any amount of space, put a pond in your garden and keep it filled up. Even a washing-up bowl filled with water can help.”
Creating shade
There are several ways to introduce shaded areas in your garden, providing a comfortable retreat for wildlife seeking respite from the heat.
A quick and effortless solution is to let your grass and hedges grow longer, or to allow fallen leaves to accumulate in your garden. These form modest but invaluable shelters for small animals and insects to escape the scorching sun.
With a little more time and effort, you could build a ‘bug hotel’ to allow insects to flourish. Regardless of the season, creating gaps and holes in your fence for hedgehogs to pass through freely makes their lives considerably easier and gives them a better chance of finding cooler spots.
Plants run out of nectar sooner in the heat(Image: Daily Record)
Clean bird feeders
Birds can struggle particularly during periods of intense heat, finding it difficult to land on scorching ground in search of insects. As a result, they depend heavily on bird feeders dotted around gardens during such times, whether you already have one in place or choose to install a new one entirely.
It is crucial, however, not to put out excessive amounts of food, as the heat causes it to spoil more rapidly, rendering it inedible for visiting wildlife. Should the food become stale and contaminated with build-up, it is essential to remove and clean it promptly to eliminate any risk of disease through contamination.
Cleaning bird feeders on a weekly basis is the recommended frequency to prevent dirt and grime from accumulating.
Avoid BBQs
The arrival of warm weather invariably triggers the British instinct to fire up the barbecue and make the most of the sunshine while it lasts. However, those doing so should remain mindful of the potential fire hazards and the impact this could have on local wildlife.
To minimise disruption to their natural habitats, it is advisable to steer clear of disposable barbecues wherever possible, while also guarding against other fire risks, such as discarding cigarette butts on the ground outside. Such items need only the slightest heat to ignite a devastating blaze which, in turn, could destroy the homes of local wildlife and cause significant disruption to their lives.
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