Households across the UK are being urged to leave a bowl of water outside their house or on their driveway overnight as temperatures soar again.
Today marks the first day of a five-day yellow heat health alert from the UKHSA, which means scorching hot temperatures could be high enough to affect people’s health. It comes as the Met Office has forecast slowly rising temperatures going from 25C today up to 30C by Saturday.
Of course, the sunshine is brilliant for our weekend plans but for the living things around our neighbourhoods, the dry, hot, sunny weather risks taking a toll.
During spells of prolonged sun, some have reported seeing dead birds in the street, and the already incredibly endangered hedgehogs are also potentially struggling with the lack of water.
That’s why every household is being urged to leave a source of drinking water outside their house, either in the garden or on your driveway.
It is hoped that the supply of drinking water might help keep foxes, hedgehogs, birds and even bees and wasps’ thirsts quenched. Every single one of them is vital to a healthy ecosystem and if they die off, we all die off.
As one Reddit user advised: u/Emehen said: “If you have a garden, try to leave a bowl of water out. Wildlife suffers from this heat as much as we do.”
u/byjmini said: “Went and put some large saucers out after work yesterday once I saw this post. Didn’t take long for the birds to take advantage.”
And u/Evening-Letter2278 built on the advice, adding: “Birds prefer their bowls and baths to be out in the open though, in case cats are lurking in bushes. Also, once one bird’s been and knows there’s somewhere to have a wash and a drink, they will unironically come back with their family, friends, or flock, so keep the bowls in the same place and the numbers build up.”
Chris Bonnett, the founder of GardeningExpress.co.uk said: “Gardeners can offer a lifeline to their local wildlife in the heat, and it takes very little effort to make a big difference.
“With their natural water sources often drying up during dry spells, wildlife are extremely vulnerable to dehydration if we don’t help them out.
“We’re lucky because we can pour ourselves an ice-cold drink or turn on the air conditioner when we feel too hot, but the wildlife doesn’t have that luxury.
“They have to rely on the environment around them to survive and that’s where we can step in.
“Something as quick and easy as putting out a dish of fresh water in the garden can be the difference between life and death for your local birds, hedgehogs, butterflies or bees.
“You could also consider adding a bird bath to your outdoor space. Not only can it add an elegant touch to your garden, but it also provides a place for birds to bathe which allows them to keep their feathers in top condition.
“Helping out wildlife doesn’t have to be complicated or costly, and everyone can contribute, whether you have a large garden, a small patio or even just a balcony.”
If you can keep even a small bowl of water regularly topped up – and maybe sprinkle a few stones or pebbles in it to help birds find a footing in the water – it will massively boost the survival hopes of everything that lives nearby.