This is what you should be doing to help wildlife in your garden in hot weather
Chloe Mnatzaganian
Junior Researcher
You may have noticed that it has been seriously hot recently. In fact, according to the Met Office last month saw the longest hot-spell in June since 1976! And with warm and dry spells predicted later this month, it seems we have not seen the last of the heat.
So while you’re blasting up the fans in the office and trying to justify your third ice cream of the day (sorry not sorry) you may be wondering how the wildlife in your area is doing. They say that water is life, and this is not far from the truth. Cells require water to function – and so the majority of plants and animals need a regular source of water to survive (for one wacky exception, look up tardigrades!). Therefore extended spells of hot weather can prove a challenge for wildlife to find vital resources. Luckily, there are some very simple ways you can help!
1) Leave out water sources
High and low water is a useful tool for maintaining body temperature – but for it to work, we have to give it up. We humans do this by sweating, and the evaporation of water from our skin takes away heat energy, cooling us down. Some other mammals and birds also use evaporation by panting, allowing water to escape into the air from their mouths. This means in order to avoid dehydration and overheating our wildlife needs lots of water around! To help you can leave multiple water sources around your garden. Try putting a water bowl on the ground in a cool spot for mammals, as well as an elevated bird bath for birds to access out of predators’ reach. Remember to top these up regularly as they will evaporate too!
2) Have some undisturbed areas of shade
If you have lots of plants, you may naturally have cool and shady parts in your garden. These areas can provide a refuge to wildlife from direct sunlight, which heats things up very quickly. If you’re unsure how much shade you have available, have a quick look in your garden at the peak heat of the day (around noon to 3pm) and see which areas are sheltered from the sun. Try and keep any shaded, vegetated areas undisturbed during this time to give wildlife a spot of refuge
3) Look after your pond
Both the heat and sunlight from hot weather can change the conditions in your pond, so it is important you keep an eye on it to see if the wildlife needs a helping hand. One way of doing this is to make sure your amphibians have exit and entry routes to your pond, so they are able to move freely in response to the changing conditions. Additionally, warm water holds less dissolved oxygen than cold water – so warm, still water can be less oxygenated during the heat. By installing a pump or water feature you can keep the water moving, dissolving essential oxygen for your pond life.
4) Water your plants!
Though very simple advice, this will make a big difference to the heath of your garden and its wildlife visitors. At the bottom of the food chain, plants are essential for animals to thrive, and so healthy watered plants provide both food and water to the ecosystem. As well as reaching plant roots, the water will also provide moisture to the soil, lending a hand to animals beneath the ground.
5) Put out extra food
Whilst water may be the most obvious scarcity in the heat, food can also be in shorter supply for wildlife. During hot and dry conditions invertebrates such as earth worms will tunnel deep into the soil, out of reach for the birds that feed on them. Hedgehogs can also suffer during this time, with slugs and snails emerging less during the heat. Putting out bird seed or mealworms for birds and cat biscuits for hedgehogs is a simple way to help!