Reminder to leave out fresh water for garden wildlife in hot weather

[OneBusyFinch]

With more hot weather forecast, a bowl or two of water in the garden for wildlife could be a lifesaver.

Shallow dish for hedgehogs (they can’t manage deep water)

Add some stones for bees to climb out if they fall in

Too up morning and evening — it evaporates fast

Bit of shade keeps it cooler for longer

Takes two minutes, makes a massive difference.

Big thank you if you’re already leaving out fresh water!

More people should do this. I do this all year round. I have about 3 in the back and 1 in the front.

We always have water out in the back garden, and in recent weeks we've been putting one out the front as well.

Yes I always have several shallow dishes in shady areas all year round and put sticks half in and half out for insects to climb out on. It really helps wildlife if they don’t have to travel far to find it 😊

Thank you! @FreyaFromTheFens @Iloveeverycat @OutOfApricots

We do, but a pigeon still stepped in the kitchen window this morning, drank from the running tap, then marched back out, looking very stately.

Yes! I’m amazed at the variety of animals that come to our water bowls (London). Hedgehogs, foxes, field mice and so many birds too.

We have a bird bath and DP is now the local bird whisperer. Tops it up morning and late afternoon.

We see pigeons, wood pigeons, magpies, crows, starlings, occasional sparrows, bees, hover flies, dragon flies, butterflies. We also have small frog ponds. Spider-friendly log heaps. Wildflowers for insects.

Just a small(ish) urban garden created around wildlife.

I have a small wildlife pond, a large terracotta birdbath and a fancy birdbath. The terracotta one is always being topped up as the starlings are in it all the time, I am out with the watering can around six times a day refilling it, they absolutely love it. The shrieks, squabbles, flapping of wings and water showering everywhere helps water my plants around the bath.

They supply endless amusement now that my lounge is in the back of the house and I can see them from the settee.

I don't have anything out the front garden so I may look for something during the week and put one out there.

Hedgehog friendly bowls ordered. I found some hedgehog poo outside the front door yesterday, so I'll leave one out the front 🦔

Thank you! @Mystifyingly @GreensAreGoodForYou @TheAutumnCrow @Myblueclematis @cheezncrackers

Little bump

When you say "shallow bowls", what sort of thing do you mean? What kinds of household objects might suffice for this?

I'm not sure how much wildlife I get in the back garden - concrete yard with brick walls but I always leave an old dog bowl full of water out anyway.

I've got big bowls out for the birds and foxes but some shallow'ish desserts bowls for hedgehogs and smaller creatures.

Just done it four within shady areas in my garden. Also a couple of bee water bowls - they have pebbles in.

All shallow!

I do as my cats, and other neighbourhood ones like it. And probably all sorts of foxes, squirrels etc at night. Kept shady and topped up morning and evening.

I'm at home today and have already refilled it once. The cats seem to prefer it to the inside water, despite it being flavoured with the occasional leaf or rose petal.

I filled a bowl yesterday and my dog decided to shit in it! 👀

No idea what he was thinking but he's left the second one alone so far 🤞

I didn't know bees needed pebbles in the water - I'll have to go and nick some from the park 😅

I do this anyway with a couple of large plant pot saucers plus stones. I do also have a crow that regularly brings pieces of bread to soften it (clever corvids) which makes the water cloudy quite quickly.
If it would choose the same one each time it'd help,but it doesn't. Therefore I'm on regular water changing duty.

Good advice OP

It’s raining here in Belfast today😅 But will remember to leave something out for tomorrow when we’ve been promised some sort of big hot yellow ball in the sky. We do get hedgehogs, but not much else. Well, birds of course.

@PeopleOut good question! saucers are good. I use enamel pie dishes as v robust and v easy to clean. As @ginasevern suggested, little dessert bowls are fine.

Does that answer your good question? If you’ve got something and you’re not sure, do post a photo here. The main thing is just to make water available

Oh my! What WAS that doggy thinking?????

I don't know.

I just can't see it from his point of view?! 😁

The crows do the same at my neighbours! They’ve obviously learnt that all the bread they leave out is hard, so they automatically take it to the water and dip it in! Very intelligent birds

My new cat sitter wasn’t quite prepared for me asking her to put out bowls of water for the “critters in the garden” but she has cheerfully agreed.

I leave water out everyday but the blackbird is a terror.

Yesterday he ate most of the worms I put out (a few left for other birds just), then made straight for the bath. Splashed so much water around that the bath was practically empty, no water for the other birds left.

Then flew onto the opposite houses TV aerial and spent 30 minutes singing really loudly before engaging in a rooftop chase with another blackbird.

Lot of bird thuggery going on in my back garden.