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!

Loving the wildlife updates!

Bumping as some areas of the country are going to be hot and dry again ………

I use the plastic trays that you can put under plant pots, very shallow almost like a saucer really. Helps the small creatures reach the water.

I have a video of a badger having a good drink from mine this past week ❤️

Thank you! @SilverBlue4

Bumping - it’s very hot and dry here on the south coast

I do but it's never drunk.

Thank you anyway for making sure fresh water is out though @Netcurtainnelly !

Evening bump - very warm here in the South and very hot weather forecast for this week

This is a lovely idea. We can’t do it where we are (Med coast, not UK) because of the bastarding tiger mosquitos. They only need a tiny bit of water to lay eggs in and carry some pretty nasty diseases. We had an outbreak of dengue last year in one of the nearby villages.

So nice to see others caring for wildlife. Thanks OP!

We leave several shallow dishes around, and DP during a rare week off has just built two small ponds (mainly for the insects)😍

P.s we have a resident hedgehog so always like to make sure s/he has something to drink!

Thank you! @AuraBora

Also a bowl for wandering foxes and cats.

Post the video please?

During covid there was a cat who’s now mine who’d come into the garden for treats. One day I saw her and she looked very thirsty so I put a full china bowl of water down. She drank it all up, I saw her from my kitchen window. Poor love.

Why would you not give it a drink? It’s a creature who needs water to survive just like you.

I don't think I can post the video but here's a couple of screen shots. We have had five of them in the garden before ❤️

They do like digging up the lawn but I don't care 😁

Lovely pics! @SilverBlue4

thank you so much to all you wonderful posters who care about helping wildlife in this very hot and dry weather

I was worried sick about our garden hedgehogs because we've been away for 2 weeks. I'd left out lots of water dishes, and also a trough, but I suspected that these would have dried up because of the exceptionally hot weather, and indeed they had.
Back now and all water containers immediately refilled. The birds were very happy and we've just had a visit from one of our prickly friends 😊
(tried to upload a video but Mumsnet won't let me)

Welcome back @TamzinGrey and thank you for caring. So glad to hear you have spotted a hedgehog.

Thank you! Lovely badgers

Bump

Morning bump

I had to use the “orange bucket” at the weekend that the birds usually drink from, as I needed to clean the windows.

When I’d finished, a couple landed on the bucket and just stared in it, gave me a look (can they?) and flew off.

Bucket has been refilled and back to good use for them again. Neighbours cat likes to sleep under the bush in the front garden, he then wonders around the back, has a drink and goes back to sleeping under the bush.

He isn’t interested in the birds, or they him.

Thank you! @HelpMeGetThrough