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Five ways to lend a hand wildlife during heatwaves
Aug
Extremely sizzling weather is becoming more common. The ten warmest years since 1884 have all occurred over the last two decadesWhile experts can lend a hand humans take the right precautions to beat the heat, who cares about the rest of the animal kingdom?
High temperatures are uncomfortable and potentially deadly to wildlife. Fortunately, you can lend a hand by taking a few elementary steps.
1. Provide water
Scorching weather can be great for some wildlife. Butterfly populations in the UK tend to recover after hot and dry summersprobably because it increases the survival of the larvae.
But even warm-loving species can only thrive if they have enough water to drink. Even if you don’t have a garden, setting out a shallow dish of water will benefit many types of wildlife. Add marbles or rocks to it so butterflies and bees can get out if they fall in.
BernadetteB/Shutterstock
A shallow dish on the ground can attract hedgehogs or foxes, and placed higher up can serve as a makeshift birdbath. If you are feeling more ambitious, you can create a miniature pond. You can make a elementary old dishwashing bowl.
You don’t even have to dig a hole if you add a dirt ramp. Add gravel and rocks, as well as logs or larger stones, then fill with rainwater (scuttlebutt is useful for collecting and storing). Include a few pond plantssuch as spiny water milfoilto oxygenate the water. You can find them at your local garden center.
Occasional natterjack toads they can’t detect fresh water sources, so they can only find ponds they’ve visited before. But many other animals are able to sensual water sources from a distance. It is therefore significant to empty or cover the shower trays at night to prevent animals from entering Climbing and Sinking.
2. Provide shelter
It’s much cooler out of the sun. You can lend a hand animals by providing a nippy place to rest. A pile of logs in a shady corner will give insects places to hide (and make a tasty snack bar for larger animals). Heatwaves are also not the time to prune your garden – don’t cut back your plants. They will provide shelter and food if they go to seed.
Allik/Shutterstock
3. Provide food
Leaves, fruits, seeds and roots are food for various animals. However, the heat will cause plants to wilt. Make sure that flowers and berry-bearing plants survive the heatwave by keeping them well watered. If you usually feed birds, make sure that feeders are well stocked.
4. Create habitats
As well as helping animals in the immediate heatwave, you can also take action in the long term. Many species in the UK are moving as the climate warms, changing where they live. usually found inFor example, between 1981 and 2000, Eurasian curlews (the largest and probably most distinctive wading bird in Europe with a curved, slender beak) moved 119 km north-east.
By analysing the movements of invertebrates in the UK over 40 years, scientists found that the species that eventually found fresh habitats suitable habitats have migrated farther than those that were restricted by the fewer rarer habitats they depended on. You can lend a hand make more of these migrations successful by making your area more hospitable to a wider range of species.
For example, plant bee-friendly flowers such as: sage or lavender in window boxes and on balconies. If you have a lawn, why not turn it into a meadow full of flowers? These habitats are more drought-resistant more species containThat means better for wildlife and less mowing for you.
If you have the space, adding a pond will provide habitat for amphibians like frogs and newts. Just make sure that in at least one side is shallower to allow larger animals, such as squirrels or hedgehogs, to escape if they fall into them.
Read more: How to make your lawn wildlife-friendly all year round – advice from an ecologist
5. Reduce the temperature
Compared to plants, surfaces such as artificial turf and concrete slabs absorb more heat during the day and release it into the air at night. When exposed to sunlight, concrete surfaces can be over 20°C warmer than grass – too sizzling for us or wildlife to stand on. So why not replace difficult and artificial surfaces with plants?
Shading from trees can lower surface temperatures. about 10°Cso planting a native tree in your garden will nippy you and the wildlife. Elder (Black Elderberry) in my garden provides fruit and flowers which are great for wildlife and grows several metres a year.
You can also prune older species to fit the size of your garden – as a shrub or tree. If you plant them soon, they can provide shade for your garden and shelter for nesting birds until next summer.
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