Looking after wildlife in the heat

by Andy Lester, A Rocha UK’s Head of Conservation

We are living through one of the driest and hottest spells in UK history. While it will be shortly coming to an end, the reality is we will have many more extreme-weather periods in the months and years ahead due to climate change. So while there is a real danger to wildlife in times of drought and dryness (Ezekiel 15), it can also be a chance for us to make sure life continues in abundance (Psalm 65).

So what can we do to ensure nature has a chance in these dry and hot times? Here are our top five actions for wildlife. 

-Make sure you have a supply of water for birds and insects. Water stress is one of the biggest killers of wildlife during drought. Keep it topped up every day. 

-Dont forget to continue to supply food for wildlife. Drought can mean grains dry up faster and insect numbers reduce increasing reliance on us to help support nature in times of stress.

– Avoid cutting your grass. Keeping grass long will help retain moisture, provide a source of shelter for insects and mammals and keep the topsoil from blowing away.

-Keep your bushes unpruned. Creating spaces of shade will help reduce your garden’s temperature, slowing the effect of drought. 

– Make sure you keep fruit trees well watered with a can not a hose. Don’t waste water trying to keep the grass alive – instead, focus your attention on flowering and fruiting species. This will help to keep a food source for pollinating insects and for birds and other animals to feed. 

We hope these top tips will help to create a resilient landscape in these challenging times. Share other ideas in the comments below.