UK households urged to leave bowl of water on driveway until Wednesday | UK | Travel

Households across the UK are being urged to leave a bowl of water outside their house or on their driveway overnight as temperatures soar again.

Heat Health Alerts have been issued by the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) and will be in place until Wednesday, May 27, which means scorching hot temperatures could be high enough to affect people’s health. At the same time, the Met Office has forecast slowly rising temperatures going from 32C today up to 34C on Monday and Tuesday.

Of course, the sunshine is brilliant for our weekend plans but for the living things around our neighbourhoods, the dry, hot, sunny weather risks taking a toll. During spells of prolonged sun, some have reported seeing dead birds in the street, and the already incredibly endangered hedgehogs are also potentially struggling with the lack of water.

That’s why every household is being urged to leave a source of drinking water outside their house, either in the garden or on your driveway.

It is hoped that the supply of drinking water might help keep foxes, hedgehogs, birds and even bees and wasps’ thirsts quenched. Every single one of them is vital to a healthy ecosystem and if they die off, we all die off.

As one Reddit user advised: u/Emehen said: “If you have a garden, try to leave a bowl of water out. Wildlife suffers from this heat as much as we do.”

u/byjmini said: “Went and put some large saucers out after work yesterday once I saw this post. Didn’t take long for the birds to take advantage.”

And u/Evening-Letter2278 built on the advice, adding: “Birds prefer their bowls and baths to be out in the open though, in case cats are lurking in bushes. Also, once one bird’s been and knows there’s somewhere to have a wash and a drink, they will unironically come back with their family, friends, or flock, so keep the bowls in the same place and the numbers build up.”

Conservation charity The Wildlife Trusts says: “During hot summer weather, it is important to have plenty of water for animals and birds to drink and bathe in. But don’t stop there!”

The Trusts says that households should use a specially made bird bath ‘or just a bowl on the floor’.

It adds: “Place water for birds near a shrub or tree as they like to approach from a place of safety. Watch for predators such as cats.

“Leave water where you can easily access it for cleaning and filling. It’s important to change water in bird baths daily and to clean them once a week.”

This is backed by The National Wildlife Foundation in its advice. It says: “Another easy solution is to place small water dishes on the ground. These can serve a variety of creatures, from birds and mammals to insects. Use shallow, wide dishes, and consider recycling old pots, pans, or plastic containers. Adding gravel or stones at the bottom provides stability for smaller creatures.

“Placing some of these dishes in shady spots will keep the water cooler for longer periods. Regularly cleaning and refilling these dishes is key to maintaining a fresh and safe water supply.”

If you can keep even a small bowl of water regularly topped up – and maybe sprinkle a few stones or pebbles in it to help birds find a footing in the water – it will massively boost the survival hopes of everything that lives nearby.