The biggest thing all wildlife needs during hot weather or prolonged periods of dry weather is water. It’s important for mammals and for birds who need it to remove dirt and grit from their feathers and to keep them in tip top condition.  They can easily suffer from heat stroke and over exertion.

The wildlife charity is encouraging everybody to put any shallow dish such as a washing up bowl will suffice. For smaller birds, water in a saucer is better as they may fall into a deeper container and get into difficulty.

Drier weather conditions make worms tunnel further into the soil, becoming scarce for the wildlife that usually feasts on them, such as blackbirds, robins, hedgehogs and frogs. To compensate for this, additional food should be left out to help them. 

Items such as dog or cat food will be readily taken by blackbirds to feed to their chicks. Cooked pasta, boiled potatoes, grated cheese and unsalted bacon rind are suitable along with fat and suet balls.

Bird houses should now be mounted in shaded locations and have wide ventilation slits or holes under the eaves to provide cooling air circulation for nestlings.

Regularly watered plants are a lifeline for bees and butterflies. In hot, dry weather many wild plants start to die and if that happens, gardens and the well-watered plants in them will become even more important to them.

Saucers of sugary water are also perfect for bees and butterflies as temperatures rise and piles of dead wood, logs or leaves damp should be kept damp for insects.