Plus fun activities to do with the children during the summer holidays.
Summer is a season full of BBQs, picnics, and outdoor fun, but for wildlife, it can be a challenging time. This year, consider dedicating a bit of your time to supporting local wildlife. With the school summer holidays approaching, these activities can also be a wonderful way to engage children in nature, plus a great way to keep them busy.
Give bees a helping hand
During the summer months, bees and other insects tirelessly gather pollen and nectar to feed themselves and their young. As temperatures rise, these busy pollinators can become dehydrated and exhausted. You can assist by setting up a drinking station. All you need is a dish, some water, and a few pebbles. Fill the dish with water, add the pebbles to give the insects a safe landing spot, and place it in a partially shaded area.
Run a bath for birds and other mammals!
Like bees and insects, birds, small mammals and other wildlife are actively raising their young during the summer. The warmer temperatures often lead to dwindling water sources, forcing these animals to take greater risks to find water. You can assist them by creating a bird or mammal bath. Use a shallow container, such as a bird bath, and add some pebbles to facilitate access. This allows birds and small mammals to perch on the pebbles or the edge of the bath for a much-needed drink. If you wanted to create a more substantial feature to your garden you can purchase one of our beautiful bird baths that add a stunning feature to your home while helping wildlife. Click here to view our Gifts.
Create shade in your garden
As the temperatures increase animals need to find shade in order to cool down. A fun project can be planting native shrubs and trees in order to provide shade in the future for animals. Our director Kate as you know is a very keen gardener and here is her recommendations. ‘When it comes to trees the two I would recommend is the Alders (alnus glutinosa) and Willow, is another great choice as is a early nectar source for insects as well as providing lovely dapple shade. For smaller gardens I would recommend smaller species Willow such as salix or caprea.
A tree that can also be trained into a hedge is the Cherry Plum, again this is a great choice because it provides shade through the summer and is another early source of nectar.
Moving onto hedging/shrub plants my three recommendations would be Budleigh, also known as the butterfly bush. It provides amazing flowers in the summer which are just perfect for insects and of course butterflies. Do be careful as the plant can become a little invasive if not maintained well.
My other recommendations would be the Hawthorn plant, traditionally this is used as a hedging plant but can be used in a garden as a shrub. It provides excellent shade in the summer while its leaves provide a food source caterpillars, butterflies and months in springtime.’
Feed the birds
While summer often brings an abundance of berries, birds are working hard to feed their young. Supplementing their diet with extra bird feed can be incredibly helpful. For a fun family activity that also saves money, you can make your own bird feeder. The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust offers an excellent guide on how to craft one:https://www.wwt.org.uk/uploads/documents/2020-05-15/wwt-make-a-bird-feeder.pdf.
Help a hedgehog
Hedgehogs face challenges in the summer due to the heat, which reduces their water and food sources. To support them, leave out a bowl of water and a dish of meaty dog food. Hedgehogs are generally nocturnal, but females may venture out in the afternoons during late summer to gather nesting materials. If you see a hedgehog out during the day that appears to be sunbathing, it’s likely in distress. Use gardening gloves to place the hedgehog in a dark box with water and food, and leave the box in a shaded area of your garden. Ensure the box is slightly open so the hedgehog can leave if it chooses. If the hedgehog seems very unwell, consider taking it to an animal rescue center.
We hope you have enjoyed this blog – if you want to know how you can help nature in winter instead click here.