Heatwave and drought challenge flora & wildlife

While many of us are enjoying the heatwave, naturalists have urged the British public to help wildlife struggling to survive as water and food supplies have dwindled in the heat.

After six consecutive days of 30C-plus temperatures and with rainfall at only around 15% of average monthly totals so far, wardens at The Lodge in Sandy, an RSPB nature reserve in Bedfordshire, are working to keep their animalsinsects, pondlife and trees well hydrated.

All flora and fauna, from bumblebees to bats, need water to stay alive, but some species are finding the heat more difficult than others.

Conservationists suggest putting out a plate of water in the garden or balcony and filling up ponds. However water straight from the tap contains organic concentrates which can be toxic to certain animals. Water left to stand for a day in a bucket is ideal.

I have been leaving out a bowl of  water that has been standing for a day  for a family of foxes living in my garden.They  must be struggling with the very high temperatures and lack of rainfall for over 2 weeks. I sit and watch their antics from my garden office and they never fail to amuse and delight.

 

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/jul/19/heatwaves-hot-weather-wildlife

This post was written by:

- who has written 872 posts on My Climate Change Garden.

I am not an experienced gardener - more of an enthusiastic amateur who learns by trial and error and who is keen to "manage" the effects of shifting weather patterns on my garden. Writing this blog is my passion and it has evolved over 12 years to inspire engagement with climate change outside our back doors, in our personal gardens and green spaces. My mission is to fertilise and expand this platform to grow a community of global gardeners communicating about the effects of climate change on our plants and exploring how each individual can make small changes in our lives to become more sustainable. The future of our gardens and #OurPlanet is in our hands - please plant your own seeds for our collective sustainable future.

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