Ways to support wildlife during extreme heat
- 17 hours ago
- 3 min read
Taken from a presentation by Chloe Edwards – Oxfordshire County Council, Local Nature
Recovery Strategy (LNRS) Project Manager
On Thursday 6th August, CAG Oxfordshire, alongside partners from Oxfordshire County Council, delivered an online webinar for residents, community groups and local councillors.
One of the presentations that really stood out for us was how we can support our wildlife during periods of extreme heat delivered by Chloe Edwards.
Here's a summary of her presentation with links to the slides and a recording at the end:
When temperatures soar and dry spells set in, wildlife face intense pressure because animals don't have taps to turn on when they need a drink or a way to cool down. Extended heat makes it significantly harder for animals to find water, food, shade, and safe shelter. Fortunately, straightforward actions taken in backyards, on balconies, and across community spaces can turn local areas into life-saving refuges.
Here is how you can support local nature during extreme heat, alongside the broader landscape-scale work being done to help nature recover.
1. Provide Safe, Consistent Water Sources
Access to clean drinking water is the most urgent need for animals during a drought.
Set out shallow water dishes: Place shallow containers of fresh water in gardens, on balconies, or in shared community green spaces, refreshing the water daily.
Add safety escape routes: Place stones, marbles, or sloped edges in dishes and bird baths so insects and small mammals can drink safely without the risk of drowning.
Harvest and reuse water: Install a water butt to collect rainwater or divert rainfall into garden ponds. Household water can also be repurposed—for example, using cooled water from boiling vegetables to water plants instead of relying entirely on mains water.
"Think river when you turn on the tap": Tap water is often drawn directly or indirectly from rivers and freshwater habitats. Reducing mains water usage protects local rivers and the aquatic species that depend on them.
2. Create Cool Refuges and Maintain Food Sources
Extreme heat requires animals to spend more energy finding shade and moisture.
Build wild shade zones: Leave areas of long vegetation, log piles, leaf litter, dead wood, and stones undisturbed. These wild corners retain moisture and stay noticeably cooler than open lawn areas.
Deep-water trees: Giving trees an occasional deep soak helps them survive heatwaves so they can continue offering vital shade across the garden.
Plant for drought tolerance: Incorporating a mix of drought-resistant plants, shrubs, and trees ensures a continuous supply of nectar and food for pollinators and the broader food chain during prolonged dry spells.
3. Help Wildlife Move Safely and Prevent Hazards
As natural resources dry up, animals must travel further to meet their basic needs.
Create Hedgehog Highways: Hedgehogs routinely travel 1–2 km in a single night to forage. Cutting or keeping small ground-level holes open in fence boundaries allows hedgehogs and other small mammals to roam freely between gardens and parklands.
Pick up litter to prevent wildfires: Glass bottles and other reflective litter can act as magnifying lenses in intense sunlight, sparking wildfires in dry vegetation. Carrying a bag to pick up litter or reporting waste buildup to the local council helps mitigate fire risks.
4. The Bigger Picture: Joining Up Ecosystems
While individual garden actions are vital, long-term resilience against heatwaves and drought requires connected, landscape-scale ecosystems.
In Oxfordshire, the County Council is collaborating with residents and local organisations on a Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS). This initiative maps key locations across the county to guide targeted habitat creation and restoration. Additional Council actions include:
Developing a Biodiversity Action Framework to track and report biodiversity-positive actions across council teams.
Prioritising nature recovery and landscape protection within local planning and decision-making processes.
Supporting local communities in designating and managing Road Verge Nature Reserves (RVNRs) to form vital wildlife corridors.
By combining small everyday habits at home with wider community strategies, we can build a landscape where wildlife not only survives extreme weather but continues to thrive.
Links to Further guidance from National Organisations
The Wildlife Trusts — Help Wildlife in Hot Weather - A guide covering practical steps for gardens, including topping up bird baths, creating climate-resilient gardens, installing water butts, and creating mini ponds.
RSPB — How Birds Keep Cool and How to Help - Provides specific insights into how birds regulate their body temperature, advice on feeding birds during dry spells, and maintaining clean water sources.
Woodland Trust — How Heatwaves Affect Wildlife - Explores the broader ecological impacts of severe heat on mammals, amphibians, and pollinators, along with actionable steps for urban and rural outdoor spaces.
A Rocha UK — Looking After Wildlife and Plant Life in the Heat - Focuses on eco-friendly gardening techniques during dry conditions, such as mulching, lawn care, and supplementary feeding for nocturnal wildlife like hedgehogs and badgers.
Comments