Being waterwise for the sake of our wildlife

On a particularly warm afternoon, I could hear a busy splashing sound through the open window behind me.

- Stuart McCarthy-Thompson, Communications and Campaigns Manager

It had rained briefly the day before and one of my children’s upturned toys had filled with murky water.

A glossy male blackbird was having a great time, frantically splashing in the water and dipping his head under the surface. This went on for almost 10 minutes before he jumped out and hopped across the lawn.

This was a good reminder that wildlife needs water for a variety of reasons, not just for drinking. During these recent warm weeks, providing water in the garden has become increasingly important and is also an opportunity to attract more wildlife to our green spaces.

Wildlife water seekers

Amphibians such as newts, frogs and toads use water as shelter and, earlier in the year, for breeding grounds. Butterflies get valuable minerals and salts from slightly muddy water and, as my recent blackbird encounter demonstrated, birds use water to bathe and to remove parasites.