During a heat wave temperatures can rise up to 30 degrees or even more. The most of us enjoy the sun, but a bit of refreshment is welcome on these days. We’re not the only ones suffering from the heat, all the animals in and around the garden could use some refreshment.

We try to find some shade, go to the beach and make sure we drink enough, so we don't get overheated. We can help our friends in and around the garden in the same way.

A nice bath
Placing a bowl of water in the garden is really helpful. Preferably a large bowl, so that birds can not only use it to drink, but can also bathe in it. When there are enough baths in the neighbourhood, they don’t have to fly so far and they won’t get exhausted. Change the water on a daily basis when the temperature gets hot.

Tip: advise your customer to choose a practical spot in the garden. In the shade of for example a tree, the water stays fresh longer. Our hanging bird baths are perfect for this use, because you can hang them in the shade of the tree. No hanging space? A shady place around a tree or bush is easily created with a bird bath equipped with a metal pin to put in the ground. View the full range here.

How to help out different kinds of birds
Especially young birds and for example great tits and blue tits struggle with high temperatures. These birds take the benefit of a nesting boxes in a cool, shady place.

Tip: a temporary shelter or relocation of the nesting box. Advise your customer a nesting box made of natural material, such as wood. It will stay cooler than a nesting box made of, for example, plastic.

More tips for our garden friends
Since birds take the benefit of shade, having dinner in a feeding house can be a great help. Keep in mind that finding food during a heat wave is also more difficult. Insects go deeper into the ground because of the drought.

Tip: normally watering the soil is a good idea. This will draw insects like worms to the surface. With water scarcity in mind, it is a better idea to advise people on feeding. You can find our complete range of seed mixes here.

Other garden animals, such as hedgehogs and bats can also use a little help. Bats prefer to move to a cooler place if it gets too hot in their shelter. They can not only cause nuisance, but it’s also dangerous for the bats, because they can fall prey to cats and birds. A cool(er) place for a nesting box is therefore a good idea.

Finally, let's not forget the animals on the ground. Hedgehogs, for example, lend a hand with our hedgehog basket. Cover it with leaves or other materials for a extra cooling down. Don't forget about the hedgehog feeding bowl. Of course you can also use it as a water bowl.