This unlikely household item can be a massive saviour in your garden – an expert has urged people to use it to create a “mini pond” for this one struggling creature
With the sun finally making an appearance, gardeners have been urged to leave washing up bowls outside – but not to help plants.
While many of us are using this time to grow strawberries, veggies and flowers, it’s easy to forget that our gardens are home to all kinds of creatures. And some are more vulnerable than others. In order to help protect bird populations, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds recommends leaving out bowls of water.
According to UK government data, bird populations have been dwindling over recent years. In fact, a shocking 48% of bird species have shown a decrease in just five years between 2015 and 2020.
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This has partly been due to destructive farming practices, which have destroyed many natural habitats and harmed wildlife. This has also impacted birds’ water supply, as farming contributes to river pollution.
Katie Nethercoat is a member of RSPB’s Wildlife Team. She told HuffPost: “Lack of rain, hardened ground and rising temperatures can all bring in challenges for our birds.”
Luckily, gardeners can be part of the solution. She added: “Providing fresh, clean bathing and drinking water is a simple but hugely effective way to help wildlife, as well as leaving areas of damp ground and soil.”
A great way to cultivate a suitable area of damp soil for birds is to create a patch of wet mud. This is because slick mud provides a great feeding ground for birds looking to peck at worms and other insects.
Katie recommends that leaving piles of sticks and other debris helps keep mud damp. This is because they shelter the ground, preventing it from drying out too quickly.
It also provides birds with a great opportunity to rebuild their nests. Many birds, including house martins, use wet mud to help stabilise their nests.
But what is a reliable way to create this wet mud patch? Katie suggests creating a kind of “mini pond” in your garden, which will benefit birds. It can also be used on a balcony.
She says one of the best ways to do this is to use an old washing up bowl. This will create even edges which make it so that “more creatures can get in and out”.
If your old washing bowl reaches above the ground, then no need to worry. An easy fix is to use logs, bricks or rocks to create an easy-access ramp.
Another benefit of creating your own little garden pond is that it will also benefit many other kinds of wildlife. This includes hedgehogs and frogs.
