COULD you give a helping hand to small mammals and birds this summer?

The RSPB is asking people to provide daily, clean water in their gardens as temperatures soar.

Morwenna Alldis, spokesperson for the RSPB south west, said: “It’s hot, hot, hot and as temperatures rise so does our thirst factor. But whilst we’re lucky enough to have water on tap - for many birds and small mammals our scorched summer gardens transform into parched deserts, and their natural water sources become dry, dusty mirages.

“Though birds don’t have sweat glands and so need less water than mammals – they do need to drink at least twice a day. They also need daily access to fresh, clean water in order to bathe.”

You could create a makeshift pond by sinking a washing up bowl in the ground to help hedgehogs, frogs and toads, and keeping plants watered will help bees and butterflies.

For more tips on how to help give nature a home, visit www.rspb.org.uk/plan